Love from a pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith is the most important thing churches in transition should remember (1:3-7). Paul also warns about immoral men sneaking in and turning the churches toward fruitlessness and sin (1:8-11). At the end of his first chapter, Paul uses himself as an example—not because he is qualified to be an apostle but because of God’s grace. Paul saw himself as the chief of sinners. He was so moved to preach about God’s grace because he knew he was forgiven much. God put Paul into service even though he was formerly a blasphemer, persecutor, and violent aggressor. Before we get to any qualification in 1 Timothy, Paul reminds us about God’s grace—that He continuously and consistently calls unqualified people because He is to receive all glory.
It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme (1 Timothy 1:15-20).
Paul has instructed Timothy to “instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrine” (1:3). Instead of facilitating fruitless discussion, to promote love from a pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith. The correct response to unsound doctrine is biblical teaching that causes the people to remember how to love God and one another rather than selfishly promote people or any individual. By promoting love using biblical instruction, Timothy is fighting the good fight, keeping the faith and a good conscience. There are many people who would, whether by the distribution of their résumés, confession of any doctrine, or bragging about what they have accomplished, seek to promote themselves. Look at Paul’s résumé in 1 Timothy 1. Under his experience, he did not list how many churches he planted. He did not list his success in rabbinical school or the Sanhedrin. Instead, he listed:
- Blasphemer
- Persecutor
- Violent Agressor
- Unbeliever
Yet, the grace of God is sufficient to put Paul in service to His kingdom.
Before any qualification is mentioned whatsoever, Paul provides for us what should be the heart of the person being evaluated as a pastor or deacon. He uses himself as the example not of his accomplishments but God’s grace. He wants Timothy to think like this. He wants us to think like this as well. Because we have been raised by a society that prizes outward qualifications, many search teams and churches receive résumés, send questionnaires, and otherwise look at candidates’ accomplishments and skills. While those can be positive things to do, the most important thing is neglected.
Does a candidate present himself as a sinner saved and called to ministry by grace, or does he present himself by his own accomplishments and skills?
Does he boast in his weaknesses or what he believes to be his strengths?
In my history, I have used my résumé to boast about my own accomplishments while seeking new opportunities. My résumé was a bragging point for me. Our society has programmed us to be that way, and that’s why it has been a long time since I have distributed my own pastoral résumé. Even when I came to Green Acres Baptist Church, I wasn’t actively looking for a pastoral role. To tell you the truth, I had quit the ministry altogether. After some bad experiences at different churches, I decided I didn’t want to put my family through it anymore. That was almost four years ago. I only ended up at Green Acres because God made it so obvious that I needed to reach out to Shaun, the lead pastor at the time. I had no expectations. I had started my own business and was working on getting it off the ground. God is good, and He used GABC to literally save my ministry. Now, my philosophy of ministry is completely different, and we can talk about that more in person if you want. That’s not really the point of this post.
I briefly mention my story here simply to say that I saw what has become paradigmatic in many churches and thought it was no better than the world. I think it is sometimes simply because of our pride and sometimes because we confuse the qualifications we see later in 1 Timothy. The qualifications are doubtless important. If we are looking at someone’s character rather than their outward accomplishments from the start of 1 Timothy, then the qualifications later in the letter are not going to contradict Paul’s earlier instruction here. We are to be concerned about a person’s character, not his accomplishments in this world. That was a humbling realization for me because I had accomplished much. I found my identity in that. That’s not what God is interested in. It is what worldly people are interested in.
The qualifications in 1 Timothy apply to a person’s character, not his outward accomplishments.
To put it in the plain words of Jesus,
“It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.” Then the disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement?” But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit” (Matthew 15:11-14).
Whatever our process looks like, then, and it is different for every church, we first check our own hearts and then weigh the character of anyone being considered—not their outward accomplishments. Someone who has good character will always serve the needs of the congregation and speak what is appropriate for the time. Someone who boasts in his accomplishments will always act like he knows best regardless of the congregation’s needs and always seek self-promotion.
Ultimately, the instruction to fight the good fight in 1 Timothy applies narrowly to churches in transition and broadly to every believer. It means we promote love in good conscience, boast in our weaknesses rather than our strengths, and select people through whom God demonstrates His perfect patience as an example for those who will believe in Him for eternal life.
To God be the glory forever and ever.
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