God's Watchmen

“For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach” (v7).

Bear Bryant’s tower was legendary. The Alabama football coach would watch his team practice from the top of a tower. From there he could see everything. He could see if his players were hustling. He could see if his players were tackling. He could see if his players were learning. The bottom line: the Bear could see. God is not calling spiritual leaders to climb a tower where they can bark out instructions. But He is telling leaders to make sure they have a great view of what’s going on in His church.

The Apostle Paul has very specific instructions for Titus. He’s his “go to” guy for a very critical mission on Crete. The Gospel of Jesus has washed over the island like a supernatural tsunami. Lives changed. Eternities altered. There are three of issues that need to be addressed. There is a complete lack of organization and leadership. The apostle tells the Big T to put leaders in place in local churches (Titus 1:5). Another front burner issue is the presence of spiritual snake oil salesmen (Titus 1:10-11, 16). Somebody needs to stuff a sock in their pie hole immediately. Finally, Titus must put in place a sustainable structure of discipleship (Titus 2:1-10). Once that done, a system will be in place so that more and more people can come to understand what a relationship with Jesus really and truly looks like.

But first things first. These believers needs leaders and they need them now. Paul tells his special agent to find elders to watch and care for God’s people. Most importantly, they are to be men of integrity. “Above reproach” (Titus 1:6). Beyond suspicion. To connect their names with scandal is crazy talk. Faithful husbands. Faithful fathers. Faithful followers. Character is critical. The apostle mentions not once, but twice (Titus 1:6-7). Yeah, integrity is clearly a big deal, especially when placing leaders in positions to watch out for God’s people.

After telling the Big T to “appoint elders” (Titus 1:6), Paul suddenly calls them “overseers” (v7). So which is it, Mr. Apostle? Well, both. Elder is the title. Oversight is the function. A closer look at the original language will give us a better understanding. The term “overseer” is the Greek noun episkopos. This is a compound word that means “over” (epi-) “watcher” (-skopos). This is one who watches over the welfare of others, a person charged with the duty of seeing things are done correctly, curator, guardian, manager, or keeper.

There’s an idea here of having GREAT vision. Ted Williams’ eyesight was legendary. The Hall of Fame hitter could see the spin of each pitch quicker than any other batter. He could see if it was a fastball. He could tell if it was a curve. That allowed Williams to make the decision whether to swing in a nano-second. Spiritual leaders need great vision too. They need to have a clear view of the spiritual condition of their church, their small group, or their team. They need to be able to distinguish if something a true threat to the health of God’s people. At times, that needs to be done quickly. As overseers, elders need to have GREAT vision. Without visionary leaders, the church is in a world of hurt (Prov 29:18). Great leaders have God’s vision.

But let’s be VERY clear about what these folks are looking out for. They are NOT looking for rule breakers. They are NOT spiritual law enforcement. They are NOT just waiting for somebody to step out of bounds and throw the flag. No, these overseers are on the lookout for the spiritual welfare of God’s people. They constantly have their eyes peeled for ways to draw others deeper into a relationship with Jesus. 

Watching out for the welfare of others is a VERY big deal in the NT church. This term shows up over and over again as the Good News turns the world upside down in the first century. Paul reminds the Ephesian elders to be ever vigilant because God’s Spirit is the one who placed them as caretakers of God’s church. “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers (Gr. episkopos), to care for the church of God” (Acts 20:28). He and Timothy wrote to all the believers in Philippi but the dudes on the lookout to protect them (Phil 1:1). The apostle tells Tim that if someone has the desire to spiritual watchman, that’s a good thing. A very good thing. “If anyone aspires to the office of overseer (Gr. episkopos), he desires a noble task” (1Tim 3:1). He goes on list the qualities that Jesus requires in those men He places as protectors of His flock (1Tim 3:1-7). 

The bottom line is that our Savior is actually the One watching over all of His people. Pete tells us that every spiritual leader is working for the ultimate Guardian. Jesus is the “Shepherd and Overseer (Gr. episkopos) of your souls” (1Pet 2:25). You may be in a church with some jacked up leaders (I would say there’s a GREAT chance of that!). You may be a jacked up leader yourself. There’s tremendous security in knowing that Jesus personally pastors and watches over His flock. 

Those of us placed in spiritual authority need to remember a couple of important items. First of all, we don’t climb the tower like Bear Bryant. We don’t watch from a distance and bark instructions through a megaphone. We don’t do that because Jesus didn’t do that. Our Savior got down on the field with us. He got down in the trenches with us. He got down in the huddle with us. He is Emmanuel, “God is with us” (Mt 1:23). And Jesus promises to ALWAYS be with us (Mt 28:20). Since our ultimate Overseer didn’t watch from a distance, neither do we. Second, Elders need to remember that they are accountable to Jesus for how they care for His people. He’s watching over our leaders as well. He has great vision. Perfect vision, as a matter of fact. He’s the ultimate Overseer.