Service in the Church
Paul then
turns to the topic of “overseers.” This
section is often translated as “bishop.”
Sometimes this section is translated as “elders.” Regardless of the title, Paul is speaking to
the leaders in the church. However, it’s
not just about leadership. The word used
here is “episkope.” {From which we get the term Episcopal.} This word has a connotation of servant
leadership. It is understood that
leaders in the church are servant leaders.
Church leaders become leaders by leading through example.
In this
understanding of the word, the list of qualifications makes a ton of
sense. Why is it important that a person
be married to only one person? Well, a
servant leader must lead in having their sexuality in check. Why must they be level-headed, sober-minded, not
prone to violence, and be above reproach?
They must lead by example in the ability to make good decisions. Why must they be hospitable and able to
teach? Yes, you’ve got it. They have to lead by example. Each of these qualifications (and the others
I didn’t mention here) are not simply qualifications that a person should have
to be a leader; each of these qualifications are abilities that the leaders of
the church should be active about setting the example for the church.
The next
section is for the “deacons.” The word
literally here is “diakonos.” The deacon
is one whose calling was purely in service of the organization. Thus, from a church perspective the deacon
isn’t responsible for making the decisions.
The deacons are the ones who are responsible for making sure that the
decisions which are made are implemented.
Whereas the episkope are servant leaders, the diakonos are simply people
of service. These people may absolutely
set an example in their service; but their focus is upon getting the job done.
Paul’s Creed
Before
turning to chapter 4, I want to spend a little time on Paul’s creed at the end
of chapter 3. In talking about Christ,
Paul says that he was: real and present among us, justified by the Holy Spirit,
witnessed among God’s messengers – some translations use the literal word
“angels” – proclaimed among the nations, believed upon in the world, and taken
up into the glory of the Father. I think
that’s a pretty cool synopsis of salvation right there. Christ came into this world to save that
which was created through Him. He came,
died, rose, was seen by people, is still being witnessed by people, is still
being believed by people, and is still ascended into the Father’s presence. What a beautiful synopsis of His work and the
work of His people the church! When
someone asks, “What is the church about?” this is the answer. We are about promoting and believing in a
Christ who came to save a world that was created through Him and loved by Him.
Turning Away From the Faith
The
opening portion of chapter 4 always makes me sad. Paul knows – even only decades after Christ
was literally present on this earth – that there will be people who turn away
from the faith. There will be people who
choose to believe the lie, who chose to drink the world’s Kool-aid, who choose
to obey a different agenda than God’s.
To quote the description of the world as recorded often in the book of
the Judges, there will be people who “do what is right in their own eyes.” I find this incredibly saddening. It is sad that there are those who reject God
outright; it is even sadder that there will be those who will seem to be
actively seeking God but who will then reveal their true nature and turn away
to a false agenda.
However,
we are not to be those people. We are
called to lift up God’s ways. We are
called to adhere to God’s standard and not the standard and expectations of the
world. I really enjoy Paul’s words in 1
Timothy 4:8. Bodily training has some
value, but training in godliness has value in every way. Think back to the list of abilities given for
the “episkope” and the “diakonos.” Is
there ever a time that one of those qualities isn’t helpful? So often I fall into the trap of thinking that
spirituality is just training for my post-resurrection existence. But this is not at all true. Spirituality is something to be lived out
here and now in addition to being lived out in the presence of God in the life
to come.
Spiritual Leadership
Paul’s
advice to Timothy at the end of this chapter is especially piercing to me as a
pastor. Hopefully it is piercing to all
those who desire to be spiritual leaders in their community regardless of
whether they are ordained or laity. What
does he say? Command and teach these
things. As we saw at the beginning of
chapter 3, spiritual leaders are servants who lead. Spiritual leaders are those who are active in
the formation of the next group of leaders.
Spiritual leaders do more than “act.”
Spiritual leaders are teaching and training and commanding. As Paul says, spiritual leaders are active
about talking about the Holy Scripture publically. We are active about exhorting others into a
greater response of faith. We are active
about teaching others.
God’s Name
I’m going
to end these reflections with a spiritual discovery that is brand new to
me. A few days ago my wife and I were
talking with a good spiritual friend in my own home. This friend was making a comment about God’s
name. She said that another pastor had
just recently taught her that God’s name is simply “I Am” in order to prevent
humanity from putting God in a box. God
isn’t the just the god of the mountain, or the valley, or the wine, or
fertility, or some other definable category.
God simply is. The answer to the
inquiry, “God, are you the God of ____?” is “Yes, I Am.”
So we turn
to a new learning I gleaned from 1 Timothy 4:15. Paul tells Timothy to practice these things
and “immerse” himself in them. Anyone
want to guess what the verb is for our English translation of “immerse?” Literally, the verb is “to be.” Just as God’s name is “I Am,” according to
Paul our calling is “To Be.” Paul
literally says to Timothy, “Practice the faith.
Be it.”
That’s so
cool and so profound. Faith isn’t
something that we do. It isn’t something
we think. It is who we are. Faith defines us. God is the “Great I AM.” We are the “Repentant who ARE.”
Ooh. I love it when God’s Word gives me spiritual
chills. This day in the Lord is starting
out well indeed.
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