One of the most important first steps we made on the church’s revitalization journey to Durham’s First Baptist Church was to select candidates for deaconos according to biblical qualifications. At the time, the FBC’s policy consisted of a single old deacoque council, a?series of committees and congregational authorities elected to vote in church assemblies. Deacoons played a non-biblical role as pastors, serving as “pastors,” along with the “pastor” to serve the church. Were the deaconos chosen through a democratic process with almost no selection?The top eight candidates were simply elected. This often meant that the most successful business leaders in the community or volunteers who worked hard became deaconos. In short, it was a popularity contest.
So when we started demanding that deaconos candidates demonstrate their qualifications on the basis of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, things began to change radically. Since then, the roles of elder and deacon have been reformed to biblical standards, such as the selection process. Qualified candidates for both positions have also become stronger and healthier.
- However.
- It is possible to use these passages from 1 Timothy and Teite more firmly.
- And thus select the godly candidates whom the Lord has qualified to serve.
- However.
- Before selecting and “in excess” should we make sure to “discern correctly”? (2Tm 2.
- 15) relevant passages.
- Being overly restrictive based on these passages can be almost as damaging as having few or no restrictions.
So let’s move on to the question before us: can single men serve as elders or should they be?Not fulfilling the characterization of a single woman’s husband?(1 Tim 3. 2; Tt 1. 6). In short, I believe that rejecting single men is too restrictive and therefore causes churches to miss some of the rich blessings the Lord has given.
This restriction would not be remembered unless the passages seem to teach it, but closer examination shows that this approach leads to harmful, even absurd conclusions, for example, would remove Jesus, Paul, and (apparently) Timothy from the position of elder. He would also deny the powerful case that the Apostle Paul presents in 1 Corinthians 7 about the benefits that simplicity brings to the ministry. Paul celebrates unmarried servants as “carefree” and able to fully focus on how they can please and serve the Lord, living in total devotion (1C 7. 32, 35).
On this basis, single men who serve as elders can highlight these truths in the life of the congregation, especially since it is so unusual, at least in the Baptist churches where I have been, just as ex-married couples can experience the immeasurable value of a healthy marriage and pious parenthood in front of their congregations, a former bachelor can experience the highest aspects of single life , like the famous 1 Corinthians 7.
Moreover, prohibiting single men from serving as elders on the basis of the exegesis of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 3 leads to harmful parallel conclusions: for example, would a widower not be excluded from service, since he is not currently the husband of a single woman?One can imagine that a man loses his wife and ministry on the same day, all because of an overly restrictive interpretation. Similarly, what about men without children or parents of a child?Wouldn’t they be excluded? After all, Titus 1. 6 seems to demand children.
I believe that the way we treat this text applies to the way we deal with the “woman husband” requirement. If a man has children who still live at home, they must be subject to his authority, not rebels or disobedient; if a man is married, he must be “the husband of a woman”, that is, live the analogy of marriage in the Christian church of Ephesians 5. But the text does not require a woman or children to serve as elders.
Clearly, there are challenges for former singles in the life of the congregation. His ability to teach marriage and fatherhood can be questioned, even if it shouldn’t be. Jesus and Paul were single men and taught marriage and fatherhood. It is necessary that the teaching of the Bible is always complemented by the example of functions. Moreover, the unmarried old man must walk in obvious holiness in relation to members of the opposite sex, as Paul commanded Timothy, saying that he should take care of the young Sisters in Christ, in all purity?(1 Tim 5. 2). If you are looking for a wife, there may be shame in the process of courtship if she is a member of the congregation, but these practical challenges should not outweigh the benefits of the unique life Paul exposes in 1 Corinthians 7.
In summary, it is critical that the selection process for candidates for eldership is conducted according to biblical standards, which means that unskilled men should be excluded, but it also means that qualified men should not be excluded by faulty exegesis. they serve as elders of a local church, and their churches will be richly blessed by their sincere devotion to the Lord as they lead their flock.