Daily Thoughts from Titus: Life Shapes Life (2)

This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and 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 ESV)

The main responsibility Titus was given on the island of Crete was to appoint elders in each city or town in Crete where churches had been established.  This would put things in order, and God is a God of order (1 Corinthians 14:33).  In verse 7 he calls these elders ‘overseers’ (episkopoi, which in the King James and other translations is translated ‘bishops’).  Elder (presbuteros, from which Presbyterianism is named because they hold to rule by elders, not bishops) refers to their standing as mature leaders in the community, overseer describes their function.  The word pastor is used synonymously with elder/overseer in other places (see New Testament Local Church Government).  To pastor is to shepherd.

The qualifications for the men who could be appointed as elders were outstanding character and solid handling of the gospel.  A man’s character could be measured by his faithfulness to his wife and by his children’s adoption of the faith.  Negatively, if someone was open to the charge of drunkenness, unwillingness to submit to proper authorities, arrogance, quick temper, violence or greed, he was out.  Positively, he must be a lover of strangers (the literal meaning of the word here translated hospitality), a lover of good, self-controlled and disciplined, and of sterling character and devotion to God.

An elder must also be fully committed to the message of the gospel, and capable of detecting false doctrine and teaching true doctrine.  If someone contradicts the doctrine he must be able to rebuke them or correct them with a sound apologetic.

When our leaders have these characteristics, when they set this kind of example, the church prospers.  People inevitably become like those they follow.  Life shapes life.  The single most important trait a leader should have is godly character.  Leaders shouldn’t be chosen because they forward our agenda or even because they are capable in ways we think will help our cause, but because they have leadership ability and good character.  We’re hurting ourselves if we choose less.  Life shapes life.