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Part 2
July 4th, 1935
In our last issue
we promised to try to write farther on this subject for this issue. The
text we were using was (I Timothy 3:1-7). We wrote on the several
qualifications as blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober,
of good behaviour. Before proceeding farther we wish to correct an
error made in the print in the last line of next to the last paragraph
in the article in last paper. That sentence reads, If he does not
behave before being set apart, the church has no Spiritual right to set
him apart.
It should read, the church has no Scriptural right to set
him apart.
The next qualification the apostle gives is that he must be given to hospitality.
To be given to a thing is to be disposed to it,
or disposed that way; inclined that way; addicted to it. Such is the
habit or custom; it is his way of doing or being. Hospitality means the
kind and generous reception and entertainment of strangers or guests. We
once knew of a minister being on a trip visiting churches, which he had
been requested to visit, his wife accompanying him. At one church on
that trip two home ministers were present. They were members of that
church. That visiting minister and his wife did not receive a single
invitation to go home with those preachers, or with the members. To our
mind, this is not
given to hospitality. The minister, if he fills
this qualification, is glad to have brethren, sisters, friends, to visit
in his home. He is glad to entertain them in his home-be that home ever
so humble-as well as glad to have them visit his churches.
Apt to
teach.
Some people may know things, but are lacking in the ability to
impart instruction to others. This is true in nature as well as in the
gospel. We have met some literary teachers who are not a marked success
because they do not possess the ability to impart instruction to others.
They know the things all right; but do not have the necessary ability in
order that they be successful teachers. They are not apt to teach.
There may be many who are well informed as to the teaching of the
Scriptures; they are sound in doctrine and practice; they know what the
doctrine and practice of the church is; but they are not apt to
teach.
They know what the truth is when they hear it, but they cannot
tell it in such a way as to make it plain to others; they cannot impart
instruction; they are not apt to teach. The one who is set apart to
the work of the ministry must be apt to teach. He must be able to
instruct. He must be able to teach others. Here brings in the necessity
of study. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Note
the word rightly in this expression by the inspired apostle. The
minister must not only study to divide the word of truth, but rightly
dividing. He must study to know what the right division is. He must
study to know where each Scripture belongs which he uses. He must
rightly apply it. This is necessary to be done in teaching. He must be
apt in that line. To be apt is to be fit or fitted; suited; suitable;
appropriate. Hence, for one to be apt to teach he must be fitted to
teach. How is one to be fitted to teach the doctrine and practice and
order of God's house unless he makes such things a study? If one does
not read and study the Scriptures he is not apt to teach, in the
sense of our text. How necessary that the church observe this
requirement, to see that one possesses it before he is set apart to the
work of the ministry. The fact that one can make a noise with his mouth
is no evidence that he is apt to teach. Some folks seem to think that
if a man can stand on his feet and make a great noise with his mouth
that he should be ordained to the work of the ministry at once. That is
a great mistake, and the church has suffered much on account of it. Not
given to wine.
To be given to a thing is to be disposed, inclined,
addicted. This is very clear to us that the minister is not to be in the
habit of drinking. He should not be inclined that way. For him to be
otherwise is to set a bad example, and to put forth a bad influence. If
he is the kind of man the Lord requires him to be he MUST let wine
alone.
No striker.
By common usage the word striker now has a variety
of meanings. Webster gives it as one that strikes, in any sense; and one
who, especially in politics, attempts a strike. Under that definition he
refers to the word strike used as a noun, note 15, under that word.
There we are told that a strike is an act of obtaining or attempting to
obtain money by importunity or any form of blackmail. If this is
forbidden-absolutely forbidden that a man shall occupy as a minister of
the gospel of the grace of God who is guilty of this, how much worse for
the church to tolerate and harbor a man in that position who is guilty
of robbery! The word in the original also means quarrelsome. The
minister must not be quarrelsome. He is to be faithful (or should be),
and this requires that he speak out against false doctrines and wrong
practices, things not authorized by the Book; but he should not be
always trying to pick a quarrel with someone. Not greedy of filthy
lucre.
Greedy is, 1st, having a keen appetite for food or drink;
ravenous; voracious; very hungry. 2. Having, or characterized by, eager
or keen desire; eager for wealth. See Webster. We gather that one may
have a keen appetite for money, or wealth, as well as for food or drink.
One may be very hungry for filthy lucre. One may be eager for wealth. It
appears to us that it is just as possible for a man posing as a minister
to be eager for wealth as for one occupying the pew. Is it not possible
for a preacher to become covetous as well as other members of the
church? We think that in our life we have seen some of that sort. If the
preacher is greedy of filthy lucre he might allow himself to engage in
some questionable practices, which would be calculated to bring reproach
upon the cause. Besides, if he should be successful in gathering worldly
wealth, according to his greed, he is liable to be lifted up with pride
and haughtiness. He might forget God. He might forget from whence his
blessings come. He would be more than likely to neglect the service of
God. In fact, he is most sure to do that if he is greedy of filthy
lucre. Or he might do some things in or as service to God to get gain.
One greedy of filthy lucre is likely to think of self. We once knew a
preacher to say a reason why he would not make announcement at his
appointments that he would take subscriptions for an Old Baptist paper
was this: One might be there who left home with a dollar in his pocket
expecting to give it to the preacher; if he should announce that he
would take subscriptions for the paper the party would give him the
dollar for the paper, and thus he would not get the dollar the man
brought there expecting to give to him. It looks like we cannot get
through with this text. We will have to quit for this time, and try to
write more for next issue. C. H. C.
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