Litmus List
. . . and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you . . . . (Titus 1:5 NKJV)
What does a true spiritual leader look like? This question must have been going through Titus' mind as he set out to fulfill the task of appointing elders (the equivalent of our word pastor) among the churches of Crete. Would such a person need to be smart and scholarly, popular and charming, or affluent and wealthy?
To make sure godly criteria for service was put into place, Paul gave Titus this 'litmus list' to apply to each elder's (or bishop's*) life:
. . . if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. (Titus 1:6-9 NKJV)
It's interesting that this list doesn't include anything about a person's I.Q., popularity, or bank account. Instead, it consistently emphasizes character. Elders need to be without blame or controversy, honoring God's design for marriage, and raising godly children. They shouldn't be selfish, impatient, indulgent, violent, or consumed with making money. Hospitality, goodness, level-headedness, justice, holiness, and self-control ought to identify their lives. And they need to faithfully stick to the sound teaching of Scripture whenever they encounter false doctrine. Again, character is emphasized, not personality.
Not everyone is called to be an elder, or pastor. However, we, as Christians, should be people of character. Our lives should look a lot like this litmus list as God continues to complete the good work that He's begun in us (Philippians 1:6). It's time for each of us to look in the mirror and ask ourselves some character questions: How would other people describe my character? Does my character outshine my personality? How does my character compare to this list? May we take these questions to the Lord in prayer and allow His Spirit to show us how to better incorporate His character into ours.
DIG - What appears on Paul's litmus list?
DISCOVER - How would you personally answer the character questions?
DISPLAY - Ask a couple of trusted friends how they would summarize your character in a single word.
*The New King James Version of the Bible uses the words bishop and elder interchangeably.