Do you agree with the following statement?

“The future of the Reformed churches and of the Reformed faith is in the hands of the office-bearers of Christ’s Church!”

If so, how does the future look in your Church? What steps must be taken to insure that the Reformed faith and true Reformed Church government is maintained in those bodies bearing the name “Reformed”?

To a great degree, the effectiveness of pastors, elders, and deacons within their Church is dependent upon whether or not these men possess biblical qualifications for holding office and are trained for the specific task God has called them to do. Qualifications and training are two essential areas which must be addressed for the sake of the future of the Reformed Church and of the Reformed faith.

There are many qualifications which office-bearers may possess, but which spiritual, biblical and personal qualifications must they possess?

1 . Born again – John 3:7–10

2. Filled with the Holy Spirit – Acts 1:6; 6:3

3. Willingness to serve – Matt. 20:25–28

4. Spirituality – I Cor. 3:1; Gal. 6:1

5. Spiritually gifted – I Cor. 12:12–31; Rom. 12:1–8

6. Spiritually fruit-bearing-Gal. 5:22–26

The biblical qualifications that are required for nomination to office are:

1. A willingness to do the task – I Tim. 3:1 2. A maturity in the faith – I Tim. 3:6 3. Confessional integrity – I Tim. 3:9 4. Indoctrination in the faith – Titus 1:9 5. Knowledge of Scripture – Matt. 22:29; II Tim. 3:15 6. Readiness to defend and contend for the faith Phil. 1:17; Jude 3 7. A knowledge of how to order, rule, and live in the Church – I Cor. 14:40; I Tim. 3:4, 15.

The personal qualifications required for office bearing are too numerous to mention specifically here. However, the Scripture does seem to teach that a thorough examination of a candidate’s life in four major areas is required:

1. Marriage, including his relationship to his wife and hers to the Church – I Tim. 3:1, 12; Eph. 5:25–32; I Tim. 3:11; Eph. 5:22–24.

2. Family, including how well his house is ruled, his relationship to his children, and their reputation in the Church – I Tim. 3:4, 5; Eph. 6:4; Tit. 1:6; Eph. 6:1–3. 3. The Faith, including a knowledge and understanding of it, the exemplary demonstration of it, and the disciplines associated with it (Church membership, service, prayer-filled life, and study of Scripture) – I Tim. 3:9; Tit. 1:9; I Tim. 4:12; Eph. 4:1-16; I Th. 5:17; I Tim. 2:8; James 5:14; II Tim. 2:15; 3:16, 17. 4. Witness, including blameless Christ-like character in regard to use of alcohol, his temperament, the way he makes his money, his ambition towards riches, his potential for self–conceit , his truthfulness, hard work and testimony in the world. Witness, including a hospitable home, ability to teach, clear thinking, fairness, uprightness and self-discipline – I Tim. 3:2–13; Tit. 1:6–7; Matt. 25:14–30; I Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:8.

Ask yourself, “Do the men which we propose to nominate for office in the Church possess any or all of these personal, biblical and spiritual qualifications?” Or, “Are they trainable to meet the standards in these areas?” Quality is a teachable and trainable commodity, but the spiritual, biblical and personal potential must be there.

Another article will suggest a course of study designed to train office-bearers to be effective in their calling to serve Christ and His Church. 

Stephen M. Arrick is the pastor of the Calvary Christian Reformed Church at Lowell, Michigan.