Biblical Standards for Leadership in an Age of Scandal
PART 1
In an age of an Evangelical Church culture fraught with scandals, we must continually remind and ground ourselves in the biblical criteria for leadership, otherwise, we will lose our credibility within our churches and before the world. The following are some of the ethical and ministerial standards related to priests, kings, and New Testament elders. These are qualifications that we can still apply in principle to today’s Church.
Old Testament Standards For The Priests (Leviticus 21):
Initially, all the children of Israel were to serve as priests of the Lord (Exodus 19:6). Among the many laws related to the standards for the priesthood, which relate to all present saints according to 1 Peter 2:8-9, are some ministerial and ethical principles that we can allegorically extrapolate (although the actual ceremonial qualifications are no longer relevant).
Standard: THEY SHALL NOT DWELL AMONG DEAD BODIES AND MAKE THEMSELVES UNCLEAN (Leviticus 21:11). This has to do with not participating with people while they are involved in the works of darkness. (Jesus called unconverted people “dead” in John 5:25, Luke 9:60, and Ephesians 2:1-3.)
Principle: I can’t tell you how many Christians I know of who think nothing of going out and partying with the world, getting drunk, listening to perverted music, gambling, or other worldly pursuits.
Standard: THEY SHALL NOT MARRY A PROSTITUTE OR A DIVORCED WOMAN BUT ONLY A VIRGIN (Leviticus 21:13-15). The basic idea of this passage is that marriage is not a free-for-all. Priests are commanded to marry women of God without previous marital issues. This is so that the priestly class is protected from unnecessary distractions and can nurture their children in a godly environment.
Principle: Jesus modified this view for the Kingdom age of the Church when He forbade divorce, except for sexual immorality, and forbade marrying a divorced person for an unbiblical reason (Matthew 5:31-32 and Matthew 19:8-9).
Standard: VARIOUS LAWS HIGHLIGHT PHYSICAL DEFECTS (Leviticus 21:17- 24). Physical flaws or blemishes are related to spiritual deficits that hinder a person from ministering for the Lord. For example, lameness represents those whose walk with God doesn’t allow them to minister. Blindness represents those who have no discernment and no real revelation of Christ in their lives. Those with crushed testicles represent those who are not winning souls or bearing any fruit in their ministries. Hunchbacks represent those who are not walking uprightly before the Lord (Proverbs 2:21). Dwarfs represent those who have not grown in stature and maturity in Christ (Ephesians 4:13).
STANDARDS FOR KINGS (Deuteronomy 17:14-20):
While the principles for priests relate to all believers, the standards for kings pertain specifically to those serving in church leadership.
Standard: A FOREIGNER WHO IS NOT YOUR BROTHER MAY NOT SERVE AS KING (Deuteronomy 17:15).
Principle: Those serving in leadership positions in the body of Christ must be “born again.” They must be citizens of His kingdom and manifest the fruits of salvation.
Standard: KINGS MUST NOT ACQUIRE MANY HORSES FOR THEMSELVES (Deuteronomy 17:16). In the Bible, horses represent strength and pride. Thus, God is warning His leaders to not acquire possessions that symbolize their elitism, and to not raise themselves higher than the people in their congregations.
Principle: In my opinion, it is wrong for Church leaders to live lavish lifestyles of the rich and famous. This goes against the principles of humility and simplicity that Jesus and His apostles modeled in Scripture.
Standard: KINGS SHALL NOT ACQUIRE MANY WIVES. God was teaching against polygamy and telling the leaders to go back to the one-wife standard, as found in the union between Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:19-22).
Principle: Although Church leaders in America today don’t practice polygamy, more and more leaders in the church are violating the spirit of this passage because they get married, divorced, and remarried numerous times. This is causing embarrassment to the whole body of Christ.
Standard: KINGS SHALL NOT ACQUIRE FOR THEMSELVES EXCESSIVE SILVER OR GOLD (Deuteronomy 17:17).
Principle: Some contemporary Christian leaders live lavishly and receive an inordinate amount of compensation from their churches. I have no problem with a pastor receiving a decent salary, commensurate with their hard work and the size of their church, so they can devote their time to ministering to the church and not be distracted by working another job. However. some go overboard and live like narcissistic celebrities! This has become a stench in the nostrils of the world and is something that must be adjusted, or we will see the judgment of God visit the church like never before!
Standard: KINGS SHALL BOTH WRITE AND READ THE WORD OF GOD ALL THE DAYS OF THEIR LIVES (Deuteronomy 17:18-19).
Principle: Christian leaders are required by God to be “People of the Book.” We are to focus on the Scriptures, understand all the important doctrines of the Church and the Bible, and apply all of this to our personal lives, families, churches, and the surrounding culture. Unfortunately, many know the sports pages, current events, or the musings of Wall Street more than they know and understand the Scriptures.
Standard: THE HEARTS OF KINGS SHALL NOT BE LIFTED UP ABOVE THEIR BROTHERS.
