Sad as it is, it’s all far from the Biblical standard of doing ministry. Scripture is highly meticulous about something as important as church stewardship. No one can be naive enough to allow an unqualified doctor to operate on their body, how then can we be so carefree about those who operate on something as serious as our eternal salvation? In Acts 6:3, when an urgent need for leaders presented itself among the congregation, they were wise enough to choose only seven men of “good reputation”. What kind of leaders were these, and how can we use their pattern to discern individuals who are qualified to lead us in spiritual matters?
A good reputation (1 Tim 3:7)
A reputation is simply a general public view about someone; what believers and even unbelievers know about that person. The above-indicated verse defines it as “a good testimony among those who are outside.” How will his leadership be effective if he has bad records among those he is supposed to lead? To describe this good reputation, Paul used these words: blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behaviour, hospitable, able to teach, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous (1 Tim 3:2-3). As you can see, this is a very high standard. Although I am not implying that only those who are perfect in these areas qualify for leadership, I am still saying that only those whose lives – despite other weaknesses – display a willingness and a hunger to pursue these virtues are qualified enough for such a high calling. The rest can sit down and try again next year.
Not a recent convert (1 Tim 3:6)
This has to do with a general maturity in the things of the Lord. In some churches where members are few, anyone can automatically qualify for church leadership because of their availability. In the end, the church is led by very immature and in most cases, unsaved individuals. That is a recipe for one thing; disaster. At worse, the name of Christ is blasphemed when such individuals eventually show their true colours. I am even strongly against children being given preaching platforms in adult services. I have seen that and it’s embarrassing. For these reasons, Paul votes for maturity in leadership because the work of the Lord is no child’s play.
Able to teach (Titus 1:9)
Ability to teach is well connected to maturity as I have hinted above. Question: who wants to be led by someone who doesn’t know what they are leading you into? Such leaders are called puppet leaders and bring more harm than good to the body of Christ. Therefore, those who are chosen for any leadership posts in the church must have some knowledge of at least the basics of the Gospel, to teach them to those they are leading. In the case of Pastoral leadership, I cannot stress enough the importance of this. It is to be like Ezra, who, set it in his heart to study the Law of God and to practice it, before he taught it to the people (Ezra 7:10). Even more, our Titus 1:9 text goes on to stress that a leader must also have the ability to know error and to rebuke those who contradict the truth. This is non-negotiable!
A good parent (1 Tim 3:4-5)
Have you noticed that we, who are church leaders are the ones who are raising godless children for our society? The primal ministry of a man is not the church, but it is the home. The church is simply an overflow of what happens at home. Therefore, we cannot, I mean it is unacceptable to have leaders who are Spirit-filled in church yet their own homes are a mess with disobedient children. Paul goes on to talk about a leader who is a husband of one wife, meaning that a qualified leader must also be a good husband. You can’t make the church of God happy if your own wife is unhappy at home. To borrow the words of Paul again I ask, how can you manage the household of God if you cannot manage your own household? How will you teach family values to those you lead, if your own family has no values?
The end of the matter is this: we would all do well to heed the Biblical warning to not be quick to lay hands (ordain) on anyone (1 Tim 5:22), but to take our time and test individuals before we graduate them as soul doctors. There is a reason why our Lord prayed all night before He appointed His twelve disciples (Luk 6:12-13). I believe the Apostles had also not lost their minds when they prayed and fasted, just to send men to the Gospel mission (Act 13:2-3). This is the Biblical pattern and qualification for ecclesiastical leadership. No more, no less.
Sinothi Ncube
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