Many organizations fail because they do not have qualified leadership. I’ve seen businesses fail miserably because their owner was a great people person, the best salesman in the business, but he did not have the skills to lead others to their potential. They mastered the “up front” part of the store, but the back of the house, the foundation was neglected. Therefore, in a matter of time, the business failed. For the maximum success of any organization, there must be leadership that is properly qualified and correctly executed. A church is no different, and God laid out the qualifications of leadership in the church. In Titus 1:5-9 Paul gives Titus the responsibility of appointing leaders to every Christian church on the island of Crete.
Titus 1:5 “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:”
In Titus 1:6 Paul gives the qualifications of an elder. The Greek word for elder is older. He would not be a young man just starting his adulthood. The first qualification is to be blameless. He is to be a man with a good reputation. While all of us have a past before salvation, a man taking responsibility for leadership of the church should be of good report among those in his area. Before he takes on the leadership of the church, he needs time to grow from the infant stage of being a babe in Christ to a mature adult. If his reputation was not the best before salvation, there needs to be time to prove himself as a faithful obedient Christian. His character must be one that does not bring reproach upon the church. Does this mean that everyone, everywhere will always have good things to say about him? No, even Jesus was falsely accused. There have been many good men slandered and their reputations marred because of jealousy and hatred for the truth.
Also, this man must be the husband of one wife. This does not mean that he must be married, but it is an advantage for him to have a godly wife. There will be many times women need counseling and to protect his reputation it is important that a trustworthy wife is present. Paul makes it clear that if a leader is married, he must only have one wife. Divorce was a frequent practice in biblical times as it is now. A man could divorce for just about any reason and then remarry. Bigamy was also forbidden but practiced by many. The only acceptable reason an elder or bishop could have more than one wife was for him to remarry after the death of a spouse. The elder and the bishop must have faithful children. They are to have control over their own household. In I Timothy 3:4-5 Paul explains further the need for those overseeing the church to have children that are faithful. In verse 5 he makes the point if a man cannot influence and control his own household, how will he be able to properly take care of the church?
Titus 1:6 “If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.”
1Timothy 3:4-5 “One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)”
In Titus 1:7-8, Paul extends the qualifications of the bishop a little further than what he had stated for the elders. He is not to be self-willed or angry. This character trait would be almost like a dictator who forced his will on the church and showed the emotion of anger quickly. This arrogant attitude is the opposite of Christ. A bishop, as any Christian should be, is to be patient and rational, not arrogant. Paul continues to give the description of one who is fit to lead the church. He makes a point of speaking about the use of alcohol. While there is much debate on whether or not a Christian should partake of alcoholic beverages, Paul makes it clear that he is not to be controlled by them. Some would say it’s not a big deal to social drink, but any alcohol will impair your thinking by some margin. If it is wrong to get drunk, then stay off the road that leads to it.
The next instruction is to refrain from being a striker. A striker is someone who is violent. Then he says he is not given to filthy lucre which means he is not to be greedy. Both of these character traits violence and greed are sure killers of Christian testimonies.
Titus 1:7 “For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;”
Now Paul turns the corner to what he is supposed to be. He is to be a lover of hospitality. Hospitality is not just serving a meal to someone or having them in your home. It’s more! It is an opening of your life to welcome them in to share the blessing of God. It doesn’t matter what you have but it does matter that you are willing to share with others. The next thing Paul mentions is a lover of good men. In the Greek text the word “men” is not present. The sentence should read “a lover of what is good.” In verse 8 they are to be faithful to the word of God, seeking out what God’s word says. By knowing and practicing what God says he is able to persuade many who oppose the gospel. God uses this and the convicting power of the Holy Spirit to change the hearts of men.
Titus 1:8-9 “But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”
These verses should help us to determine what church we should be involved in. A church that will be most successful at winning and discipling people for Christ will follow the pattern God has set forth. If you are in a leadership position and not following this pattern, repent and seek to do it God’s way. If that is not your desire, then resign. Don’t be guilty of stunting the growth of the Kingdom. While no one is perfect, we are all called to seek to change to be like Christ. Every Christian has the responsibility to advance the Kingdom by living a life that can influence others to follow our Savior.
