Biblical Characteristics of Leadership

Introduction:

  1. Honorable Ambition: tensions between "desires a good thing" and Neh. 45:5 "Seekest thou great things for thyself, seek them not."
  2. Question: Should the man seek the office or the office seek the man?
  3. Shakespeare: "Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambitions, By that sin fell the angels; how can man then, the image of his Maker, hope to profit by’t?"
  4. Key to these characteristics: godliness is more important than giftedness, character more important than ability, what a man is more important than what he does!
  5. In our culture, where there is little persecution beyond name-calling and ridicule, coupled with the entertainment syndrome in the church, there is a danger of self-seekers, position plotters, prestige pirates that is not in land of persecution. Remember the master principle, the servant shall be greatest. We do not make ourselves great by making men our servants, but rather, by making ourselves the servants of men.
  1. Characteristics from 1 Tim. 3:1-7
    1. "blameless" (anepilhmtoV): no charge will stick; above reproach; it is not enough to be acquitted, but one must be "squeaky clean." Charge will not stick because of the person’s impeccable character.
    2. "husband of one wife"
      1. not a polygamist
      2. never divorced
      3. not divorced since being saved
      4. must be married
      5. figuratively speaking of being "married" to the church
      6. not remarried after a divorce
      7. "one woman kind of man"
        1. these are traits, thus this interpretation fits well
        2. he doesn’t have roving eyes
        3. committed to one woman
        4. no sexual sin

      Question? Can a divorced person be an elder or deacon? Definitely not if the divorce was post-conversion, and possibly not if it was pre-conversion. First, the phrase "husband of one wife" could well be intended to exclude divorced men from serving in these capacities. Since this is a possibility, the prudent course of action is to "play it safe" and not allow a divorcee from serving in this position. Second, the "blameless" idea may disqualify a person. Even if a person gets a divorce for "scriptural" reasons (immorality of spouse or desertion), the resulting mixed family situations make it difficult for the person to meet the standards of being an elder or deacon. God has a high standard for those in leadership. We have a tendency to gravitate to the lowest common denominator when God wants us to strive for the highest common denominator.

      This does not mean that divorced people are second class or that they cannot serve in other capacities. For example, in the military, a person’s eyesight may prevent him from becoming a pilot. He is not qualified. However, he may still serve in other capacities and may even rise above in rank a pilot. Remember, deacon means servant. If a man has a servant’s heart, he will serve whether given a title or position or not!

    3. "vigilant" (nhfalian): temperate, under control
    4. "sober" (swfrona): respectable, not a clown, serious about spiritual things
    5. "good behavior" (kosmion): orderly, good habits, organized
    6. (filoxenon): love for strangers
    7. (didactikon): the only ability mentioned
    8. "not given to wine:" drunkenness most definitely; in our culture must be a teetotaler
    9. "not a striker:" not violent, quick tempered
    10. "not greedy of filthy lucre:" not in it for the money. 75% of all pastors are paid below the poverty level
    11. "patient:" gentle
    12. "not a brawler:" not quarrelsome, not disposed to fight
    13. "not covetous:" one of the 10 commandments
    14. "ruleth well his own house:" gravity = respect. Children are taught to respect him and others. His home life should not be such that his kids don’t respect what he does. Can’t neglect his family.

      15. Question? Should 1 errant kid out of 5 disqualify a man?

    15. "not a novice:" not a recent convert, newly planted
    16. "good report without:" credit report, business dealings.
  2. Characteristics from Titus 1:6-9
    1. "blameless"
    2. "husband of one wife"
    3. "having faithful children:" not wild and disobedient
    4. "not self-willed"
    5. "not soon angry"
    6. "not given to wine"
    7. "no striker"
    8. "not greedy of filthy lucre"
    9. "lover of hospitality"
    10. "lover of good men:" GK. Lover of what is good, whether men or principles, or things
    11. "sober:" serious
    12. "just:" upright
    13. "holy"
    14. "temperate:" self-controlled, disciplined
    15. "holding fast:" sound doctrine
  3. Characteristics from 1 Peter 5:1-4
    1. Two Activities of a Pastor
      1. shepherd, feed
      2. oversee
    2. Qualities that should characterize his ministry
      1. Proper attitude: willingly, not by constraint
      2. Proper motive: eager to serve, not greedy for gain; not in it for what he can get out of it but for what he can put into it
      3. Proper manner: not as lords, but as examples; don’t drive the herd but lead the sheep
  4. Miscellaneous list of pastoral admonitions
    1. "Fight the good fight" (1 Tim. 1:18)
    2. "Train yourself to be godly" (1 Tim. 4:7)
    3. Devote yourself to public reading, preaching, teaching: (1 Tim. 4:13)
    4. "Don’t neglect your gift" (1 Tim. 4:14)
    5. "Be diligent" (1 Tim. 4:15)
    6. "Provide for your family" (1 Tim. 5:8)
    7. "Warn the rich" (1 Tim. 6:17)
    8. "Guard the teaching" (1 Tim. 6:20)
    9. "don’t be ashamed" (2 Tim. 1:8)
    10. "Strive to be approved unto God" (2 Tim. 2:15)
    11. "Have nothing to do with foolish arguments" (2 Tim. 2:23)
    12. "Continue in the things you have been taught" (2 Tim. 3:14)
    13. "Preach the word" (2 Tim. 4:2)