Notes: Qualified Christian Leaders

Qualified Christian Leaders

Henry Reyenga

Character Grounded Leaders

In the early church, all the positions were voluntary, but the apostle Paul laid out qualifications for leadership positions. These qualifications did not focus on any specific role in the church. They focused on character. The leaders needed to be those who walked with God and displayed the fruits in their lives. Paul gives these qualifications in 1 Timothy 3.

Character Expectation for Thriving Leaders

Traditionally, these qualifications are applied to official church leaders, and I like that. But I want to challenge students who are called to any enterprise to aspire to these expectations. If you are coming out of a difficult past, these expectations will transform your life if you live them. If you are called to be a Christian business leader, these qualifications will help keep you safe from behavior that will discredit you. If you are married, you will thrive more in your loving commitment to your spouse.

Qualifications for the Offices of Elder and Deacon

The ordained positions of elder and deacon were instituted in the early church. The Ordained Elder and Deacon are the foundation of all leadership in the church of Christ. Out of this leadership structure, bi-vocational leaders emerge. This is why the Christian Leaders Institute puts a premium on a local connection, mentorship, and sponsorship. If someone senses the call to ministry, the local church members, their leaders, and others have seen the truth of their walk and faith. If at a local level, prospective students do not have the confidence of their faith community, those students may want to seriously consider whether God has called them to church ministry.

Appropriate to want to be a Leader?

Is it appropriate to want to be ordained? Is it appropriate to want to give leadership in any enterprise?  These are important questions. Some will argue that wanting ordination to be a deacon, elder, or pastor is not something someone should do. The Bible encourages believers to go as far as they can in serving the Lord.

Paul says to Timothy in 1 Timothy 3:1, "Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.” If that someone is you, and you sense the urgency to serve God in a great capacity, that is something you should explore.

1  Timothy 3:1-7   "Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.  2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self–controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,  3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.  4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect.  5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)  6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.  7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap." 

1  Timothy 3:8-13 "In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.  9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.  10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.  11   In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.  12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well.  13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus." 

Leaders Who Stay Out of Trouble

"Not arrested” is the literal Greek translation. "Not arrested” could be an objective qualification, but the key question here is how are you staying out of trouble in areas that will hurt the gospel ministry. In other words, are you keeping sinful practices away from you? Are you seeking to be well respected by your community of residence? If you have a reputation for greedy or immoral activity in your community and people can come forward presently to accuse you of shady activities, this is inconsistent with the ministry. 

Leaders Who Do Not Practice Polygamy

Polygamy was practiced in Bible times, and it was present in the early church. Polygamy was practiced by many of the converts from Judaism - especially the wealthy. And while these new converts to Christianity may have continued to practice polygamy, Christian leaders in the church were disqualified for participating in this practice. 

Leaders Who Are Sober or Temperate in Attitude

This qualification is not talking about drunkenness; that topic is still to come. This qualification has to do with judgment. Are you circumspect in your reasoning? Are you balanced in how you evaluate yourself and others? If you "always” jump to conclusions, if you are "too positive," or "too negative,” that is something you want to be aware of as you learn ways to be more balanced.

Leaders Who Act Orderly and Respectable

The Greek word here comes from the word Kosmos which means literally "order.” Christian leaders who are called to the pastorate have certain orderly and respectable traits to them. For instance, are you on time or are you habitually late to meetings? Is your dress appropriate for those that you are called to reach? Do people respect your opinion?

Leaders Who Are Friendly to Everyone

This Greek word is a combination of two words. The first word, filos, means friend. The second word (xenos) means people, strangers, foreigners. Leaders called into the ministry are friendly and welcoming to people that are currently not part of the group. Many times this is considered by some not to be as important a character trait, yet this has everything to do with your character. Hospitality is about showing someone love, even someone you do not know.

Leaders Who Are Willing to Teach or Mentor

Many times leaders think that this refers to teaching or preaching at a program or a worship service. There are lots of ways to teach or mentor. Church leaders see the need to pass on the faith and the lifestyle of Christianity. If you are called to be a pastor, this qualification applies to you. If you are a preacher, you will take this seriously in your calling. This qualification means that you will always be walking with God, learning his Word and sharing what your walk and learning bring to others

Leaders Who Are Not Given to Addictions

This Greek word explicitly talks about "wine,” literally "not near wine,” referring to drunkenness. This needs to be taken metaphorically as well. Pastors and church planters have to stay away from addictive behavior. This is challenging because addictive behavior comes in many sizes and colors. Many pastors have struggled over the centuries with various addictions. It seems like the evil one attacks in this area ferociously. The common addictions today have a lot to do with what technology brings into society.

Leaders Who Are Not Violent

The Greek word used here literally means "not a striker.” It means someone who is not given to violent outbursts or angry blasts. Pastors and leaders are not given to revenge or payback. Hate and anger are not the operating systems of a pastoral personality. Have you ever seen a pastor or leader exhibit a violent outrage?  This outrage will bring harm to their ministry more than it will make some point to the person they offended.

Leaders Who Are Not Greedy Misers

The literal meaning of the Greek word here is "base or selfish gain.” In other words, leaders who are solely motivated by what they get financially or in other forms of repayment are not qualified to be pastors. While the apostle Paul writes that the worker deserves his wages, there is a fine line here between career and calling. You should not become a pastor because you think it is a nice job where you will get paid well.

Leaders Who Are Self-Aware in Their Gentleness

The Greek word here is "appropriate.” By implication, this word is translated as gentle, mild, or patient. We need to add one more dimension to that word, and that dimension is self-awareness in your responses. In every relationship and every church, things will happen, and maybe even offensive words will be said to you. Many times someone will treat the pastor in a way that gives the pastor a clue of what is needed.

Leaders Who Love Peace

Some people have to win every fight and be right about every issue. This does not make a good pastor. While some fights are crucial to win, most fights are not worth the time required to get involved. The apostle Paul encourages us to live in peace with others. He writes in Romans 12:18, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

Leaders Who Are Not Covetous

This is a "killer” in ministry. The Greek word here means "wishing for more silver.” It refers to thoughts and desires that will sink your ministry calling. The fact is that you will never have enough money. You will never have the perfect church; you will never have the perfect family or spouse. Where you are now may not be as good as where you were a year ago. Imagining that the future may be better than now may not help you. Effective Christian leaders are content even while they are seeking to improve. Called leaders are to be content with who they are and where they are.

Leaders who Lead in Their Homes and Are Respected

The issues of leadership are a microcosm of the issues of leadership in any church setting. If you can give appropriate leadership in your family, including your spouse, this will directly translate to the church.

If your children do not see that you are a biblical leader who commands respect, people outside your family will have a hard time seeing that as well. All the issues of your leadership have a foundation in your family.

Leaders Who are Settled in Their Walk and Doctrine

The apostle Paul observed many early leaders who fell away from the faith. If you are called to ministry, you want to be settled in your walk and your doctrine. Paul writes in 1 Timothy 3:6, "He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.” When you are unsettled in your walk or doctrine, you are open to attitudes and ideas that leave the biblical worldview.

Leaders Who are Settled in Their Walk and Doctrine

If you or your spouse are a recent convert, go slowly into pursuing your ministry calling. Later in 1 Timothy 3, the apostle Paul encourages that deacons be tested. "They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons." (1 Timothy 3:9-10)

Leaders Who Are Respected in Their Community of Relationships

The same principle applies here that applies to a leader's family. If someone is interacting with people and they see that that leader is fair and honest, this is an indicator that this person could be qualified to be a pastor. On the other hand, if the community has experienced that the leader treats people badly, one would question if the person is ready to be a pastor or church leader.