Thursday, June 17, 2010
Titus 1:6-9 ... a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
QUALITIES AND ATTITUDES OF GODLY MINISTERS
Blameless doesn't mean sinless or there couldn't be a single elder. The elder or pastor was to have a clean record in the congregation, with no accusations of public sin that might disqualify him in the eyes of the congregation from speaking both Law and Gospel.
Husband of one wife (literally, a one-wife man) shows that God intends men be pastors. This order God established and those who defy it defy Him and His Word, no matter what our society says.
Having faithful children, not accused of dissipation or insubordination. If a man cannot keep order in his own home, teaching his children to lead godly lives, how can be fit to lead in the church?
What attitudes should a pastor possess? The kind one would expect to see in a man who watches out for souls entrusted to his care.
First he should:
Not be self-willed: that is, self-pleasing or arrogant. He is not to insist proudly on his way, but to direct those given him to the Will of God;
Not be quick tempered: but patient, kind and forgiving like His Master;
Not be given to wine: such excess would affect his care of Christ's sheep;
Not be violent: a brawler, a bully, rather exuding God's love;
Not be greedy for money: rather he should seek His Lord's "well done."
Furthermore, he should:
Be hospitable: he loves to help and serve others;
Be a lover of what is good: he loves what God loves;
Be sober-minded: he should be balanced in his opinions and judgments, not extreme;
Be just: righteous in God's sight, seeking forgiveness for sins;
Be holy: not the word that means sinless, but that means unpolluted;
Be self-controlled: not controlled by the flesh or sinful impulses;
Be holding fast the faithful word: he is to cling above all to the Word of God. For only then will he be able to encourage and correct with that Word. Only then will godly order be established and godly leadership maintained.
