Got Witnesses?

“Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses” (1Tim 5:19).

Stories of law enforcement falsely accusing someone of a crime seem to be everywhere these days. The controversial documentary series “Making a Murderer” alleges cops and prosecutors cooked up the murder conviction of Steven Avery. And just about every week, shows like “Dateline” and “48 Hours” pull back the curtain on investigations gone horribly wrong. These heartbreaking stories usually involve circumstantial evidence and questionable witnesses.

In a letter to a young pastor named Timothy in Ephesus, Paul establishes a standard for any investigation into leaders in the church. “Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses” (v19). He’s simply reiterating and applying a longstanding principle of God’s law. If you’re going to publicly accuse anyone of sin, much less an elder, you need evidence. Not rumors. Not whispers. Not innuendo. It’s going to take real forensic evidence. Got witnesses?

This is going to be an important tool for Tim. His mentor is on the road to Macedonia and has put him in charge of getting the Ephesian megachurch back on track. A team of spiritual con artists have weaseled their way into leadership and distracted folks from following Jesus with a combination of urban legends, goofy theories, and doctrine that’s downright demonic (1Tim 1:3-7; 4:1-3). 

Paul already kicked two of these knuckleheads to the curb (1Tim 1:20). The apostle set the bar for leadership integrity going forward (1Tim 3:1-13). And now he establishes clear guidelines for investigating charges against them.

In the previous verses, Paul talks about “elders who rule well” (1Tim 5:17), so it makes sense that he brings up those who don’t. Just to be sure, we’re NOT talking about incompetent leadership. We’re talking about a leader who willfully sins. That’s obvious from verses 20-24 where the apostle warns elders to avoid sinful activity like a Justin Bieber concert. 

You don’t kick out leaders just because you don’t like them. Poor performance isn’t grounds for dismissal. The standard for removal from the church office of elder must be sin which can be proved.

There may well be a few more false teachers serving in the Ephesian leadership who need to hit the road. If there’s more trouble at the top, Paul gives Tim the means to send them packing. The yardstick is clear. He can’t even consider cranking up an investigation without a minimum of two witnesses. 

If the evidence is there, dig a little deeper. Find out the truth. See if there are folks who are willing to testify to what’s going on. It has to be more than a random Twitter post or an anonymous online comment. You need real witnesses. And one witness won’t cut the mustard. Two is better. Three would be awesome.

God established the requirement of multiple witnesses when He gave Moses the law. “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established” (Dt 19:15). That’s especially true in death penalty cases (Num 35:30; Dt 17:6). 

Fast forward from the Torah to the kangaroo court that convicted Christ. “Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put Him to death, but they found none” (Mt 26:59-60; Mk 14:55). It was only through perjury that Jewish leaders were able to cook up enough evidence to get Him crucified.

Jesus told His followers to use this same forensic principle when handling cases of between believers. The Lord says we’re to sit down one-on-one with the person who sinned against us. “But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses” (Mt 18:16). 

Interestingly, that’s REALLY the meaning behind a verse that’s regularly quoted for small worship attendance. “For where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I among them” (Mt 18:20). In other words, when two or three of His followers agree together on the evidence as witnesses, Jesus stands with them. Christ is actually talking about church discipline, NOT the minimum requirements for a worship service.

Before making his third visit to the church in Corinth, Paul warns believers to build the proper case against anyone who needs correction. “Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses” (2Cor 13:1). We’re not to deal with gossip, hearsay, whisper campaigns, internet rumors, and urban legends. 

Confronting a fellow follower of Jesus is a big deal. I mean a BIG hairy deal! It’s not to be taken lightly. It’s going to take a minimum of two people to testify against them before any action can be taken. Got witnesses?

Another important factor is that leaders are easy targets. As a matter of fact, Paul has just described the need to reward top shelf elders “who rule well” (1Tim 5:17). He uses a Greek word (Gr. proistemi) that means to place yourself in front. In other words, leaders put themselves out there. 

Elders are exposed. It’s just part of the package when you step into leadership. You become a punching bag of blame for anyone who doesn’t like the volume of music, the color of the carpet, the temperature in the baptismal pool, or the quality of the free coffee.

You see this petty garbage in the political system all the time. The candidate from the Not-Your-Party gets elected. They haven’t even taken their hand off the Bible at the inauguration when the opposition cranks up the impeachment machine. The U.S. Constitution may allow those sort of shenanigans but not Scripture. 

If you’re thinking about raising a stink about one of your church leaders, you’d better slow your roll. What’s the basis for your complaint? Is it really sin? Got witnesses?

