Page 6 - May 2023 - Truth & Tidings

“ lease submit your resume, and do not” (Mat 23:2-3). He enjoined them to
1
once we have reviewed it, we may
recognize the position of leadership even
Pcall you for an interview.” Then though the men failed to live as they ought
you look over the job description: long to. Those men would be held accountable
hours, loss of sleep, being misunderstood, for their own failure; my responsibility is
criticism to be expected, heart-wrenching to observe what they say when it is in ac-
decisions to be made. Do I really want cordance with the Word of God.
this work? Another consideration is that in small
The above is certainly not the way in assemblies God works with what is avail-
which the Spirit of God raises up men able. A man may not be apt to teach, but
to fulfill the work of leadership in an as- circumstances require that he rise to the
sembly. But He has given us at least two, work of leading the assembly. This reflects
a weakness among us that we cannot deny.
if not three, descriptions majoring on the But keep in mind that the vast majority of
character of the men He chooses to make qualifications are moral and spiritual, and
leaders in the assembly. Those lists are not related to gift. Thankfully, God is far
found in Acts 20:25-35, 1 Timothy 3:1-7 more gracious than we are.
and Titus 1:5-9. In addition, Scriptures Having hopefully dismissed one or
such as Isaiah 40:11, John 21:15-17, 1 Thes- two wrong concepts concerning the
salonians 5:14-15, 1 Peter 5:1-4, Hebrews purpose of these lists, the question can
13:17, and others focus more on the work be asked, “What is their purpose?” As
of the overseer. suggested, it is a list of qualifications by
The purpose of those Scriptures that which I judge myself and any aspirations
deal with the qualifications of leaders I may have for the work of leadership in
must be understood in their context. This an assembly. How do we approach the
is not a checklist for me to hold up against qualifications? I think they can be divided
those in leadership in my assembly. This into a few groups. I will use 1 Timothy 3
is a list by which I judge myself if I am in as the backbone for our consideration but
leadership or aspire to that work (1Ti 3:1). will interweave some of what we have in
Many have used the lists of qualifications Titus 1 as well.
as an excuse to dismiss a leader’s moral Traits that Are Essential
right to guide the assembly, insisting that “Blameless” heads the list of 11 moral
they can disregard anything said by a qualities, six that are positive and five that
particular man because “he is not really are negative. The word “blameless” occurs
an overseer according to 1 Timothy 3:1-4.” a total of three times in the letter (3:2; 5:7;
Please remember what the Lord Jesus 6:14 – “unrebukable”) and carries the
thought of being beyond reproach or un-
told His disciples. They were challenged assailable. No charge can be substantiated
by the scribes and Pharisees and their against him. He is marked by self-control
hypocrisy. Yet He instructed them, “The and a sense of the seriousness of life. He
scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ is not influenced by alcohol or avarice,
seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid power or place. “Given to hospitality” in
you observe, that observe and do; but do ¹ Bible quotations in this article are from the
not ye after their works: for they say, and KJV.

134 TRUTH kTidings May 2023