MARK OF A PASTOR & PASTORAL ETHICS

Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 3:1-7

In Ministry Jesus is our Example
Our Lord Jesus was a leader with followers, even though He spoke of Himself as One who came to serve rather than to be served (Mark 10:45). He called a select group to Himself for training and preparation of “make disciples” after His departure (Matt. 28:18-20). Thus, Jesus selected and trained men to become leaders, even though He defined leadership for His disciples in contrast to the Gentile world (Mark 10:42-44). In the early Christian mission, leaders were appointed to oversee local churches (Acts 14:23; 20:17-38). Other roles of responsibility are seen in Acts 6 and 15. Christ is viewed as the “Head” of the church, to whom He has given gifted individuals to lead and serve the church with the goals of ministry, unity, and maturity (Eph. 4:11-16; Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12-14).

Pastoral qualifications
1 Timothy 3:1-7. The list of sixteen qualifications begins with the word “blameless” (NKJV). They stress four main requirements. First, personal character, second, the witness of the home, third, teaching ability, and fourth, a measure of experience. These are God’s standards for any who would exercise spiritual leadership in the local church. The word overseer (episkopes) referred to a pastor, elder, or anyone who exercised an overseeing position.

“He desires a good work”
1 Timothy 3:1, “This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.”

The words “bishop,” “pastor,” and “elder” are used interchangeably throughout the New Testament, Paul’s instructions concerning bishops apply to anyone who is called and wants to be used by the Lord. The ministry is not a profession; ministry is a good work indeed—but it’s work. If a man desires to be involved in a greater degree of ministry, he desires a good work—not a good position, not a good salary, but a good work.

To be a pastor is a high calling
To be a pastor is more than fulfilling a job, it is a high calling. Think of it out of more than six billion people on this planet earth, you were called by the God of heaven and God is using you to accomplish His plan and purpose.

“A pastor needs the tact of a diplomat, the strength of Samson, the patience of Job, the wisdom of Solomon and a cast-iron stomach.” (James Street 1903–1954)

A bishop must be blameless
1 Timothy 3:2, “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach”

This means that no charge of serious wrong can be sustained against him. It does not mean that he is sinless, but rather that if he does commit some fault, he makes it right with both God and man. If “blameless” meant “flawless,” we’d all be disqualified from ministry. Fortunately, the idea of blamelessness implies a heart that says, “Lord, I know I’m not perfect. But there’s nothing in my life I’m clinging to or holding on to which I know is contrary to You.”

David Dickson wrote, “The office and work being spiritual, it is necessary that elders should be spiritual men. It is not necessary that they be men of great gifts or worldly position, of wealth or high education; but it is indispensably necessary that they be men of God, at peace with him, new creatures in Christ Jesus.” (George Knight, The Pastoral Epistles, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1992), 158.

The husband of one wife
A bishop must be the husband of one wife. There are five views.

First, some say that a bishop must be married. The argument is that a single man would not have the proper experience to deal with family problems as they arise. If this expression means that a bishop must be married, then it must also be argued in verse 4 than an elder must have children as well, following the same line of reasoning.

Second, others hold the position, that the husband of one wife means that if a bishop’s first wife died, then he does not marry again. This is a very extreme interpretation that might cast reflection on the holiness of the marriage relationship.

Third, another view is that the words mean that a bishop must not be divorced. This view has considerable merit, although it scarcely seems to be a complete explanation.

Fourth, another interpretation is that a bishop must not have been guilty of any unfaithfulness or irregularity in his marriage. His moral life must be above question. This is certainly true, whatever else the passage might mean.

Fifth, another explanation is that this means that a bishop may not be a polygamist.

What Paul meant when he said a bishop must be a Husband of one wife
In Paul’s day in Greek culture, every man should have three women in his life: a mistress for conversation, a concubine for pleasure, and a wife to bear his children. So, Paul says, “Those in the ministry must be one-woman men.” On the basis of this verse, some say that a bishop, pastor, or elder must be married. This verse doesn’t mandate marriage. It does, however, mandate complete faithfulness for those who are married.

“Temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior”
It refers not only to matters of food and drink, but also to the avoidance of extremes in spiritual matters. He is serious, earnest, discerning, and discreet.

Hospitable
Hospitable signifies that he is a lover of strangers. His home is to be a blessing to all who come beneath his roof. Hospitality was widely emphasized in oriental cultures and in the Old Testament (Exodus 22:21). Believers are commanded to be hospitable (Hebrews 5:10; 13:2; 1 Peter 4:9; 3 John 5), so the leaders should also be hospitable.

“Able to teach”
He must be “able to teach” (didaktikon). In other words, he must be qualified by education and moral power to teach the sound Christian teaching in opposition to the many false teachers (Acts 20:29-31). He must be able to turn to the Scriptures and explain the will of God in such matters. He must be able to feed the flock of God (1 Pet. 5:2) and to use the Scriptures in refuting those who bring false doctrines.

