Often the greatest critics of the church come from those who stand outside of the church. Hypocrisy tends to be their complaint and their reason for keeping a distance from the church doors. The overseer must realize that the church must be concerned about its testimony within the world. This testimony begins with the overseer as he directs the church by Christ’s leading.It turns out that the church must be concerned with how the world perceives them. Specifically, the overseer must be concerned with exemplifying a reputation that is consistent with Christ. First, Christ was crucified not on the grounds of moral failure but rather upon his proclamation of truth. Therefore, the world must not have legitimate reason to accuse the overseer of moral failure. Rather the overseer should be above reproach within the church and outside the church in order that the world is left with illegitimate accusations.
Ryken notes,
John Chrysostom, the great preacher of Constantinople made an excellent observation about this verse. He pointed out that although Paul and the other apostles were often persecuted, they were never brought up on moral charges. Quite the opposite: “ They were slandered as deceivers and impostors, on account of their preaching, and this because they could not attack their moral characters and lives. For why did not one say of the Apostles, that they were fornicators, unclean, or covetous persons but that they were deceivers, which relates to their preaching only? Must it not be that their lives were irreproachable?”[1]
Discuss: What are some ways that I could seek to open my life to unbelievers? Are their areas of my life that need to change in regard to how unbelievers might perceive me?
Second, Christ is often seen throughout the gospels sitting with sinners and reaching out to the down cast. It was here that Christ was demonstrating love through culturally relevant avenues and yet he remained Biblically faithful. His life was a communication of truth to those who were spiritually and physically in need. The overseer must not simply be a passive example of Christ in the world but also an active example by demonstrating love through meeting the lost with their most precious need, Christ. The overseer must lead God’s church in communicating the Gospel of Christ from Creator to creation by a moral example and by relevant acts of love.
Answer the following questions?
1. What would your non-Christian neighbors and co-workers report about you?
2. Is there evidence that the outsiders opinions of you would be accurate or inaccurate?
3. Do you engage in the affairs of the wider community?
Read: Thomas Brooks, Precious Remedies against Satan’s Devices, p. 79-101.
[1] Ryken, Phillip. 1 Timothy. (Phillipsburg, NJ: PandR Publishing, 2007) 120. Quoting John Chrysostom, “Homilies on the Epistles of St. Paul the Apostle ot Timothy, Titus, and Philemon” trans. and ed. Philip Shaff, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First series, 14 vols. (Peabody, MA, Hendrickson, 1994) 13:439.