7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.” (1 Timothy 3:7 (ESV)
A suburban church’s elders in a major metropolitan Midwest city sensed God’s call to relocate the congregation closer to the city’s downtown. This was due in large measure because the church outgrew its facilities and for a desire to a visible presence for Christ in a populated area often overlooked. When a property with several existing buildings became available, the congregation sensed it was God’s will to purchase it with the purpose of renovating all the structures and using them for worship and ministry.
One of the experiences in the process was the pastor met with the families of the neighboring community located across the street of the church’s newly purchased property. Initially, the church’s new neighbors were less than excited about having a congregation of Christians as their new neighbors. They expressed their opposition to, if not disdain towards, the pastor and the church in no uncertain terms at a community meeting. It was not an optimistic beginning.
However, something marvelous occurred as the congregation cleaned, renovated and relocated into and onto the new church campus. The neighborhood began to see Christian people who were friendly, helpful and caring. What began as opposition soon turned into affirmation by the local residents. When once they groaned about a church across the street from their homes, they now were glad to have such a presence. They began to respect, and even like, the pastor, the church’s leadership and congregation.
It cannot be overstated the importance of a pastor’s, and elders’, reputation with those who do not belong to the church. What was true for Timothy as the pastor of the church in Ephesus, remains true for local pastors, and elders today. How unconverted and unchurched people feel about a church’s leadership is huge. The church’s leadership must do everything they can to have a good and positive reputation with outsiders, without changing the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul wrote regarding an elder, pastor, or overseer they “must be well thought of by outsiders,” This in addition to all the other characteristics previously mentioned in the context of I Timothy 3:1-6. The phrase must be (δεῖ; dei) refers to what is presently and actively necessary and ought to be.
What is necessary is for overseers to be well thought of. To be (ἔχειν; echein) means to presently, actively and infinitely possess and hold onto something. In the context, what the elder is to presently, actively and infinitely possess is to be well thought of (καλὴν μαρτυρίαν; kalen martyrian). This refers to a good reputation and testimony. This good reputation and testimony are the elder’s responsibility to foster and cultivate. He must do everything he biblically can to pursue this purpose and goal. This good reputation the elder pursues results in outsiders (ἔξωθεν; exothen), or the unconverted, agreeing the pastor possesses a good testimony of faith in Jesus Christ.
The pastor must be ethical, faithful, and biblical before a watching and ungodly world. He must refrain from any and all behavior, speech, or thinking which in any way compromises his reputation and ultimately the reputation of Jesus Christ who represents. He must guard his heart (Prov.4:23-27).
Otherwise, he may fall into disgrace. To fall (ἐμπέσῃ; empese). This means to actively experience at a particular point in time disgrace (ὀνειδισμὸν; oneidismon). This refers to public reproach (Rom. 15:3; 1Ti 3:7; Heb. 10:33; 11:26; 13:13).[1] This disgrace Paul referred to as “a snare of the devil.” A snare (παγίδα; pagida) means a trap and danger solely originating from the devil.
“A leader in the church must have an unimpeachable reputation in the unbelieving community, even though people there may disagree with his moral and theological stands. How can he make a spiritual impact on those who do not respect him? (Matt. 5:48; Phil. 2:15),” explains Dr. John MacArthur.
In his book The Pastor as Leader, Dr. John Currie, professor of pastoral theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia writes the following concerning the pastor’s character and the tragedy of failing to pursue a good reputation.
“While this book was being written, the church was rocked again and again by dramatic and devastating news of corrupt pastoral leaders. One popular preacher-leader abandoned his faith and his marriage. A respected apologist was discovered to have lived a secret life of immorality, financial corruption, and wicked manipulation of those who had trusted him for spiritual care. A pastor who had reached the heights of celebrity was dethroned from his ministry empire because of angry, unaccountable, brutal leadership of colleagues and blatant dishonesty for financial gain. Denominational leaders were being investigated and called to account for covering up vile sins perpetrated by false shepherds.”
“These are merely a sampling of the cases of corrupted character and their ruinous consequences exposed publicly. By the time wickedness like these examples makes headlines, there have typically been repeated episodes of less known compromises in the offending leader’s life, incremental concessions that C. S. Lewis called “those little marks or twists on the central inside part of the soul which are going to turn it, in the long run, into . . . a hellish creature.” The most scandalous hypocrisies are often rooted in seemingly less significant character issues that have gone unaddressed in the life of a pastor.”
“Because pastoral leadership is the process where a man of God leads the people of God by preaching the word of God, the pastor’s example is essential to the process of leadership. The walk of a man of God must be integrated with the word he has been sent to preach. He must pursue conformity to Christ as he leads for Christ, because his stewardship includes the duty to serve as an example for those to whom he preaches (1 Tim. 4:12; cf. Titus 2:7; 1 Pet. 5:3),” explains Dr. Currie.
Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “Non-Christians should be able to look at a Christian leader and say that he lives according to his profession and is quick to repent when he fails to do so. Yet all believers should be known by their exemplary lives, their living of “a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Tim. 2:2). What is the testimony your non-Christian friends, neighbors, and co-workers would give about you? If accused of being a Christian, would you be found guilty?”
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in Christ.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).
His Word Today 