A little closer look at the original language here helps us out. The word “charge” is the Greek noun kategoria, which means an accusation. The word literally describes a rumor that moves “through (kate-) the marketplace (-goria).” Dirt and gossip spread like wildfire in public settings and large gatherings. 

The Apostle John uses a very similar term when he calls Satan “the accuser (Gr. kategoreo) of the brothers” (Rev 12:10). In other words, there has to be more than a whisper campaign of people hiding behind an anonymous web profile or unsigned letter to remove an elder from office.

It’s interesting that the only other uses of kategoria in the Gospels have to do with the crooked and unrelenting investigation against our Savior. Religious bigwigs never took their eyes off Jesus so “they might find an accusation (Gr. kategoria) against Him” (Lk 6:7 NKJV). 

When they eventually trumped up charges of treason against Christ and took Him to the governor, Pilate wanted to know, “What accusation (Gr. kategoria) do you bring against this Man?” (Jn 18:29). Just in case you haven’t heard, they had nothing (Jn 18:28. 19:4, 6). Zip. Zero. Zilch.

A local church can head a lot of these problems off at the pass if it just follows the process of selecting leaders which God lays out in His Word (1Tim 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). Let’s review that vetting process quickly. A candidate must be “above reproach” (1Tim 3:2), which means not just scandal-free but scandal-proof. 

Paul goes on to tell Titus that an elder is “not open to the charge (Gr. kategoria) of debauchery or insubordination” (Titus 1:6). Just down the page, we’ll see the apostle warn against rushing to find new leaders and “not be hasty in the laying on of hands” (1Tim 5:22).

There’s a good chance that if someone has a legit accusation against an elder, the church may not have done its due diligence in his selection. You can go a long way to avoid a messy investigation by checking out a potential leader’s marriage, family, work performance, and personal finances ahead of time. 

Is it hard work? Will it take a while? You betcha. But it sure beats one of your elders doing a perp walk or seeing your church leading the local newscast. Remember, we’re about spreading the Good News not getting bad press.

A quick but necessary note to anyone in church or ministry leadership. This principle is NOT a shield to hide behind. We’re NOT to use this as some sort of teflon coating insuring charges will never stick. (As a matter of fact, Paul gets to that in the very next verse!) 

There’s also the idea of shared servant/leadership or what theologians call the plurality of elders. That just means there’s not one dude flying solo in leadership. Just about every mention of elders in the NT describes them as a team (Acts 11:30; 14:23; 15:2-6, 22-23; 16:4; 20:17, 28; 21:18; Phil 1:1; Titus 1:5; James 5:14; 1Pet 5:1-2). Teamwork creates openness and accountability. Multiple elders help to provide checks and balances.

The bottom line here is that Paul seems to believe that charges against church leaders are going to come. It’s probably not a case of “if” but “when.” Pastors and elders are easy targets. So let’s establish a standard for investigation. 

Don’t waste your time chasing down every rumor. You need real evidence. Not opinion. Not innuendo. Are there any witnesses? There needs to be more than just one. Two is the minimum. Three is better. Got witnesses?

Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself

“Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by doing so you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1Tim 4:16).

While golf is a wonderful game, fellow golfers can be frustrating. When I’m not playing well (which is usually MOST of the time!), the other golfers in my foursome constantly barrage me with an endless litany of suggestions. Your tempo is too fast. Your tempo is too slow. Keep your head still. Keep your left arm straight. You’re aimed too far to the left or the right. The truth is I’m standing too close to the ball…after I hit it! Everybody thinks they’re a swing doctor. I end up standing over the ball unable to swing. It’s paralysis by analysis.

But the best teaching pros break things down and make them simple to understand. Their one or two tips may be hard to execute, but they don’t overload you with info. They may go into detail as they take apart your swing, but in the end, they concentrate on a couple of key principles and everything else will take care of itself. 

That’s exactly what Paul is doing here for Timothy. He’s Tim’s swing doctor. Picture 1 Timothy 4:6-16 as the two men standing on the practice tee. The apostle sees what the young pastor is doing both right and wrong. He understands where his protege needs to focus. After going over a few details regarding the mechanics of being the lead pastor and teacher of the Ephesian church, he sums it all up. “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers” (v16). Here’s the bottom line. Concentrate on these two things. The integrity of your walk with God and the integrity of your Gospel. Focus on the man and the message. Do that and everything will be just fine.

