The Designated Driver

“Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach” (1Tim 3:2).

You’ve read the warning label. “Don’t operate heavy machinery or drive after taking this medication.” It’s a bad idea to get behind the controls of a bulldozer after swigging down a dose of NyQuil. None of us should climb into the cockpit of an F-22 Raptor fighter jet after a wine tasting. And you certainly don’t want your cruise ship captain high at the helm.

Seriously, you need a clear head and clear eyes when you’re behind the wheel of any vehicle. That’s particularly important for those serving and guiding God’s church. The Apostle Paul tells his protege Timothy that it’s critical for these leaders to be “sober-minded” (v2). As an overseer, you can’t be buzzed or distracted. There’s too much at stake. You need focus. You need to be aware of what’s going on. You need clear eyes and a clear head to be the designated driver for the congregation.

Apparently somebody has been driving the Ephesian church under the influence of something other than the Holy Spirit. Paul has sent Tim to be the new pastor after a crew of spiritual con artists hijack believers and driven God’s people into a ditch (1Tim 1:3-7). The apostle has already taken the keys away from two guys named Hymenaeus and Alexander (1Tim 1:20). 

As a result, there’s a vacuum in the Ephesian leadership. Paul gives his spiritual son a list of character traits for godly leaders (1Tim 3:1-7). The big idea is that “an overseer must be above reproach” (v2). Everything else in this list are just specific ways in which a leader should be blameless. In his marriage. In his family. In his career. In his ministry. New leaders are needed. But they must have integrity in every area of their lives. A jerk at work will be a jerk at church.

Are you wondering just what an overseer is? A quick check of the New Testament tells us these are also called pastors and elders. In other words, these are the men Jesus taps to direct His local church. They serve our Savior and His followers. They go where He guides. Scripture calls them overseers because they need great vision. They look to the horizon toward the destination. They look out for trouble along the way. They look out for the health and well-being of the other believers who are making the trip. You see, you need clear eyes and a clear head to be a designated driver.

That’s why Paul makes it clear that these leaders must be “sober-minded, self-controlled” (v2). The first word in the original language is nephalios, which literally means holding no wine. Needless to say, you don’t want someone in the driver’s seat of the church with glass of Merlot in the cup holder. It may be 5 o’clock somewhere, but not when you’re responsible for care and direction of God’s people. 

Is the apostle calling for a zero-tolerance policy toward booze? There are some churches and denominations who believe this calls for pastors, elders, and overseers to avoid drinking any alcohol. While that may not be a bad idea, you might find it difficult to use the Bible to back that up. Jesus’ very first miracle was to keep the party going by turning water into wine at a wedding reception (Jn 2:6-11). Our Savior apparently liked a good glass of Cab (Mt 11:19). He made it a central point of the Last Supper and looks forward to the day when He can enjoy a bottle with us one day soon (Lk 22:15-20). Even Paul goes so far as to tell Tim to regularly take a swig of wine for health reasons (1Tim 5:23). 

The apostle pairs this quality up with an overseer being “self-controlled” (v2). He uses the Greek term sophron. This paints the picture of someone who is sensible and has a sound and healthy mind. It emphasizes the ability to curb desires and impulses. The word carries the idea of being safe. While leaders must be creative and think outside the box, they’re head isn’t filled with wild ideas. They’re not looking to take dangerous chances.

Youtube is filled with folks who have no self-control. You know the videos I’m talking about. It usually involves a guy riding some sort of vehicle and a ramp. You get bonus knucklehead points for including fireworks or explosives. Someone with self-control rarely utters words like, “Hey y’all, watch this!” or “Somebody hold my beer!”  We don’t need clips on the internet of someone driving the church of Jesus into the ditch on purpose. We need overseers who are “self-controlled” (v2). After all, it is clear evidence that God’s Spirit is producing fruit in the life of every believer (Gal 5:22-23).

As we said earlier, someone who is “self-controlled” is able to restrain their passions and emotions. We should be in control of our desires and impulses. Or as the fans of “Seinfeld” like to say, the master of my domain. The big idea for the followers of Jesus: don’t let ANYTHING control you other than His Spirit (Eph 5:18)! For some of us that means total abstinence. Don’t allow anything other than Christ to be the driving force in your life, ESPECIALLY when you’re looking out for the welfare of others.

An elder must be totally focused on what he’s doing. He’s ready to resist temptation and distraction. Think of a dad behind the wheel of the minivan on a family vacation. Nobody should have to tell him to keep his eyes on the road and not text and drive. He’s not looking to catch air and trade sheet metal like Mad Max flying down Fury Road. It’s not just about him. He’s watching out for his wife and kids with him. There’s too much at stake. In the same way, an overseer must be keenly aware of what’s going on. He can’t be a distracted driver when he’s the designated driver.

So how do we as followers of Jesus apply this truth? First of all, this list of qualifications for leadership in the local church isn’t just describing a handful of rockstar believers. Paul is painting a picture of what a mature follower of Jesus looks like. We should all be headed in this direction. Each one of us needs to stay focused on Christ. Stephen Covey says, “Keeping the main thing the main thing is the main thing.” In case you forgot, following Jesus is our main thing! If you’re easily distracted and a “brightest light in the room” kinda guy like me, this is a very big deal. I constantly need to be…look, a squirrel! See what I mean?

