Randall Caselman
Bella Vista Church of Christ
September 23, 2001 A.M.
Qualifying Shepherds
Reading - Titus 1.5-9
Our Eldership has asked that we present a series of lessons on leadership... As we prepare to select and ordain an additional Elder for this congregation next month.
Personally... I don’t know of a more serious undertaking in a church family than the selection of those men who will Shepherd us... Guide us... Teach us... Protect us... Discipline us... and Lead us to heaven.
You see... Your soul salvation and mine may very well depend upon the individual we select... So this process is not to be taken lightly... But should be entered into with a great deal of thought... study... and prayer.
Last Sunday we learned that God’s model of leadership is the SHEPHERD.
In fact, one of the Greek titles for the Eldership is frequently translated SHEPHERD.
Having said this... Let’s get into the lesson this morning... Qualifying Shepherds.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
I understand this verse to teach that the Bible is the inspired word of God and that the Bible only is all we need to know how to worship and live in the church of God, the kingdom of Christ.
The only source book instructing us how to qualify Elders is the Bible.
Your opinion and mine along with the standards of this world are meaningless and contribute nothing worthwhile on the subject.
However... On any subject there are always two extremes... Some are too legal.
They hold the qualifications for Elders so rigid that no man on earth could possibly qualify for this good work.
Elders are not super saints... They are ordinary men who are willing to allow God to qualify them and use them in His Kingdom.
We must not use our study of these qualifications to demand perfection in the Eldership.
You see... God has called men... Men can qualify to be Elders. If God had wanted perfection... He would have called some heavenly beings to be Elders in His church.
Now... The other extreme is that there are some who would suggest that we just appoint the best men available and make them Elders. No... If a man is not New Testament qualified to be an Elder, no amount of effort on our part can make him one.
In our process of selecting additional Elders here at Bella Vista... We are not searching for the MOST qualified men.
You see... Either they are totally qualified to serve OR... They are not qualified at all. We must never be guilty of just selecting the best available. We must not overlook any ONE of these qualifications... Or weigh one as more important.
What I am trying to say is... Let’s not go beyond scripture to qualify a man... Nor stop short either. Let us speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where it is silent on this subject of qualifying Elders.
I have always been somewhat amazed at my brethren.
We apply this restoration concept so well to our religious neighbors... But then when it comes to the Eldership we want to say... But I think... and off we go.
Let’s stay with the Bible... on these qualifications... and we’ll have good Elders.
You see... Bible qualified Elders are always good elders... God said they would be... You can count on it.
So... Let’s get rid of our what ifs.... but I think...
And let us allow God... through His inspired word, instruct us on the kind of men He deems qualified to be Elders... Amen ?
The first Qualification from Titus chapter one is that an Elder must be blameless.
NASB says... Above reproach.
Phillip’s translation says a man of unquestionable integrity.
Note now... The Bible does not say sinless... Nor PERFECT.
So we must not demand sinless perfection as a qualification.
Vine... In his Greek word study says... Not open to censure.
This requirement does not demand perfection of character... But character above reproach.
They must be men of moral and spiritual integrity. Remember... We are selecting men who we can follow through the pearly gates into heaven.
If you can’t follow the man your thinking of... and go to heaven... don’t select him.
Let me give you a practical illustration of what it means to be a man of blameless character. If I accused Marlin Kerley of stealing $50 from the cash drawer at the Country Club, what would you say? What would your reaction be?... I don’t believe it... There must be a mistake.
Folk... That is blamelessness.... Not perfect... Not sinless... But blameless.
Secondly... An Elder must be the husband of one wife.
We could spend six months right here couldn’t we? Great minds of the church have grappled with this qualification. I certainly don’t have all the answers to questions in this area. Let’s look at what we know for sure...
-First... To be qualified to become an Elder... A man must be married... This excludes bachelors.
-He can have only one wife. This eliminates polygamy.
The NEB says... Faithful to his one wife.
The Greek really means... A one woman man.
The question is frequently asked... Can a divorced man... Or a man married twice be an Elder?
Church... This verse does not answer this question... So... Perhaps we can’t either.
However... Because an Elder must be blameless... above reproach... If there is a question about his marriage... divorce and remarriage... This might in itself disqualify him.
An Elder is to be a man whose children believe and are not unruly.
In First Timothy 3 this qualification says... Rules his own house well.
Men that cannot Teach... Lead... Discipline... Shepherd their own children in the home will have little success doing such things in the church.
Thayer says it so well... He says the Greek root meaning is children that are not heathens.
Paul is saying that the home serves as a proving ground on the quality of the husband and father.
If he cannot lead his family... How can he be qualified to lead the church of God?
I have been asked to address two of the questions to this third qualification... It is important because it affects so many fathers that might be considered for the Eldership.
First... Let’s talk about the number of children.
There are those who maintain that children in this text means more than one... Does it?
Let’s consider this verse in Ephesians six... Fathers do not exasperate your children... (Plural)... Instead, bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Does this mean if you only have one child you can treat him as you wish.
