Page 7 - May 2023 - Truth & Tidings

the context of first-century Christianity not make it an essential prerequisite. The
would mean far more than inviting believ- benefit to marriage is that by ministering
ers to your home for a meal, but it certainly to his wife in their marriage, he is able to
embraces an open home, heart and hand. learn a woman’s sensitivities and makeup.
“Apt to teach” is the only item which This will enable him to serve the needs of
suggests “gift.” Ephesians 4:11 does say the sisters in the fellowship more capably.
that the “pastor-teacher” himself is a Also, learning to blend firmness and love
gift to the Body. But the linking of “apt in raising his children will serve him well
to teach” with hospitality in 1 Timothy 3 in dealing with the believers in the as-
tends to suggest that this is not so much sembly. What is vital is that he be a man
a gift of public teaching but of being able who is able to be faithful in his affections
to give personal instruction to the saints – whether unmarried, married or remar-
of God. Titus’ requirement that he be able ried – and balanced in his approach to
to exhort the believers and muzzle the leadership. “Ruling his own house well”
gainsayers further supports the thought of will serve as a training ground for “taking
a more personal approach to teaching. He care” of the church of God. He cannot save
also adds to the list the awareness of the his children, but he must be able to display
leader’s role as a steward of the people of authority in the home, having “faithful”
God (Titus 1:7), a lover of good men, just, children who own his authority, if he is
pious and temperate. going to wisely handle authority in the
Titus lists five negative and seven assembly.
positive traits. There is the balancing of The Truth of God
the natural tendency of assertiveness and He is a man who is marked by faithful-
aggression. He is not controlled by aggres- ness: “Holding fast the faithful word as
siveness, alcohol, anger, abuse or avarice. he hath been taught” (Titus 1:9). In his
Training in the Home address to the Ephesian elders, Paul com-
The matters of marriage and fam- mended them to God and the Word of His
ily have generated the most controversy grace. Here is the material with which the
among some believers and teachers. Does leader must occupy himself, and with
a man have to be married? If his wife is which he must lead and feed the people
taken home to heaven, can he remarry? of God. The writer to the Hebrews concurs
What does it mean to be a “one-woman with this principle when he reminds the
man”? Must he have children? Must believers of their past leaders “who have
those children be saved? And what hap- spoken unto you the word of God” (Heb
pens if one of his children who was once 13:7).
in fellowship drifts away into the world? Those who lead the people of God must
Should he step away from leadership? be men of the Book, men who are able to
What does it mean to “rule his own house feed the people of God, whether privately
well”? Are his children expected to be per- or publicly. Each admonition to shepherds
fect? You can probably add permutations begins with a call to “feed the flock” (Joh
and combinations to these if you have 21:15; Act 20:28; 1Pe 5:2; Isa 40:11 and, in
moved amongst assemblies for any time. contrast, Eze 34:2).
While it is valuable for a man to be mar- The Test of Experience
ried and have a family, the wording does “Not a novice” is mentioned because
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