If Anyone is Above Reproach

Immorality is the mark of fallen creatures. However, Christ demands that pastors are to display lives above reproach, or a reputation without blame (Titus 1:6). Does the Scripture not teach that we are justified by faith alone and not by works (Ephesians 2:8-10)?

If Anyone...
Not just anyone is called by God to oversee His people. Paul tells Titus if anyone is, then listing both in positive terms and negative terms specific qualifications that a Christian must meet before being appointed as a pastor. Qualifications for pastors are not to be confused with biblical teaching of justification by grace alone through faith alone. A person can be saved and yet not meet the appropriate standards for being a pastor.

Paul lays out these qualifications for the pastor so that Christians know that this position is not to be held by just anyone who wants to lead. Churches that affirm the ordination of pastors simply based on an inward call or experience pervert the Scripture as expressed in Titus, and break the biblical command to local churches not to be hasty in laying on hands; or, as the ISV puts it, "Do not ordain anyone hastily" (I Timothy 5:22).

This flies in the face of cultural understandings of good leadership. Many modern churches are looking for charismatic leaders who will bring more people and, thus, more revenue and influence to the church. Our entertainment-driven culture votes for the next American Idol styled preacher not on content, but on likeability.

The local church is to hold their leadership to the qualifications outlined in Scripture, regardless of cultural understandings or man-made documents (Proverbs 3:5-8). This is Christ's church; thus, Christ has full authority in heaven and on earth to establish the structure of His church. The reason, Paul informs Titus, is to avoid error in the teachings of empty talkers and deceivers with hearts rebellious to the authority of Christ (Titus 1:10).

The Christ-Centered Pastor
There are true followers of Jesus Christ that struggle with many of the characteristics pastors are to avoid. This is why it is important for a pastor to display a mature faith in Christ Jesus: that the pastor would lead biblically for sinful people to follow. The pastor is to display for the people he leads the transformative power of the gospel of Jesus Christ that matures toward Christ-likeness, a "knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness" (Titus 1:1).

When I was in seminary, I desired simply to study to become a research professor. This occupation demands my attention on a few select areas of research and teaching, providing ample time to prepare for lessons for students.

The pastorate is not similar to academic work in this regard. Although I would contend that the pastor ought to be a scholar and a scholar can be a pastor, the pastor is called to wear many hats and be competent in God's Word regarding many topics. Furthermore, the pastor can be and will be called upon without warning to perform. Broken marriages, sudden death of a loved one, a congregant's struggle with a passage, and grievous public sins are all encountered by pastors and demand bold, biblical understanding without time to prepare.

This is important for understanding such strict qualifications for pastors. Any false teaching or major character flaw that contradicts the maturing power of the gospel of Jesus Christ could lead a whole congregation toward destruction. The pastor's counsel and teaching will breathe from the air of his doctrine, which is to be observed in his living and reputation within and outside the church.

Experienced Pastors
So, we might observe that Paul places the bar fairly high for pastors. However, Paul is not expecting perfection rather than that the man of God be an honorable man ("above reproach"). The very reason the local church is not to ordain men hastily is for the people of God to observe his life before appointing him as overseer.

Although there are no age limits mentioned, the pastor is not to be a recent convert and, taking the qualifications as a whole, not to be someone inexperienced in life. Paul tells Timothy not to let the congregation despise him for his youth (I Timothy 4:12). This of course means that the office of pastor is not simply for men long in the tooth, but Paul's mentioning this to Timothy and not as a rebuke to the congregation does seem to suggest that Timothy's youth was an exception rather than standard. Furthermore, Paul tells young Timothy in this same verse that he is to be held to a standard of his speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.

When I applied to hundreds of vocational church positions in seminary, the overwhelming majority of pastor search committees turned me down due to a lack of experience. Although frustrating, I understand the hesitation. Many small congregations are searching for a pastor rather than a preacher, and some of them had a rough separation from their previous leader. For the local church to ordain an honorable man of good repute, he must have displayed these qualifications in Scripture already. Local churches are to trust this man's reputation of mature Christian living prior to entering his pastoral ministry.

The pastorate is to be a noble task joyfully desired, but remains a laborious task. He is to know his theology and actively practice theology. Thus, the pastorate is open only to such qualified men of Christian experience in maturity.

Public scandals of grievous immorality of church leaders intrigues a mocking world that waits to promote evidence to the falsity of the Christian faith and use this evidence to justify their unbelief. At the very least, such scandalous acts of immorality ought to serve as disqualifiers for the pastorate. This does not suggest a loss of salvation, but no longer meeting Christ's standards to lead a local church He heads.

