The Qualifications for Deacons, Elders, and Pastors-1 Timothy 3-Part 4

Some Simple Question: Is it ok for a Christian to drink alcohol? Is it ok for a Christian leader to drink alcohol? Even if it is ok for me to drink is it ok for you to drink?

These are just a few of the questions many Christians have been discussing and arguing over for years. One of the reasons for so much discussion is that there are sound biblical arguments for all sides of the various debates. I bring this up in this series because Paul himself addresses the issue.

In verse 3 Paul uses the word Paroinos which basically means to be drunk or given to wine. In fact the NASB translate the phrase as "not be addicted to wine." Yet, Paul does seem to stop short of saying that an overseer can not drink any alcohol ever. It appears as though his emphasis is on drunkenness and alcoholism.

In verse 2 Paul uses the word Nephaleos which has some debated meaning to it. It either refers to "abstaining from wine, either entirely or at least from its immoderate use" or it refers to avoiding not being in control of what you are doing or saying. Either of these definitions could fit well into this passage. I personally tend to lean towards the reference to being in control of what you are doing and saying. I lean this direction because of two reasons. One, if Paul was talking specifically about alcohol use why would he so closely repeat such a requirement in verse 3. Two, the context of the other words around it seem to be more about self control than specific actions such as drinking. Given my reasoning I can easily see how someone would disagree with me. I am ok with this. :)

In the end, I must continue in my belief that it is ok for me to have alcohol. There is nothing in these verses that show me (beyond any reasonable doubt) that this particular stance is unbiblical. I fully respect and understand how others would disagree with me. I would never not fellowship, serve or minister with someone who viewed these verses differently. A person's views on Christians drinking alcohol is simply not a core issue and as such should have little impact on our ability to work together.

I hope all of this made sense because it did as I was typing it. :)

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The Qualifications for Deacons, Elders, and Pastors-1 Timothy 3-Part 3

The first qualification Paul gives us for an overseer in this passage is that they are to be above reproach. As best I can figure this statement means that a person is to above or free from anyone being able to blame them for wrong doing. The word Anepileptos carries a connotation of not being able to be arrested. The question then becomes how far back into a person's life to we look? How much of person's past is to be considered in this discussion?

The first part of the answer deals with when they came to know Christ. I believe that a person's choices before Christ are not relevant in determining their ability to serve now. When we accept Christ as Savior and Lord the old has gone and the new has come. The second part of the answer comes when we examine the level of discipleship. A local church must take the time to prayerfully examine how ignorant a person may have been when they did certain things. They must also look into what a person was doing to move out of situations and habits. For example, is a person disqualified from church leadership because they slipped back into drugs after coming to Christ? I do not think there is a hard and fast rule on this. The local church must be willing to follow God's leading on this. We must always remember that God is in the business of restoration and forgiveness and as His church we must also be doing the same.

I think this same principle applies to the statement on being the husband of one wife. Does divorce automatically disqualify someone from church leadership? I do not think that it does. Once again we must consider the specific circumstances for each candidate for overseer. We must examine why they are divorced. Is there former spouse dead? If so then this changes the dynamic in God's eyes in that the man would be free to marry again and so it would only serve to reason that he would meet this qualification again. We must ask if the man had biblical justification for divorce. Was it done before his salvation? Has he attempted reconciliation?

The bottom line with these two qualifiers is that I believe it would be false to make some hard and fast rules about specific applications of these verses. We do see this kind of narrowing of God's rules in Scripture but it was with the Pharisees and they were condemned by Jesus for doing so. When we begin to make hard a fast rules that go beyond the words in Scripture then we begin to move down the path of legalism.

Quick Update

I know many people have been coming and visiting the site and wondering when I am going to be posting more and what I am learning about leadership roles/qualifications in the church. I hope to be getting some of it out together this week. I have a lot of thoughts on it bouncing around in my head and that makes it hard for me to get things in to complete thoughts and sentences.

I now return you to your regularly scheduled program.

Something to Pass Along

A college student here at WIU wrote this and I thought I would pass it along.

Spreading God's word is a wonderful thing to do...yet words exchanged can only go so far. So instead, share scripture as you embrace Christ’s love and humility and help one another to open yourselves like an empty vessel waiting upon the Lord to come fill you up. Be an instrument for God that always makes noise and shouts the praises of the Lord’s good name. Be kind to one another and do good deeds. Do not be afraid to be different, nor should you be afraid of what others will think. Take comfort and pride that the good Lord above has called you to attention. Take the duties the Lord commands you seriously and never rest or give up on one another until HIS glory is revealed and even then persevere all the days of your life. Live as a wide eyed child, careful of what you see, hear and do but take chances and risks shouting the praises of the Lord without fear of getting hurt. If you do feel any pain from this… know that you can lean upon the lord and he will sustain you. The world will hate you because we are not of this world. Take great satisfaction in this, because f we fail to do the job we are called to do we are hurting ourselves and most importantly we are disappointing and shaming God. Doing the right thing even when it hurts so badly and it might just turn out that this is the thing that leads you to happiness. Often times people feel that they need some person in their life to fill a void that seems to be aching in their heart. Let Jesus Christ come into your soul, fill this void and let his love overflow and pump through your veins and then take this great love that so joyfully circulates your body and let it spill unto those around you. Let God use you as a magnet to draw the lost and wandering souls closer to him. Study and heed the word of the Lord so once the called are drawn to you, the Lord can yet again use you to further his relationship with them. Always stay humble and know that you are going to be used so often and you will probably never know the ways in which you are going to be used so live an honest, peaceful existence so when the last comes round, and you stand in judgment before the thrown of God, you can honestly say that you lived a life worthy of the Lord and that you sought out Jesus Christ, developed a close interpersonal relationship with him and that you know first hand that”…he is the way, the truth and the life!”

I pray that God Blesses and touches the hearts of all who read this and I pray you all be encouraged. If you are reading this but the two of us are not well acquainted but you would like to hear more about the LOVE of Christ or would like to pray or talk about really anything, I come to you as a loving brother in Christ and I am here for you. If there is something I have said and you feel that I am not seeing something clearly please feel free to let me know:).

May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all!