Following True Church Leadership

For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God;

 not self willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, 

no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 

but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, 

sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the 

faithful word as he hath been taught, 

that he may be able by sound doctrine both 

to exhort and to convince the gain sayers.

Titus 7-9

            There is a need to define the words that we do not use much in our everyday language: 1. lucre: this is monetary reward or gain; money 2. stricker: simple as it is one who strikes (hitting someone), 3. gainsayer: to deny, dispute, to contradict, to speak or act against, to oppose.

            To be a gainsayer is not necessarily something that is bad, it is according to the context for Paul adds: “For there are many unruly and vain talkers, and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: whose mouths  must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake” (Titus 1:10-11). Paul reminds us that the leaders of the Church must, and this does include all who are of the Church as well, be one who holds fast to the “faithful words as he hath been taught.” What has a person been taught? Well… it depends who is teaching! It depends on what is being taught! Paul tells us: “sound doctrine” and there cannot be sound doctrine outside of what was taught to us be the inspired writers of the Bible. It is not a man’ or a woman’ ideology, or philosophy, or some presupposition albeit the words sound so good, no, it is only from the clear and plain language of the Bible exegetically expounded.

            Ignatius on the way to his execution, a disciple of the apostles, who lived during the time of the apostles, wrote:

“Let not those who seem worthy of credit, but teach strange doctrines, (Comp. 1 Tim. i. 3, 1 Tim. vi. 3.) fill thee with apprehension. Stand firm, as does an anvil which is beaten. It is the part of a noble (Literally, “great.”) athlete to be wounded, and yet to conquer. And especially we ought to bear all things for the sake of God, that He also may bear with us, and bring us into His kingdom. Add more and more to thy diligence; run thy race with increasing energy; weigh carefully the times. Whilst thou art here, be a conqueror; for here is the course, and there are the crowns. Look for Christ, the Son of God; who was before time, yet appeared in time; who was invisible by nature, yet visible in the flesh; who was impalpable, and could not be touched, as being without a body, but for our sakes became such, might be touched and handled in the body; who was impassible as God, but became passible for our sakes as man; and who in every kind of way suffered for our sakes.”

We have today standing in the pulpits those who are seeking “lucre” and finding it by crying out for money, and this by every means possible: i.e., anointed hankerchiefs, special holy water, selling the idea that if you give you will receive some special blessing, etc., and all the while they are living in high luxury, while many are going without. Yes, you and I are responsible to do all we can for our brothers and sisters. Some do more for non-Christians than for those within their congregations.

“Let not widows be neglected. Be thou, after the Lord, their protector (The word in the original (φροντιστής) denotes one who thinks or cares for another.) and friend. Let nothing be done without thy consent; neither do thou anything without the approval of God, which indeed thou dost not, inasmuch as thou art steadfast. Let your assembling together be of frequent (Some refer the words to more frequent meetings, and others to these meetings being more numerous; no comparison is necessarily implied. occurrence: seek after all by name. i.e., so as to bring them out to the public assembly.) Do not despise either male or female slaves, yet neither let them be puffed up with conceit, but rather let them submit themselves (Or, “act the part of slaves.”) the more, for the glory of God, that they may obtain from God a better liberty. Let them not long to be set free [from slavery] at the public expense, that they be not found slaves to their own desires.

Let not the widows be neglected. Be thou, after the Lord, their protector, and friend. Let nothing be done without thy consent; neither do thou anything without the approval of God, which indeed thou doest not. Be thou steadfast. Let your assembling together be of frequent (Some refer the words to more frequent meetings, and others to these meetings being more numerous; no comparison is necessarily implied.) occurrence: seek after all by name. (i.e., so as to bring them out to the public assembly.) Do not despise either male or female slaves, yet neither let them be puffed up with conceit, but rather let them submit themselves  (Or, “act the part of slaves.”) the more, for the glory of God, that they may obtain from God a better liberty. Let them not wish to be set free [from slavery] at the public expense, that they be not found slaves to their own desires.”

            We are reminded that we should go before God in prayer before finalizing any decision. We are to meet together frequently (Hebrews 10:25). Why, not only to hear the word of God expounded, we are to care for one another, after all, are we not brothers and sisters in Christ? As to slaves, this is a most problematic issue especially here in the United States. This is because of the slavery practiced here in the United States (Remember: slavery is over, and is of the past, yet racism does exist and this is a problem). Slavery in the days of the early Church was two-fold: 1: Captives during war. 2. Those who sold themselves into slavery due to economic problems. When a person places himself or herself under slavery; that is in a position of owing something to another: 1. Mortgage 2. An automobile loan: or 3. Credit card bill; they have placed themselves under slavery and they must not complain for it was them that put themselves in this position, not war, themselves. We are told not be “found a lave to our desires.”

            I have included the notes, and verses of Scripture so that you can study and see that it is not I writing this but those early Church fathers. This should aid you to not “sound doctrine.”

But I have trusted in Thy mercy;

     My heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation.

I will sing unto the LORD, because He

     Hath dealt bountifully with me.

                          Psalm 13:5-6

Are you fully trusting in God?

Richard L. Crumb