We last discussed an overview of the Book of Titus. Now it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty! Understand, for some people this will be shocking, for others you may have known these things but have not applied them. Then there will be those that it will be the first time they have even heard about these things. Either way, it will give us an understanding of what God expects of our Pastors. Actually, all of us!
So, let’s start with the Pastors!
We might as well just dive right in. When we speak of pastors, we are also including elders and church leadership. Titus was left to appoint church leadership and Paul was very specific about the guidelines that needed to be followed in order to select the right people. I think it’s best if we just read what Chapter One says. Titus 1 (CSB) – The reason I left you (blueletterbible.org)
The reason I left you in Crete was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders in every town. An elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, with faithful children who are not accused of wildness or rebellion. As an overseer of God’s household, he must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not an excessive drinker, not a bully, not greedy for money, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it
Well, those verses are pretty self-explanatory, and they are a bit hard to swallow. Think about it, does your pastor fit every aspect of what is described in these verses? What about the elders of your church? Youth Pastor? Worship minister?
But times have changed!
Of course, they have changed. Life changes, nothing stays the same. We have all changed throughout our lives and walk with Christ. But God has not changed. His word has remained the same. Not to mention, this is New Testament scripture, it falls under the New Covenant. As believers we are part of the new covenant, the blood covenant that Jesus cut with us. Listen if you were an Old Testament high priest and you walked into the Holy of Holies unholy, you would have been struck dead. That’s why High Priests of that day had a rope attached to them that allowed them to be pulled out. That is how serious God was about those who are in leadership during that time. So, it is a good thing that times have changed especially in that regard, but as we can see in Titus, He is still very matter of fact about what he wants, and it applies to today.
That is expecting too much!
But is it really? Have you heard the saying “do as I say, not as I do”? Do you want someone leading you, mentoring you and discipling you that was not following what God requires of them? In essence telling you what to do but not doing it themselves. The term for that is hypocrite. Ok, you can tink of it this way, would you want to take a tour of London from a tour guide that has never been there? Would you take parenting advice from someone who has had their children removed? Would you have your car repaired by someone who has never been trained? It’s basically the same thing. God is requiring things of them that will allow them to stand upright and be diligent in regard to their holiness, so that they are able to teach us to live in a manner that is acceptable & pleasing to God.
I could break down all of the guidelines & we could spend days on each one. But again, they are self-explanatory so take another look at the list and see which you think God is ok letting slide?
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