牧者與我

薛孔偉牧師

9/12/2010

主題：因為教會是神的家，所以對她的領袖有崇高的要求。

前言：

有時有些傳道人會與我分享他們服事的經驗。有次有位師母說她在加拿大的姊姊經常會寄一些非常好的衣服、很漂亮的大衣給她，但是她在自己的教會裡不敢穿，因為她怕穿了之後，會眾看見後會說：「他們這麼有錢！」可能會影響他丈夫的薪水，所以在教會裡或城裡，她都不敢穿這些衣服。

在東部的一個阿普拉其山服事的牧師這樣說，有一年的感恩節，教會就送了一隻火雞與火腿給他家庭。他對教會這個善舉心中非常感動，十二月來的時候，他收到他的支票，發現十二月的支票比十一月的支票少了一些，他就去問教會的財務，財務就這樣的跟他解釋：「在這個月的薪水裡，我們將上個月給你的火雞與火腿的費用減掉了」。如果不是我親耳聽見的話，我會以為是在綱路上流傳的一些笑話。因為這件事情，所以這位牧師後來離開了這個教會，有一段很長的時間他都不太敢在教會裡服事。因為在許多的教會裡，有一種潛意識的觀念：主啊！求祢使他謙卑！我們會使他貧窮。

沒有太多的牧師在他的教會講今天我們讀的這段經文，如果他講的話，會眾會說：「他又在埋怨他的薪水不夠了」。如果有一位外來的教員來講這篇道的話，有些會眾可能會說：「一定是我們的牧師要他講這篇道的」。所以，你可以看看在很多教會講道的記錄，你會發現缺少今天所讀的這段經文。在提摩太前書，我們看到保羅寫信給提摩太，告訴提摩太教會是神的家，所以在這個家的成員，應該知道如何怎樣行事為人，因為他們以前都不是信主的，沒有教會的經驗，然後信了主之後，來到這個教會，應該怎樣行事為人？應該怎樣做事？造成一些的困擾。所以保羅對提摩太說：「我寫這些給你要你知道在神的家應當如何行事、為人！」 在過去的幾個月，我們看到在神的家要如何的敬拜，敬拜的時候要怎麼樣的禱告、在教會裡要如何的對待不同的人。今天這段經文是講到如何對待教會裡要傳道人及牧師們。

我們當中可能會有人問：「與我有什麼關係？」這些是教會長老、執事們的責任，與我無關！這個題目，與你有很重要的關係。首先，是因為這封信是要讀給所有的人聽、所有的信徒聽，不是單單讀給教會裡的長老、執事們聽。第二與你有關的原因，因為在我們的當中，有許多人有一天會在這個教會或另一個教會服事主，在那裡做長老、執事，我們看到有許多這樣的例子，很多人離開了這個教會，在另外一個教會裡做長老、執事，在那個時候，你就要知道你如何的對待教會的牧師。我們是帶著這樣的心態，來到神的話語面前。我們都有工作的經驗，在工作的場所，都有一些的原則、方式來處理在工作場所的雇主、雇員的關係。因此，我們在許多的教會，特別是在這一個時代的華人教會，把外面做事的方式帶到教會，不是說不好，但是我們要有分寸。當我們在神的家裡的時候，我們要讓神的話來決定、指導，我們應該在祂的家裡要如何行事為人，特別是如何對待教會裡的傳道人。

1 •  牧者需要被關顧 (v.17-18 節 )

首先讓我們看一下十七、十八節：「『那些善於治理教會的長老，尤其是那些在講道和教導上勞苦的長老，你們應當看他們是配受加倍的敬重和供奉的。因為經上說：牛踹穀的時候，不可籠住牠的嘴。」又說：「作工的配得工價。」在新約聖經裡，長老與牧師是一個互相交換用詞，有許多的聖經的學者以這段經文是教導教會裡全時間兼長老、執事們，在加拉太書六章有句相似的話：「在聖道上受教的應該和施教人分享自己一切的美物」。在這兩處的經文裡給我們很清楚的圖畫，我們要關顧、關懷教會裡的牧師們。什麼叫關懷、關懷？在中文聖經翻譯是加倍的敬重、供奉。在一般英文翻譯提到要加倍的敬重。中文聖經的意思非常好，所謂的「加倍」就是「敬重」。另外一個是與酬勞有關，保羅在這裡指示以弗所教會的信徒，要好好的尊重他們當中的長老、當中的牧師，同時也要給他們足夠的酬勞。這一個原因是在十八節裡保羅解釋出來，上半段是保羅引用申命記廿五章四節的話語，下一部份是引用耶穌路加福音裡面的一句話，將這些話語放在一起，說做牧師的在教會裡，應該得到應該有的尊重，也要得到該得的酬勞。

