“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24)

In the business meeting last Sunday afternoon, a proposal was unanimously approved that will set us on a course for the appointment of elders. Four brethren who will not be seeking to become an elder at this time have agreed to handle the process. Noel Bautista, Evan Diaz, Geoff Rowe, and Fred Womack attend the men's business meetings consistently and have demonstrated great spiritual concern for the congregation. From now until January 13th, men who desire the work of elders may give their names to this group of men.

Members may also submit names of men in the congregation whom they believe to be qualified. The task of the four brothers will be to interview each one who has declared interest in leading the congregation. This process will last from January 13th to the 27th. At that time, if there are two or more men who are deemed qualified, their names will be put before the congregation, and every member will then have the opportunity to make known to the committee anything that would disqualify a potential elder from serving. If no legitimate objections are forthcoming, those brethren will become elders on February 10, 2013. The elders will then use a similar process to select deacons to serve the congregation under their oversight.

In order to recall the qualifications for the men who engage in this work, the following information, although already preached awhile back, is repeated in order to refresh all of our memories. God did not provide a mechanism by which to select these men, but this system seemed wise to the men of the congregation.

Although a congregation can be Scriptural and function without elders (if no one is qualified), God's design is for each congregation to be overseen by elders, with deacons serving under them. There are two passages which list qualifications: 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. These are combined to make one list. The chart on the last page gives them in order; these are in groups.

Family qualifications.

“The husband of one wife” (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:6). This phrase in the Greek literally means “a one-woman man.” He cannot be single; he cannot be a polygamist. Some ask if a man becomes disqualified if his first wife passes away and he marries again. Death has terminated the first marriage; he is still a “one-woman” man. The same thing occurs if a man was divorced in younger years. If the divorce was for the reason the Lord gave (Matt. 19:9), that union is dissolved. If such were not the case, he could not even remarry and be a faithful Christian, let alone an elder. He is still a “one-woman” man; he has only one wife.

“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?)” (1 Tim. 3:4-5). Titus 1:6 states this qualification in the following manner: “…having faithful children not accused of dissension or insubordination.”

Many want to know if having only one child disqualifies a man. The word children is used in the Scriptures to refer to one or more (Gen. 21:7). The qualification does not concern how many children he is able to have but how well he does in rearing the one or more children he has.

Furthermore, the text does not say how old they must be at the time he is selected. Some people have their families young, and some are older. Sometimes children may only be 3 or 4 years apart; in other cases a family may be spread out over 20 years. If there are children at home at this time, they must be in subjection to him. There may not be any children at home at the time he is appointed.

“How well is he doing while the children are at home?” seems to be the main consideration. Are the children living in rebellion against him? A second consideration is, “How did they turn out once they left home?” If all are non-Christians, such a situation may indicate a defect in the father's ability to lead spiritually.

The wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, and faithful in all things (1 Tim. 3:11).

Personal Characteristics.

Most regard 1 Timothy 3:1 as a qualification. If a man is qualified in every other respect and sees the importance of the work, he should desire to do it. There are a number of reasons a person might not want to take on this work (health, physical, mental, and emotional, feelings of inadequacy, etc.), but all things being equal, if a person is qualified to do something that needs to be done in the kingdom (teach, preach, lead a congregation, etc.), he should give strong consideration to doing that work. Moses did not at first desire to lead Israel, but God knew he would do well.

“Temperate” or “vigilant” (KJV) (1 Tim. 3:2). The idea means to be alert and aware of what is going on. A shepherd will know the hazards that will affect the sheep. Yet many elderships today do not know what is happening. There are publications that are dedicated to dealing with that very thing (Contending for the Faith, The Defender). It is not difficult to find out who the most notable false teachers are.

“Sober-minded” (1 Tim. 3:2). An elder must be of sound mind and in control of his passions. He cannot be governed by emotion but rather logic.

“Gentle” or “patient” (KJV) (1 Tim. 3:3). Dealing with so many people and so many problems requires this quality.

“Not self-willed” (Titus 1:7). A leader cannot be stubborn and inflexible. When a conflict arose among brethren, one “elder” said (in essence): “It doesn't matter what brethren want; it's what the elders want.” People's mouths fell open. Nothing will cause a congregation to lose respect for elders any quicker than when they demonstrate that they are self-willed. In another case, a member (concerned about a certain situation) asked a newly-appointed elder a question about why a certain thing needed to be so. The answer he received was: “Because an elder in the Lord's church told you so.” This high-handed treatment of others is precisely what the Lord seeks to avoid with these qualifications.

“Not quick-tempered” or “not soon angry” (Titus 1:7). Of course, there is such a thing as righteous anger, but this refers to one who is easily irritated and upset (Pr. 16:32).

“Not violent” or “no striker” (KJV) (1 Tim. 3:3). He should not, as one person put it, be ready:

“To prove his doctrine orthodox,
by apostolic blows and knocks.”

“Not quarrelsome” or “not a brawler” (1 Tim. 3:3). He is not to be a contentious person, one who just likes to stir things up to see what will happen. Some like to set one brother against another just to watch the sparks fly. Instead, he should be a peacemaker.

“Not covetous” (1 Tim. 3:3) or “greedy for money” (“filthy lucre,” KJV) (Titus 1:7). Judas was apparently a covetous man. Elders will also have access to money. They must view money as a means to an end—to accomplish the work of the church—not as an end in and of itself (Luke 12:15; 1 Tim. 6:6-8).

“Holy” (Titus 1:8). His thoughts need to be on things above—not on the things of this earth (1 Peter 2:11).

“Just” (Titus 1:8). Fair, honest, upright. He can handle church problems in that manner.

“Given to hospitality” (1 Tim. 3:2). This is a charge upon all saints (Rom. 12:13).

“Lover of what is good” (Titus 1:8). He takes Philippians 4:8 to heart and does not approve nor take part in the corrupt and the worldly.

“Of good behavior” (2). He is orderly, decent, and gentlemanly.

More Outward-looking attributes.

“Not a novice” (1 Timothy 3:6). If he were to be appointed too soon after becoming a Christian, it might prove to be a temptation. The devil became lifted up with pride. Some cannot be ever be given a position of authority.

“Not given to wine” (1 Tim. 3:3). The word translated “wine” in the New Testament could refer to pure grape juice or to that which was intoxicating. A Christian could not be given to it because of the possibility of becoming inebriated. Even the most potent wine in those days had half the alcoholic content of ours (because wines of the 21st century are fortified with alcohol). To be given to it suggests an addiction—not that he is a drunkard (for which he would have been withdrawn from (1 Cor. 5:11)—but he simply cannot leave it alone. He is under its power (1 Cor. 6:12).

“Blameless” (1 Tim. 3:2). The prospective elder must be above personal reproach. Although anything might be alleged of someone, there should be no basis in fact for an accusation.

“A good testimony” or “of good report” from others (1 Tim. 3:7). This includes personal integrity, pure speech, and morality.

“Able to teach” (1 Tim. 3:2). A good example qualifies one to teach (Acts 1:1). He should be seasoned enough to see the need to teach others, both publicly and privately.

“Holding fast the faithful word” (Titus 1:9). An elder must be prepared and skilled in using the Scriptures in defending the faith.

Now, one might ask, “Why are there so many qualifications?” These are not written to frighten men out of the work, but to ensure that men well-rounded in character and well-grounded in the Word are appointed to this necessary work. Below are all of these characteristics in a briefer format.