The church in Ephesus is recovering from the damage done by a team of false teachers who didn’t give a rat’s rear end about either their own relationship with Jesus or the right teaching. God’s Spirit had correctly predicted how liars would infiltrate the local church and distract folks from following Christ with demon doctrine and a call to self-salvation by subtraction (1Tim 4:1-3). Like a bad golf coach who gets you so discombobulated with details, these con artists used stuff that sure sounded religious to get people’s eyes off Jesus (1Tim 1:3-7). With Paul on special assignment to Macedonia, he’s personally selected his protege as the new lead pastor in the big port city. 

After critical instructions on prayer (1Tim 2:1-8) and finding new godly leadership (1Tim 3:1-12), the man from Tarsus goes over critical instructions for ministry with his spiritual son. Four times he encourages Tim to concentrate on “these things” (1Tim 3:14; 4:6, 11, 15). Thing one: Jesus is the answer to the question of who is the long promised Messiah (1Tim 3:14-16). Thing two: God is the ultimate Giver and He’s given us His entire creation to be enjoyed (1Tim 4:3-6). Thing three: Leave it all on the field for others because Jesus gave everything He had for us (1Tim 4:10-11). Thing four: Unwrap and use the spiritual gift God has given you (1Tim 4:13-15).

Paul sums up these instructions to Pastor Tim and tells him to focus on two important points. “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching” (v16). Pay attention to yourself. Pay attention to your preaching. The apostle uses a Greek verb here (Gr. epecho) that literally means to hold on tightly to something. That makes sense. Any golfer knows your grip is critical. It means to fix your attention on something, observe, be alert, watch out, and even be in a constant state of readiness.

Dr. Luke describes how Jesus used the illustration of a wedding reception “when He noticed (Gr. epecho)” and focused on how everyone maneuvered for the good seats at dinner (Lk 14:7). In Acts, a disabled man “fixed his attention (Gr. epecho)” on Pete and John at one of the temple gates (Acts 3:5). Paul tells his Philippian friends get a kung fu grip on Scripture, “holding fast (Gr. epecho) to the word of life” (Phil 2:16). It’s the idea of focus. Concentration. High priority. 

First of all, pay close attention to yourself. Before you get all hung up on someone else’s salvation or relationship with Jesus, how are YOU doing? How’s your walk with Christ? It all starts here. It all starts with Him. I have to ask myself, “Am I simply a poser?”  You know what I’m talking about. You project an image of someone who’s always hanging out with our Savior but in reality you don’t know Him any better than that weird barista at the local Starbucks who always spells your name wrong. Maybe the Lord is like that Gotye song. Somebody that I use to know. Know that He’s right here. He would love to hang out with you. And He not only knows your love of tall skinny caramel machiatos, He’ll get your name right every single time. 

A pastor’s top two priorities are a personal relationship with Jesus and delivering the Gospel accurately. Before I do anything FOR Jesus, I need to hang WITH Jesus. Remember the story of the big shindig in Bethany? Martha got so wrapped up in cooking for Christ that she almost missed out on spending time with Him. Our Savior told her to pump her brakes and realize her sister had her priorities in order. “One thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (Lk 10:42). In case you’re still wondering, Jesus is THE Good Portion! He is THE Blessing! Pay close attention to your relationship with the Lord.

To do that, you’re going to need some help. There’s no way to do this all by yourself. You and I have a bit of problem. We each have blind spots. Problem areas in our lives we can’t see. We need a partner. Someone who loves us and wants God’s best for us. Someone not afraid to tell us the truth…even when it might sting. Some people call them accountability partners. I gotta tell you, I always thought that sound like the person I would hire to do my taxes. Find some trust friends who follow Jesus to keep an eye on you. Listen to what they say. Check yourself before you wreck yourself.

This is particularly tough for those lead pastors out there. There’s a ton of truth in the old saying that it’s lonely at the top. As the senior leader, you cannot afford to wall yourself off from everybody. Hopefully you’ll give your fellow elders and pastors permission to speak into your life. Find a colleague at another church you can confide in. Hey, even the best golfers have a swing coach. They’ll probably see trouble coming in areas of your life long before you do. When we place our relationship with Jesus on high alert, it’s so much easier to set “an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1Tim 4:12). You have to “keep a close watch on yourself” (v16). If you’re a pastor, there’s too much on the line for you and your church not to. 

