Appointing Elders Who Love What Is Good

by

 I pray there are people who meet these qualifications and not just on Sunday’s or other church events. I have not met any who can lay claim to having these characteristics.

Paul’s letter to Titus 1: 5-9 (CEB) “

5 The reason I left you behind in Crete was to organize whatever needs to be done and to appoint elders in each city, as I told you. 6 Elders should be without fault. They should be faithful to their spouse, and have faithful children who can’t be accused of self-indulgence or rebelliousness. 7 This is because supervisors should be without fault as God’s managers: they shouldn’t be stubborn, irritable, addicted to alcohol, a bully, or greedy. 8 Instead, they should show hospitality, love what is good, and be reasonable, ethical, godly, and self-controlled. 9 They must pay attention to the reliable message as it has been taught to them so that they can encourage people with healthy instruction and refute those who speak against it.
Common English Bible (Tt 1:5–9). (2011). Common English Bible.

In today’s world these characteristics may be difficult to find in any individual. Our world is so corrupt that when someone tells the truth no one believes it, but when they tell an outright juicy lie all most everyone believes it or at the least shrugs it off as another fairytale. Then again in today’s assemblies/congregations we are hard pressed to find someone dedicated to the gospel instead of increasing memberships for the sake of gain and who knows what else. We have been plagued with scandals after scandals within many church organizations–even the most prominent in our country if not the world.  Don’t misunderstand me here, there has to be those Jesus has commissioned and appointed to be exactly as Paul describes, I have no doubt there are, and I am looking forward to meeting them.

In our current time, we may have a real chance in meeting people so dedicated to spreading and teaching the gospel that appearing normal may not be possible. Perhaps the 144,000 from the twelve tribes of Israel will be those who have all these characteristics and approaching them may be convicting and intimidating. Maybe we will all of an opportunity to speak with fourth soil follower of Jesus, where their faith is so steadfast the people are healed in their wake.

All I know is I have never met anyone with the character in Paul’s letter to Titus–no one. I have spoken with many elders (pastors), teachers, etc., in my lifetime and none of them come close to being the person Paul describes an elder to be.

Well. I will keep praying that people of such stature and character are found and are spreading the gospel of Jesus the Christ of God.

Thanks for putting up with my bloviating, it’s the time we live in that has caused me to become more vocal and pointed because I love the Lord with all my heart, mind, and strength, and I do pray that the gospel is received by as many people as possible. In the meantime, I remain a broken human servant of our Lord, anxiously awaiting His return.

Shalom, Shalom

 

 

Views: 10