The Pastor’s Burden (Titus 1:5-2:15)
We live in a time and place that is filled with churches. They are treated similar to a commodity and not a place where life is breathed into the believer for a life of godliness. If you don’t like what the pastor says, then just go down the street and find another church.
But this is not what we see in the Book of Titus. Nor is this sort of idea something you even catch a whiff of in the New Testament. In fact, I would argue that this sort of attitude is something that is picked up from the culture around us and not the Scriptures.
But society has also informed pastors today that they are supposed to be celebrity speakers and not dispensers of God’s Word. Churches abound that seek to entertain people into their little Kingdom rather than forming people into faithful members of God’s Kingdom.
In other words, the consumerism of our day has made church members think sinfully about what it means to be part of a church. And consumerism has moved pastors to think sinfully about what they are doing.
Church members believe their selves to go to any church of their choosing. They will plop wherever they are entertained. And pastors think that they need to entertain people into their kingdom.
And all the while, the biblical view of the Church, the pastor’s role and the importance of the church in the life of the believer is completely lost.
Our text today makes the burden of the pastor clear. It also helps us to see that the pulpit is to influence all of life. And the faithfulness of a pastor and a church is measured by how its members behave in their homes.
Nothing I say today should make you think that I believe that it is in the power of the pastor to do something substantial. I do not believe that. And hopefully, anyone that has heard me preach for even a short amount of time would not think that I believe that. It is only God that can make the dead bones live (Ezekiel 33-36). And it is Jesus that builds His Church (Matthew 16:18).
But the pastor does have a role to play and that is laid out clearly for us in Titus 1-2.
The faithful church is not the biggest church. Nor is it the smallest church. Size says little about a church’s faithfulness. Yet, what is it that pastors talk about when they get together? Obviously, how many people were at church last Sunday. Consumerism has eaten us up and it’s about to spit us out.
The faithful church is the church in which the members themselves are faithful to the Lord. This week we will see the pastor’s role in this, for it is great. And next week we will look at the character of the faithful church.
The faithful pastor is a man above reproach that instructs and rebukes according to God’s Word for the good of God’s people.
The Faithful Pastor Is A Man Of Character For The Character Of God’s People (Titus 1:5-9)
The pastor is “God’s steward” and so he must be “above reproach” (Titus 1:7). There is a lot to unpack in that statement.
A pastor is God’s steward. This simply means that God owns the people. They are His people. And the pastor is caring for them. A steward is a caretaker. He is not an owner. More will be said about this later, but we should understand that his character is important to the life of the congregation.
The pastor is to be “above reproach” (Titus 1:7). That is, he has a very good reputation. His character is something that is tested in the way he lives with his family. The qualifications list is there to show us what it means to be above reproach. If a person meets these qualifications, then he is the type of person that can be God’s steward.
You will notice that the qualifications are not what people often say they want in a pastor. Ask a congregant about what they want in a pastor, and you will not often hear someone give these as the response. But this is God’s steward, not yours. And so, we should look at a list like this and let it transform us and our understanding of the nature and character of the pastor.
First, God’s steward is a one-woman man (6). μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἀνήρ literally means “one woman man”. This is the same phrase that is used in 1 Timothy 3:1-7. And a few things should be noted here. The first is that God has limited who can be his steward to men. There really is no way around the fact that pastoral ministry is limited to men. I have heard more than my share of anger from women because I am willing to say this. But this is the truth of the matter. If Scripture is our authority then the pastorate is limited to men.[1][2]
Some people will claim that it is just a man’s interpretation of the text. Not only is it silly to say that “one woman man” could mean anything other than a man. But the early church’s practice was to ordain men. In the Didache, the earliest church writing that we have outside of the New Testament discusses who could be appointed as pastors and deacons.
“Appoint therefore for yourselves bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord, meek men, and not lovers of money, and truthful and approved, for they also minister to you the ministry of the prophets and teachers.” (Didache 15:1)
But what is the character of these men that are above reproach?
They are “one woman” men. And in an age of polygamy, it would have been important for the man that is a pastor to be “the husband of one wife.” It is important that he not be one of the people that had multiple wives in the town. He must be a “one woman” man.
This also applies to divorce. It is important that the pastor be a “one woman man”. And the plague of men that are not “one-woman” men that are pastors of churches needs to end.
Recently, in a nearby town, a church in our association had hired a divorced man to be their pastor. He, of course, got another divorce and quit his job then started another church down the road. His character was not one of faithfulness, so he had no problem running down the road and starting another church, thereby splitting a church.