Paul wants Tim to also to stay laser-focused “on the teaching” (v16). If paying attention to yourself and your own walk with Jesus reminds us of verse 12, paying attention to the message reminds us of verse 13. There the apostle encourages him to proclaim, explain, and apply God’s Word to God’s people. Don’t get distracted with stuff that doesn’t really matter. As Stephen Covey says, “The main thing is keeping the main thing the main thing.” And THE Main Thing is the Gospel. Jesus lived the perfect life that we failed to live. He died the death for our sin that we should have died. He rose to new life that we don’t deserve. We trust in what He’s done for us that we could never do on our own. Does your teaching set our eyes on what Jesus has done for you and me? Check your message before you wreck your message.

A preacher prepares himself as much as he prepares his sermon. It’s got to be personal goes before you go go public. Long before you step behind the pulpit or strap on a headset microphone, you preach the sermon to yourself. John Owen once said, “No man preaches that sermon well to others that doth not first preach it to his own heart.” Has the message God has given you from His Word had its way with you first? It’s got to be personal before you go public. One way to make sure you check yourself is to let the Gospel wreck yourself. 

The apostle goes on to encourage the young pastor in Ephesus, “Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers” (v16). “Persist” is the Greek verb epimeno, which means to stay right there. Don’t go anywhere. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Keep on keeping on. It’s a compound word that literally means “in (epi-) living (-meno).” John uses it to describe when religious bullies threw pointless question after question at Jesus and never let up (Jn 8:7). Paul tells the Corinthians that he would unpack his bags and “stay (Gr. epimeno) in Ephesus” for a while (1Cor 16:8). 

Make yourself at home as you pay attention to yourself and your message. Get comfortable. This should be an important part of your regular rhythm. It’s not something you do every once and a while. Persist in it. Hang with it. Consistently. Methodically. Check yourself before you wreck yourself. Check your message before you wreck your message.

Just in case you forgot what’s on the line here, Paul reminds us. “For by doing so you will save both yourself and your hearers” (v16). What?!? Are you telling me it’s up to the pastor to save not only himself but the folks who listen to his message too? Relax. Take a deep breath. The apostle is NOT describing salvation by sermon. Jesus is our one and only Rescuer. Just flip back to chapter of this letter. Right out of the chute, Paul tells Tim that Christ alone saves. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost” (1Tim 1:15). 

My opinion is that the apostle is using a slightly different understanding of the word “save” (Gr. sozo). Most New Testament authors use it to describe deliverance, salvation, and rescue. But it can also mean to keep safe, preserve from danger, make healthy. We can’t save anyone. That’s Jesus’ job. But He can use us to keep each other safe and out of trouble. Yet another powerful reminder that we don’t do this alone. We need each other. Following Jesus is a team sport. And like good teammates, we’ve got each other’s backs. That way we stand a much better chance of standing under the waterfall of God’s overflowing and abundant life that Jesus came to bring us (Jn 10:10). That’s when, as the Message reads, “Both you and those who hear you will experience salvation” (v16 The Message).

Let’s face it, trying to following Christ can get confusing. There are a LOT of laws in the Bible. That’s why there are a couple of key summaries in Scripture. Jesus made it clear that by loving God and people we actually fulfill all of God’s rules (Mt 22:37-40). Similarly, Paul keeps things simple by telling Tim to concentrate on two things. The integrity of your walk with God and the integrity of your Gospel. Check yourself before your wreck yourself. Check your message before you wreck your message.

The Deacon Test Drive

“And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless” (1Tim 3:10).

In many ways, the most important part of buying a car is the test drive. You may love the make and model, the color, and the sticker price, but that doesn’t mean jack if your potential new ride fails the road test. You don’t really know how it drives until you go for a drive. 

In the same way, the working interview is all the rage. It wasn’t that long ago when an employer examined your resume, checked all the references, and brought you in for a job interview. But these days, you can expect to do a working interview. Your potential new boss wants to see what you can do on the job BEFORE you get the job. Just as importantly, you get to see if it’s gig you’re willing to do. 

A couple of thousand years before anyone ever thought of hopping behind the wheel with a salesman in the front seat, Paul tells Timothy to do the same when it comes to serving as a deacon. “And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless” (v10). Make sure you check them out first. Consider an audition. See if they can do the job. See if they like the job. See if you like them doing the job. Take the deacon for a test drive. 

Deacons are a big part of getting the church in Ephesus back on track. A team of false teachers drove the congregation into the ditch. So Paul asked his sidekick Timothy to step in as lead pastor and get things rolling again. The list is pretty straightforward. Step one: get rid of the rest of the spiritual snake oil salesmen (1Tim 1:3-7). Step two: Find and appoint new leaders called overseers (1Tim 3:1-7) and deacons (1Tim 3:8-13) to fill the newly created leadership void. 

