I Timothy 3:1-7 It is quite true to say that a man who sets his heart on holding office has laudable ambition. Well, for the office of a bishop a man must be of blameless reputation, he must be married to one wife only, and be a man of self-control and discretion. He must be a man of disciplined life; he must be hospitable and have the gift of teaching. He must be neither intemperate nor violent, but gentle. He must not be a controversialist nor must he be fond of money-grabbing.
He must have reared his children to interact with respect. (For if a man cannot oversee his own house how can he look after the Church of God?). He must not be a beginner in the faith, for fear of his becoming conceited and sharing Satan’s downfall. He should, in addition to the above qualifications, have a good reputation with the outside world, in case his good name is attacked and he is caught by the devil that way. J.B. Phillips Version
The marks of maturity to be found in a Bishop/Overseer/Senior Pastor were key in the day that Paul was writing to his follower Timothy. In the following summary we can see that the they are:
1. Good reputation at church, home, work and community. One reason why slavery continued around the Christian world was because the Pastors and Bishops of various churches did not practice this. Black Christians would rarely hold their slave holding masters in respect.
2. Have only one wife. Polygamy was clearly church culture. common in the culture of that day. Polygamists were welcomed into membership but not into leadership.
3. The fruit of the Spirit as proven by self-control and self discipline.
4. Hospital and welcome guests and others into his life.
5. Have the gift of teaching.
6. Gentle to others and his own family not engaging in controversies and temper tantrums.
7. Generous with his money.
If we were to scale ourselves from Zero to Ten on each item, how would we fare? Want to try it?
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