essential elders

This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— Titus 1:5

God wants an orderly local church. And this little pastoral postcard of Titus provides a kind of bullet point checklist of what that looks like. Paul left Titus on Crete to make sure the local churches in each town were kept in order. It took time. The first task on the checklist: elders needed to be appointed for each town’s local church. And that sort of leadership training and development takes deliberate effort and serious time commitment for the trainer and the candidates.

Some thoughts about elders from this first priority in the first chapter of Titus:

1. Local churches need a plurality of elders to truly be a New Testament church. That is why your Bible Study or your “home group” or your “household” are not local churches. It is popular today to avoid this biblical pattern. It is perilous as much false doctrine and practice erupts from such places. No surprise… they aren’t biblical in structure. Titus was commanded to appoint a plurality of elders in each town.
2. Elders are proven leaders at home (Titus 1:6). The fruit of their leadership is shown at home and backs up character, commitment, and calling.
3. Character predominates elder qualification (Titus 1:7-8). In the long list is nothing about organizational acumen, business success, or charisma. It is all about the character of Christ.
4. Word skill is essential as a teacher (Titus 1:9). The primary call of the elder is to teach the Word and direct the life of the church around it.
5. Elders will face opposition by false teachers within the church (these false teachers are always non-qualified by the first three things on the list). They face persecution from outside the church (Titus 1:9b-16).

God, help us to raise up and appoint Your qualified and called men for Your local churches! Amen