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Blameless bishops
Text: Titus 1:6,7
We’re going to take these qualifications slowly. This seems to be how the LORD puts people into leadership in churches. He doesn’t ask them if they were “called.” Which seems to be the only qualification in independent Baptist circles. I’ve listened to preacher after preacher talk about making sure you’re called before getting into the “ministry.” A special feeling called a “call” isn’t ever mentioned as a qualification. You can have a desire. And you can orient your life a certain way so that you’ll meet these qualifications.
Call to ministry
That said, I always felt like I had a “call” on my life. But it would be better defined as a desire. Three things in my life directed me to ministry.
- I had a strong desire to serve God and just do the truth, as John said.
- I believed the Bible was God’s word and therefore worthy of devoting my life to understanding it. (When you devote your life to studying the Bible, it makes you familiar enough with the material to be able to teach it to others.)
- I believed that being a Christian meant participating in church in some meaningful way.
All those things are fine and good, but if I’ve got teenagers who are in and out of jail then there is no question I’m not “called” to be a bishop, elder, pastor, or any of these leadership roles. I may have a desire to. I may know something about the Bible. But a guy like Paul wouldn’t be approving me for any leadership even if I told him I was “called.”
The other thing is there is a difference between who the LORD deems fit for ministry and who men or churches put in ministry. Paul highlights this quality multiple times in his pastoral letters.
Blameless
- Blameless means there’s nothing to punish him for. He’s innocent. He’s guiltless. He’s faultless.
- It doesn’t mean he won’t be accused. But none of the charges will stick and the accusers will be ashamed.
- You might also say above reproach.
- 1 Peter 2:11-17
It proves dedication to Jesus Christ
- It shows this by you making changes in your life that align with what Jesus Christ is trying to do in people’s lives.
- It’s also proven in your willingness to protect what belongs to the LORD Jesus Christ.
So that Jesus Christ isn’t blasphemed because of your hypocrisy
- If you’re willing to live in sin or create messes wherever you go, but you have a desire to preach to people. You’ll just be driving people away from the Christ you claim to serve.
- This is why a “call” is meaningless without qualifications. And without the qualifications, the “call” doesn’t mean anything.
- If you’re not constantly analyzing yourself and correcting yourself, you’re not fit for this work. You are literally self-righteous.
Walking in Christ is part of teaching others to follow Christ
- As 1 Peter 3:13-17 says, it serves as a way of exposing liars for what they are.
- As 1 Peter 3:13-17 says, this is something that pleases God because paying the price for righteousness’ sake is what Jesus Christ did.
