Would You Be A Good Elder?

“...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)

Do you want to be an overseer someday?

I’m sure we can all name multiple churches who are currently suffering from an ineffective eldership - either from lack of quantity or from lack of quality. In a lot of ways, the churches of Christ are facing a difficult future. Just a little over a short century ago, the churches in the Restoration movement were one of the fastest growing groups in America; now, many young people either leave the church or display a lackadaisical faith as they mature. Every year, so many churches of Christ are shrinking both in overall number and in the number of mature, able-bodied men. Our churches need us. They need us to step up and be leaders now, and they also need us to grow into future leaders - leaders like Paul described to Titus. The odds are very high that we’ll be in churches who need deacons and/or overseers someday. Let’s carefully consider every choice we make now; we are either laying a foundation for a future of service in the kingdom of God or we are laying the foundation of a lukewarm, wasted life. Paul writes, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that elders should be men who: 1. Have a stellar reputation among the brethren (above reproach) 2. Have a successful marriage (one wife) 3. Have raised children who are faithful Christians (children are believers) 4. Have children who are self-disciplined and chaste (not open to the charge of debauchery) 5. Have children who are respectful of authority (not open to the charge of insubordination) 6. Are humble (not arrogant) 7. Are patient (not quick-tempered) 8. Are sober-minded; not addicted to mind-altering substances (not a drunkard) 9. Are willing to talk through problems (not violent) 10. Are content with their financial situation (not greedy for gain) 11. Are proactive in socializing with and caring for others (hospitable) 12. Love righteousness and right-thinking (lover of good) 13. Are self-controlled 14. Are upright (upstanding; model Christian & model citizen) 15. Are holy (live pure, God-fearing lives in private & in public) 16. Have consistent, spiritually-oriented habits (disciplined) 17. Only stand for what is written (hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught) 18. Are able and willing to instruct those who will listen (able to give instruction in sound doctrine) 19. Are able and willing to withstand troublemakers and antagonists (able...to rebuke those who contradict [the truth]) Whether or not we become deacons/elders, I think it’s safe to say that God expects those qualities in a spiritual leader. Let’s make a special effort today to do something differently than we did yesterday that brings us closer to the standard Paul described to Titus.