The Overseer…

October 31, 2006 | 11:49 PM

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

-1 Timothy 3:1-13

Today in my Urban Church Planting class we discussed three principles from this passage.  Character issues of the pastor/overseer/deacon.

• The Word judges you; You don’t judge the Word: You don’t force a topic on the Scripture.  You let the Scripture speak for itself.
• An overseer must be a likeable guy.  How many of our televangelists disqualify themselves from the office of overseer simply because they are angry men who yell at everybody instead of speaking in love?
• People have to trust your judgment.  And this will take a long time.

I wonder how many people are disqualified from pastorship based on the lesser-emphasized characteristic of being a likeable guy.

Posted in Ethics, Theology