甲•  尊重

現在我們看敬重、尊重這兩個字。我記得有一位很敬重的姊妹這樣說，我不敢去批評教會的牧師、不敢批評神的僕人。她好像非常尊重牧師，但是在她的語氣裡，其實是有一點的害怕，我怎能批評一個神所呼召的人？，因為他是神的僕人，我怎麼可以批評他？這是一種害怕，這是華人信徒當中非常普遍的心情，但這也是一個很不健康、好危險的態度。「尊重」的意思是不要小看、輕看一個，尊重一個人是用很有禮貌的跟你來往，不是一個表面的禮貌，而是真心的有禮貌的來對待你。「尊重」也包括來聆聽他所講的話，並接納他這個人，而不是用自己的方式把他塑造成符合自己心中理想的牧師。話又說回來，特別是對我自己說、也對我們當中服事主的人、牧師們、以及想要以後會做牧師的人說，一方面，別人因為我們的服奉、我們的職位尊重我們。我想在這華人社會裡、或另外一個時代很普遍的現象。我尊重你，因為的職位。但是時代變了，現在是不同的時代，不但時代不一樣，我們這一切做牧師的，我們要記得，我們要透過殷勤的工作、忠心的工作、做得好，來向會眾證明或印證我們是配得到尊重的。

乙 •  酬勞

這裡除了尊重之外，這裡講到酬勞、供奉，用今天的話語，大家都聽得懂的—「薪水」。我知道在華人的教會裡，我們都不太喜歡用「薪水」這個字。我們傳道人也覺得不要用「薪水」，很難說出口，都避免用這個字。但無論你怎麼看，這裡講的「供奉」就是講到一個傳道人的「薪水」。這裡講到一個傳道人、牧師因著他的服事，他要得到他該得的「薪水」，但是聖經裡沒有給我們一個標準，給多少才合適？聖經沒有說。有些教會裡這樣子說：「這一個牧師的薪水，一定是要會眾薪水的平均。一個牧師的生活，不能高過會眾、也不能低過會眾。」在這裡所講的要點，仍是我們要將足夠的、適當的、該得的「薪水」給他。

幾個月前我曾經與你們分享過，當我在國內的時候，我聽說有些教會，他們每個月給他們牧師「薪水」是三百塊人民幣—大約四、五十元美金，我聽後心中非常的難受。如果教會沒有經濟能力的話，這是我們明白的。但是許多教會裡，他們平均收入至少是給牧師「薪水」的五倍以上，至少有一個月人民幣一千五百元以上。但是他們給他們牧師的薪水大約是二、三百多塊，四、五十塊美金，無論在中國那個地方，你怎麼樣生活？有些城市牧師的薪水，連付公寓房租都不夠的。同時有些單身的男傳道人，找不到人嫁他，因為生活太苦了，八百塊在一個城市裡，怎麼生活？因為這些緣故，有些年輕人都不敢進入教會服事神。因為外面給的薪水比教會裡的要多了不知道多少倍。因為這個緣故，我認識一個傳道人，他設立了一個基金，就是用來幫助這些貧苦的傳道人。當他有機會的時候，他也會去一些教會，教導當地的教會及信徒，如何好好對待牧師。

我非常的感謝神！我今天講這一篇道，不是出自個人的需要，乃是出自一個責任，要將神的話語全備的、完整的講解給會眾聽，我也非常的感謝神！在過去這些年的服事，不論是聖路易斯、曉士頓也好。我巴不得說過去服事過的幾十個教會，我沒有這種機會，數來數去就只有這二個教會，在經濟上從來沒有被虧待過。我特別想到先前的那個教會，每一年教會在做預算時，總有一位長老來到我這裡，問我今年的生活怎麼樣？明年的家庭有沒有有額外的開支，我們可以放在明年的預算裡。我想到有一次有位弟兄來跟我說：「我剛剛這個週末在書店裡看書，我就想到您。我也知道您喜歡書，我就買了這本給您。」當我聽到的時候，就想到加拉太書第六章六節：「 在聖道上受教的，應該和施教的人分享自己的一切美物。 」心中非常的感動、溫暖，真感覺到被關懷。

