29thNovember
Pastors: What Are the Qualifications?
Categories: pastors, ecclesiology | 2007 | by Ken Horn | 6 commentsWhat are the qualifications to be a pastor according to the Bible and with the Assemblies of God?
The Assemblies of God holds to the straightforward biblical requirements for ministers: “The qualifications for bishops, as set forth in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, are the norm for all ministers today.”
“In addition, the following groups of attributes are recommended for the ordained minister.”
Spiritual Attributes
The following spiritual attributes are essential to a most productive ministry: A devotional spirit; love (for God, the ministry, people, 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Timothy 6:11, 12; 1 John 3:16); faith (Romans 12:3-8; 2 Corinthians 3:5, 6; 5:18-20; Ephesians 3:7;4:11; Colossians 1:23-29; 1 Thessalonians 1:3) humility (Proverbs 15:33; Romans 12:3); convictions (Jude 3); dedication (total commitment to God’s will); a ministerial spirit (an aptitude to give service; to be solicitous over the well-being and growth of people spiritually, morally, socially, etc.); and faithfulness (1 Corinthians 4:1,2 in stewardship of time, spiritual preparation, business matters, etc.).
Moral Attributes
The following moral attributes are essential to a most productive ministry: integrity (basic honesty and wholeness of character, spiritual honesty (Psalm 51:6), intellectual honesty, honesty in preaching, and in everyday dealings) and moral purity (Isaiah 52:11; Galatians 1:10; 2:11-14; 1 Timothy 6:11-14; 2 Timothy 1:7, 9).
Emotional Attributes
It is quite likely that more inefficiency and failure in the ministry are caused by emotional and personality deficiencies than by ill health, moral defection, and lack of training, education, or talent. Because of this it is most important that the preacher be very mature in self-understanding and healthy emotionally. If he has unresolved emotional problems, violent mood swings, personality conflicts, or fails under duress it will greatly affect his attitudes in the pulpit as well as determine his attitudes in all of his interpersonal relationships. At least the following seven emotional attributes of character are important to the minister: A sanctified temperament (Galatians 5:22, 23); a sense of proportion (balance of humor and seriousness); enthusiasm; realism; a sense of the beautiful (Philippians 4:8; Titus 1:15); sympathy (Romans 12:15; Hebrews 5:1); and patience (Romans 5:1-5; 2 Peter 1:5-8).
Intellectual Attributes
The following intellectual attributes are important for the minister: Studiousness; regimentation (reasonably well-organized); moderation (in views rather than radical extremes, 1 Corinthians 9:25; Galatians 5:23; Philippians 4:5; Titus 1:8; 2 Peter 1:6); logic; imagination; power of concentration; memory (John 14:26); and wisdom (James 1:5).
Social Attributes
Among the social attributes which are essential to the minister are the following: Sociability, knowledge of human nature, lack of prejudice, a cooperative attitude, a conciliatory disposition, respect for authority, teachability, and loyalty (to family, church, the Movement, associates, and friends).
Practical Attributes
It is essential to a productive ministry that the minister develop his practical ability to perform the functions of the ministry with skill. It is important that ministers study Bible and theology in order to educate their heads, but is important that they study practical theology in order to educate their mouths and hands as well. The minister should cultivate the spiritual and practical abilities requisite to the functions of preaching/teaching, worship, administering the ordinances, pastoral care, and administration.
Read the full official Assemblies of God position here.
The AoG does not endorse what they have written here and does not believe that the Bible is accurate as they allow women to serve as pastors, deacons and the Bible clearly differentiates the roles of men and women in service to the Lord. WWJD - Jesus chose men, God said in Acts chapter 6 choose men, Timothy and Titus state if a “man”. When you confuse equality with the roles that God designed and choose the political and socially correct path, the AoG is no longer following God’s Word as they like to promote themselves in doing.
I posted this response in another thread where another comment raised the same issues.
It is interesting that austute scholors of the word can concusively PROVE either the position for OR against women in ministry, using Scripture. Read either case and the evidence seems compelling…if you read with a rational mindset. I don’t know what that may say to some, but it says to me that I better be a bit careful about taking a mean spirited, dogmatic position either way.
Then, given the need to “rightly divide the word of truth,” I find it necessary to look for pragmatic factors that will tip the scales for me in favor of one or the other of these two divergent, but equally compelling arguments. I have to ask:
1. Has a woman ever occupied a position of ministry where the world has seen that ministry bear fruit that is unmistakably anointed of God? The answer for me is yes. I have read enough church history to be convinced that women have played a key role in the advancement of the Kingdom (capital “K”).
2. Are there changing cultural norms that have “changed” the definition of Scriptural terms? Again, for me, the answer is yes. For instance 1 Tim 2:9 addresses the need for modesty in women’s dress. That term held vastly different expectations as recently as a few decades ago. Modesty is still required, but it looks different now that women’s ankles are not taboo. In the attending verses of this passage, was Paul advancing the inherent law of God, or was he commanding that women should not conduct themselves in a way that would be contrary to Roman law of the time? It was legal under Roman law for men to interrupt a speaker, but not for women. If that were still the law, I would oppose women in public ministry too.
3. Is there any recorded historical pattern that shows where women in ministry have repeatedly hindered revival movements? I don’t think so. Maybe isolated cases, but fewer recorded occasions than of men doing the same.
So, is it not wisdom to allow experience to guide us into truth when evidence in Scripture seems to validate both positions? It certainly seems to be preferable to searching out scripture to support a preconceived bias. We were instructed to work out our salvation through fear and trembling, not through the effective arguments of pundits with preconceived notions.
Finally, is the role of women in ministry so cardiac that we should allow it to divide us as God-fearing ambassadors of the Gospel? Will the world be won more quickly if we polarize the body of Christ around such an imponderable difference of opinion? Is there not a place to agree on the lostness of man and focus on correcting that. Can we just agree to disagree on inconsequential details and get on with the business of the church? I genuinely hope so.
Not matter what the ultimate sin, it always begins with a slight, perhaps even imperceptible “turning aside to the right or to the left.”
4truth, that is absolutely true and has been the strategy of the enemy for centuries. However, it is also true that moving away from a rule which is really only a well intended commandment of men, into a better way that is aligned with the will and purpose of God also often begins with a slight, perhaps even imperceptible turning to the right or to the left. That leaves us with a need to draw a conclusion before we pass judgment on the process of change.
In this day and age God’s Word is no longer sufficient. Humans have to rationalize scripture to fit life as it is today. If God said choose men, or if God said “if a man” or if Jesus set the example of selecting men that is no longer good enough for today. Also, just because there is an appearance of bearing fruit does not mean it is of the Lord.
Folks, here’s the key: “inconsequential details” The word is out that the educated have discovered that the Bible, God’s very own Word to humanity is full of inconsequential details. I’m sure the devil agrees with you on that. At least you were honest enough to indicate that you really don’t believe all of God’s Word, you just call what you don’t believe inconsequential details.