I Timothy 3:1-7
We have learned that if a man desires to be a pastor that he desires a good work. It is truly a work. To truly be a pastor is not a position for a lazy man. We have looked at some of the oppositions to pastors. This world is against a true pastor. There is always much pressure in these areas to compromise. Whether it be for popularity or for numbers. Even to be like the church down the road. But the church down the road may or may not be biblical. We live in a culture where men are lovers of themselves, and they have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof. They do not want to hear the truth. This puts much pressure on a pastor. There is a constant pulling and pressure to compromise. It is very important and beneficial for a church to truly pray for their pastor. Though pastoring comes with many testing with trials, it is also very rewarding. It is great to see the Lord save souls, and then to watch people grow in the Lord. This is a great joy. It is great that men would desire the office of a bishop, but men must also be qualified. These qualifications are from the Lord, they are not made up by men. Many do not abide by these qualifications and many more try and reinterpret the meaning of these Biblical qualifications. The Scriptures mean the same thing today as they did when they were written.
I do want to say what I have heard many older pastors say, "If you can quit pastoring and preaching, go ahead and quit." If you can quit then you weren't called by God. We are thankful for the desire God gives a man to pastor, and we are also thankful that God has given clear qualifications for who can and can't pastor. We must have this desire, and we must meet the qualifications. Some view pastoring as just a way to make a living, others view it as a life calling. I can remember when many young men were surrendering to the ministry at the church my family and I were attending. I went to my pastor and talked to him about the desire I had to pastor, and he gave me great advise. He didn't tell me that others were also coming to him about the same things. I understand why now. Within a year, 10 men surrendered to the ministry. Not all of us were truly called by the Lord into the ministry. Some just jumped on that wagon because it was popular at the time. The majority of us are still preaching and teaching today.
With this being said, let's get into verse 2 of I Timothy, "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach." The word "Bishop" "episkopos" in this verse is used of officers in the local churches, overseers, superintendents. A bishop is a watchman. He is to know his flock and is to be able to see which direction the flock needs to be going. We know the flock should always be going in the direction of the Bible, but where in the Bible does the flock need to be corporately feeding? The pastor must recognize this and must lead in the way that most benefits the flock and honours God. He must be vigilant in overseeing the flock and he must be constant in prayer. One of the best ways to feed the flock is by going verse by verse through a book of the bible. The church learns the whole bible, not just bits and pieces here and there.
The bishop, pastor, must be blameless. "Blameless" in this verse means unrebukeable, blameless- Without fault; innocent; guiltless; not meriting censure. This is not speaking of sinless perfection, for then no one could be a pastor. Neither is this speaking of the life before salvation. If you took into consideration the life lived before salvation, I don't know of any one that could pastor. If you looked at Paul's life before salvation he was disqualified from pastoring. So, it is obvious this verse is speaking after salvation. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new," II Corinthians 5:17. Jesus saves the vilest offenders and puts us into the ministry. "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God," I Corinthians 6:9-11. I am thankful God saves these kinds of people and puts them into His ministry.
The pastor must live a life above reproach. His actions and speech should not bring censure against him. He shouldn't put himself in a position to cause people to doubt. Please understand that wicked people will devise wicked lies about the people of God. People will gossip and hope the pastor fails. When a pastor fails it makes the wicked feel better about their wickedness. In knowing this, the pastor should be that much more careful and watchful over his own life. It isn't just himself that he is representing. When the pastor fails, he brings reproach upon the name of Christ, and upon the church he is pastoring.
The pastor should never put himself in a compromising situation. Here are some examples. He should never be alone with another woman. He must set up hedges of protection. Some may seem a little ridiculous, but they are beneficial to all. The pastor is to be available to all, but he must use wisdom and extreme caution with his availability. Where the pastor goes is important. Remember, people are looking for a reason to talk about the pastor. Don't give them a reason. We must understand that the pastor is a man, he is not perfect, and he will make mistakes. This is not an excuse to make mistakes. Blameless is the first qualification. It applies to the rest of the qualifications. If the pastor gives in to his flesh, he will have a hard time pastoring. Our flesh is at enmity with God. Pray that your pastor will use godly wisdom in life and that he will always be crucifying his flesh. "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway," I Corinthians 9:27. A castaway is someone who is worthy of condemnation. Again, people are going to talk, and not everyone will like the pastor, but he should not give them a reason to gossip. A preacher should live what he preaches (Matthew 23:1-4).
Pray for your pastor. Lord willing we will pick up in verse 2 next week.
Please send questions and comments to richardsonbaptistchurch@gmail.com.
To God be the glory.