讓我們都要記得，當我們成為這一個群體的一份子的時候，這是我們的責任使我們當中的牧師們得到適當的待遇、薪水。我一直記得過去的長老話：「我們給您薪水最重要的原因是讓你不要為金錢而操心，使您能專心在教會裡服事。」這也是每一個教會信徒的責任，好好的照顧我們當中的牧師，使他們能專心的服事。

2 •  牧者需被督導 (v. 19-21 節 )

然後讓我們來看十九至廿一節：「控訴長老的事，除非有兩三個證人，否則不要受理。常常犯罪的，你要當眾責備他們，使其餘的人也有所懼怕。我在神和基督耶穌以及蒙揀選的天使面前叮囑你，要毫無成見地持守這些話，行事也不要偏心。」不錯！牧師們要被尊重，但如果一個牧師犯了罪，那怎麼樣？如果有人說：我看見薛孔偉牧師 … 。這個人該怎麼做？告訴另外一個人？或告訴所有的人？或告訴另外一個牧師？告訴另外一個長老？在這段經文的一個基本的原則，如果有人要控告一個傳道人，或領導、執事、長老也好，一定要二個或三個的證人，這是要保護這些的牧師，不要被一些破壞性的謠言所摧毀。因為我們看見好些的例子，因為謠言而破壞一個人或毀了他的服事。因此在新約跟舊約聖經裡，有些非常嚴謹的原則，來保護一個人的聲譽和人格。如果有人要控告的話，一定要二個或三個的證人。這裡也非常的清楚，如果沒有二、三個見證人，連聽都不要聽。

如果這一位牧師犯了罪，又不肯悔改的話，那又怎麼辦？在廿節「要當眾責備他們」，就是要在會眾的面前執行教會的紀律。保羅又提醒提摩太當執行這個記律的時候，一定要公平，千萬不要偏心、偏待，一定要公平。

一方面我們要尊重我們的牧師，另一方面，當牧師犯罪的時候，他的罪一定要被指點出來，這需要勇敢，也需要公平。當我們看一下四周圍，在許多教會裡，當一個牧師犯罪的時候，教會沒有勇氣指責、責備，只是安安靜靜的說「你走了就算了」，也就是說，我拜託你，你走了吧！走吧！給一些錢就離開我們！因為在這些的教會裡，沒有公開在會眾前責備。所以，這些的牧師去了另一個教會、或另一個地區的教會，然後犯同樣的罪，傷害了他下面的羊，這是好可惜，好可憐的事。我們看報紙也看見許多這樣的新聞。當一個傳道人犯了罪，教會有這個責任、勇氣，也要公平把罪指責出來，執行教會該有的紀律。為什麼要這麼樣做呢？因為教會是神的家，這是聖潔的神居住的地方。在這個家裡，“罪”必須要好好的處理。在神的面前，每一個人—信徒、牧師、長老、執事，都要對自己所犯的罪負責任。

3 •  牧者的選擇需要謹慎 (v. 22-25 節 )

最後讓我們看一下，首先看廿三節：「因為你的胃不好，而且身體常常軟弱，不要單單喝水，可以稍微用點酒。」這一段的經文，令很多聖經學者頭痛的，為什麼出現在這裡？前面後面講的都是很嚴肅的事情，為什麼在這裡跟提摩太說“我知道你的身體不太好—胃，有胃病應該喝一點酒。所以我們時常說，我送一瓶酒給你，他們一定解釋說：「這是提摩太酒。」與普通酒不一樣。因此在有些的翻譯本裡，把這句話放在括號裡面，因為不曉得與上下文的關係是什麼？我相信到現在沒有一個人可以給一個完美的答案。所以我們 估且把這一段話 當作保羅在寫這封信裡面時的稍稍離提的一番話。這在保羅書信裡，有時會看見的，很有系統邏輯的寫一番話，忽然會跳到另外一句話，然後再回來。這裡保羅關懷教會裡的健康，同時他也關心提摩太身體的健康。有許多的解釋，教會的狀況使提摩太擔憂，甚至影響提摩太身體的健康，特別影響到他的胃。所以保羅說，你喝一點酒吧。我們可能也會想到，只有勸提摩太喝酒，因為那個時代酗酒是一個很普遍的事，所以在保羅許多的書信裡，都勸導信徒遠離酗酒的事。提摩太看見他的四周圍有這麼普遍酗酒的現況，所以他就下了決心，酒一點都不沾唇的，採取了完全禁酒的立場。所以保羅可能因這個緣故跟他說，喝一點酒對你的身體是好的。