This is a presidential election year. Often, I hear phrases such as, "the person's private life has nothing to do with how he will lead the country." However, the pastor is to be an honest man worthy of honor in his reputation. He is not perfect, but the man of God is not ashamed of the Word he diligently studies and is equipped by (I Timothy 2:15), displaying for the church and the world the moral character of a mature Christian.


Image Credit: Vincent Van Gogh, "Shepherd with a Flock of Sheep," Soumaya Museum, Mexico City

He Must Hold Firm

This is the first lesson of several on a new series on the biblical qualifications for pastors, and I encourage you to read this article (click here) first.

Paul had written to Titus to appoint elders in Cretan towns just as Paul directed Titus. Paul was concerned about Crete. There were "many" teaching unsound doctrine in Christian circles that must be confronted, silenced, and rebuked sharply in hopes they will be sound in faith. Otherwise, these false teachers will lead some astray, just as they have already upset the brethren. Thus, Paul directs Titus to appoint pastors in local churches who "must hold firm to the trustworthy Word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it" (Titus 1:9).

I am certain that many in the laity today hold onto unsound doctrine while sitting under pastors of sound doctrine. I love the sheep that I am privileged by God to shepherd, yet I know that many of them believe doctrines contradictory to the Scriptures. I am deeply concerned for them, as we live in a digital age where we have instant access to information. Blogs, sermon mp3s, and teaching videos from celebrity pastors could easily upset the faith of the laity. Christian facebook pages put out Bible verses out of context or express fortune cookie, self-centered quips that contradict biblical truths. As a pastor, I am called to confront, silence, and sharply rebuke such teachers and teachings in favor of sound doctrine just as Paul instructed Titus.

This brings us to why Paul confronts teachers and not laity. Laity founds the faith on the Word of God preached, not the craftiness of the preacher. Christ commands that those in such position ought to hold firm to the true doctrines of Christianity so that those sitting under the preaching and teaching of the Word of God have a faith that comes by hearing the Word of God. Preachers and teachers are held to a higher account (James 3:1); therefore, not many are called to that position in the church. Many people will desire the position to teach and preach the Word, but few of those would meet the qualifications for the position.

In our society, we admire ambition and drive. We appoint people to leadership because they want the position so badly and perhaps have administrative qualities. If the person has a charismatic charm and a drive to succeed, well they are appointed to leadership. This not only speaks of the business world, but also in many churches. Business meetings and pastor search committees appoint Sunday School teachers, youth directors, and even pastors simply because someone wanted the position.

The problem with this is that many brethren will be upset in the faith and led astray if ambition rather than sound theology is the measuring stick to successful church leadership. If there is an important phrase for pastor search committees to learn from Scripture, it is that not all who desire church positions are qualified for those positions. Paul commands Titus to appoint pastors in local churches that hold firm to sound doctrine in the Word of God and meet certain qualifications. If the first (sound doctrine) is taken seriously, the second (meeting qualifications) will be heavily scrutinized during the search process for pastor positions in local churches.

It is important for Christians to know that the pastor is not just a preacher/teacher. If he is simply available to preach and teach at a building, he has neglected his position. Paul outlines characteristics that reveal maturity in the Word for pastors to meet prior to becoming a pastor. The pastor is the disciple-maker in chief, if you will. He is to be a one-woman man and manage his household well because the pastor is the local church counselor for marriage and the home with the Word of God and not worldly wisdom. He is not to be violent, quick-tempered, or a drunk because he will be teaching the Word of God to such sinners and calling for repentance. Thus, he is not to be a hypocrite.

The pastor is to hold firm to sound doctrine of the inerrant Word of God so as to teach only the truthful wisdom of God and not the wisdom of men. Often, many pastors cave into the temptation to teach simply from experience or personal perception, clouting the truth of God's Word and confusing those who listen to them, even if the hearers have their ears scratched and think they hear "simple truths." Paul warns us not to appoint such people as pastor. Pastors faithful to the Word of God as inerrant and authoritative are humble messengers who silence the "empty talkers and deceivers." The pastor is to be the example to the flock speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), being strong and courageous with the Word of God (Joshua 1:9). With the love of truth, the pastor is to encourage biblical godliness and rebuke sin and those contradicting biblical teachings.

Dear reader, is your pastor strong and courageous in the Word of God? Is he teaching the truth of the Word or his own experience/perception of it? Does his life reflect or contradict the truth of God's Word? Does he teach truth and correct error with the Bible or from his own thoughts and leaning on his own understanding? God commands to only appoint pastors over us that hold firm to the trustworthy, excellent, and perfect Word of God, teaching sound doctrine, giving counsel with the Word of God, and rebuking those who contradict the truth.