Pastors are called to live lives beyond reproach (1 Timothy 3:2). More so than the average church attender, member or leader, pastors are called to live exceptional lives beyond the standard of fleeing from all sinful desires (2 Timothy 2:22). That is the standard. Pastors are called to be above the standard. A better way of looking at it is that they are to be standard bearers. They set the tone for others to follow. If the tone, and thus the standard they are setting, is one of compromise, surely the congregation will follow suit. 

 

It is interesting that as you read through the pastoral epistle Titus, Paul makes much of this topic. In Paul’s eyes, much like through the eyes of Jesus, pastors are called to live their lives above the fray. Let’s look at three passages within Titus, and expound upon them here.

 

  1. Titus 1:9, “He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” 

 

Pastors cannot deviate from the message of the Gospel, the narrative of scripture and the standards that have been Biblically set up for them. If they are unable to hold the line, they have no authority to preach sound doctrine, nor refute those who come against them. 

  1. Titus 1:13, “He has surely told the truth! Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith…” 

Pastors are to use their weight as standard bearers to declare truth and rebuke falseness with truth. The response of sharing truth and rebuking in truth leads to others being sound in faith. 

  1. Titus 2:15, “These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.” 

Pastors use their authority to simultaneously encourage and correct behavior. As they do this, people who are weak or who have no faith at all will come against them. Yet they are to remain strong in order to influence for Christ.

Notice the common word found in all three passages in this pastoral epistle? Rebuke. In Greek, it is elegchō. The same word, the same tense; the same meaning. Pastors are called to live above the bar standards in order to rebuke the falseness that surrounds them. A pastor cannot live a life beyond reproach if they are not living the life they have been called to. At this moment, the pastor has two directions they can lead their church: towards completeness in Christ, or away from God toward destruction. Where are you at?