This is Part 4 of the Biblical Leadership Series. Click here to go to Part 1.
Up to this point in our series, we have looked at what it means to be called by God to lead His people, what it means to be a great follower, first, and the purpose of the biblical leadership roles of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and others. Now, we will shift our focus toward the biblical qualifications for leadership in the church.
The Heart of the Matter
All throughout scripture, God gives insights into the characteristics and qualifications He expects from His leaders. While the world looks at a person’s resume and list of accomplishments, God puts His emphasis elsewhere. Just as He spoke to the prophet Samuel about anointing David as King:
“Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature… For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7
As we begin to look at the biblical qualification for leadership, pay close attention not only to what is there, but also what is not there. There is no requirement for a university degree or previous work experience.
All throughout scripture God calls leaders who, from the world’s perspective, were not good enough.
- Abraham was a coward who would lie and let his wife go with other men just so he wouldn’t be killed.
- Moses was a royal-reject turned sheep herder.
- David was an adulterer and murderer.
- Jeremiah was a man filled with depression.
- Amos was a humble farmer.
- Peter, James, and John were peasant fishermen (Acts 4:13 – “uneducated” and “common”).
- Other disciples were tax-collectors (traitors to Israel), prostitutes, vigilantes (zealots), former demoniacs, and other sinners (Matthew 9:19).
However, when the transformational power of the Holy Spirit comes into a person, their lives are reshaped completely. As has been said many times, “God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called.”
The Scriptures
As we turn our attention to the qualifications God requires, there are two specific ones that give exhaustive lists. The first is in 1 Timothy 3. Here, Paul is writing to his young protege, and newly appointed “senior pastor” to the church in Ephesus, Timothy. Paul had left Timothy in Ephesus for the purpose of equipping local leadership (1 Timothy 1:3-7), and gives him instructions as to what kind of person should be considered as a qualified candidate.
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
Paul repeats a similar list to another pastor named Titus, whom he had appointed to oversee the church in Crete.
This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
Titus 1:5-9
In addition to these two passages by Paul, I will also include another passage from the Apostle Peter, as we move forward in the following posts.
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
1 Peter 5:1-4
The Breakdown
Reading through these lists is a little overwhelming to say the least. In less than 500 words, these two biblical writers gave us no less than 39 qualifications for biblical leadership. Many of them were repeated multiple times.
As I was praying about how to explore these characteristics in-depth, the Holy Spirit began to show me 5 general categories, into which all of these qualities fit.
Now, please note that these 5 categories are simply used to help us think through these qualifications. In your own mind you might add or remove categories, and you might think I have misplaced some of them. All I can say is when you write your own blog on the subject, you can edit this list however you want.
The Spiritual Calling Qualifications
The first category that sticks out to me are the spiritual qualifications that are specific to the calling of becoming a leader. As we have discussed before, these are things like the person’s “desire” to be a leader in the church. They are to do it “not under compulsion, but willingly.” It requires the spiritual maturity that comes from an experience of life in Christ. Therefore a person should “not be a recent convert.”
They must also understand that their role is to be “God’s steward” of the whole church. They cannot only focus on the comfortable parts of ministry or the easy people to minister to. This is a voluntary role, that requires them to fully give themselves to God for the work.
The Capability Qualifications
Although we have already said that God does not (necessarily) require a university degree or prior work history to get the job, He still gives us some general qualifications regarding the capabilities necessary to lead His people.
These are things like having a deep understanding of the Word of God and “able to teach” doctrinal truths from the scriptures. This person must also be able to give oversight to the people of God, discipling them, guiding them into His truth and “rebuke those who contradict it.” This is done out of love, not a power grab over people’s lives (“not domineering”).
Don’t worry if you don’t naturally have gifts of teaching or leadership. All of these are God-empowered abilities that He will build in you if you are truly called.
The Family Qualifications
Coming to the most controversial area of the biblical qualifications for leadership, we see that God puts the demand on how the person leads their family first, before He will give them leadership in the church.
The writers deal with a biblical marriage. It is one man married to one woman. This rules out polygamy, which is still an area of contention in many parts of the world. It also rules out the ordaining of homosexuals to church leadership. We will deal with those issues more in a future post, as well as whether God will allow singles or women to lead in the church (my answer is yes to both).
There are also some ground rules about how this person raises their children. The leader must be able to guide their children into the faith and discipline them well, before God will allow them to take up those roles in the church.
The Emotional Qualifications
Before a person can lead others into the “mind of Christ,” they must first have their own emotional stability in the Lord. They must have a biblical mindset which guides how they live their lives and lead others. This includes things like being “sober-minded” and a “lover of good.” It also includes not being “quarrelsome”, “double-tongued,” or “greedy.”
Remember, your mindset is what guides everything else in your life. If the mindset is wrong, then the actions will not be stable.
The Character Qualifications.
The final category of qualifications deals with the person’s integrity and their reputation in the community. Not only will they be representing the Lord to the church, but they will also be representing the Lord and the church to the world outside. That is why they must be “above reproach” and “well thought of by outsiders.” They must live their lives “upright, holy, and disciplined.” That means they cannot be alcoholics or violent. They must keep a godly reputation with all.
This is not to advocate for a hypocritical lifestyle that lives one way in private and other way when people are looking. You cannot just put on a holy mask in public. Integrity is more about what happens when you are alone, when no one is watching.
Over the next few weeks we will look at each of these categories in-depth, and attempt to paint a picture of what biblically qualified leaders look like. This will help us to truly learn to be the leaders God calls us to be in the church. My advice is that you not let these lists lead you into condemnation for where you are lacking. Rather, let them guide you into the secret place with the Holy Spirit, asking Him to do a work inside you, filling in the gaps where you are lacking.
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© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.
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