Qualifications: Appropriate CharacterA man who is considering to be
called as pastor must also be “gentle”. The Greek word literally means
“appropriate”. What a lovely description of character. This is not the negative
trait that the world sees as weakness. This is a strength that the Lord gives to
Christian character, and a gift governed by the Holy Spirit. Here is an
indication of sanctification. It is the very opposite of a person being violent
and volatile. Here is a man who, though unwilling to compromise the truth of the
gospel, is ready to listen—and even to yield an opinion when it comes to a
question of his own rights. This is in the spirit of 1 Corinthians 6:7:
“Why do
you not rather accept wrong?”. Here is a man who recognises that the Lord will
vindicate him, if he is wronged. He therefore seeks peace, rather than
conflict—but not at the expense of true justice. He will want to work out a
problem to benefit of the other person, if no truth is being compromised. This
quality of “gentleness” is a sweet reasonableness, a graciousness, a forbearing,
a kind consideration, and a magnanimous attitude. This is “appropriate”
behaviour for a Christian. You can warm to a personality like that, when it is
the evidence of the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit.
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Copyright © 2002 Homerton Baptist Church. |
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