Last week, we looked at the kind of fruit of the Spirit that we would see in a true Team Builder (deacon). The list seemed a bit strange when compared to the qualifications for a similar job (table waiter) in the world. Nevertheless, Paul (the apostle) wrote a letter to Timothy (a young pastor) about what to look for in these servant-type leaders. Today, we look at a similar list that Paul (the apostle) wrote to Titus (another pastor) about elders.
To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. (Titus 1:4-5 NIV)
The first thing that strikes me is this: Elders and deacons were not elected. They were not selected by a congregational vote of 51%. They were not even elected for a term. All of these servant-leaders were recognized by the pastors of their churches using Spirit-inspired criteria sent to them by an apostle. In other words, we turn to the people we trust in the Lord to point to other people we can trust in the Lord. This way, we end up with leaders throughout God’s Church that we can trust.
An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God's household, he must be blameless--not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. (Titus 1:6-8 NIV)
There is another thing that strikes me about these lists. Leaders in God’s Church back then understood that rebelling against God meant automatic removal from leadership in God’s Church. In other words, an elder who starts stealing would no longer be considered an elder in the God’s Church. The whole community would be told this. Holiness was non-negotiable.
But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism. (1 Timothy 5:20-21 NIV)
When they rebelled against God in one of these “big” ways, the rebellious leader was pointed to again by the other leaders. This time not as an example to be followed, but as an example of what happens when we rebel against God. This was so important because of the purpose of leadership in God’s Church. Remember, in God’s Church leadership is not about power, position, or politics. It’s about walking with God and helping others do the same. When leaders show they do not know how to walk with God, they are also showing that they do not know how to help others do the same.
He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. (Titus 1:9 NIV)
One of the primary purposes of a leader at the eldership level is teaching. It is their responsibility to point people to God in all circumstances. They start by living it. Then they can give it to others.
For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach--and that for the sake of dishonest gain. (Titus 1:10-11 NIV)
This also doesn’t make much sense without a little context as well. Church in the New Testament times included the handling of lots of money. Anyone today would say, “What? There’s no money in church work.” So, let me try to explain a little bit here.
Let’s say that Life Bridge Christian Church of Valparaiso has 100 families that consider this their church home. (There’s actually more, but 100 makes the math easy.) Let’s also say that the average household income in our area is $50,000 per year. (Even with 10% at or near the poverty level within a 5-mile radius of the building, the average income is still $73,696.82. But we will use $50,000 for easy math.) In the Old Covenant system, the families of Life Bridge would bring in %10 percent of their income to support ten families at Life Bridge (the Levites and priests) who would care for the building, grounds, and perform the religious duties like animal sacrifices. That’s $500,000 that would come in to support ten families. In the New Testament Church, we find statements like the following:
All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. (Acts 2:44-45 NIV)
In the New Testament, people were putting the equivalent of $5,000,000 on the table to be used for whatever would further the mission. The apostles made sure that people were fed and cared for and that those who could work, did. The apostles were also paid out of these proceeds, because the Old Covenant Levites and priests were no longer needed (since Jesus is the final sacrifice and our bodies are now the temple of the Holy Spirit) and the New Covenant had new workers (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, and elders).
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says, "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages." (1 Timothy 5:17-18 NIV)
Since there was big money involved ($5,000,000) and elder/teachers were paid for their teaching, other people tried to be teachers to get a slice of the pie. After all, teaching is just grabbing the microphone, getting up there, and talking, right? (This isn’t a problem right now at Life Bridge since the income in 2015 was $130,816 – not even close to the Old Covenant standard, much less the New). Nevertheless, in the New Testament this created a real problem. People wanted to teach for the money, not because of the calling from God. As a result, it became very important to be able to recognize and refute the imposters who were in it for the money. Valid elders were paid for their work on equal footing with other workers not in the church. This was considered honest gain or valid work for true elders.
Big money was involved. False teachers were trying to get rich or at least in on the action. True teachers needed to be recognizable. So they were expected to live it before they give it. You would recognize a true elder by their spirit-fruit. The pastors of the churches pointed them out to you, so you could recognize them. Then, you would listen to their teaching and compare it to their lives. This is why it was so important that the elders would walk with God.
How about you? Are you an elder? Do you know what an elder in God’s church looks like? Would you recognize an elder if you met one?
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