And here is what I want you to see with all of this. This is about the pastor’s character. If you make a person your pastor that lacks moral character, then he will treat you without character. If he has character then he will treat you with character. If he is a faithful man, then he will be more likely to be faithful to the Lord through the pressures of ministry and faithful to the church he is pastoring.
And beyond this, his children are to be believers (Titus 1:6). If he is to teach the faith to God’s people, then he should have first taught the faith at home to his children. His children should be obedient children, “not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination” (Titus 1:6). They are subject to authority.
It was once a proverb that pastor’s kids were going to be some of the most sinful and rebellious children in town. This should never be the case. If he cannot manage his own household, how would he ever manage the household of faith.
Why is this so important?
Because the way he leads his family is to be an example for all the households under his care.
“Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” (Titus 2:7-8 ESV)
The pastor doesn’t get to say, “do as I say, not as I do.” He is to be a “model of good works”. Now, I realize that the text here is specifically concerned with whether or not we are giving enemies ammunition against us. But his point seems to be two-fold. The character of the pastor is to be an example for God’s people and an argument for the goodness of God’s people to the outsider.
And this is not the only place this idea is found in Scripture. The most clear statement is found in the Book of Hebrews, where the command to imitate the life of the pastor is given.
“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.” (Hebrews 13:7 ESV)
This does put pressure on me, I would argue, to live a life of godliness. But if I am not living a life that is worthy of mimicking than I need to repent.
And now, we get two lists. The first is a list of what he is not to be and then a list of what he is to be. The pastor is not to be arrogant, quick tempered, a drunkard, violent, or greedy (Titus 1:7). And he is to be hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined (Titus 1:8).
We understand what these mean. So, I won’t spend a lot of time with them. But I will say that I have heard of or seen people with these characteristics in ministry. And they destroy a church. Likewise, a man with the positive characteristics will build up a church.
I do want to pick on two characteristics that I have hardly heard anyone talk about with regard to pastoral ministry. The first one is that they are hospitable. In that day it would have meant a willingness to take in travelling or persecuted believers. But it would have also meant a person that was welcoming and willing to bring people into their homes. I have hardly ever heard this discussed with regard to pastor qualifications. And I will also say that I haven’t seen it practiced often.
If the pastor’s life is to be mimicked, then the people will need to see it. They will need to be able to peer into the pastor’s life so that they can imitate it. This will happen as the pastor’s family invites other families into their home.
The other thing is discipline. If a pastor doesn’t study the Word, how then will he deliver it to God’s people. If he doesn’t make time to pray for the people, then how will they every be prayed for. If he doesn’t schedule time to counsel and teach the Word, how will God’s people ever get what they are supposed to get from God’s steward. For a pastor’s schedule is, for the most part, flexible. But if he is not disciplined then he will waste the time away.
And finally, after all this discussion on the pastor’s character, we get to his attitude toward Scripture. He must hold firm to God’s Word (Titus 1:9). He must hold to it, “as taught”. That is, he is not taking liberties with the text. He is not creative. He is not changing the meaning of the text. He is not caving to influence. And he does not change with the times.
Think about how different this is than most pastor job ads that are thrown up on the internet. For one thing, a healthy church should be finding a pastor from within her ranks. These, ideally, would be men that have proven their selves as good leaders of their families with good character. And these men hold firm to the Word of God, and teach it well.
The faithful pastor is a man whose life is to be mimicked by the congregation. Not in every way, for his life is different. But his character is to be replicated throughout the congregation.
I can’t tell you how many times I have heard stories of men in the ministry that never should have been considered for the task. They were divorced three times, but because they could draw a crowd they were given the job of pastoring the flock. No wonder churches so often find out that they have scandalous pastors in their midst!
And on top of that, men are supposed to be leading. I do not think that this is unimportant. The pastor is supposed to be a picture of how the other men in the church are to operate. His character is to be seen and replicated among the other men in the congregation.
I want you to notice something quickly in the text. It’s something that is rarely noted. But I want to share it here. The older mature men of the church are supposed to have the same character traits as the pastor.
“Older men are to be sober-minded, sound in faith, in love and steadfastness.” (Titus 2:2 ESV)
How is it that men of the congregation are to learn how to be men that lead their homes. They should figure these things out, at least in part, by watching the life of their pastor.
