Shine… as a blameless Leader

1. Shine… as a blameless Leader –28thMay 2016
“Sothat you may become blamelessandpure, “childrenofGodwithout faultina warpedand crooked
generation.” Then you will shineamongthem like stars in the sky”( Philippians2:15).
The qualificationsforthe elderordeaconare outlinedasstatedabove in 1 Timothy 3:2; and Titus 1:6–
7/ by the apostle Paul.Theyneedtobe “blamelessleaders”or“above reproach”.The word mustbe
emphasizingthatthisparticularqualityof being“above reproach”isanunconditional prerequisite fora
leadershiprole inthe church.
Webster'srevisedunabridgeddictionarydefinesthe wordBlamelessasone whoisFree fromblame;
withoutfault;innocent;guiltless;withoutreproach. The dictionarydefines reproach as“shame or
disgrace or that whichbringsrebuke orcensure upona person.”The Bible speaksof being“above
reproach”or “blameless”asone of the distinctive marksof those whoaspire tothe office of elderor
deaconwithinthe church.
We can learnthe definition fursuch leader- referredas“overseer“- shouldbe blameless.We canlearn
thisin1 Timothy 3:2, “Nowthe overseer isto be abovereproach, faithful tohis wife., temperate, self-
controlled,respectable,hospitable,ableto teach. We can read of a similarteachingin,Titus1:6–7, “An
elder must be blameless,faithful tohis wife,a man whosechildren believeand are not open to the
charge of beingwildand disobedient. 7
Sincean overseer managesGod’shousehold,hemust be
blameless—notoverbearing,notquick-tempered,notgiven to drunkenness,not violent,not pursuing
dishonestgain”.Theirworkforthe church, as well astheirinteractionswithothers,are tobe of such
moral qualitythattheydo not bringshame or inany waydisgrace the bodyof Christor the name of
Jesus.Thisholdstrue notonlywithinthe churchbut outside itaswell.
Above reproach,however,doesnotmeanwithoutsin.NoChristianlives anentirelysinlesslife,norwill
we until we reachthe glorifiedstate inheaven. Blamelessorabove reproachmeansthatthe Leader’s
life isfree fromsinful habitsorbehaviorsthatwouldimpede hissettingthe required Christianstandard
and model forthe church to emulate.Because,we canlearnfroman importantadvice forus as statedin
Hebrews 13:7; ”Remember your leaders, who spokethe word ofGod to you.Considerthe outcomeof
their way of lifeand imitatetheir faith”. We are alsotold‘inshort’: “… notlordingit over those
entrusted to you, but beingexamplesto the flock” (1 Peter 5:3). Similarly, we are toldthatthe “leader”
mustnot give cause for those outside the churchtoimpugnitsreputation.Beingabove reproachmeans
that no one can honestlybring acharge or accusationagainsthim or hercharacter. We can learnfrom 1
Peter 3:16, “…keepinga clear conscience,so that those whospeak maliciouslyagainstyourgood
behaviorin Christmay be ashamedof their slander…”.
In essence,the church Leadersmustbe men andwomen whose characterisunimpeachable,whoare
esteemedhighlywithintheircommunity.Suchmenare knownfortheirwholesome life anduntarnished
integrity. Eldersanddeacons inaChurch are to be men and women of goodcharacter and reputation.
ThoughPaul,inhisletterstoTimothyand Titus, He is addressingthe distinguishingmarksof those who

2. desire tobe church leaders.Italsotellsusthat the need isforall Christianstoaspire to the same
qualities forlivingagodlylife.
We shouldaspire tobe above reproach whichshouldbe anongoingaim for all believers inChrist.We
can get a great understandingbyreading the followingfrom Colossians3:7–10, “Youused to walk in
these ways, inthe lifeyou once lived. 8
But now you must alsorid yourselvesof all suchthings as
these: anger, rage, malice,slander,and filthylanguagefromyour lips. 9
Do not lie to each other, since
you have taken offyour oldself with itspractices 10
andhave put on the new self, which is being
renewed inknowledgein the image of itsCreator”.