現在我們進入廿二節：「不要匆匆忙忙地替別人按手，也不要在別人的罪上有份，要保守自己清潔。」在這裡講的按手，是講選擇、肯定教會的領袖，特別是教會的牧師。保羅對提摩太說：你不要匆匆忙忙的替人按手，也不要匆匆忙忙的認定這個人是教會的牧師。如果有一天這個人出了錯或犯了罪，就如在以弗所教會裡以前有些長老他們後來在教導異端，保羅意思說，如果這樣子的話，你也要負責任，所以你不要匆匆忙忙地替人按手。然後在廿四至廿五節裡，再進一步的解釋，「有些人的罪是明顯的，就先受審判；有些人的罪是後來才顯露出來的。照樣，善行也是明顯的，就算不明顯，也不能隱藏。」這裡講有些罪是一看就看的出來，但另外有一些罪需要時間才慢慢的顯露出來。當然如果我們一眼就看出來一些人的罪，我們就不會揀選這一類的人出來做教會的領袖，也不會選他做教會的牧師。但有一些的罪是慢慢地才看清楚。所以保羅在這裡說，當你在揀選一個人做牧師的時候，你要小心，要有分辨的能力，免得你選錯了人。時常我們聽見這樣的話，當我們第一次見面的時候，他就是我們所想要的那個人，我們想要的他都有了。但一、兩年後，為什麼他變成了另外一個人？問題不是變了另外一個人，乃是一些罪行、習慣慢慢的顯示出來了。會不會是在第一次面談的時後，我們只看見好的一面，是否是我們過份的強調一個人的才幹、恩賜，而忽略了品格。

這一個原則，不是單單用在牧師的身上，也是用在教會每一個層次的領導。在提摩太前書第三章，當保羅提到做教會長老、執事的資格的時候，我們注意到，除了長老要能教導之外，所有其他的資格都是跟品格有關。我們是不是剛好相反？我們被這個人的口才吸引了，所以覺得他是個很有動力的一個講道者。我們看見他那種超越的人際關係的技巧，就說他一定是個很好的牧人，我們很輕易被人的才幹深深的影響，卻忽略了品格這件事。我們都看見周圍有好多的例子。有許多牧師有很大的恩賜、能幹，最終陷入罪裡，是品格比任何都更重要。所以保羅跟提摩太在這裡說，你不要匆匆忙忙地替別人按手，一定要小心，要有分辨的能力。

結論：

當我在兩個禮拜前準備這篇講章時，想到三件事情。第一個，這是我在廿八年的服事裡，第一次講解提摩太前書，從第一章第一節一直講到第六章最後一節。第二個，在我服事的教會裡，這是我第二次講這一篇的經文，第一次在十九年前四月在聖路易斯教會講過，第二次是在今天這個教會。第三件事，當我在去年底和今年年初準備今天講道的安排時，就是那個禮拜講那一段的經文及那一位講時，我從來沒有想過這段經文剛好是今天輪到我講的，又整好是在我剛剛表示了我退休計劃的二個禮拜之後。早堂有位姊妹說「你真的沒有故意的安排今天講這篇道嗎？」老實說，我真的沒有，但是二、三個禮拜前，看了這段經文，噢！是我要講。我看到神的工作，也看到神的幽默感，我感到非常的驚訝！人怎麼樣安排都安排不到的。真的也叫我想到，神如何的帶領我們生命裡的事件，就如在箴言廿一章第一節：「 君王的心在耶和華手中，好像水溝的水，他可以隨意轉移。」祂在那裡轉動。

我想我們也知道，特別是你看到程序，我們的教會物色二位傳道人，一位是帶領 Pear Land 的工作，一位是帶領、負責這個教會英文堂的講道和青壯年的事工。再過不久，可能又要再尋找一位傳道人。我心中的禱告、願望，乃是我們在座的每一個人、教會的長老、執事、與弟兄姊妹，將這段經文深深的藏在你們的心中。在這些聘牧的過程中，我們要小心，要帶著一個分辨的能力。當神在祂的時間裡，將那適當的人帶到我們中間時，教會的眾弟兄姊妹們，我們好好來關懷目前和將來要進來的牧師們。我們要尊重他們，給他們足夠的待遇，我們也要儘我們所能的保護付他們的聲譽。當他們犯罪的時候，也要有勇氣，很公平的照聖經的原則，把這些罪指責出來。這一段的經文，要做為這一個教會在今後幾年的進入另外一個階段的時候，做為我們的座右銘及指南針。

Date:   09/12/2010

Text:   1 Timothy 5:17-25

Title:   Pastor and I

Theme: Since the church is God's household, therefore there are high expectations for her leaders.

