Since an overseer …
Summary: Paul introduces us to a second level of leadership in this passage. This leader meets the requirements of the elder, but also must meet additional requirements.
When I was a small boy, cars were simple. In concept, both new cars and old ones are the same. Both the new and the old ones have four wheels, an engine, a chassis, and a place for a driver to sit. To make the car move, the engine is coupled with a transmission. The transmission has a different set of gears for different power needs and speeds. In most of today’s cars, the transmission operates automatically. In the old days, the driver had to manually shift gears.
The idea of shifting gears came to mind because that is what Paul appears to be doing. In verse six, Paul begins with, “An elder must be…” We discussed the definition of “elder” at length and decided that Paul was referring to a church leader in general. Paul may be continuing that thought in verse seven, but it seems more likely that he is shifting gears and talking about a different kind of leader in this verse.
The NIV translates the Greek episkopos as “overseer.” Many other translations use the word “bishop.” It seems clear to me that Paul is thinking about two different levels of leadership. The reason is that he repeats the qualification of being “blameless” for both. If he were only continuing his thought, there would be no reason to repeat himself.
This second level of leadership represents a higher standard than the first. The first level, the “elder” demonstrates godly character by the quality of their life. They avoid situations that attract accusations of blame, they are faithful in marriage, and their children reflect a godly character. These characteristics cannot be forged. Paul has given Titus a simple description of what to look for. In a sense, he is saying if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is a duck.
Building on this definition, Paul moves on to describe the kind of person who will be a good fit for a more responsible level of leadership. This level of leadership is akin to the level Titus himself provides. In verse nine, Paul gives us a peek at the job description. It includes teaching, encouraging, and rebuking. This last one is especially demanding. If one is going to rebuke they must be above reproach themselves.
This brings us to the central conundrum of Christian leadership. Jesus taught, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35) The people that Paul and Titus were looking for did not want the job they would be asked to do. Not because they were afraid or because it didn’t pay, but because they would by nature be very humble people. Climbing the “corporate ladder” in the Lord’s church is climbing down, not up. The Christian who is a “climber” is looking to serve.
Application: We can all emulate the qualities Jesus looks for in leadership; service to others.
Food for Thought: What is different between a Christian overseer and a secular overseer?
It’s very sad how the church has become a business, and leadership has had to become CEOs and managers. The call and choice to be in Christian Church leadership has never been harder. They are called to serve, but expected to perform. The persuite of performance compromises the ability to be real and honest. Like cars, the more performance parts and power you give the car, the more likely you are to use all that power and you will likely compromise the original intent for the car, as well as it’s reliability and longevity. (Though it may be really fun for a moment😁)
Im so grateful here to be reminded that good elders and church leaders had the call to serve and set the example of.character. Their job is not to be what the people want them to be, or what the people want them to do, but to follow scripture, set the example and be okay to not have a turbo charged performance. But even while thinking about that just now, when we do serve and live God’s way, especially as a leader, we are given a power and ability to serve at a greater lever, a power that can’t be made by human hands. Good stuff here Jeff.
Ben,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts this morning! We are on the same track. Even on the temptation presented by an over-powered gas pedal. 🙂
Given the choice of submitting to God’s will or submitting to social pressure, I am always looking for church leadership that submits to God’s will.
As an overseer, in either position, church or secular, are watching over people. From a church perspective, I believe they are watching over the flock while from a secular perspective, they may be in the corporate world watching over workers, parents watching over children, teachers watching over students, or police officers watching over our neighborhoods. Depending on which position we are talking about, it seems like each are held to different standards.
In today’s society, I feel like police officers, parents, teachers, and church leaders are often held to higher standards to those they oversee than the corporate leaders. People are quick to forget that these individuals are of flesh too and fall to temptation.
I believe overseers of the secular world allow the secular world to dictate their leadership. They go with the trend and popularity of society so as to not offend anyone. Sometimes, it is their choice to do this, other times, it is what is being pushed down by people overseeing them.
On the Christian side, the overseers follow what the bible says. They stay true to the teachings of the bible. They love others like Jesus would, but don’t stray from the truth of the bible to be accepted by the world. They teach from the bible as the bible reads. For example, the church I attend, there are a couple of individuals who occasionally attend who are gay. Our church does not turn them away. They love them as Jesus would. However, they also do not change the message. They still share messages regarding what the bible says about homosexuality. (Please know, I am not using this example to start an argument. I have an older son who is gay. I love my son as Jesus would, but I don’t love the sin.)
I was responding to today’s devotional, Matthew 7:24-27, came to mind. The secular overseers are building their leadership on sand while one would hope, the Christian overseers are building their leadership on rocks – the truth of the bible.
Darla,
Thank you! As I dig deeper into God’s word, I see the same thing you do. We have a choice between God’s truth or conforming to the secular. I especially appreciate your loving response to your son and your church’s response to those who are gay. The message of God’s love and forgiveness is not conditional on us being “good enough.” None of us are.
Blessings!
Excellent devotion and comments. One of my concerns as a pastor is the adoption of secular standards to church leadership. The two standards should be vastly different. That difference has been well noted in the devotion and previous comments.