God calls overseers to…well…provide oversight for the church. (Impressed with that observation, aren’t you? You’re looking at years of seminary training pay off right in front of your eyes!) They watch over the flock, watch out for trouble, and look to the horizon providing direction. Overseers (AKA pastors and elders) should have mad teaching and preaching skills when it comes to God’s Word (1Tim 3:2). 

Meanwhile, deacons are to set the bar for sacrificial service in the church. The word “deacon” actually comes from the Greek word that means “servant” (Gr. diakonos). Deacons roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty allowing the elders to focus on teaching. That’s exactly how the whole deal got going in the first place back in the Book of Acts (Acts 6:2-4). The apostles got themselves overcommitted and dragged into food service when they should have been concentrating sermon prep and prayer. The church drafted the Serving Seven to take that off their plate. 

Paul tells Tim to test every prospective deacon to see if they’re up to the job. He uses the Greek word dokimazo, which means to learn if someone or something is worthwhile through actual use. You put them through the paces. In one of Jesus’ parables, He describes how a farmer turns down an invitation to the social event of the year in order to check out his new livestock. “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go examine (Gr. dokimazo) them. Please have me excused” (Lk 14:19). Hmm, would you call that going for a test cattle drive? Yeah, I was sorry about that one the moment I typed it.

The apostle is talking about the kind of testing that reveals the true quality of something. What happens when the rubber meets the road. Jesus’ kid brother James writes about how “the testing (Gr. dokimazo) of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:3). In other words, your trust in Jesus gets a LOT stronger after you’ve held on tight to Him in the storm. And one day, we’ll eventually know if what we’ve done stands up to the blast furnace of God’s judgment because “the fire will test (Gr. dokimazo) what sort of work each one has done” (1Cor 3:13).  

Before giving someone the title of deacon and the church’s seal of approval, they have to “prove themselves blameless” (v10). Paul drops a term here (Gr. anegkletos) which describes someone who’s beyond reproach. It’s a compound word that literally means somebody who is unable to be called out. If you’re a fan of the WWE, you know what I’m talking about. A wrestler like the Rock or Ric Flair is standing in the ring with the mic and they challenge a rival who’s done them wrong to come out to fight right now. You’ve seen it movie westerns. One cowboy stands outside the tavern challenging the man who shot his pa to a gunfight. The person who climbs into the ring or through the swinging doors of the saloon has just eliminated himself as a deacon. 

Paul uses a slightly different term here for “blameless” (Gr. anegkletos) than he does when requiring an overseer to be “above reproach (Gr. anepilemptos)” back in verse 2. Don’t think there’s a huge difference in the integrity of an pastor/elder and a deacon. The apostle writes similar instructions to buddy Titus as he searches for overseers for churches on the island of Crete. These men need to be “above reproach (Gr. anegkletos)” (Titus 1:6-7). If we’ve done our due diligence on our deacons, we shouldn’t have to worry about seeing them involved in a scandal the next time we turn on the 6 o’clock news.

The good news about the Good News is that Christ came to make every person who trusts Him blameless as well. God promises to “sustain you to the end, guiltless (Gr. anegkletos) in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Cor 1:8). Jesus has given Himself up “in order to present you holy and blameless (Gr. anegkletos) and above reproach” to our heavenly Father (Col 1:22). Our Savior swapped His perfection for our imperfection (2Cor 5:21). His sinlessness for our sinfulness. His righteousness for our wrongfulness. Someone once called it “The Great Exchange.” Jesus does for us what we could never dream of doing for ourselves. As a result, we’re shame-free and blame-free. Blamelessness. It’s not just for overseers and deacons.

Meanwhile back in Paul’s first letter to Pastor Tim, we read that once deacon passes his working interview and proves to have integrity, leadership endorses them in their service. Think of seeing the UL tag on your new microwave or plasma TV or a great review from Consumer Reports. A deacon gets the…wait for it…God Housekeeping Seal of Approval. See what I did there?

Businesses use working interviews as part of their hiring process. Customers take their new ride for quick spin as part of buying a car. Paul says we should do the same when checking out our deacons. It’s good for the church. It’s good for the servant. Call it the Deacon Test Drive. 

Live What You Teach, Teach What You Live

“and in your teaching show integrity, dignity” (Titus 2:7)

Mr. Parker was the greatest. There’s no teacher that impacted my life like he did. And I’m not the only one. As the vocal music instructor at my high school, he poured into the lives hundreds of students, many of whom never sang in a choir, chorus, or quartet. That’s because Mr. Parker lived his life with integrity. He was great in the classroom but he was even better in life. He lived and we learned. That’s Paul’s point to Titus. Understand that your influence extends well beyond what you teach. People learn by how you live. 

