ࡱ> @B? !bjbj &0oo ""8$b$$$$$$$J')Z$$$ v$$:$,S$eh^?$ o$$0$I$ F*F*S$S$" :   LECTURE 1.2 THE PASTORS QUALIFICATIONS Paul gives us character descriptions of the minister in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9. The focus is on character not function. Local Reformed Church Seeks Qualified Pastor who is able to: Relate well to himself: Relate well to his family: Relate well to the people in our church: Relate well to people outside of the church: Relate well to God: 1. During the course of each school year dozens of inquiries come across my desk regarding men who are being considered by churches and mission boards. I am supposed to rate those individuals according to qualifications that are specified in the reference form. Without exception, each inquires as to the abilities of the person being considered, his personality traits and the talents of his wife. Rarely does a questionnaire deal with character traits. (19/3) Despite the fact that we call ourselves "evangelicals" and claim to be biblical in our approach, we fall far short of the biblical standard in this matter. Although the Bible often states the kinds of things that elders, pastors, or overseers do, nowhere does it specify the talents we may expect in them. Nowhere does it state that they must be exceptional managers, visitors, pulpiteers, or teachers. Although they need those qualities to perform their duties, the Bible's major emphasis is in an entirely different direction; instead of insisting on how well a person is able to perform a certain function, it focuses instead on what kind of a person he is. (19/4) The great purpose for which a minister is settled in a parish is not to cultivate scholarship, or to visit the people during the week, or even to preach to them on Sunday, but it is to live among them as a good man, whose mere presence is a demonstration which cannot be gainsaid that there is a life possible on earth which is fed from no earthly source, and that the things spoken of in church on Sabbath are realities. In speaking of a man whom he knew who met those qualifications, Stalker relates: We who laboured along with him in the ministry felt that his mere existence in the community was an irresistible demonstration of Christianity and a tower of strength to every good cause. Yet he had not gained this position of influence by brilliant talents or great achievements or the pursuing of ambition; for he was singularly modest, and would have been the last to credit himself with half the good he did. The whole mystery lay in this, that he had lived in the town for forty years a blameless life, and was known by everybody to be a godly and prayerful man. Stalker ends this appraisal by insisting that "the prime qualification for the ministry is goodness." (19/4,5) It should be standard procedure that a church considering a person to be their pastor go into the community where the man is presently living and talk to the non-Christians with whom he has contact to see what kind of a reputation he has among them. What sort of a neighbor has he been? Has he exemplified the Lord Jesus Christ among those in his neighborhood? How has he reacted when a neighbor's child beat up his child? What about those people with whom he as carried on business/. Was he always looking for a special deal because he was a clergyman? Did he pay his debts promptly? Was he honest and straightforward in his business dealings with members of the community? If he was in a business other than pastoring, what kind of a business reputation did he enjoy? Did he treat people honestly and squarely? Did he back up the product he was representing with service to his customers? If he was employed, what did his boss and, his fellow workers think of him? By now the reader is discovering on, the basis of this list of characteristics that many people already in the, pastorate should not be there. (20/31) 2. The word prudent (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:8) carries with it the connotation of sensibility. There are a number of things that may be permissible but not prudentA prudent man is one who does not gage in behavior he knows will be offensive to others. He is not loud or rude or boisterous in places and situations where such behavor is not considered acceptable. He does not flaunt a "macho" image, attempting to convey exaggerated images of his manhood. He is not overly competitive in his activities. I have seen people exhibit imprudence even by playing Scrabble with a killer instinct. God does not need such dreadfully insecure individuals in His pastoral service. (19/6) Recently I heard a lady say It is so nice to have a pastor who you know always will say the appropriate thing. He actually thinks before he speaks. We havent always had pastors like that. God wants people who have a sense of dignity about them. I do not mean stuffy people. I mean people who know how to conduct themselves properly. (19/7) In the seminary in which I teach, as a part of a course in philosophy of ministry I regularly bring in our assistant librarian to teach a class in etiquette. Unfortunately it probably is one of the classes that is received the most poorly. I say unfortunately because it is the class that often is needed the most. Not many of our graduates fail in the ministry because they fall prey to doctrinal errors. Numbers, however, have made an improper impact on the ministry simply because they are "klutzes," are continually making themselves offensive to peopleand they will not change. Simple thingssuch as practicing acceptable table manners, placing a mint in their mouths when dealing with people in close proximity, and refraining from picking the nose, ears, or teeth in publicwould give those people substantial mileage in being more acceptable to others. If they learned a few social graces in addition and were able to remember to express gratitude to people for every kind action no matter how small, they would be making major progress toward becoming the type of respectable person the Bible demands for the position of pastor. The person who basks in his crudeness and considers it a necessary part of his "macho" image probably should seek another vocation besides the pastorate. How many unfortunate incidents in the church could be avoided if Christians could learn to be Gentlemen and Gentlewoman. I am reminded of the little girl who was heard to pray, Lord, please make bad people good, and good people nice. Unfortunately some pastors have all the finesse of a steam roller, pushing their way through many obstacles, injuring the saints as they attempt to make changes in the church. 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Courier New;Wingdings#h&m B -!#QP(0 David Murray David Murray   Oh+'0h  $ 0 <HPX`'David Murray Normal.dotmDavid Murray3Microsoft Word 12.0.0@F#@`@WhB ՜.+,0 hp  'Puritan Reformed Seminary-   Title  !"#$%&'()*+,-.012345689:;<=>ARoot Entry F ehC1TableZ*WordDocument&0SummaryInformation(/DocumentSummaryInformation87CompObj` F Microsoft Word 97-2004 DocumentNB6WWord.Document.8