John Calvin said, “An elder must have wisdom, “in knowing how to apply God’s word to the profit of the people” (Calvin, Second Epistle of Paul, 79).

1 Timothy 3:3, “Not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous”

“Not given to wine”
If you hold the position of bishop, or pastor, you are not to drink anything intoxicating. Why? “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to drink wine or princes to drink strong drink lest they forget the law and pervert the judgment” (Proverbs 31:4, 5).

“Not violent, but gentle, not quarrelsome”
Those in the ministry are easy targets, yet although the tendency is to want to strike back, we must follow the example of Jesus Christ who, even on the Cross, said, “Father forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing.” Not violent means that bishop does not use physical violence on another. For instance, if he is a master, he never hits his servant. Pastors must be peaceable, which is the exact opposite of being violent. The true strength of a man lies in gentleness. Of course, a pastor must be firm when he rebukes sin. When overseers lack the courage to confront, the church loses its conviction. He must live among God’s people like a tender shepherd. He must be sympathetic with the weak and compassionate to the wounded.

“Not greedy for money, not covetous”
A pastor must not be covetous, that is, a lover of money. He is concerned with the spiritual life of the people of God and refuses to be distracted by a strong desire for material things. The love of money will bear evil fruit in pastoral ministry, and the church. Since the days of the apostles, some men have tried to use the ministry for financial gain (1 Tim. 6:5). Greed led to the corruption of the church. Closer to our own times, the love of money contributed to the decline of many churches. Some preachers are so obsessed with it that Christians have become infamous for asking for money. It is a grave mistake to consider wealth and success as credential for spiritual leadership. The antidote for greed is contentment (Heb. 13:5).

1 Timothy 3:4-5, “one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)”

In order to be recognized as a bishop, a man must rule his own house well, having his children in submission to him. It is obvious that if a man is unfit to rule in the smaller his home, he would be clearly disqualified for the larger.

“Not a novice”
1 Timothy 3:6, “not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil”

Paul warns Timothy not to place a novice in a position of leadership because novices tend to think that if anything good or success happens through them it’s because they’re a skilled speaker or a clever person. Only someone who has walked with the Lord awhile understands that if anything good happens through him it’s not because of him, but rather in spite of him! Remember, why Lucifer lost his position? Because of pride (Isaiah 14:12-15). He sought a high position for which he was not qualified, and as a result, he was brought low.

1 Timothy 3:7, “Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

Those who are outside refers to unsaved neighbors. Without this good testimony, he becomes subject to the accusations of men and the snare of the devil. This doesn’t mean pastors are perfect and won’t have critics. It does mean, however, they won’t provide reasons for their critics to find fault with them.

Great pastors don’t care who gets the credit as long as the job gets done
A pastor who is always looking for credit will soon be a solo performer. No team will follow a truly selfish leader or a pastor. The team may establish a good work and perform well, but unless the members respect their leader, it will not excel.

A. W. Tozer said, “Never follow a leader until you see the anointing oil on his head.” (A. W. Tozer 1897–1963)

Great pastors are willing to put the mission ahead of their personal agenda
The purpose, mission, and objectives of the church are paramount, while the personality and personal achievements of the leader are secondary.

Great pastors are quick to forgive
Jesus modeled the greatest leadership. Whether addressing the city that rejected Him, the woman caught in adultery, or the thief on the cross who finally acknowledged Him, the heart of the great pastor was a heart of compassion and mercy. Great people forgive and forget.

Blaise Pascal said, “Conduct is the only effective sermon” (Blaise Pascal 1623–1662)

Great pastors are energized by the achievements of others
Pastors must realize that they themselves can never accomplish all they dream of, others also must carry out their vision and support him.

Great pastors freely give to those who deserve it most
Appreciation is one of the great motivators, often more than promotions and pay raises.

Ralph Washington Sockman said, “a preacher is one who leads men from what they want to what they need” (Ralph Washington Sockman (1889–1970).

When a pastor leaves a church, he should do so with love and grace, not with hatred and bitterness
No matter what the circumstances of his leaving. But what if you are being forced out of the church? Remember the words of Jesus, “He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him” (John 1:11). If people rejected the Lord, why should we be surprised if they reject us?

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “I like the silent church before the service begins better than any preaching” (Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882).

Pastoral ministry is a calling and not a profession
A pastor should allow only one church at a time to consider him as pastor. If he violates this principle, he may find himself comparing one church with another rather than seeking God’s will regarding the move.

The call to preach is a call to prepare
If a man have the opportunity to go to seminary or Bible College and does not take it, he has put a limit on his ministry. Treat education as an ethical obligation. A pastor works, prays, counsels, studies, preaches and strives for excellence.