There are going to be obvious differences in the pastor’s life and their life. Their time will be used differently. Their free time will fall out differently. But the pastor’s character and the way he leads his family should influence the other families of the church.
I felt that it was important to get this graphic correct because it teaches this idea. The pastor’s work flows to the congregation. His preaching, teaching, and life are to influence the congregation in such a way that they take these things home. The work of the pastor is to produce a holy church and holy families.
And this includes his attitude toward God’s Word. He is not to be playing around with it. He holds firm to that trustworthy Word.
On multiple occasions, I have heard from visitors that they had gone to a lot of churches in the Conway area where the pastor barely taught anything from the Scriptures.
What on Earth are they doing?
Where is the firm foundation that I, as a pastor, am called to have the whole congregation stand upon?
I hope and pray that through my preaching, teaching, and overall attitude toward the Scriptures that everyone of you are moved to stand firm upon God’s Word.
It is in that Word that we read of the very salvation of our souls—gospel
And it is in that Word that we read of the character we are to have as Christians.
It is in that Word that we see how we are to live our lives, raise our children, and interact with the world.
The Faithful Pastor Is God’s Steward For The Good Of God’s People (Titus 1:10-2:1, 9, 11-15)
Remember, the pastor is God’s steward. He is not building his own kingdom. These are not even his people. He is an undershepherd of the true shepherd, Jesus Christ. God has given to His church pastors to tend His flock. That is what a pastor does. And that is what a pastor is.
A steward was a man that the head of the household had employed to manage the affairs of the household. That is what a pastor is. He is God’s steward, caring for God’s people.
How does a pastor do this?
He instructs in sound doctrine and rebukes those that contradict it (Titus 1:9). I love doing the first. The second is not so much fun. And Paul tells us that the faithful pastor will have to silence those that teach falsely (Titus 1:10-2:1). And also teach what accords with sound doctrine (Titus 2:1).
Sound doctrine has a positive effect on God’s people. The right preaching and teaching of God’s Word is transformative, and God’s steward is responsible for delivering that into the life of God’s people. Notice that it moves people to have the character qualities that glorify God (Titus 2:1-10). And the pastor is to keep out those things that are false.
John Calvin had a bit to say about this in his commentary over the Book of Titus. You may have seen this quoted before online. It is one of those quotations that he is well known for.
“In short, the first thing required in a pastor is, that he be well instructed in the knowledge of sound doctrine; the second is, that, with unwavering firmness of courage, he hold by the confession of it to the last; and the third is, that he make his manner of teaching tend to edification, and do not, through motives of ambition, fly about through the subtleties of frivolous curiosity, but seek only the solid advantage of the church….The pastor ought to have two voices: one for gathering the sheep; and another, for warding off and driving away wolves and thieves. The Scripture supplies him with the means of doing both; for he who is deeply skilled in it will be able both to govern those who are teachable, and to refute the enemies of the truth.” (John Calvin, Commentaries Titus 1:9)
The pastor is not a man that is building his own kingdom, as has often been seen in people through the ages. He is a steward of God’s people. His efforts are to be for the good of God’s people. His study is not for his own self-aggrandizement, but for the hope and help of God’s people. His giftings are not to terminate on his self, but for the good of God’s people.
I have a couple of Puritan prayers books. I find them to be excellent devotional material. I will read from them before my own personal time of prayer. In it, I read a prayer that is for before preparing for a sermon. So, this is a prayer prayed before a man looks at a commentary or the original languages. This is a prayer that is offered up at the beginning of the work. And it encapsulates what a pastor is to be and his need for the Lord to intervene very well.
“Blessed God! You gave me a rational soul, and I depend on you entirely to empower every capacity you have given me.
I am not sufficient in myself; all my sufficiency is of you.
Now I enter this important work, and I want to be aware of my need for your gracious assistance. Keep me focused on the work ahead of me, I beg you. Do not let any vain or intruding thoughts break in or hinder me. Direct my mind to proper thoughts, and to the best way of arranging and expressing them.
Fire my heart with holy affection, that divine thoughts still arm from my own soul may more easily penetrate into the hearts of those who hear me.
Help me remember that I am not speaking to gain a reputation for eloquence, but that I am preparing food for precious and immortal souls, dispensing that sacred gospel which my Redeemer brought from heaven and sealed with his blood.
So direct me to make this sermon most useful for Christian edification. And grant me refreshment as I study, that it may be one of the most joy-filled tasks of my life. While I am watering others, may I be watered myself also, and bring forth daily more and more fruit, to the glory of your great name, through Jesus Christ. Amen.”
