The Elder Must be Devout (Titus 1:8)

Chapter 21
The term devout comes from the word devoted. The dictionary uses words like religious piety, piety in prayer, and strongly committed to an ideal. It is clear from the many other descriptions of the qualifications of the Elder this is just another in a long line that indicates the Elder is to be the stalwart of the local church. He is to be the example that all boys and men in the church want to copy. He is to strive to be as much a symbol of Christ devotion to His bride as Christ Himself. It is at this juncture I believe it is important to distinguish between the Elder and the preacher or pastor/teacher. I suggest they may performs entirely different functions within the hierarchy of the church. While all elders must be apt to teach, a pastor/teacher may not be an Elder. It’s important to note that may not have been the case in the early church. I believe it is the rare pastor/teacher today who can also be functioning as an Elder in the local church, because, in my humble opinion, most seminaries are not preparing their graduates for the task. Of course, the problem arises when it has become necessary, in the minds of most church leaders today, to call a pastor/teacher from some distant land of nod to begin with. In Acts 6 we read,

It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.

I am fully aware we generally conclude these were the first deacons, but that interpretation isn’t necessarily correct. For that matter, I think the point is moot here. Acts 15:2 definitely makes the distinction between the apostles and the elders. I guess my most ardent argument for separating this function is the manner in which I have seen it abused for so long in churches in America. Teachers who graduate from seminary naturally tend to think they have more qualifications than anyone in the congregation to lead; that may or not be true. If it is true, it is the pastor/teacher’s responsibility to correct that problem with solid, bible based teaching. Nothing in the description of the Elder demands he be the teacher. As a matter of fact, the phrase indicating he should be apt to teach, in my humble opinion, indicates he is most likely not a person with the gift of teaching. The KJV translates the word “a lover of good men.” The ESV translates it, “a lover of good.” It is obvious this qualification means these leaders of the local church are to be chosen from among those who demonstrate daily they are fully committed to the ministry of the church. The Elder must be devout!