John C. Ryland said, “no sermon is of any value, or likely to be useful, which has not the three Rs in it: ruin by the fall, redemption by Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit. (John C. Ryland 1723–1792)

The pastor must not be a hireling
The pastor must not be controlled by any one person or any one group or board in the church. By protecting his own autonomy, the pastor also protects the autonomy of the church.

It is unethical to use the pulpit to attack those who disagree with the way you are leading the church, even if you do not use their names
The pulpit is where the Bible should be preached and where the people of God should be encouraged. It is not a place where attacks are launched against others. One rule on this is Bible truth has to be preached regardless of who agree with you or not, in my (Alexander Thomas) pastoral ministry once I was preaching from John chapter 4, one confronted me that I called her a “sinner”. “This is true of us all” was my answer.

Charles R. Swindoll said, “A mist in the pulpit does create a fog in the pew” (Charles R. Swindoll)

Pastors need to remember that they are called first to serve the Lord and then serve the church
The first part has to do primarily with the spiritual, and the second part primarily with the practical. Pastorate is hard work, and the pastor should work hard. Just like in life, pastoral ministry has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Finishing is as important as beginning. How you finish is often the way you will be remembered.

Pastor and his prayer life
In our public life we are men of prayer. But what about in our private lives? Are we men of prayer then? The public occasions can be mere performance. The private times demonstrate whether we are men of spiritual integrity. Prayer is an acknowledgment that we are needy individuals. And it reflects our genuine love and concern for our flock as we labor in prayer for their spiritual good.

Admitting mistakes
At times we say things that we learn later are incorrect. There are times when our judgment is poor. At times our reactions will be purely emotional and improper. Mistakes are part of the human predicament. The point is, at times we are going to be wrong, and we need to be humble enough to admit it, make the correction, and move on. When we do, Our members will usually be very forgiving and ready to support us in our new direction. Members appreciate leaders who will acknowledge their humanness and those who are willing to ask to be forgiven.

Pastor and his pulpit
When people sleep in church maybe it’s the preacher we should wake up. Something of the quality of enthusiasm must be in every man who preaches. He who lacks it cannot be a preacher. Some preachers ought to put more fire into their sermons or more sermons into the fire.

Abraham Lincoln said “I don’t like to hear cut-and-dried sermons. When I hear a man preach, I like to see him act as if he were fighting bees” (Abraham Lincoln 1809–1865).

Pastors, be fair with your congregation
We must encourage and help our members have the time it takes to properly raise their families. Let’s not overload them with guilt if they cannot take on another project. Rather, we should encourage them to make and keep their families their number one priority.

“I’ll Pray for You” Do Not Promise It Unless You Mean It
Pastors get so many requests to pray for people that it is very easy to promise to do so and then forget what we have promised. And that is wrong. Our yes must be yes, and our no must be no. We must be men of the Word, men of prayer, and men of our word. If we have told someone we will pray for his or her requests, we must do so.

Fear of the Congregation
Our eyes should never be on the size of our church, the success of our programs, our budget, our salaries, but on speaking the truth of our Lord. Our concern must be the repentance, salvation, and spiritual growth of our hearers. To fear men is to hold God’s Word up for contempt, to fear God is to speak His message truthfully and faithfully. Though the truth may sometimes hurt, it must always be told in love.

Standing alone, and sometimes we may be very alone.

In our day, pastors must at times stand boldly on crucial issues, and doing so may isolate us. It is not popular to speak out strongly on issues such as abortion, homosexuality, church discipline, mixed marriages of believers with unbelievers, false teachers, false miracles, or the total inspiration and reliability of the Word of God. When we do, it can be very lonely. But we must constantly remember whom we are to please.

“A preacher must be both a soldier and a shepherd. He must nourish, defend, and teach; he must have teeth in his mouth and be able to bite and to fight” (Martin Luther 1483–1546).

Christ is our Master. The church is His. He gave His truth to His body. He died for her. We cannot for a moment change His Word, alter His plans for His church, or allow practices in His church that He condemns. We may find ourselves alone with respect to others, but if we are faithful to Christ we are never alone. His approval, His blessing must be our goal.

Matthew Henry said “Those who faithfully expose themselves for God are sure to be taken under His special protection, and shall be hidden from the rage of men, either under heaven or in heaven.” The martyrs for Christ are hidden “in heaven” from the rage of men on earth.”

Conclusion
The work of an overseer or a pastor or an elder is a good and noble work. Why does the Bible bother to say that an overseer does good work?

Calvin wrote, “It is no light matter to represent God’s Son, in such a great task as erecting and extending God’s Kingdom, in caring for the salvation of souls whom the Lord Himself has purchased with His own blood, and in ruling the Church which is God’s inheritance.” (Calvin’s Commentaries (Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd, 1964), 222)

To be a church leader is a heavy responsibility because the church belongs to the living God. Church leaders should not be elected because they are popular, nor should they be allowed to push their way to the top. Do you hold a position of spiritual leadership? Check yourself against Paul’s standard of excellence. Those with great responsibility must meet high expectations.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

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