(Philip Doddridge – Puritan Pastor from early 1700’s, Piercing Heaven p. 140)
This beautiful prayer offered long ago reaches down into the heart of a pastor’s work. As he studies and prepares Sermons, Bible Studies, Counseling material and other things. What is he attempting to do?
He is a steward who studies for the good of God’s people.
And his stewardship means that he is not just delivering sermons, he is caring for the people that have been left under his care.
I am not allowed to allow sin to run rampant amongst our people. I am not allowed to allow false teaching to take root here. I am not allowed to disregard what Scripture teaches in order to keep people happy. It’s not because the pastor is to love conflict. It’s because he is to love God and His people enough to fight for their purity.
If you don’t have the stomach for a few fights, then you should not be in the ministry. I have learned that the hard way. And I will probably confront that ugly truth a few more times before my life is over. The purity of this local body of believers is worth a few heartaches.
I am most often to be in the work of preaching and teaching what the Scriptures teach. But there are times when I must stop the mouth of the erring person.
The Faithful Pastor Makes Faithful Families (Titus 1:10-11)
The faithful pastor is to do his work well to ensure that homes are not disrupted (Titus 1:10-11). In other words, it ensures that families are strong.
Think about what we’ve said so far. The pastor’s life is to be a model for those in the church. There are some exceptions to this, such as the fact that the pastor needs to be able to teach. But the character of the pastor is to reach into the very homes of the families in the church.
And also, as we look at Titus 2, older men’s qualifications are very similar to that of a pastor. An older man seems to be a vague term, but we do see that the only times it is used in the New Testament it is about men older than 60. Paul used this term of himself when he was in his 60’s. And Zechariah was called this and it is thought that he was in his 60’s or higher.
Older women’s character is similar, that is why we read “likewise” in the transition to discuss women. And all this means that older men and women are to have similar character to their pastors. This is what it looks like to be a mature believer.
I was once listening to someone talk about the pastoral qualifications in seminary as if they were an unachievable goal. But the reality is that these are the characteristics of a mature believer.
I believe that our society is so very wicked that we take this standard, that should be the norm for our church, and think it is something that is completely unachievable.
The application here is obvious. The work of the pastor reaches out into the homes by forming the people within the homes.
If God’s Word is rightly preached and applied, and the Holy Spirit works among the people, then they are going to be changed. Fathers will be changed, mothers will be changed, children will be changed, and the whole family will benefit from this.
If, on top of that, the pastor’s life is in accordance with godliness. If there is not an incongruence between what he preaches and how his life is lived, there is also an example for the people to look to and follow.
And this is transformative in the life of a church.
“The life-giving preacher is a man of God, whose heart is ever athirst for God, whose soul is ever following hard after God, whose eye is single to God, and in whom by the power of God’s Spirit the flesh and the world have been crucified and his ministry is like the generous flood of a life-giving river.”[3]
Conclusion
Here is what I want to see from our church, and I believe we already see this to a great extent.
I desire to be a church that God uses to transform the people in our midst. I want to see those in the pits of despair find their way into this place, find Jesus, and find a church that works to build them up in Christ. I want to see that lost and wandering soul one day flourishing because they were transformed by the preaching and teaching of God’s Word and the people of the congregation.
And I understand that God’s steward, the pastor, plays a massive role in that formulation. With God’s blessing, I hope we see more and more of that.
In a sermon about my role, I often find myself stuck as to how this applies to you. But I think it applies greatly to you, for it moves you to better understand what is happening here at this church and how you take it home to your family.
Talk with your spouse about the sermon and speak with your children about these ideas. But more importantly, take these things home with you. Study the Scriptures with your children, pray with them, teach them God’s Word, and apply it to their lives.
And understand what Sunday is for you. Sunday is supposed to be life-giving and formative for you. It is used by the Lord to bring you into His family and conform you into the image of His Son. It brings us together to hear the Word of the Lord that forms us into a people that glorify and honor Him.
R. Dwain Minor
[1] Another text to consider is 1 Timothy 2:12-14
[2] Many will argue that “man” here could mean “people”. And while it is the case that this word can mean “people” in Greek in much the same way that “man” can mean “mankind” in English, it is not the case here. And the reason is simple. The word for woman is right next to it. The person is to be a “one-woman man”. Therefore, the text is quite obviously discussing gender.
[3] John Piper, “Brothers, We Are Not Professionals”, 2013, p. 3