In this second chapter of his letter, the Apostle Paul tells his man Titus all about establishing a system of instruction that will last long after he’s left the island of Crete. The Gospel of Jesus has clearly transformed the people here. Now they need a sustainable structure of telling others what it means to follow Christ. Paul begins by telling him what to teach. “Teach what accords to sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). He then tells him whom to teach (Titus 2:2-6,9-10). He then tells him how to teach (v7-8). Titus must teach with integrity. He must teach with dignity. Both in the classroom and out. Two things will occur. Believers will learn how to live. Opponents will have no room to criticize you or the Gospel. What a powerful lesson for everyone who teaches, especially those who teach about Jesus. Yikes, that means me!

First of all, we’re to teach with “integrity” (v7). This is the Greek word aphthoria, which means not subject to corruption, purity, and honesty. It’s the idea of having good character, being moral and virtuous. But the basic meaning of the term is wholeness and being undivided. We should be the same all the time. We should be the same everywhere we go. We should be the same with everyone we’re with. You’ll hear engineers talk about the structural integrity of a building, bridge, or machine. When it has integrity, it’s sturdy and stable. It’s not rickety and held together by duct tape and paper clips. It’s able to withstand harsh conditions. That’s the kind of integrity teachers of God’s Word need to have. And that only comes when we build our house on the Rock (Mt 7:24-27). It’s not about the structure, but the foundation. The foundation of our trust must be in the person and work of Jesus. He’s the ultimate in integrity.

Teachers must also possess “dignity” (Gr. semnotes). Paul’s talking to Titus about proper conduct, respectability, seriousness, and acting the right way. In other words, our teaching in the classroom hangs on our conduct outside of it. We can be up for “teacher of the year” for our fabulous lessons and methods but send it all down the crapper when our life doesn’t back it up. Our dignity backs up our message. It gives us credibility. It’s gives us moral and ethical capital for what we teach. Let’s be clear about one thing. This does NOT mean that you live a perfect life. There’s only one Teacher who pulled that off. Trust in His perfection. And when you do jack things up (and you WILL jack things up!), confess and repent. Be transparent. Teachers need Jesus just as much as their students. 

Live what you teach. Teach what you live. That’s exactly what Mr. Parker did. 

A Walk Talks

“They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work” (v16).

“A talk talks and a walk talks, but a walk talks louder than your talk talks.” Sounds like something you’d find in a book by Dr. Seuss, doesn’t it? This was something my old buddy Ross Turner used to say on a regular basis. His point is that we might say we’re followers of Jesus but our actions will give the real answer. It’s true. Actions do speak louder than words. Here in his letter to Titus, Paul tells his man on the island of Crete not to pay any attention to what the false teachers say. Listen to their actions. Their walk talks louder than their talk talks.

These false teachers are just one of three points on Titus’ to-do list. The Gospel of Jesus has washed across this Mediterranean island like a supernatural tsunami. Their are new believers everywhere. The Big T is to handpick leaders for all of the local churches (Titus 1:5). He’s to establish a sustainable system of discipleship for folks who place their trust in Christ (Titus 12:1-10). But a huge part of his assignment is to shut up and shut down a posse of spiritual con artists who are doing all sorts of damage to these baby believers (Titus 1:10-11). 

Paul gives Titus a description of these snake oil salesmen. As members of the “circumcision party” (Titus 1:10), they’re Jews who think Gentiles have to convert to Judaism before they can follow Jesus. They’re ripping apart families and out to make a fast buck (Titus 1:11). They’re liars, bullies, and lazy slobs (Titus 1:12). They’re distracting folks from the big story of God’s amazing rescue with all sorts of religious sounding mumbo jumbo (Titus 1:14) and stupid rules about what to eat (Titus 1:15). Just in case, Titus has any doubts about these false teachers, Paul gives him one more important description. “They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works” (v16). Don’t listen to what they’re saying. Watch what they’re doing.

The apostle goes on to say that these false teachers are “detestable, disobedient, unfit for every good work” (v16). A closer look at the original language kinda turns my stomach. First of all, they’re disgusting, vile, and foul. They stink like a dumpster on a hot August day. Second, they’re rebels and refuse to listen to anyone in authority. They shake their fists at anybody who tries to tell them what to do. Finally, they’ve failed the test and are disqualified. They’re repeated rule-breakers. Wretched, rebellious rejects. Or as the Message reads, “They’re real creeps, disobedient good-for-nothings” (v16 The Message). Yeah, their walk talks alright. 

