On numerous occasions, I’ve heard pastors discuss the qualifications listed in 1 Timothy and Titus and say that no one can meet them. “It’s such a high standard that we all fall short “
I’ve heard this in seminary classes, convention meetings, and discussions with other pastors. And I believed it, until Carl Trueman completely destroyed that for me.
What he advocates is the appointment of rather bland, non-descript, respectable men as elders. These vanilla men, basically competent and with no skeletons in the cupboard, are to be entrusted with keeping the church on the straight and narrow.
Carl Trueman
In other words, the standard isn’t outlandish or unreachable. This changes much of the discussion around pastoral qualifications.
I now fully believe that the New Testament standard for pastors is a real standard. I also believe that only those qualified should be pastors. All others need not apply, and no church should ordain an unqualified man.
I will be posting a lengthy series here that I hope you’ll read. My intention is to convince you that the standard is real and that, as faithful Christians, we should follow God’s Word and call only qualified people into ministry.
Which View Matches the Data?
As I consider the qualifications themselves, they are not outlandish. Look at them and see for yourself.
It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, skillful in teaching, not overindulging in wine, not a bully, but gentle, not contentious, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil.
1 Timothy 3:1-7 NASB
For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man is beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of indecent behavior or rebellion. For the overseer must be beyond reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not overindulging in wine, not a bully, not greedy for money, but hospitable, loving what is good, self-controlled, righteous, holy, disciplined, holding firmly the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.
Titus 1:5-9 NASB
Now, I am no genius, but it seems to me that this list is the bare minimum we should require of pastors, not some outlandish list of qualifications.
The qualifications are that he is above reproach, faithful to his wife, leads his family well, and has good character. Even the good character portion is not outlandish. He is not supposed to be a drunk, supposed to have self-control, and not be a bully.
What has led so many people to think this is some unreachable standard?
If the requirements were that the person must be perfect all the time, then I would understand the sentiment, but that’s not it. The pastor’s pattern of life is supposed to be characterized by what’s in these lists.
Lawlessness is Part of the Problem
Part of the confusion here is that we’ve somehow forgotten that God calls us to be holy.
“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.””
1 Peter 1:14-16 NASB1995
We are called to live lives of separation from our former way of living. We are people who have been taken out of the world and are now separate from it. And the people who lead our churches should be characterized by following the Lord’s ways, not the ways of the world.
Why else would people think that such bland requirements are too great a burden to bear?
The Exaltation of Self is Another Problem
We live in an era in which many people think it is possible to change your gender, change reality itself because they want it to be so. Interestingly, many people who think this is ludicrous and don’t meet the qualifications have no problem looking at God’s objective standard and saying, “I really feel like God is calling me to ministry.”
They can see how they don’t meet the qualifications. But they don’t care. Their inner desire matters more to them than the standard God has set.
This happens a lot today. I’ve had a few conversations with people who said, “God has given me this gift and desire; therefore, I know for certain that I am supposed to be a pastor.” When confronted with the fact that they don’t meet the qualifications, they say, “God called me to ministry. How dare you say otherwise!”
What matters: their subjective feelings or God’s standard? God proclaimed the standard in His Word… they did not meet it… they did not care. Their will be done or feel their wrath.
And I did feel their wrath, but that’s better than defying God and disregarding His standard for ministry.
Conclusion
Understand that God has given a standard for those who are in the pastorate. No others are to be considered. This is not a list of things a pastor should aspire to be. These are things that he is. These are the minimum qualifications for a man entering into the ministry.
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking these things don’t matter. They matter so much that God gave us these lists, and if we want to honor Him, then we will attempt to limit the pastorate to men who meet these qualifications.
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