As was noted, the pressure is to perform. When I have gone through the candidating process – the process of interviewing for a pastoral position that is almost abusive – it is rare that I am asked about my love for Jesus, or about integrity, or about character. Most of the evaluation has to do with performance, theology, church growth. I realize these can be important, especially theology, but it is sometimes disappointing to see that few seem to care if I pray, read Scripture, have a personal relationship with Jesus that is active and alive.
This problem can be seen from both the leader’s perspective and the perspective of the people they are to serve.
The answers are right in front of us in God’s word and in His qualifications – such as what was given to Titus.
Rich,
It is interesting (and a little sad) to hear about your candidate process story. It is one thing to see the disconnect from the outside. It is another to know it exists on the inside.
Personally, I am thankful to know you and have a pastor who loves Jesus and is passionate about living for Him.
Great subject, Great Posts!!!
What is different between a Christian overseer and a secular overseer?
All mankind is either Christ-Centered or Self-Centered seeking to live according to God’s righteous standards, to the glory of God, or seeking to live according to Man’s “ever evolving” standards to the glory of self.
In the beginning, God created everything. At the center of His creation, was mankind with purpose, to live for the glory of God.
Out of His kindness, He invited mankind to share in His joy. In the beginning there was no dissension, because Adam and Eve were God-Centered, as all of creation was made to be.
John 1:3, Psalm 19:1, Isaiah 40:26, 43:7
Then Satan came and mankind changed his focus from serving and Glorifying God, to serving and Glorifying self. Mankind became self centered, set his eye on himself. Why must I not eat of these trees? Why should I be deprived? God knows I will be like him if I eat from it – because I will then have a knowledge of good and evil.
2 Timothy 3:2-4, Mark 7:20-23, Psalm 10:4,1 Peter 2:11
Mankind has made themselves slaves to sin, with no power over sin, they can only serve sin. As a secular overseer they have no power to do good and only serve their sinful self. Some will do so appearing to be nice even a wonderful caring person, while others don’t seem to have time for the niceties and will easily be seen for what they are. But a secular person will always be looking out for their number one which is self.
Through Christ, God has provided a way to become free from all power of sin. The Christian overseer has the power to serve God in all things and will look to the needs of others over self as they seek to glorify God in everything they do. Christ will be seen in all they do.
John 3:16, Galatians 2:20, Hebrews 10:22, Philippians 4:13.
Thank you, Ron.
I really appreciate you making the point that we are Christ-centered or self-centered. There really are no other choices. That is why the tests Paul gave to Titus for determining qualifications to be an elder are so critical. Everyone is going to want to appear qualified and they will say they want to do good. But as John points out, it is not about what we say, it is what we do. (1 John 2:4)
Good subject to deal with.
By the way, some of the gears in that transmission look like a couple I have pulled out of my cars when I was a boy.
Blessings Brother,
Ron
Ha! I wondered if anyone was going to notice that. : -)
👍🏻
It was an amazing time when it was possible to change your own oil, spark plugs, points and condenser. Modern automobiles with guided computer systems are so sophisticated only shops or dealers are likely to possess the equipment required to maintain them. Manufacturers seen to plan to make as much profit from maintaining an automobile which they have sold you as any profit involved in the actual sale of their product. Indeed many manufacturers seem to have a planned obsolescence built into their product or software.
I believe the same standards for leadership in terms of ethics, customer service, honesty, and treatment of employees should be similar for Christian managers or business owners who work in the secular realm as for Christian ministers who work in the church.
Christian employers may have non-believing employees and may not enforce all Biblical standards upon their employees but exhibiting Christian character should not be something which is compromised. Many times in larger firms secular standards of behavior and tolerance are making it extremely difficult for Christian managers or business owners to run their businesses without getting into legal complications with employees and/or civil authorities. I anticipate these issues will cause more and more Christian businesses and/or entities to possibly be non-operable due to the conscience restrictions of the owners.
I also believe pressure will be brought to bear upon those in Christian ministry to compromise Biblical standards in order to survive or meet civic laws or restrictions placed upon them. It is certainly possible persecution may begin to be even more intense than in the past should the worldly culture continue to move further away from what was at least a relatively commonly held Judeo-Christian ethic. If post-modernism, humanism, and anti-God values become accepted as necessary to be imposed upon all of society Christians may find themselves in very challenging circumstances.
We should be vigilant in prayer, and in the public square to stand for the freedoms our constitutional form of government guarantees, lest all freedoms to share the gospel and live lives befitting the name of Christ become relics of a past which no longer exists. May the Lord protect us, out freedoms, and grant repentance so we may continue to be a sending people and nation which proclaims His Word and blesses other nations. We are very close to having our witness and light severely dampened or doused. God may use persecution for his purposes, but the Apostle Paul certainly prayed for peace and a freedom to spread the gospel in his day and world. Shouldn’t we do the same.
Jeffrey,
Thank you for sharing. These are indeed troubling times. Yet Paul’s words to the Christians at Rome still ring true in my ear:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Yes! Very important! God’s purposes are always good including a time of rapture for all His children when His time is right.
Amen! 🙂