Qualifications: Good
Standing in the Community
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Then Paul comes out with a
“moreover”! As if all that he has so far aid was not enough, there is something
further that he wants us to consider. Up until now he has been dealing with
relationships, understanding, and practice within the church—and there is no
more appropriate place to start when considering a pastor. After all, it is us
that he will have to get along with—and we have got to get along with him! But,
says Paul, do not forget the world outside. “He must have a good testimony among
those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil”
(1 Timothy 3:7). If a leader in a church has a bad reputation in the community,
it often brings irreparable damage to the local congregation, and indeed to the
entire cause of Christ. This is not something that is easily lived down. It can
take generations before the stigma and the damage can be recovered from. So we
must consider very carefully the way a man lives, the way he conducts himself
before the world, his relationships with the opposite sex, and his people
skills. Can he be misunderstood by his mannerisms, or by the way he speaks?
There is so much to consider in this area. Is he too loose with his affection?
Does he understand people? He may be a very personable person, and get along
with everybody he meets—but are there dangers in his affability?
I have heard of one situation in recent years where the church was totally
agreed and convinced on calling a man. He was a very friendly person. His
spiritual skills were considerable. He was a good preacher. People found his
preaching easy to listen to. He did not find it difficult to put together a good
sermon. In fact he enjoyed the attention, the acceptance, and the praise. But
there was a problem. It was not easily discernable. But he had become
over-confident. He knew he preached acceptably. The problem was that his many
natural skills enabled him to put on a good performance. Even when he was
invited to the pastorate and settled into the church he was spiritually drained.
His spiritual life was not what it might have been. But he got on with
everybody, and everybody got on well with him. Yet it was not long before
spiritual pride crept in, and he lost his own personal guard. There was a
counselling situation—a request for baptism—so what a delight. Before very long
he realised that the relationship with this candidate was becoming something
that it ought not to be. And by the grace of God, he let go and left the
situation—and the church—before things got decidedly worse. The church was
devastated by the experience. He was devastated—and he had a deep spiritual
struggle to contend with, with many people misunderstanding him and the
situation. Now, that situation did not develop into worldly scandal—but it was
very close. The experience has damaged that man, and his spiritual recovery was
fraught with deep hurt—both on and in himself, and his wife. No doubt it deeply
affected his children too.
Such a situation as that could have been averted if there had been some
spiritual sensitivity at an earlier stage on the part of the church. And
sometimes outsiders can discern a problem—but of course they do not like to
interfere, thinking that they may be misreading the signs. But it is always
easier to be wise after the event. How much better to be spiritually aware and
seriously apply the principles the Lord lays down in His Word.
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