Slaves (Plural)... Obey your masters... masters (Plural)... Do not mistreat your slaves... Does that mean that if a man was the only slave that he would be free to disobey his master? Or if the master only had one slave he could mistreat him... NO!!
Children (PLURAL)... Obey your parents in the Lord for this is right... If you are an only child... can you behave the way you want?... NO!
Genesis 21.7 says that Sarah was to have children... But she had only one... RIGHT?
Ian Fair in his book... Leadership In The Kingdom points out that in the Greek and English there exist a genetic plural which we use all the time to indicate one or more.
When we ask... Do you have children... We are asking... Do you have one or more.
You would not say no... If you just had one... RIGHT?
Let us be careful that we do not bind a qualification where God has not bound.
The second question is about children remaining faithful believers.
How long do they have to remain believers... Faithful believers?
Let’s read the text... It says... A man whose children believe and are not wild and disobedient.
In the parallel passage in I Timothy 3.4 we read... He must manage his own family well... And see that his children obey him with proper respect. If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?
These Scriptures just do not say anything about their actions after they leave home do they?
Silent as a tomb!!
Now... If we turn back to Ephesians chapter six...
-How long are children commanded to obey their parents?
-How long are fathers not to provoke their children?
-How long are slaves to obey masters?
-How long are masters suppose to treat their slaves fairly?... As long as they are in their house.
I hope this helps us answer some of the questions as we struggle with this qualification. The Bible is teaching us that poor fathers would make poor Elders... So don’t select them.
David Lipscomb said... The family is the nursery of the church..
You see church... A bad father is not qualified to be an Elder.
Number four... An Elder Must Not Be Overbearing... Self-willed... Arrogant.
An individual who is always causing trouble in the church is not qualified to be an Elder.
Those who exhibit a... you must do it my way or else... are not qualified to serve.
Peter says of the Elder... He must not lord.. Or push his way over those entrusted to him.. But must be an example to the flock.
The Bible maintains that...
-A proud and haughty spirit...
-A stuck-up... better than thou spirit...
Is hated by God and disruptive in the church.
There is no reason to restore the concept of PLURALITY to the Eldership and then appoint a man... Who will in effect... Be the controlling Elder due to his arrogance and self-will.
Now... Don’t put words in my mouth... We are not saying that an Elder is not to be firm and steadfast... But he must not be stubborn spirited... Always demanding his will over the will of others. Elders must be men who will ask... What does God want... and... What is best for this church?
Those two questions must always have priority over our own will... Inside or outside the Eldership.
An Elder must not be soon angry. The Greek literally says... Not prone to anger. An uncontrolled... hot-tempered individual is not qualified to pastor the church of Jesus.
Think about it... Genuine shepherds are not quick tempered men. A man who is quick to fly off the handle will easily make enemies for himself and the church. The Eldership is to be made up of men who possess cool heads and clean minds.
-Listen to Solomon on this point... A quick-tempered man does foolish things, and a crafty man
is hated. A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.
-James puts it in these words... Let every man be swift to hear... Slow to speak... Slow to wrath... WHY??... Because the wrath of man does not lead to the righteousness of God.
-Paul says... Be angry and sin not.
A man who is mad all the time is disruptive in the family... and he keeps the church in turmoil.
Associated with this is... an Elder is to be no striker... not a brawler... not violent.
Barns... in his commentary says... An Elder must be a peaceable man... Not quarrelsome.
Do you know those who... in an argument... would rather swing their fist... than concede a point?... Rather fight than give in to another?
Shouting matches have no place in church meetings... Not between Elders and Elders... And not between Elder and member... Or Elder and nonmember. It make me feel good to see an Elder take a verbal whipping… Or some other abuse... And not fight back. He is acting like Jesus... He is living up to the kind of disposition he should display as an Elder.
This is just the kind of men we have in our Eldership now... And this is the kind of men God wants us to keep there.
One of the greatest deterrents to Christianity is when... We as God’s people get into a fight with one another... It is not right folk... And a fighting man is not Elder material and should not be recommended as one.
An Elder is to be a man of peace... What Jesus called... a peacemaker.
Blessed are the peacemakers for they are called the children of God... Amen?... Amen!!
Well... We must stop this morning... But Lord willing... We will continue this study next Sunday.
I hope you come back tonight when we will look at The Character of SHEPHERD LEADERS.
Audience... Can I ask you a personal question... What is your relationship to the Good Shepherd ... to Jesus?
Are you a child of God... Are you a genuine Christian... Or do we just claim a vague kinship with Him and the Father?
You can become a child of God this morning by... Faith... Repentance... and New Testament Baptism... Immersion in water for the forgiveness of sin.
Perhaps we are His child... But we haven’t been following the shepherding lead of Jesus.
Maybe we have something we need to make right with others.
This invitation is ours... Come to Jesus as we stand and sing together...
Will you come??
