MORAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR OVERSEERS.

OVERSEERS:

"moral:of, relating to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right conductor the distinction between right and wrong; ethical:

moral attitudes.

2.

expressing or conveying truths or counsel as to right conduct, as aspeaker or a literary work.

3.

founded on the fundamental principles of right conduct rather than onlegalities, enactment, or custom:

moral obligations.

4.

capable of conforming to the rules of right conduct:

a moral being.

5.

conforming to the rules of right conduct (opposed to immoral ):

a moral man.

6.

virtuous in sexual matters; chaste.

7.

of, relating to, or acting on the mind, feelings, will, or character:

moral support."

1Ti3:1-2:  "1Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, ....     "                      


Introduction: What is an "overseer"   Gk word "Episkopos"  (that  is one who has pastoral  oversight,a pastor).If anyone desires to be an "overseers" that  person should know he  or she desires an important work(1Ti3:1).Such individuals  must have that desire confirmed by god's word(1Ti3:1-10;4:12) and the church(1Ti3:10),the desire to do the work of a pastor must be tested by the members  of the church according to biblical standards of 1Ti3:1-13;4:12;Tit1:5-9(see post on THE MINISTRY LEADERSHIP GIFTS FOR THE CHURCH).The church    must not endorse any person as overseer based solely on desire,education,burden, or alleged vision or call.The church today has no right to diminish the requirements that GOD has set forth by the holy spirit.Those requirement stand as absolutes and must be followed for the sake of God's name,his kingdom and the credibility of the high office of overseer.
GOD has establish for the church certain specific qualifications:

MORAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR OVERSEERS.

1) Standard listed for overseers:

• Are primarily character issues,moral and spiritual.Character supercedes gifting in God's value system.The proven character  of those who seek leadership in the church is more important than personality,preaching gifts,administrative abilities or academic accomplishment.The main point of the qualifications falls on behavior that has persevered in godly wisdom,right choices and personal holiness.The spiritual history of the person who desires the office of overseer has to"first be tested"(1Ti3:10).The holy spirit sets forth a high standard,the candidate must be a believer who has steadfastly adhered to JESUS CHRIST and his principles of righteousness,and who can therefore serve as a role model of faithfulness,truth,honesty and purity in other words,one's character must reflect Christ's teaching in (Mt25:21),where being faithful with a few thing"leads to the position of being in charge of many things"   

2) Overseers must set an example:

• Above all ,christian leaders must "set an example for the believers"(1Th4:12;1Pe5:3).Their christian life and steadfast faith must be evident to the congregation as preeminently worthy of imitation.
• Overseers must demonstrate the highest example of perseverance in godliness,faithfulness,purity in the face of temptation,and loyalty to and love for Christ and the gospel(1Ti4:12,15).
• God's people must learn christian ethics and true godliness not only from the word of GOD  but also from the example of pastors whose quality of life is an illustration of God's grace and faith are absolutely essential in god's plan for christian leadership.To disregard the principle of godly leadership is to ignore scripture's clear teaching.Pastors must be people whose faithfulness to Christ can be set forth as a pattern of example for members of the body of Christ to emulate(1Co11:1;Php3:17,1Th1:6;2Th3:7;2Ti1:13).

3) Overseers family life:

• The Holy spirit regards the believer's servant hood and humility as leaders in home marriage and family relationships as of highest importance(1Ti3:2,4-5,Tit1:6).The overseer must be an example to the family of GOD  especially in his faithfulness to his wife and children after all ,if he has failed in this realm,"how  can he take care God's church?"(1Th3:5).He must be "the husband of but one wife"(1Th3:2).The phrase defends the position that  a candidate for the office of an over should be a  believer who has remained morally faithful to his wife.The literal translation of the (greek:mias guniakos,an attributive genitive)is "a one - woman man" that is the faithful husband of his wife,notice also  that the expression has a female counterpart,"faithful to her husband".Which appears in Paul's  discussion of widows(1Ti5:9).It is also noteworthy that the Latin equivalent of this phrase (Univera) occurs on many cemetery inscriptions from Italy and North Africa.Those inscription make clear that lifetime fidelity was considered an important virtue even among pagans of roman world.It should not be surprising therefore,that the church overseer must be a person who gives evidence of being faithful in this all important  area.Persevering moral faithfulness to one's wife and family is required for anyone desiring to be a righteous leader in the church. 