Introduction:

  From time to time different pastors would share with me their ministry experiences. A pastor's wife said that Her sister in Canada would occasionally send her some really nice jackets and coats. However, she would not dare to wear them in the church, for this may affect her husband's salary.

  This is from a pastor who served in a church in the Appalachians . One thanksgiving, the church gave his family a turkey and ham. He was very touched with this kind gesture during the holiday season. Come December, when he got his pay check he noticed the amount was less than the previous months. He asked and the treasurer explained, “we deduct the cost of the turkey and ham we gave you last month.” If I didn't hear it myself, I would think it was some kind of joke circulating on the internet. In many churches, subconsciously we still have this attitude, “Lord, you keep him humble and we'll keep him poor.”

  Not too many pastors like to preach in their respective churches on the text we read today. If they do, the congregation may say, “He is complaining about his salary.” Now, if a guest speaker preaches on this text, some may say, “our pastor must have asked him to preach on this text or topic.” It's a no win situation.

In 1 st Timothy, we learned that Paul wrote to Timothy to say that the church is God's household, so Timothy and the believers needed to know how to conduct themselves in the church. In the last few months, we learned how we are to worship, to pray and to treat different people in the church. Today's passage is about how to treat the pastors.

Some of us may ask, what has this to do with me. This should be the elders and deacons' responsibility. This topic matters to you because first, this letter is meant to be read to all the believers, not just to a certain group in the church. Secondly, one day, some of you will be serving as deacons and elders. At that time, you will be playing a very important role in the treatment of pastors, be it here or in another church.

  It is with this spirit that we come before God's word. We are to let God's word direct and dictate how to conduct ourselves in his household, especially in our relationship with the pastors.

I •  Pastors are to be cared for.

Vs.17,18, “ 17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, "“The laborer deserves his wages ” In the New Testament, an elder and pastor are the same. Many Bible scholars take this passage as a reference to full time elders or pastors. There is another similar verse in Galatians 6:6, “ 6 One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches.” These two passages tell us that we are to care for the pastors among us.

What does it mean to treat them with double honor? In John Stott's words, it is generally accepted as respect and remuneration, or honor and an honorarium. Paul is instructing the believers at the Ephesian church to honor and to give their leaders adequate remuneration or honorarium. The reason is given in vs.18. The first part of vs.18 is from Deut 25:4. The second part; “the worker deserves his wages” are words of Jesus. Paul is saying that pastors are to be cared for through proper respect and to be paid what he deserves.

  1.   Let's first take a look at respect or honor or respect. I remember a godly sister who once said, “I don't want to criticize the pastor for he is God's servant.” Apparently she respected the pastor, but in reality, there was fear. How dare I criticize someone whom God has called. This is not a healthy attitude.

To respect means not to belittle the person but relate to him politely. Respect also includes listening and accepting the person for who he/she is and not trying to change him or her into your ideal minister.

Having said this, also a word to myself and those in full time ministry. Yes, on the one hand we are respected because of our ministry and position. However, on the other, we must, through diligent and faithful work, do our work well, to authenticate this respect. We are to show and prove to the congregation that we deserve such respect.

  2.   Then there is the matter of remuneration, or in today's words, salary. The scriptures instruct us that the pastors are to be paid for their service. There is really no set standard on this. Some have suggested that the pastor's salary should be the average of the congregation's salary. Pastors are not to live above or below the congregation's living standard. The point here is that he needs to be paid adequately.

I learned that in some churches in China , the pastor is paid only about 300 RMB, that is about $40 to 50. I feel sad about this. If the church does not have the financial resources to do so, it is certainly understandable. But in many of those churches, the average income is at least 5 times more than what they pay their pastors. For this reason, I know one pastor who set up a foundation with the sole purpose of assisting those pastors in need. He would also go to those churches to teach them the proper way of treating the pastors.

I am very thankful that I preach on this passage not because of personal need, but because of the responsibility to preach the whole counsel of God. I am also very thankful that in my former church, every year during the church's budget time, one elder would come and ask me about my financial situation. Do I see any special family needs in the coming year that the board needs to take into consideration in budgeting. I also think of an incident when a brother said to me, “I was in the book store the other day and I thought about you. Since I know you like books, so I got this for you.” These situations touched me and I felt cared for.

