What God Is Looking For In Men
Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
Sermon Delivered January 1, 2006
Text: Titus 1:5-9
Review
In our last message you will remember that Paul
left Titus in Crete "set in order" the things "wanting,"
according to verse 5. The phrase translated set in
order is just one word in the Greek, the word epidiorywsh
epidiorthose (ep-ee-dee-or-tho’-ose) which, in those days,
was a medical term meaning setting broken bones and straightening
crooked ones. Paul was putting Titus in charge of straightening
out the false teaching and doctrinal problems among Cretan believers
(see Titus 1:10-11, 13-14 & 2:1). There were also some practical
problems that needed correcting (Titus 1:16).
The word "wanting" indicates that
there were some things that were left undone that Titus was to do.
One of the specifics Paul reminds Titus to do in verse 5 was
to "ordain elders in every city." The ordination of elders -
presbuteros (also called pastors or bishops) and their
qualifications will be the focus of this message today.
The word ordain in
Titus 1:5
is a translation of the Greek word kayisthmi kathistemi (kath-is'-tay-mee)
and literally means to place in an office, or to put in a position.
So, exactly how did Titus do this? We do not know for sure,
but there is no reason to believe that he did this except as the
result of the choice of the people in the church that was organized,
because of what was done in Acts 6:3 – "Wherefore, brethren,
look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy
Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business." Dr. John
Gill says, "we are not to suppose, that the ordination of elders was
the sole act of Titus, or alone resided in him; but in like manner
as Paul and Barnabas ordained elders in every church, by the
suffrages (voting) of the people, signified by the stretching out of
their hands."
Turn in your Bibles to Acts 14:23 "And
when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had
prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they
believed." The ordained in this verse is a different Greek
word that we have in Titus 1:5. The word here is ceirotonew
cheirotoneo (khi-rot-on-eh’-o). This is a compound Greek
word. Cheir is the word for hand, and teino
means to stretch. It is an old verb that originally meant to vote by
show of the hands. There is no reason to believe that Titus
appointed elders any differently than they did in Acts 14.
Years ago I read a book called The Measure of
A Man. It listed the attributes God wants to develop in men so
they can be the kind of men God wants them to be. The book is based
on the things listed here and 1 Timothy 3. The attributes that Paul
tells Titus to look for in Christ men who will be the pastors (and
later when deacons are chosen) in Crete are the attributes all
men should strive to perfect in their lives. Let’s take a closer
look at them.
What is in focus here is a man’s public
reputation. The word translated blameless is
anegklhtov anegkletos (an-eng’-klay-tos). It does not mean he
must be perfect, without sin. The word is actually a legal word,
which literally means, without being accused in court. Not merely
unaccusable but unaccused, free from any legal charge. It refers to
a person who has an upstanding character. As Matthew Henry says he
"must have good report, even from those that are without (1
Timothy 3:7); not grossly or scandalously guilty, so as would bring
reproach upon the holy function." When someone can point a finger at
an officer of the church and accurately accuse him of dishonesty,
immorality, etc., then the cause of Christ is hurt, and that man
should not be an officer of the church. All believers should seek
to live an upstanding life.
The focus in this verse is sexual morality.
This verse does not imply that the pastorate should exclude either
those who have never married or are remarried widowers. As one
preacher put it, "Being the husband of one wife refers to the
singularity of a man’s faithfulness to the woman who is his wife and
implies inner as well as outer purity. A pastor must have an
unsullied, life long reputation for devotion to his spouse and to
sexual purity." Clearly, a pastor may not be divorced and or
remarried, or the polygamous.
All Christian men should be faithful to their own
wife and never divorce them.
The focus of this verse is family leadership.
The late Kenneth Wuest, an excellent Christian Greek scholar, says
faithful children means believing children. If a man cannot
lead his own children to the Lord, he ought not to be the pastor of
the Church. Further, a pastor’s children should not be "accused
of riot or unruly." Riot describes a person who
lives a rebellious, self-indulgent, depraved, life. The word
unruly means disobedient to authority, uncontrollable.
The next Scripture portions have do to with
general character.
A bishop (episkopos) should not be self-willed.
The word refers to a person who is not arrogant, obstinate,
stubborn, inflexible, conceited and self-pleasing. He is the
steward of God, the one appointed by God over His
household and family, the church, to find and do the will of God.
Every Christian man (and woman) should endeavor
not to be arrogant, obstinate, stubborn, etc. but seek to find and
do God’s will in his lives.
This phrase, "soon angry" is one word in
the Greek - orgilov orgilos (org-ee’-los). It means one who
is prone to anger, and refers to a person who is quick-tempered and
does not have his anger under control. In verse 7 we are told
that a pastor must not be like this. Pastors often find
themselves in situations where they must try to minister to
difficult and demanding people. They must not yield to the
temptation to let them have it with "both barrels" so to speak. Turn
with me to James 1:20 "For the wrath of man worketh not the
righteousness of God." The meat of this verse is simply this: God’s
cause is not promoted by personal anger. Angry people often make
wrong, even sinful decisions. Moses in his anger smote the rock
twice because he was angry with the people. The result was, God did
not allow him to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land (Numbers
20:1-12).
