Choosing Elders (Part 4)
By Randy Blackaby

Morally Watchful, Self-Controlled, and Sensible

Brethren often spend a great deal of time examining a prospective elder's domestic qualifications--his marital situation, child-rearing success, etc. However, a man's possession, or lack of possession, of the vigilance, temperance, and sober-mindedness qualities is equally important to his success as a pastor of God's people.

Congregations that have appointed elders who failed to meet this qualification have learned the hard way why God ordained it.

In 1 Timothy 3:2, the apostle Paul declared that an elder must be a man who is temperate (sober-minded-NKJV), or vigilant (sober-KJV). The same apostle, writing in Titus 1:8, said the bishop must be temperate (KJV), self-controlled (NKJV, ASV), or disciplined (NIV).

A closer look at each of these words will help us more fully understand the character traits that must be present in the lives of God's shepherds.

Vigilant or Temperate

The word--translated vigilance or temperance--Paul used in writing to Timothy comes from a Greek word (nephaleon) defined as "to be sober, to be circumspect, temperate, abstaining from wine."

Perhaps it is fair to say the idea is that of being spiritually and morally alert, and observant. An elder must be self-controlled, both in his example of mature faith to others and in his demeanor as he properly handles the myriad issues that arise in his work among the church members.

All Christians need to be extremely aware that the Day of the Lord will arrive at a future undeclared and unexpected time. Thus, we need to be aware, awake, and anticipating (1 Thessalonians 5:1-8). Encouraging brethren to live in anticipation of the glories of the kingdom yet to be revealed, Peter wrote, "Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." (1 Peter 1: 13-16)

And, Peter also spoke of the need to be ever watchful and wary of Satan and his workings. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8)

An elder must have the ability to discover and avoid danger or to provide the way to safety (his shepherding role).

Elders who aren't observant, either because they don't have the vigilance/temperance quality, or because they simply refuse to look, don't or won't see problems developing in the lives of individual members, or the congregation as a whole. Thus, they'll leave God's flock vulnerable to Satan's attacks.

To understand the need for this qualification, read Paul's admonition to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:28-31: "Therefore, take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears."

And the unnamed writer of Hebrews demonstrated that this quality is central to one of the pastor's major responsibilities. He wrote, "Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you." (13: 17)

An elder's work, which often involves confrontation, crisis, correction, and conflict, requires a moderate man who has self-control and a cool and calm disposition. He will face people who make rash charges, people who are extremely upset and not looking at things very rationally or spiritually.

Further, the elder must be sober-minded, or serious. He can't have his judgment clouded by alcohol or drugs. He can't be a jokester who, when the souls of men and women are at stake, takes nothing seriously. He can't be driven by his ego. He can't have a disposition that considers problems as things that just don't matter.

He has to be constantly on guard against worldliness, false doctrine, and sin in the congregation he helps oversee and guide.

Self-Controlled or Disciplined

While some translations use the same English word-temperate--the Greek word Paul used when he wrote to Titus about elder qualifications is different from the one he used when he wrote to Timothy. In Titus, Paul used the word egkrata to describe another quality necessary in an elder of the Lord's church. That word means "having the mastery over, having possession of, having control over oneself, self-disciplined, curbing, restraining."

It is worth noting again that such a character quality is to be every Christian's goal, but a man the church is considering for the office of a bishop must have already achieved it to a relatively high degree.

Self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:23. Recall also that such behavior is part of the gospel message, for Paul preached to Felix of "righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come." (Acts 24:25) Also, self-control, or temperance, is one of the Christian graces we are to add to our faith (2 Peter 1:6).

Self-control is a necessary part of a person's disposition or thinking because it helps him avoid sins of passion such as murder, brawling, fornication, and many verbal sins. The same apostle who wrote these qualifications identified this one as necessary to win the crown of life. He said, "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).

