QT 6 Jun 16, 1 Tim 3:1-7, Do we pick the right people for church leaders?

1 Tim 3:1-7 (ESV) The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

NOTE: In the qualifications for an Elder (or overseer), there is a lot to consider. One thought stand out to me on first blush. The idea of respectability, as it is mentioned repeatedly in different contexts. An elder is someone that others look up to as a good example of a godly man. I did not say a religious man, for a man who exudes religiosity is the worst type of many for an elder or church leader. It has to be the internal nature that is seen: a gentle, hospitable, un-quarrelsome, and humble man. He must not be works-oriented or dogmatic, for then he could not be the type man described here. In fact, he must be well-thought of by outsiders (unbelieving persons), and most men characterized by religiosity and over-emphasis on rules and works are not considered well by outsiders. They are considered harsh, cruel, pompous, and usually a hypocrite as well. The devil is mentioned twice because he tries to get the wrong person into the position. Satan wants to destroy the witness of the church. He does it in many ways, but one way is to exalt the wrong type of character in the church. He exalts the prideful religious man. God exalts the humble and gently godly man.