With record low job approval ratings worldwide, we expect little good from our national leaders. Even in the church, bad leadership seems more the rule than the exception. Just like other problems faced by the church, the Bible has the solution. If the people of Christ would hold our leaders to the qualifications given in scripture we could transform the church overnight.

Paul lists the qualifications for elders in 1 Timothy and Titus. He sets the mood for the discussion with two terms similar in meaning, but different in feel. In 1 Timothy 3:2 he tells us “the overseer must be above reproach.” In Titus 1:6,7 he says the elder “must be blameless.” These terms deserve more than a simple glance because they will effect how the rest of the qualifications are interpreted and applied. Consider the following definitions:

• Above reproach: anepilemptos, literally means without being grasped or seized.
• Blameless: anenkletos, means not arraigned, irreproachable.

A leader who is above reproach is literally one who is not seized or grasped by anything. Nothing in his life prevents the performance of his duties or the acceptance of those he seeks to lead. A blameless leader is one who lives his life—all areas of it—in such a way that he is free from the taint of accusation. This also goes far beyond sin or not sin. Just because a person is not in obvious sin does not make him blameless in this regard.

Verbrugge says: “Paul stresses the need to be above reproach, in the ordinary sense of common respectability. Thus, in addition to spiritual qualifications, ordinary standards of decency also become preconditions of office in the church for the sake of God’s good name in the world” (441).

The leader of God’s church understands that everything he says, does and is will be a reflection on Christ. He does not segment his life into spiritual and secular spheres, with different values applied to each, but lives every area of his life for Christ..When you consider the responsibility and authority involved in oversight of a church you must agrees the right man is worth holding out for.

The author of Hebrews (13:17) commands “obey your leaders and submit to their authority.” This passage has been misused to condone autocratic rule and subservience, but the author makes it clear why this obedience is in order: “They keep watch over you as men who must give and account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.” Leaders will be held responsible by God for their handling of church issues. We make the leaders job easier by giving them the benefit of the doubt when appropriate. This does not mean we bow down and give in when the leaders are definitely in the wrong, but that in a discussion the leaders words are given extra weight by the life they live and the example they have set for the church. If they have lived a life worthy of imitation then our spiritual walk is improved by submission to them. In this setting submission is easier. So the leader’s burden is lifted by our obedience and that obedience is encouraged by the life of the leader. This mutual exchange will only be possible if the leader is above reproach and blameless.

If you are a church leader whose people have a hard time submitting to you then question your life and the example you are setting. When looking for leadership that God has called, equipped and set apart, the guiding principle is blamelessness.