BE ABOVE REPROACH ~ THE MYSTICAL ORDER MINISTRIES

Praise the Lord and in the power of His might, Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. I will bless the Lord at all times and His praise shall continually be in my mouth. To God who is our refuge and strength a pleasant good morning to all my readers, brothers and sisters.

America’s church culture suffers from an abundance of unqualified church leaders. What’s worse, many of these mavericks preside over a form of church government incapable of restraining or disciplining them. This trend has taken root in the Caribbean and the church has lost its stronghold. Everyone is a leader and as the word puts it that our people perish for lack of knowledge. It is a tragedy before us today that the shift in Bible teaching has gone to man’s understanding of what they think God intended for us in this generation.

Tragically, in many cases it’s the media that holds these leaders accountable—tragic because the media ends up doing a job that God has delegated to the church. Furthermore, the unbelieving world enjoys a front row seat to shameful scandals that bring reproach on Christ.

Yes they are present and in some churches the seats are sold for these naysayers sons and daughters who are enemies of the church.

Many of these churches publicly profess their allegiance to the Bible. However, the problem of unqualified leaders stems from a failure to heed Scripture’s clear teaching on the qualifications for church leadership. And it’s not as if those qualifications are a mystery; Paul was very clear about the qualities every church overseer (pastors and elders) must possess.

How are we going to explain this to the church? What are we as leaders should say to those who ask of our qualifications? These drinking and smoking ministers in the pulpit needs to be washed in water and rinse in the Blood of the lamb. It is time that (we) ministers clean up the public image and present to the world a body above reproach. Oh, when God looks upon this world His stomach turns to see the distance the church has gone passed His word. No wonder the angel brand this church of Laodicea as lukewarm. God will rather us cold or hot. (Revelation 3:14 to 16) It is time to get back to the place where they were in one accord until the Holy Ghost came down with fire and baptized all that ware in the upper room.

An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. (1 Timothy 3:2–3)

Paul makes it clear that an overseer in the church of Jesus Christ must be first and foremost above reproach. The (“must”) emphasizes that this is an absolute necessity. A life without blame is the overarching requirement for leadership in the church.

So we have to go back to the Blueprint and make sure that our lives are in line with the written word.

The Need for Godly Leadership

The man who is above reproach cannot be arrested and held as if he were a criminal because there is nothing for which to accuse him. Obviously, it does not mean he is sinless. It means that his life is not marred by some obvious sinful defect in character which would preclude him setting the highest standard for godly conduct. He must be a model for the congregation to follow (1 Peter 5:3). He also must not give the enemies of the church reason to attack its reputation (Titus 2:8).

Pastors must take great care to remain above reproach for several reasons. First, they are the special targets of Satan, and he will assault them with more severe temptation than others. Those on the front lines of the spiritual battle will bear the brunt of satanic opposition.

Second, their fall has a greater potential for harm. Satan knows that when a shepherd falls, the effect on the sheep is devastating.

Third, leaders’ greater knowledge of the truth, and accountability to live it, brings greater chastening when they sin.

Fourth, their sins are more hypocritical than those of others because they preach against the very sins they commit. In short, leaders need an abundance of God’s grace and power because of their greater responsibility and visibility.

The Leader’s Role in Maintaining Godliness

To protect ourselves as leaders, we must spend in-depth time in the study of God’s Word. We must be “constantly nourished on the words of the faith [Scripture] and of the sound doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:6). The psalmist wrote, “Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). As leaders we must continuously expose our life to the light of the Word of God. We must also be a man of prayer, and be accountable to others in spiritual fellowship.

The Church’s Role in Maintaining Godly Leadership

The church also has a role in maintaining godly leadership. The church is responsible to measure its leaders by that standard of being above reproach. The all too common practice today is to forgive a leader who sins grievously and immediately restore him to ministry. The church, like God, must not hesitate to forgive those who truly repent. But to immediately restore them to leadership lowers the standard that God expects leaders to follow. And since leaders serve as the visible pattern of holiness and virtue for the congregation, the standard for the entire church is lowered.

Any one discipline withing the church should first repent and seek forgiveness and take a seat in the congregation. I state here that if he desires to be in the rank of the church, there are many more congregations he can find. The church should seek or investigate the character of anyone that is seeking higher office in the ranks and done in such ways to avoid public embarrassment.

In 1 Timothy 3:2–7, Paul lists four areas in which a man aspiring to church leadership may be evaluated as to whether he is above reproach. These have to do with his moral character, home life, spiritual maturity, and public reputation.

Thank you for your patience and may Almighty God bless and keep you in His service. God bless

Your servant and brother,

+ Sir Godfrey Gregg
Archbishop and Presiding Prelate
Administrator and Apostolic Head
Follow me on Twitter @ArchbishopGregg

@MysticPatriarch

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