THE BODY OF CHRIST
THE
ORDER OF THE BODY OF CHRIST – PART 19
The
Elders – Qualifications
In these
lessons, we will look at the Divine qualifications for the ones who would be
shepherds of the Lord’s body. Please note, and use the
“Quick Glance chart of the Qualifications of Elders” also
provided with this portion of this study.
We will
look into these qualifications in a semi-organized way; looking at some of
the basic elements first (A Man, Desires the Work), then the domestic
qualifications (Husband of one wife, rules his own house well, number of
children required, and faithful children), and finally all the other
qualifications.
With
these things in mind, let’s get started!
Lover
of Good –
Titus 1:8
“but hospitable, a lover of what is good,
sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled"
This refers
to one who loves good things, good events, good character, good people and
those who are doing, teaching, and accomplishing good.
Men who possess this
qualification will do all within their power to encourage others in the
performance of that which is good; every good talent of the
Body of Christ must be developed
and used. This is how the work that the Head (Christ Jesus), gives the body,
is accomplished.
Ephesians 4:16
“from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by
what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every
part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in
love.”
Just –
Titus 1:8
“but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded,
just, holy, self-controlled"
This
specific qualification may well be one of the least spoken of; and yet, one
of the most important needed in this list of qualifications. By definition,
the just man is observant of right, righteous, equal, even, strict, exact,
and rendering to each his due.
The
weight of this qualification is found in a judicial nature. I want to be
clear that this judicial practice is not the rendering of judgment on the
soul that is the exclusive purview of the Lord; but sense of judicial
prudence for the safety of the flock of God, the righteous removal of the
disorderly and divisive (Romans
6:17-18;
2
Thessalonians 3:6), and finally the ability to judge accurately
the spiritual needs of the flock (individually and as a whole; admonishing
or encouraging).
This man
will not render judgments or decisions until all the facts are known. The
just man will do all within his power to see brethren within his influence
stop the practices of murmuring, disputing, complaining, and or speaking to
gain advantage (Philippians
2:14;
Jude
16). In addition, he will act as a spiritual source of
restoration for the sheep lost in its ways (Galatians
6:1).
All of this
just observance will be something he would perform for the sheep; great or
small, without prejudice, or personal feeling. The only source and
guide he would use in all measures of the flocks health and safety would be
the given word of God!
Holy –
Titus 1:8
“but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded,
just, holy, self-controlled"
The word
generally translated “holy” in
the Bible is used here, and means, pious, devout, set apart to God. It is
very similar to the terms ‘sanctified’, which is also a term describing the
unique removal from all but God. All of us are to learn to be set apart from
the worldly affairs and become true servants of the Most High God through
Jesus Christ (in the sense that we are in the world – work, interaction with
others, etc… but not of the world – we are not bound to serve any physical
thing over the Most High God).
Romans 12:1-2
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of
God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
2
And do not
be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what
is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
This man is
given in every way to what has been revealed in the word of God, the way
that God has revealed it, for the purpose God has given it, and because it
was from God!
Not
Given to Wine –
1 Timothy 3:3
“not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for
money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous”
Titus 1:7
“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”
The primary
use of this instruction is to denote “One who sits long at his wine” and
means to be drunken, and addicted to wine. Many translations give it an
additional meaning of “quarrelsome over wine”; hence to be a brawler or
abusive in drunkenness.
In fact,
the two ideas of “sitting long at wine” and “quarrelsome over wine” go hand
in hand, as one usually leads to the other.
A man
considered to be an elder is not the caliber of person who would put himself
in a situation whereby he sits long at anything that controls his conduct
against other qualifications such as “vigilant”, “self-controlled”, and “not
contentious”. In fact, this instruction has the same weight to every
Christian in the same way!
Self-Controlled –
1 Timothy 3:2
“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one
wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to
teach”
Titus 1:8
“but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded,
just, holy, self-controlled"
We actually
covered most of this in Lesson 16, under “Temperate”, note:
“The basic
idea of this qualification is “Having the mastery over, having possession
of, or having control over oneself”; to be self-disciplined. The idea
of vigilance or temperance is the quality where one has control of himself
towards moderation of all that is lawful.
This
potential candidate for shepherding God’s house is to be in control of his
temper, his tongue, his desires, his recreation, his working time, etc… He
is to be a man of moderation because he has control over himself, and is
self-disciplined.”
It is an
extremely important topic of conduct among potential men for the work of
elders. It is a mandatory issue in the proper relationship with God, the
Christ of God, to the civil government, to other Christians, to false
teachers, to his parents, his children, his mate, to the elderly, to those
he may serve with as elders, and even to his enemies. He is to be in control
of himself, especially in light of his being able to allow the teaching of
God through Christ Jesus to rule his heart and conduct. This also means that
he is not controlled by the love of money, power, prestige, or any of the
like. This would prevent any outside power to dissuade him from the duties
he has been given to shepherd the flock under the Great Shepherd of our
souls.
Concluding Thoughts –
1 Timothy 3:10
“But let these also first be tested; then let them
serve as deacons, being found blameless.”
As Paul
moves on to speak of Deacons, he implies that the elders were first proved
before they served in the capacity of shepherd; in other words, they had
been in the flock long enough for the brethren to know their works.
Both the
man being considered as an elder, and the Christians who are going to have
to submit to him as an elder have the responsibility of scrutinizing the man
being considered before he assumes that responsibility (by the given
qualifications, not by opinion, subjective thought, like, or dislike).
The failure
of the Body of Christ to frankly
teach these qualifications, and to use the instruction again frankly in
application to those who may be considered, undermines everything that the
Spirit of God has done to enlighten the Body to God’s order in Christ.
We know by
the specific nature and the complete coverage of the character of those who
would serve as elders that they could not come to be able to demonstrate
these traits in their lives in a short period of time. It must be impressed
upon the minds of the young men and the middle aged men in the
Body of Christ that they begin
to know and develop the characteristics of these shepherds now! That they
may have already demonstrated, by the time of consideration, these
qualities. This is the preparatory wisdom found in
Titus 2:1-10 which allows the perpetual order of the
Body of Christ, and its
soundness in practice always!
Next: “Appointment of Elders!”