Beyond Reproach?
Titus has always been an inspiring book as it deals with the responsibilities of leading Christians. The verses in Titus deal with the character of an elder in the church. Elders need to be:
1) Blameless
2) The husband of one wife
3) A man whose children believe in Christ
4) He must not be over-bearing, quick tempered, given to drunkenness, violent or pursue dishonest gain
5) He must be hospitable, ones who loves good, self controlled, upright, holy and disciplined
The reason for these character traits in an elder is simple. Elders are entrusted with God’s work. They need to live a life beyond reproach purely because as they live their lives they are portraying God in the work they do.
An elders personal, work, spiritual and social life all become windows that people see God through. The work that God does through an elder is either supported or destroyed by the actions of the elder. When a respected elder or pastor gives into a sinful desire and is discovered publicly, the work that God has done through that man’s life is jeopardised and weakened. Not because God is weak but because the window that people see God through (in this case the Elder) has been blurred, dirtied and difficult to see through. The attention of the person looking through the window moves to the dirt on the window, rather than focusing on the love behind the window.
Here’s the challenge: Are not all Christians, window’s that people see God through? Should we all be living a life beyond reproach?
Surely this would provide God with more windows to show the people in this world who He is.
