In the list of qualifications for an elder/overseer in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, it is well known that it is heavy on character and low on abilities. That’s the right balance. Character matters most and we’re more aware than ever of that fact. The two abilities listed are teaching and managing the family.

A lot of ink has been spilled over ‘who can teach?’ but let’s consider why teaching is so important and therefore why elders must pay particular attention to it. There are a couple of strong warnings when it comes to teachers that should strike more fear into more hearts than perhaps they do. First up is James 3:1.

Not many should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we will receive a stricter judgement.

OK then.

The filters a church puts in place before someone can be considered a ‘teacher’ in the church should keep out more than they let through. Now the ‘stricter judgement’ seems to suggest that God will treat teachers differently and that’s somewhat uncomfortable. Why would he do that? I think it has to do with the consequences. The church needs trustworthy shepherds.

Which brings us to the warning that Paul gives to the Ephesian elders down at the beach (Acts 20:29-30). When leadership is under greater scrutiny than ever before, we need to pay more attention to this.

I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Men will rise up even from your own number and distort the truth to lure the disciples into following them.

Paul says there will be wolves who will attack the flock and but Paul’s warning goes deeper, because the wolves will not just come from outside but from inside the church, ‘from your own number.’

Paul was not wrong about that.

As a result people will be lured away from the truth. This then is why God will judge them more severely. When an individual falls sucker for a falsehood they rarely take many with them. Not so a leader, they take churches with them.

I am an elder. I could be a wolf.

I don’t think I am a wolf but I could become one. The challenge then is not so much to look outside at all the false teachers and world-pleasing preachers, nor to look at my fellow elders with suspicion in my eyes but to take a good long, careful and regular look at my own heart, because if the wolf can come from within the church, then yes, that could be me. Pay attention to the planks in my own eyes, right?

This is what Paul goes on to write to Timothy about in chapter 4. After spending chapter 3 discussing leadership (elders and deacons) he then says,

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. – 1 Tim 4:1-3

That’s a description of people in authority: teachers who forbid and order.

Paul then (1 Tim 4:6-16) exhorts Timothy not to follow their path and gives him guidance on what to do instead. Be trained in the words of the faith and good doctrine (6), avoid silly myths (7), train for godliness (7-8), set an example in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity (12), and immerse yourself in Scripture (15) and then sums that section with the catch all, ‘Watch your life and doctrine closely‘ (16).

Why must I devote time, effort and energy to watching not just my doctrine but to spend just as much time watching my life? Because I need to pay really close attention to my pride, if there’s any hint of deviation from love, faith and purity. I need to watch my speech and my actions because they are just as dangerous as any myth or heresy.

A seared conscience and distorted truth go hand in hand. Bad tree, bad fruit as Jesus said.

The issue of distorted leaders who lead the people astray was bothering Paul so much that after warning about them (ch.1), giving instructions for good leaders (ch.3), warning & instructing again (ch.4 & 5) he then warns Timothy again in chapter 6 and finishes the later with a heartfelt plea, “O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust.”

My name goes in there: “O Phil! Guard what was committed to your trust.”

I pray often that the Lord will keep my heart soft, my words kind and gentle, to keep teaching me wisdom, filling me with love and truth to lead His people well. I want to do all those things. I also, almost as keenly, do not want to end up a wolf.