Day 54 - 1 Timothy

"I am not a role model." That's what Charles Barkley says. That's kind of the attitude we have in modern culture, and we see it in leadership. We have a leadership vacuum in our culture, and we even see the effects of that in the Church. The Apostle Paul said that more is simply expected from Christian leaders:

"Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self‑controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.

Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.

A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well." (1 Timothy 3:1-12 NIV84)

That's a high calling. It's certainly intimidating for someone like me. The bottom line is that Paul says that more is expected of leaders. Leaders shouldn't work to build a facade, but should work to be real, building instead a reputation o respect and honor.

Man, when I think about this, I think about Facebook, how we relate to our mechanic, how we behave in a restaurant, and how we raise our family. It all matters. This is not about being perfect. No one is. This is about a higher calling. It's time for us to expect more from leaders in the Church - just as Paul did.

And...wouldn't it be something if we all decided to be leaders and be above reproach for the sake of the Kingdom?