I have to say that this gets more than a little personal for me. For years, I told people that I believed in God and was a follower of Jesus. There was just one itty bitty problem. My actions continually threw my words under the bus. Craig Groeschel confesses to a similar sin. He says that he lived a significant portion of his life as a practical atheist. He said he was a Christian but you would never know it by his actions. I’m not sure if it was something I heard, something I read, or someone I met. But one day, God jumped all over me showed me that I was living a lie. I suddenly realized that a person lives what he actually believes. And my life shouted to the world that I didn’t believe in Jesus. My walk talked VERY loudly. It actually drowned out my talk. My heart sank and I confessed my disobedience and sin to my Savior. From that point on, I did everything I could to live a life that was an expression of my faith in Jesus. 

I’m constantly reminded of Ross’ words. Your talk talks and your walk talks. But your walk talks louder than your talk talks. 

Management Material

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

Org charts are important. You need to know where you fit into the big picture. In your company. In your organization. It’s not different in Jesus’ church. In the first part of verse seven, Paul instructs his man Titus as to the role of the elder. The Big T gets a memo from the home office telling him what it looks like in God’s view to be management material. The Lord places these spiritual leaders in critical management roles. But they aren’t there to get the corner office or the company car. He selects these managers to on the lookout for the welfare of His people. They are all accountable to ultimate Overseer. That’s what it means to be God’s manager.

If you’re not familiar with the situation Titus is facing, let’s set the scene. It’s the first century and he’s on the island of Crete just off the coast of Greece. The Good News of Jesus has just washed across the island like a supernatural tsunami. Followers of Christ are in every city. But when it comes to spiritual leaders, there’s a big fat zero. The Apostle Paul tells his buddy Titus to look for mature believers to fill the leadership void (Titus 1:5). He’s not just looking for a body slightly above room temperature. He’s not desperate. The Big T is scouting for men of integrity. Men who are “above reproach” (Titus 1:6-7). 

A big part of being an elder in the local church is remembering your place in the org chart. First of all, an elder is an “overseer” (v7). This simply means that he is to keep an eagle eye out for the spiritual welfare of the folks in the congregation. Secondly, he’s “God’s steward” (v7). An elder isn’t the boss. He’s not the one in charge. No, the overseer is a manager for Jesus. Paul uses the Greek word oikonomos. It’s a compound word that literally means the “law of the house.” 

In its most basic sense, this is a manager of a household. One trusted with the management of another’s affairs. Someone placed in charge by one in higher authority. It’s a person in authority but under authority. In this case, that authority is the Highest Authority. Jesus. So instead of an elder/overseer being the big boss man, he’s actually middle management at best. But in the world of the local church, he’s a servant-leader. He serves his Savior by serving Jesus’ people. It’s about humility. It’s about putting others first. It’s about putting your needs on the back burner. That’s what it means to management material in the eyes of God.

There are several times we see stewards or managers (Gr. oikonomos) in the New Testament. Paul lists the city manager of Rome as a member of the church in that city, “Erastus the city treasurer (Gr. oikonomos)” (Rom 16:23). The apostle tells the folks in Corinth Jesus has placed him and the other spiritual leaders in the position of “stewards (Gr. oikonomos) of the mysteries of God” (1Cor 4:1). Twice, Jesus gives examples of good managers (Gr. oikonomos) as what it looks like to be one of His followers (Lk 12:42; 16:1). So in one very real sense, EVERY believer is a steward of the resources and gifts given by God. How are you using what the Lord has given you? You do realize that they aren’t just for you, right? You do understand that He’s blessed you to be a blessing to others, right? Pete writes that each of us as followers of Jesus is use our spiritual gifts wisely, “use it to serve one another, as good stewards (Gr. oikonomos) of God’s varied grace” (1Pet 4:10). Are you a wise manager of what He’s given you?

While Paul is certainly talking specifically about the office of elder in the local church, every person saved by Jesus is a spiritual leader on some level. You exercise influence on the people you interact with. Are you a faithful steward of what God has given you? Are you a good manager of the resources the Lord has blessed you with? Are you leveraging your relationships, your job, your place in society to the glory of Christ’s kingdom. Are you loving and serving Jesus by loving and serving people? Our Savior said Himself that we keep God’s commands when we do that.

Are you management material?