That also means we must resist the temptation to continually try to get the attention of our pastors, elders, and overseers every time something happens in our lives. Again, let’s go back to the analogy of the family vacation. We can’t keep tapping dad on the shoulder each time we see something cool on the latest Pixar movie in the DVD player. I’m NOT saying we shouldn’t keep them in the loop on prayer requests and praises. But they’re eyes need to be on the road and not lost in the weeds. This is one of the big reasons we need to be in Gospel community in small groups. They’re your go-to folks. They’re your 911 call. 

If Jesus has called you into the position of overseer in His church, you certainly don’t want to get behind the wheel under the influence of anything other than Him. At the most basic level, know the substances and activities that can be trouble for you. Maybe it’s alcohol. Maybe it’s something else. Never forget the enemy constantly looks to take you down by getting your eyes off the road (Jn 10:10; 1Pet 5:8). 

Just like a jumbo jet has a full crew in the cockpit, an overseer shouldn’t be flying solo when leading the local church. Some people call this leadership by a plurality of elders. All throughout the book of Acts, you see a teams of elders guiding and leading local congregations (Acts 11:30; 14:23; 15:2-6, 22-23; 16:4; 21:28). Churches in Philippi (Phil 1:1) and Ephesus (Acts 20:17, 28; 1Tim 5:17) had multiple elders. Paul tells Titus to appoint several elders in each local church (Titus 1:5). Jesus’ kid brother instructs us to give the leadership team a heads up when we’re sick (James 5:14). While the lead pastor should be first among equals and the tip of the spear, he doesn’t lead alone. You need a team of overseers holding each other accountable and making sure no one gets distracted.

Elder must learn to keep their emotions and passions in check. We tend to make our worst decisions when we’re the most emotional. Andy Stanley points out our emotions make it almost impossible to see straight, think straight, and decide straight. We’re NOT saying leaders should be some sort of dispassionate Mr. Spock. As a matter of fact, you’re in a position of leadership specifically BECAUSE you have a burning passion for the Gospel and God’s church. Just be very careful you don’t make a rash decisions out of an emotional reaction.

You don’t want to be at the helm of a oil tanker when you’re tanked. Don’t operate a backhoe when you’re blitzed. And it’s never a good idea to race at Daytona when you’re distracted. In the same way, overseers in Jesus’ church must be “sober-minded, self-controlled” (v2). There’s too much at stake when you are His designated drivers.

Old Man Strong

“Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness” (v2).

American culture paints the portrait of what an old man should look like. White hair (if any hair!). Pot belly. Sans-a-belt slacks. Wake up at 3am. Walk the mall. Dinner no later than 4:30pm. Endless episodes of “Matlock.” God’s Word tosses that idea in the landfill. According to Paul, spiritual seniors are nothing like that. They are in total control of their lives and passions. They are have a strong faith, a strong love, and a strong commitment. Yeah, they’re Old Man Strong.

After giving instructions to appoint spiritual leaders (Titus 1:5) and shut up false teachers (Titus 1:10-11), the Apostle Paul tells Titus to put in place a sustainable and self-replicating system of telling believers what it means to be a follower of Jesus. He begins by pumping him up to teach strong doctrine (Titus 2:2). At this point, the man from Tarsus starts giving specific examples of what that looks like for the various folks in the church. First on the list are the older men in the faith. “Older men” (v2) are dudes past halftime of life. Call them senior citizens. Call them silver-haired saints. But what every you do, DON’T call them coots or old fogies! Paul even uses this same word to describe himself in that short little note to Philemon. “I, Paul, an old man (Gr. presbutes) and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus” (Phm 9). If you’re wondering, the apostle was around 60 years old at the time he wrote to Phil. The letter to Titus is a couple of years later. Paul is clearly not taking an early retirement and moving to Florida.

From the Greek seaport of Nicopolis (Titus 3:12), the apostle tells the Big T the traits that God is growing in the older men of the church. They “are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness” (v2). He does NOT say they must be boring, irrelevant, and out of touch with reality. First, Christ calls older men to be “sober-minded.” This is the Greek word nephalios, which literally means holding no wine or being without wine. A broader meaning describes someone who behaves in a sober and restrained manner, or one who is calm and collected. An senior saint should have the strength to hold himself back. Old Man Strength.

The second trait God is growing in older men is that they be “dignified” (Gr. semnos). They are to be honorable, reverent, honest, of good character, respected, noble, and devout. You might have a picture of some stodgy codger who would have nothing to do with the riff raff. WRONG! The Lord is calling men to live lives of good character, honesty, and integrity. That takes strength. Old Man Strength.

Batting third in this senior citizen lineup is the quality of being “self-controlled” (Gr. sophron). The word literally means “to rescue the mind or desires.” In other words, someone with godly self-control has rescued their mind from its control over their life. Paul describes the ability to curb one’s desires and impulses. God gives the older man the ability to get a grip on his passions, his wants, and his desires. His emotions no longer rule his life. That takes strength. Old Man Strength.

The apostle ends with a triple crown of senior strength. “Sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness” (v2). Once again, Paul drops the word “sound” (Gr. hugiaino). While it certainly can mean something that is well-grounded, the term is more often used to describe physical health and strength. Pumped. Ripped. Yoked. And the structure of the original text tells us that it modifies faith, love, and steadfastness. Pumped up in faith. Ripped in love. Yoked in steadfastness. There’s nothing weak or wimpy here. Sure these older dudes might not be able to complete a triathlon or climb Everest (though I wouldn’t put it past them!). But their faith in Jesus looks like biggest beast at Muscle Beach. They love God and people with a strength and power. They have endurance that makes a marathoner melt. 

That takes strength. Old man strength.