So, let's explore just a bit further why it is so important for elders to exercise self-control. Most, if not all, sin is the result of lack of self-control or personal discipline. Thus, a self-disciplined, or God-disciplined, life is a requirement for living faithful unto death and receiving the crown of life.

The Christian shepherd's job is to help others achieve eternal life and receive that crown. First and foremost, he must demonstrate and exemplify that type of life before those whom he leads. It is not unlike the home. Parents who want well-behaved, self-controlled children must themselves be well-behaved and self-controlled. Jesus, the chief shepherd, illustrated this supremely. He kept every undesirable emotion, erroneous impulse, and physical desire under control. He did so to the point of submitting to death on the cross.

Sober-Minded or Sensible

In his writing to both Timothy and Titus, Paul indicated that church overseers must be sober (KJV), sober-minded (NKJV, ASA) or sensible (RSV, NRSV). The Greek word used in the original writing was sophrona, which means "discreet, moderate, temperate, chaste, sober, of sound mind, sane, in one's senses, curbing one's desires or impulses."

This word carries many of the same ideas previously discussed, but adds some shades of meaning. Sober-mindedness points to the cause of the vigilance or temperance previously examined. This word speaks of the mind's nature.

In religion, particularly religion today, many people are swept to various conclusions and actions by excitement and emotion. But truth is established by a sensible, rational examination of what God's word (the Bible) declares.

Festus accused Paul of being out of his mind. "Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, 'Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!' But he said, 'I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason.'" (Acts 26:24-25) In teaching Festus the truth, Paul used reason. He used, and called upon Festus to use, the mental capabilities God gives each of us to understand truth.

Sobriety is something both the old and young need. To the younger preacher Titus, the apostle Paul wrote, "Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you." (Titus 2:6-8) Notice all the things affected by a sound mind.

Continuing his thought, the apostle wrote, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:11-13)

Sobriety keeps a person from thinking too highly of himself. Paul again wrote, "For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness." (Romans 12:3-8)

An elder who assumes that because he is an elder, he is more important, and of greater value, than all others in the congregation is an abject failure as far as his God-given duties are concerned. Thus, he needs to be sober-minded, or sensible, and realize he is doing a job for the Lord; but all other church members also have important roles in the kingdom.

This sense of clear thinking also prevents fear from paralyzing or provoking a Christian. Paul made this point in 2 Timothy 1:7-8, where he wrote, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God."

Fear is a powerful motivator. But a Christian who understands God's promises and power doesn't lose his or her mental soundness because of fear.

Not a few elders have allowed fear to keep them from carrying out their duties. They may fear that leading in church discipline will result in a decline in church numbers. Or, they may fear loss of friendships, prestige, or honor. They may simply fear making wrong decisions. Such men are not sufficiently sober-minded for the job.

Again, men who serve as elders must be capable of looking at the Scriptures and calmly and rationally applying them to a particular situation before them, then concluding and teaching the Lord's will regarding the matter. Men who must feel the pulse and test the wind of the congregation aren't using the senses God gave them.

Summary

The qualifications and words we've explored, while very similar, have shades of meaning that help to clarify what is needed in the life of every child of God, but particularly in the lives of those who would shepherd the local church. These qualifications emphasize that emotion and excess cannot drive a mature Christian.

God has given each of us rational minds capable of learning and understanding and obeying His will. But there are several things that can compromise our abilities, if we aren't careful. Following are a few of them:

The good elder will keep his own behavior governed, both for his own sake and as an example before others in the congregation.

Christian shepherds must take their work seriously, for the people's souls are at stake.

It is certain that when we choose men to be bishops, we want to choose men who are vigilant, temperate, self-controlled, sensible, and sober-minded.

The opposite would be men who pay no attention to their lives or those of their brethren, men who are rash, subject to outbursts of anger, unable to control their physical appetites, and who can't sensibly and rationally determine what God has said.

Next: Look for a man who is well-behaved, hospitable, and able to teach.


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