All believers are to strive to be "slow to
wrath." James 1:19 reminds us, "Wherefore, my beloved
brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to
wrath:"
Alcohol is a mind-altering drug. A pastor friend
of mine wrote, that alcohol is "a drug that takes away physical
coordination, reduces mental capabilities proportionately to the
amount consumed, destabilizes inhibitions and moral restraints
causing a person loss of control and, on the top of all that, it is
addictive with a history of destroying lives, marriages and
families." Why any Christian would rationalize consuming the
beverages today that contain alcohol is beyond me. Let me read to
you what a former, drunk wrote about alcohol wrote --
We drank for happiness and became unhappy.
We drank for joy and became miserable.
We drank for sociability and became argumentative.
We drank for sophistication and became obnoxious.
We drank for friendship and made enemies.
We drank for sleep and awakened without rest.
We drank for strength and felt weak.
We drank "medicinally" and acquired health problems.
We drank for relaxation and got the shakes.
We drank for bravery and became afraid.
We drank for confidence and became doubtful.
We drank to make conversation easier and slurred our speech.
We drank to forget and were forever haunted.
We drank for freedom and became slaves.
We drank to erase problems and saw them multiply.
We drank to cope with life and invited death.
Now, lets look at what we see in
Titus 1:7
– "For a bishop must…not given to wine."
The phrase "given to wine" is one word in
the Greek - paroinov paroinos (par’-oy-nos), which literally
means staying near wine. Therefore a Pastor is not to
stay near wine. Let me explain. The wine most commonly drunk in
Paul’s day and in Old Testament times was either nonalcoholic or
very low alcohol content. Fermented juice was mixed with water (as
much as 8 to 10 parts of water to 1 part wine) to lessen it power to
intoxicate, particularly when the weather is hot and much fluid is
consumed. Because water was frequently contaminated, as it is today
in many third world countries, the slight alcohol contend of
common wine acted as a disinfectant and had certain other health
benefits.
The passage is clear, a pastor should not
indulge in drinking alcoholic wine. I should also note that today’s
wine would be classified as "strong drink." Dr. Norman
Geisler writes this: "Christians ought not to drink wine, beer, or
other beverages for they are actually strong drink and forbidden in
Scripture. Even ancient pagans did not drink what Christians
drink today." You should know, distillation, which increases
alcohol content, was not discovered until A.D. 1500. Modern wine has
9-11% alcohol; 80-100 proof whiskey and brandy has 40-50% alcohol;
Biblically and culturally, these would have been unthinkable!
And I should also tell you that there is NO
reason for any Pastor or any Christian to drink the alcoholic
beverages of our day. Proverbs 20:1 says, "Wine is a
mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived
thereby is not wise." Proverbs 23:29-35
explains some
of the effects on human behavior. Honor God by abstaining from
drinking alcoholic beverages.
The word striker is a translation
of the Greek word plhkthv plektes (plake’-tace), which means
ready for a fistfight. Apparently in early New Testament times grown
men would often settle disputes with their fists. Pastors are NOT to
be strikers. This is NOT the way for Pastors or any Christian to
settle things. However, there is another appropriate application
that can be made here I believe. A pastor should not be
pugnacious. The word pugnacious refers to a person who
has a quarrelsome or combative nature. As one commentator said, a
pastor "should have no part in meanness, abusiveness, or
retaliation, no matter how cruelly provoked." This should the true
with all Christians. Turn with me to Romans 12:18-19 -- "If
it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all
men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather
give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is
mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."
This compound Greek word means one who is not
fond of sordid gain or shameful greed. Paul is referring
to a person, who without honesty or integrity and who pursues wealth
and financial prosperity at any cost; A person driven by greed who
uses shameful, dishonorable ways to get money.
As John MacArthur says in his commentary on
Titus,
"All Christians, including pastors, have
a right to make a living for themselves and their families.
Jesus said that the laborer is worthy of his wages (Luke
10:7). So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the
Gospel [are] to get their living from the Gospel (1
Corinthians 9:11, 14). A pastor not only has a right to
earn a living but has a right to be paid by those to whom he
ministers. ‘Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy
of double honour,’ the apostle said, ‘especially they who
labor in the word and doctrine’ – preaching and teaching (1
Timothy 5:17). The word ‘honor’ was used of monetary
value as well as esteem and, in this context, doubtless
includes the idea of financial remuneration."
The phrase "not given to filthy lucre"
points to the pastor whose focus is preaching and teaching the Word
of God not on pursuing financial prosperity at any cost. He seeks to
shepherd the flock of God. He will not use dishonorable means to get
money.
Paul warned Christians, "For the love of money is the root of all
evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the
faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
1
Timothy 6:10
There we have it. We have seen today that Christians should
not…
Drink alcoholic beverages
Be fist fighters, quarrelsome or combative nature
Use dishonorable means to get money
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