It is good to remember that as we become members of this community, it is our responsibility to make sure the pastors among us are respected and paid adequately. It is the church's responsibility to take care of their pastors so that they can concentrate on their ministry.

II •  Pastors are to be held accountable .

Vs. 19-21, “ 19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. 21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. ” Yes, pastors are to be respected. But what if the pastor sins? What if someone says, “I saw pastor Hsueh……” Do you go about telling everyone, or tell another pastor? The general principle we find here is that there needs to be two or three eyewitnesses. This is to protect the minister from malicious rumors. Rumors can ruin a person and his ministry. For this reason, both in the Old and New Testament, strict guidelines are set to protect a person's reputation and integrity. If there is any accusation, there must be two or three witnesses. It is clear here that without the two or three witnesses, don't even entertain the accusation.

What if the pastor refused to repent? In vs.20, we read that he is to be rebuked before the congregation. Paul also instructed Timothy when such a rebuke is carried out, to make sure it is fair. Don't be partial on this.

On the one hand pastors are to be respected and honored. On the other hand, when pastors sin, the sin has to be pointed out. This certainly requires courage and fairness. As we look around us, so often we see that the congregation or the church leaders fail or refuse to confront or discipline their ministers. Then they leave the church for another church and repeat the same offense, hurting the sheep under their care. This is sad. When a minister erred, the church, the leaders and the congregation need to have the courage and fairness to point out the sin and to exercise proper discipline. Why? Because the church is God's family, the house of the holy God. It is a place where sins are to be properly dealt with.

III •  Pastors are to be chosen with great discernment.

Let's first take a look at vs.23, “ (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) ” Bible students are often confounded by this verse. Why would Paul put this rather personal instruction in the midst of a serious passage? I don't think anyone has come up with a totally satisfactory solution. So we just take this as one of Paul's digression in his writing. Even as he is concerned about the church's spiritual health, he also has Timothy's physical health in mind. Maybe, the church condition had affected Timothy's health. We don't know what Timothy's health problem was. We only know that he was told to drink some wine. In those days, drunkenness is widespread. In several of Paul's writings, he instructed the Christians to stay clear of drunkenness. Timothy may be reacting to the social situation and took the abstinence stand. Paul cared for Timothy, and suggested that drinking some wine could be beneficial for his health.

Vs. 22, “ not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. ” This is about choosing and appointing a leader, the pastor. Paul tells Timothy, don't rush into it. If this person later turns out to be the wrong one, then Timothy would be responsible for it. Vs.24, 25 give the reason for not rushing into it, “ 24 The sins of some men are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. 25 So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden. ” Some sins are obvious but other sins take time to show up. When we see obvious sins in a person's life, we'll refrain from choosing that person as a pastor. But there are sins that take time to surface. Therefore be very careful and discerning when you appoint someone as your pastor.

I have heard this from different churches. “When we first interviewed him, he was everything we wanted. Now, 1 or 2 years later, he seems to have become a different person.” What happened? Could it be that during those short visits, we only saw the good and positive? Could we have only focused on the person's ability and skills, neglecting the person's character?

This applies not only to pastors but to leaders at all levels of the church. In 1 st Timothy, when Timothy writes about elders' and deacons' qualification, we notice, with the exception of elders having the ability to teach that it is all about a person's character. We tend to do things just the opposite. We are attracted by the person's oral communication skills so we say he is dynamic, and we are easily impressed by the person's people skill. When we focus on the skills and abilities, we may have neglected the character issue. We have seen pastors with great gifts and skills fall into sins ultimately. It is the character that matters.

Conclusion:

  As I was preparing for this sermon during the last two weeks, two things came to my mind. First, it was the first time in my 28 years of ministry that I have preached through the book of 1 st Timothy. Secondly, it was the first time I preached on this passage in the church I am serving. And thirdly, when I setup the preaching schedule late last year and early this year, I had no idea that preaching this passage will fall on the Sunday after I shared with you my retirement intention. Personally, I am awed at how God directs things in life. Proverbs 21:1, “ 1 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.”

  As you know HCC is in the process of seeking two pastors. And soon will begin the process of seeking another one. It is my prayer and desire that we approach this matter carefully and with great discernment. And when in God's timing He brings them to us, the church is to take proper care of them by respecting and providing them with adequate salaries. The church is to protect the present and future pastors and to courageously confronting and disciplining when they sin.