4) Overseers and Sin:

• Consequently, persons within the church who become guilty of serious sin or moral transgressions disqualify themselves from the office of pastor or deacon in the local church(1Ti3:8-12).Such individuals may be abundantly pardoned by god's grace, but they can no longer model unfailing perseverance in faith,love,purity and sound doctrine;they fail to model the love that Christ has for his church(1Ti4:11-16;Tit1:9).Already in the OT GOD had made it clear that the leaders among god's people were expected to maintain high moral and spiritual standards;if they did not,others would replace them (Ge49:4;lev10:2;Lev21:7,17;Nu20:12;1Sa2:23;Jer23:14;Jer29:23).
• Furthermore the principle from 1Ti3:2,7 that an overseer"must be above reproach" "and must  also have a good reputation" raises questions about a "fallen" leader being restored to his former position of leadership.<Genuine forgiveness does not necessarily imply restoration to leadership>.  (an American theologian Kenneth Kantzer)

6) Overseers and forgiveness:

• GOD  does indeed forgive any sin listed in (1Ti3:2,7) or elsewhere in the scripture if there is godly sorrow and repentance for that sin.Let it be clear that such a person  may be mercifully forgiven and restored in his relationship to GOD and the church.However ,isn't it also true to scripture  and experience that there are some sins,such as adultery;whose devastating effects never go away entirely and thus lingered on for the individual,even after forgiveness,both within and outside the  church? in such cases,can the "fallen leader be above reproach" as a righteous example to the body of Christ or officially lead again with righteous integrity or "a good reputation"?.This crucial issue must be honestly and carefully weighed when considering restoring a fallen leader to ministry.
• What about king David? wasn't he permitted by GOD to continue as Israel's king in spite of his sins of adultery  and murder(2Sa11:1-21;12:9-15)?.Can this be viewed even as biblical justification for one's continuance as an overseer even though he or she has violated the above- mentioned standards? the following facts reveal this comparison to be faulty on several counts.
• a)The office of the king of Israel under  the old covenant and that of spiritual overseer of the church of JESUS  CHRIST under the new covenant are  two entirely different roles with different qualifications.GOD allowed not only David but  also many kings who were exceptionally wicked to remain as kings of Israel.Leadership of Christ's church that was purchased with his blood requires much higher spiritual standards.
• b)According to god's Revelation and requirements in the NT,David would not have qualified for the office of an overseer in a NT church.He had multiple wives,was guilty of marital unfaithfulness,failed miserably yo manage his own household, and was a murderer and a violent man of bloodshed note too that because of his sin,David remained  under god's chastisement for the rest of his life(2Sa12:9-12).

7)Overseers and churches today:

Today's churches must not turn from the righteous requirements for an overseer set forth by GOD in the original revelation of the apostles.The church must continue to require from  its leaders the highest standered of holiness,perseverance in faithfulness to GOD and his word,and godly living.They are to be earnestly prayed for,encouraged and supported ,while they "set  an example for the believers in speech,in life, in love,in faith and in purity".(1Ti4:12).

DEAR READERS:
Once again have you seen what    OUR SPIRIT&LIFE  is all about,how the spirit is so associated to life,and how the life of an overseer must be if he is spiritually called(or desire to be called) to that office of an overseer.Meaning GOD has established a spiritual covenant with that overseer so therefore the spiritual covenant must manifest in the life of the overseer,making him or her to live amoral life.Knowing that the SPIRIT&LIFE belongs  to the most high  GOD.
Beloved readers: What other moral qualifications can  an  overseer posses for the Christian church of today.Pls share your spiritual knowledge with me.