The Unusual Suspects

“if anyone is above reproach…” (v6)

Few things get my undies in a bundle like scandal in the church. Some knucklehead senior pastor gets caught sleeping around on his wife. Another doofus can’t keep his sticky fingers out of the offering plate. Some joker builds a palace that’s sweeter than most presidents and prime ministers have. Still another bully becomes so power hungry that he bum rushes everyone in his way to get what he wants. The interweb is chockfull of this crap. And all it does is throw mud on the wedding gown of Jesus’ bride. 

Two thousand years ago, the Apostle Paul gave serious instructions that would go a long, long way to help local churches from making bad news. Remember, we’re in the Good News business! He wrote a note to his “go to” guy deployed on the island of Crete. Paul tells Titus to set up leadership structures in all of the local churches by appointing elders (Titus 1:5). He’s NOT talking about chronological but spiritual maturity. This is what we should see in our elders, pastors, and spiritual leaders. The man from Tarsus then gives the Big T a picture of just what spiritual leadership looks like. Above all, they are to be “above reproach” (v6). All of the other qualities listed later are just specifics about what this means. 

So just what does it mean to be “above reproach?” The phrase comes from a single Greek: anegkletos. It literally means “one not called in.” Back in the first century, this was someone who is NOT called into court to appear before the judge for wrongdoing. This pertains to someone who cannot be accused of anything wrong. They’re blameless. They’re not accused. They’re without offense. They’re beyond suspicion. They are the Unaccused (yeah, I just made that word up).

Let’s talk for a bit about who an elder is NOT. Who doesn’t make the list? Who’s eliminated from consideration? Take the characters in the movie “The Usual Suspects.” After a nasty crime, police round up a group of familiar faces. These crooks run in the wrong circles and continually dance in the shadows of what is legal and illegal. The cops know them well. Very well. When the fecal matter hits the whirling device, they drag these dudes downtown for questioning. It’s not the first time. And it won’t be the last time. The each have a slimy rep. When you’re looking for an elder, you don’t choose one of “The Usual Suspects.” Just the opposite. There’s no scandal. No charges made. No indictments have been handed down. These guys are so far from the line that there’s no doubt they’ve ever been anywhere near the line. They are the Unusual Suspects. They are the Unaccused.

The Apostle Paul sets a high standard for the spiritual leaders in the local church. The list in the following verses is less about possessing a body of knowledge and specific skill set. If this quality is not there, the rest of the list is meaningless. It’s about character. It’s about integrity. Why is this a big deal? Having leaders who are above reproach goes a long way to prevent scandal and disgrace on both the church and the Gospel. Being unaccused means having a great reputation. It’s so important that Paul drops the very same word in the very next verse, just in case we may have missed it the first time around. Yeah, integrity. It’s a big deal in our spiritual leaders.

Check out how other translations handle this idea. “[These elders should be] men who are of unquestionable integrity and are irreproachable” (v6 AMP). “An elder must be well thought of for his good life” (v6 NLT). “Men having a good record” (v6 BBE). “Is this man well-thought-of?” (v6 The Message). “Elders should be without fault” (v6 CEB). “They must have a good reputation” (v6 CEV). Unquestionable integrity. Irreproachable. Well thought of. Good record. Good reputation. These are the character traits we’re looking for when vetting our leaders. They are the Unaccused.

Maybe you think that you’re off of the hook at this point. Whew, looks like nobody’s ever picking me to be one of the elders! Not so fast, my friend. You and I may not be a pastor or an elder, but the Holy Spirit is recreating each of us in the image of Jesus, not just those at the top of the org chart. An elder’s life should be worthy of imitation. Integrity and blamelessness should be our goal. No way, dude. You have NO idea what’s on my resume (or should I say “criminal record”!). I’m sure every one of us has stuff in our rearview mirror we’d rather forget. 

The guy writing this letter has quite a rap sheet. Before he was Paul the missionary, he was Saul the murderer. Yeah, he killed the followers of Jesus. He ran the coat check table at Stephen’s stoning (Acts 7:58). He was all in favor of it (Acts 8:1). He led a black ops team to hunt down believers (Acts 8:23). The apostle admits to trying to wipe Jesus’ church from the face of the earth (1Cor 15:9; Gal 1:13; Phil 3:6; 1Tim 1:13). Despite his bloody background, the former Pharisee is the man Jesus handpicks to reach the world. If God can use Paul, He can use you and me. He’s eventually going to wipe our records clean when He returns for His spectacular encore. Eventually, Jesus will make sure that every one of us is “guiltless (Gr. anegkletos)” (1Cor 1:8) and “above reproach (Gr. anegkletos)” on the day of judgment (Col 1:22). 

Yup, one day we’ll all be the Unusual Suspects. We'll all be the Unaccused.