Principle: When I was consecrated as a bishop in 2006, many congratulated me for being “elevated.” I would cringe when hearing this because I could not picture the Lord Jesus telling His apostles that they were elevated! He told them they were servants, called to wash the people’s feet (John 13). Thus, when we view leadership as a position, title, or status above others, we are acting like oligarchs who lord their authority over their subjects. This is the opposite of what Jesus taught (Mark 10:42-45).
Biblical Standards for Leadership in an Age of Scandal
PART 2
NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH ELDERS
Elders in local churches are those who have the greatest responsibility for leading their congregations. Elder is the highest governmental office in the church, something even the Apostle Peter claimed for himself (1 Peter 5:1). (The fivefold ministry, as found in Ephesians 4:11, describes functions, not offices of the church leaders.) Because of the great responsibility, there are some general guidelines that all pastors, fivefold ministers, trustees, deacons, and elders must meet before they are installed. The following is a summary of 1 Timothy 3:1-7.
“THEY MUST BE ABOVE REPROACH.” This regards not having hidden “skeletons in the closet,” or a lifestyle others could seize on and use as an accusation to discredit them.
“THEY MUST BE THE HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE.” This has to do with barring a person from serving as an elder who is married to more than one woman at a time. We can also extrapolate from this standard that one should not serve as an elder if he divorced his wife and remarried for anything but the biblical reason of adultery. (However, a case can be made that divorce is acceptable if one’s spouse is a violent abuser who threatens one’s life. Others would say one could divorce but not remarry in a case like this.)
“THEY MUST BE SOBER-MINDED.” This means elders should be serious about the primary things in life-related to God, the church, family, and eternity. Their values and priorities should be based upon the values of the kingdom. (Colossians 3:1-3).
“THEY MUST BE SELF-CONTROLLED.” This means leaders need to live a prudent, discreet life of self-control in which they are not giving in to their fleshly desires or the whims of their physical and sensual passions (lust of the flesh, food, and sexual appetite.)
“THEY MUST BE RESPECTABLE.” This means that leaders must not be disorderly but live a quiet life as respectable citizens.
“THEY MUST BE HOSPITABLE.” Elders should have their marriages, families, and finances in order, to the point where they can put up people in their homes as the Lord leads. They should also be willing to host people for dinner as the occasion demands.
I know some leaders who never allow anyone near their homes or personal lives. This makes me wonder what they are trying to hide. Hospitality is an essential requirement because it also enhances the discipleship or mentoring process when those being discipled have access to the personal lives and families of those pouring into them.
“THEY MUST BE ABLE TO TEACH.” Elders have to be capable of communicating the gospel to the unsaved and applying it practically in a teaching setting for a congregation. Having a competent Word ministry is an important requirement of all elders.
“THEY CANNOT BE DRUNKARDS.” It is not a sin to drink alcoholic beverages, but it is a sin if it becomes a habit and causes drunkenness. This can also be applied to any mind-altering substance.
Unfortunately, some leaders have become addicted to painkillers, drinking, and other activities that dim the brain to avoid dealing with the pain and pressures of life.
“THEY MUST NOT BE VIOLENT.” Unfortunately, there are many leaders with violent tempers. In God’s eyes, a violent temper disqualifies a person for eldership in the body of Christ.
“THEY MUST NOT BE QUARRELSOME.” Some leaders are very argumentative because they have issues in their hearts that have not been dealt with. While we don’t want “yes men” to serve as elders (people who rubber-stamp everything the lead pastor says without honest dialogue and feedback), we also don’t want people serving as elders who must debate everything.
“THEY MUST NOT BE LOVERS OF MONEY.” Leaders whose hearts are fixated on money are not qualified to be elders because they will always view their ministries and associations with people with a “what’s in it for me?” mentality.
Furthermore, those with serious financial challenges should not serve as elders or trustees because they will be tempted with a conflict of interest in church business meetings related to church finances’ dispensing and or spending.
“THEY MUST MANAGE THEIR HOUSEHOLDS AND HAVE THEIR CHILDREN SUBJECT TO THEM.” If a person cannot lead their own family, the Bible teaches they cannot manage or lead the household of God. This also implies that young children of elders who are still living in their homes should be submissive, attend church, and not disrupt the family goal of serving the Lord.
“THEY MUST NOT BE A RECENT CONVERT.” In New Testament times, a person had to be at least 30 years old and a believer for several years before being appointed as an elder. This is to protect new converts who could be puffed up with pride if they are put in a position of influence.
“THEY MUST HAVE A GOOD REPUTATION WITH THOSE OUTSIDE THE CHURCH.” We are called not only to be an example within the church but also outside the church. This is why an elder should not have bad credit, have a bad record on their job, or a bad reputation among their neighbors.
These are all simple guidelines. Unfortunately, we need to be continually reminded of these foundational things related to leadership standards so we can glorify God and serve as salt and light in our communities.
Joseph Mattera Part 1 of Article
Joseph Mattera Part 2 of Article
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