1 Timothy 3:1-7 - Leaders & Integrity

        

Me playing goal for the Seattle Thunderbirds (circa 1991)

        Over time words can take on negative connotations that are inaccurate.  The term “elder” may be subject to that problem.  I don’t know what kind of a picture it draws for you.  Does “elder” imply boring, stogy, dull, or washed up?  Worse yet, perhaps narrow-minded, impotent, cunning, or old boys club?  It’s hard to say.  I suppose it depends on what your background is and what we mean when we refer to “elder.”  Where I grew up in Northern Saskatchewan the three Native Reserves in our area all had elders.  That was probably the first I ever heard of that term.  But what does the term mean when used here in this chapter?

        The term means a senior leader in the church, a bishop, or an overseer.  In Judaism, the term elder meant older men who were leaders in the community.  According to my study Bible in Greco-Roman times the word elder meant a religious, civic, or military supervisor or leader.  So the term elder should have no negative connotations at all.  Instead, it should be a term of honor, representing a person who deserves respect.  

        In this chapter, Paul defines for us what an elder should be like.  Elders or leaders of God’s church are the men of grit, the builders.  They are supervisors sure, but they are more than that.  They are community and spiritual leaders.  The entrepreneurs, the bold risk-takers combined with the prudent shepherds of God’s flock.  You can’t build if you don’t take risks.  Elders are men of good character, God’s men.

        Maybe the quintessential church elder is a mix of Don Cherry, Indiana Jones, and C.S. Lewis.  A hockey-fighting tough guy, academic, adventurer, a convert from atheism to Christianity, who’s not afraid to take on Satan in the Screwtape Letters and to share a pint with his dear friends.  But I suspect I have gone too far.

        The senior role of the elder is a God-blessed and ordained role.  But it's not like a Pope or a Supreme Court Justice - there is nothing at all indicating you have the role until death.  Instead, it is a role based on character.  A good husband.  Not a drunk.  Not greedy.  Self-controlled.  Wise.  Great reputation inside the entire community.  Hospitable.  An excellent teacher.  Elders are first among equals.  They follow Jesus’ example.  The role is limited to men and they are servant leaders in a team of servant leaders.

        Yes, elders are older, senior if you will.  And it is a different role than deacons in that elders have broader oversight authority and responsibility.  Deacons are more akin to managers or non-commissioned officers if you will.  Yet both must pass similar tests as this chapter makes plain.

        Elders, as the name implies, have to have more experience - that is why they tend to be older.  It does not mean you have to be 50 to serve as an elder.  But experience is gained over the long haul and we are cautioned here against appointing a young man as an elder.  So yes, experience is a key element.

        But let’s not think for a minute that a life above reproach is a dull or boring life.  The saints of the Bible are the opposite of dull.  They adventured, risked, traveled, preached, married, built churches and communities and nations, healed, performed miracles, and faced and overcame giants.  And they will be rewarded by God for their lives well lived.

        Elders are strong, humble, confident men.  They are not weak, nor hypocrites.  They are not frauds or fakes.  You see what you get.  They write anew (there’s nothing worse than a dusted-off old boring sermon - that's just lazy - write something new for crying out loud).  Elders have nothing to do with scandal and selfish ambition.  We hear clearly throughout the Scriptures what God thinks of preening, arrogant, self-absorbed men who look to consolidate power rather than to serve and give and love and build up God’s flock.

        The qualifications and disqualifications of the Christian leader have at their core this, godly integrity.  Almost every company lists “integrity” as a core value.  But what does it mean for each company in practice?  And integrity by whose standards?  God makes it plain here what He sees as characteristics of integrity.  We should know it when we see it.  The challenge is for the Church to put God’s standards into practice.

              As a corporate lawyer for over 25 years now I’ve seen a lot of executives in action.  Both men of integrity and the other kind.  I’ve advised a broad spectrum of CEOs, CFOs, boards, investment banks, and wealth funds on a wide variety of transactions.  Very much like hockey, the business world quickly shows a man’s character, abilities, grit, and resolve.  You can’t hide on the ice.  It’s similar in the business world.  Everyone can see you.  Your results will show.  If not now, then eventually.

        That’s one thing I love about the game of hockey.  It is a team game, but like all games individual effort is essential.  Leadership by example, smarts, skill, and luck all play a part.  It’s honest that way.  Like a hard slap shot off the goalie’s face mask early in the game - setbacks and challenges toughen the leader - it keeps you honest and driven.

        Apologies for rambling here a little, but the thing I remember most about my hockey years was the camaraderie.  We laughed a lot.  The best part of the game was the time in the dressing room.  Gearing up.  Joking, kidding each other, and encouraging each other to prepare well.  You can’t take yourself too seriously - your teammates won’t let you.   Sports can be a serious business, but one where you have to be able to laugh and learn.  

        Business too is like that.  So is life.  The Bible says that ultimately everything will be revealed.  We must live life with integrity - by God’s standards.  We play together, but like hockey, we are very much responsible for our own role.  No one can do your job for you.  You have to do it.  I must step up and play.  Focused, ready, and determined to play hard and to compete until the whistle goes.  We play to win.

        In this area of elders and leadership standards, I see two primary issues.  First, we don’t test enough to ensure our leaders are sound.  We don't qualify and we don't disqualify.  Second, we see men disqualifying themselves with expectations of perfection rather than grace and obedience to God's call.  Neither is good.

        The older we get the more we realize the Christian life is more like a marathon.  Day after day.  And God alone controls the game clock.  In the Bible, God says that we say and do all sorts of “religious” things that are useless.  I believe that’s true.  Today just as much as it was for ancient Judah.  God says we pray, fast, and congratulate each other for the best year ever and various religious accomplishments.  But is God pleased?  We can fool the masses, but we can’t fool God.  God’s word tells us plainly that He knows what we do.  And that it is often aimed at pleasing ourselves.  Not God.

        If we care about pleasing God we would care about leadership standards.  Godly integrity.  And we’d care about God’s concerns: freeing those who are wrongly imprisoned, lightening the burden of those who work for us, freeing the oppressed and removing chains that bind people, sharing our food with the hungry, giving shelter to the homeless, giving clothes to those in need, and stopping hiding from relatives that need our help (Isaiah 58).

        God wants his concerns to be our concerns.  In our pursuit of pleasing God, He will provide the guidance we need and the resources to do the work.

        The best hockey players and the best business builders know that they need help.  Of course they take initiative, that’s how they are wired.  But they know they will get nowhere without help, without a great team.

        As Christians let’s set good priorities for the upcoming year.  Let’s ensure they are aligned with what pleases God.  And let’s rely on God to provide the godly paths, good servant leaders to guide and direct, and great teammates for the building tasks ahead.  May we all aspire to be leaders of integrity.  Elders.  Amen