The Overseer’s Fitness-5

The OVERSEER’s FITNESS-V—1Timothy 3:1-7

Attention:

Alisha’s(my son’s girlfriend) artistic ability. An excellent artist. Uses many media. Has a portfolio. She is fittted & poised to be a great artist.

Likewise, oversight of the local church requires a certain fitness.

Need:

Paul related the moral qualifications for an overseer of the Church.

Character traits for overseers of the church are definitive/unequivocal.

?What character traits define an overseer’s fitness for office?

?How is an overseer’s fitness determined?

Characteristics by which an overseer’s fitness for office is decided.

In previous weeks we have found that An overseer’s fitness for office is decided by His...

1. DESIRE(:1)

2. BLAMELESSNESS(:2a)

3. MARITAL COMMITMENT(:2b)

4. EMOTIONAL STABILITY(:2c)

5. SELF-CONTROL(:2d)

6. ORDERLINESS(:2e)

7. OPENNESS Toward STRANGERS(:2f)

8. TEACHING(:2g)

9. SOBRIETY(:3a)

10—An overseer’s fitness for office is decided by...

His TEMPERAMENT(:3b)

Explanation:(:3b)

:3—“not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;”

“Not Violent”... “Not Quarrelsome”:

is obviously commendable for a pastor who desires to maintain peace both in the church & in her relationships. A church should boldly stand up for that which honors the Lord, but to be brashly & even physically argumentative is unbecoming to a/the church.

Such a violent attitude aligns itself with the likes of Islam, etc. rather than Christianity, as has been expressed whenever their god or their prophet is ‘blasphemed.’

There are aberrant sects(Liberation Theorist advocates) of Christianity who twist the Scriptures in order to encourage fisticuffs. How is it possible that a man of God—or a church for that matter—could ever offer a true & godly solution by violence rather than love? Love leads us to godly judgments providing godly answers, but is not to the extent that it ‘comes to blows’ in judgmentalisms.

A pastor’s counsel which is “not violent” will help to ease tempers & rash behaviors in relationships which are already strained to the breaking point.

“Not Violent -- He resolves conflict peacefully.”—Pastoral Ad

“Not Quarrelsome”:

The qualifying & corresponding term(s) for a lack of “violence” are translated “Not quarrelsome, Not a brawler or Uncontentious.” These describe someone who never seeks a physical fight, knowing that difficulties can be handled by God’s strength by means of the Holy Spirit’s empowerment & control.

Avoiding contention is why it is imperative, when the church assembles for a meeting, that individuals are given opportunity to speak freely & openly unopposed, by having them stand while all others are seated. If the pastor would entertain interruptive & argumentative behaviors, the church would be in chaos...A state dishonoring to God in Christ. Our God is a God of peace rather than confusion(1Cor. 14:33; Js. 3:16).

NOT:

“Violent/Striker/Pugnacious”—plhkthv—Bruiser, ready for a blow; 2) A pugnacious, contentious, quarrelsome person. Strong—A smiter, i.e. Pugnacious(quarrelsome). Used 2X.

BUT:

“Not quarrelsome/Not a brawler/Uncontentious”—amacov—Not to be withstood, invincible; 2) Not contentious; 3) Abstaining from fighting. Strong—Peaceable. Used 2X.

The negation of —mach—1) A fight or combat. mach has often the weaker force of strife or contention, which is very seldom found in polemov(war).

Argumentation:

1Sam. 25:2-38—Nabal=“Fool”—READ

1Sam. 25:5-12—“David sent ten young men; & David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel, go to Nabal, & greet him in my name. And thus you shall say to him who lives in prosperity: ‘Peace be to you, peace to your house, & peace to all that you have! ‘Now I have heard that you have shearers. Your shepherds were with us, & we did not hurt them, nor was there anything missing from them all the while they were in Carmel. ‘Ask your young men, & they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever comes to your hand to your servants & to your son David.’” So when David’s young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all these words in the name of David, & waited. Then Nabal answered David’s servants, & said, “Who is David, & who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master. Shall I then take my bread & my water & my meat that I have killed for my shearers, & give it to men when I do not know where they are from?” So David’s young men turned on their heels & went back; & they came & told him all these words.”

This piece of history makes me wonder why Nabal’s parents would have named him “Fool.” Possibly he was recognized as “Fool” following this episode with David.

2Tim. 2:24-26—“And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, & that they may come to their senses & escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”