“This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work”
1 Timothy 3:1

From time to time the Church world is rocked by some scandal or another. This usually involves immorality or financial irregularity amongst the leadership. These scandals bring the Church into the media’s spotlight for all the wrong reasons, and thus Christianity receives the ridicule of the world. In recent years we have seen the impropriety of some American Television Evangelists highlights the corruption that exists within the Church (it should be noted that all denominations have had their share of scandal and that it does not just exist in the Pentecostal and Charismatic circles). No wonder the common objection on the lips of the unsaved is, “The Church is full of hypocrites!”

 Purity of Leadership
Especially amongst Bible-believing evangelicals there ought to be purity and holiness, from the leadership down through each member of the local church. Charles Spurgeon commenting on this subject writes, “No amount of fees paid to learned doctors, and no amount of classics received in return, appear to us to be evidences of a call from above. True and genuine piety is necessary as the first indispensable requisite; whatever ‘call’ a man may profess to have, if he has not been called to holiness, he certainly has not been called to the ministry.”

If the leadership is corrupt then it is likely that those who remain in the congregation will be stained with the same sin. A church where the pastor frequents pubs and clubs, and is involved in other questionable pursuits, will find its membership following the same example. The minister of the Gospel should set the example for his congregation in godly living and holiness. This is why we have titled this chapter ‘Ministerial Sanctification’. Holiness right at the top is an absolute and is demanded by a Holy God. “God is only demanding what is perfectly consistent with His character, and cannot demand anything that is inconsistent with His character … It is an inescapable demand because its written in the character of God.” Such sanctification is twofold in nature:

a) The minister of the church should be ‘set apart’ unto God for the task that God has called him to. Being set apart he is therefore sanctified, that is, holy unto the Lord.

b) His lifestyle outside of the pulpit must reflect God’s holiness. The eyes of the congregation and of the world are upon him. Godliness must be manifested in his every day life.

Richard Baxter advices ministers, “Take heed to yourselves lest your example contradict your doctrine, and lest you lay such stumbling blocks before the blind as may be the occasion of their ruin; lest you unsay with your lives what you say with your tongues.” Therefore the leader of the church has been given the highest possible rank among men, “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work” (1 Timothy 3:1) or as Charles Spurgeon said, “He is not to be content with being equal to the rank and file of Christians, he must be a mature and advanced believer.” This is the very area where Satan will seek to destroy first. The Lord Jesus Christ, speaking with regards to His crucifixion, told His disciples, “Smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad” (Matthew 26:31), this is also true regarding the leader of a church. Again Richard Baxter put this very clearly when he described Satan’s attack on the ministry, “As he hateth Christ more than any of us, because He is the General of the field and the Captain of our salvation, and doth more than all the world besides against the kingdom of darkness; so doth he hate the leaders under Him more than the common soldiers: he knows what a rout he will make among the rest if the leaders fall before their eyes.” It is of vital importance that those in ministry conform to the standards laid down in the word of God.

Biblical Standards of Conduct
Ministerial Sanctification means that Biblical standards must be evident both spiritually and morally within the leadership. This is more important than having a likeable personality, administration skills, or preaching gifts. God expects a high standard of behaviour amongst the shepherds of His flock. Therefore the minister must live by and teach the principles of righteousness. Then he will be a role model of faithfulness, truth, and holiness. In other words his character must reflect the Lord’s expectations, “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:41).

Being an Example
The apostles Paul and Peter taught that those in leadership are to be examples of goodness and holiness within the church. Writing to the young minister Timothy, he says, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). Every part of Timothy’s life had to conform to God’s will, and what was true for him is also true for all who serve the Lord in this way. Peter makes similar comments along this line, “Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:3), that is, the pastor must lead by example. Personal purity magnifies his teaching and doctrine, and that holiness must be of the highest level, “He that delights not in holiness … is not fit to be a pastor of a Church.”

People learn not only through the preaching of the Gospel but by example too. If there is no evidence of sanctification in the pastor’s life then it is unlikely that they will walk in it themselves. Therefore it is necessary for the minister to set a godly pattern for those that the Lord has placed within his care. A holy example will go a long way to keeping the congregation from error and wickedness, “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)” (Philippians 3:17-19), and will cause them to stand firmly upon the Holy Scriptures, “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13).

The Lack of Ministerial Sanctification
Purity and holiness should not only exist in the Church but should be abundantly manifested by its leadership. The minister must be “Blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)” (1 Timothy 3:2-5, see also Titus 1:6).

Where there is no sanctification in the leadership of the church, then in God’s eyes the minister is disqualified from shepherding the flock. Remarking on the sinfulness of some pastors Richard Baxter states, “Your sins have more hypocrisy in them than other men’s.” This is because the teacher of the word, if he lives outside of holiness, “shall receive the greater condemnation” (James 3:1). That is God will judge those who claim to uphold godliness on a higher, stricter level.

We must not forget that the leadership of the Church was purchased with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and requires high spiritual and moral standards. No one in the body of Christ can turn away from God’s righteous requirements, nor can the minister of the Gospel live any other way than in daily holiness, for the eyes of the world are upon him. He must exercise himself in holiness, purity, discipline, and sanctity. “ You are to exercise yourself in godliness as much as an Olympic athlete exercises his body. How much energy, effort, time, and dedication does an Olympic athlete put into his training? His sport is his life - unequivocally. So it is with you: godliness is to be your life. All of your energy, effort, time, and dedication are to be given over to godliness.”

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