Growing up in the church in Southern America, there was an oft-used category for leaders in the church. It was a category which was used to justify a variety of rules and restrictions on church leaders. Leaders were to be “above reproach” and that meant not drinking in public or not wearing Christian organizational apparel while at a bar or that Christian young men needed to shave. It was meant to communicate the biblical reality that leaders of God’s people are held to particular standards. However, it quickly became a suitcase in which to stuff a variety of preferences which would make the Christian leader appear righteous.
“Above reproach” is the most common English translation of the Greek ἀνεπίληπτος in 1 Tim. 3:2. The KJV translation is one of the few to interpret this word as blameless. The basic idea is that for a church elder to be ἀνεπίληπτος they must meet the standards which follow in following verses in chapter 3. Included in those standards is that the elder must be thought of well by outsiders or have a good reputation with those outside the church. The general understanding is that the elder must be a man who is virtuous and well regarded. There is a respectability and respect to which the elder should not merely aspire but embody.
In the very next chapter however, Paul explains that some liars will come in trying to bind the consciences of the saints through extra-biblical law (1 Tim. 4:1-4). Furthermore, Paul explains that we must train for godliness and be trained in sound doctrine. He explains that though we toil and strive, we have set our hope on the living God (1 Tim. 4:10). This English word, commonly translated strive, comes from ὀνειδίζω. Older translations used the translation “suffer reproach” which falls within the semantic range of the Greek. The idea is that we will suffer reproach, or strive, because we follow Christ.
So while on the one hand elders of God’s church are to be above reproach and must be well thought of by outsiders, the assumption is that some people will seek to add to God’s law and that we will not always be thought of well by outsiders. We will suffer reproach. How can we both be “above reproach” and yet “suffer reproach?”
Naturally one considers that for which we are suffering reproach. If we are suffering reproach for the name of Christ, that is to be counted as godliness. This does not just limit itself to some neutral “gospel-centered” stand for Christ, but standing for Christ in all of life. If we strive and suffer reproach for Christ, then we should count it as gain and godly. However, if we fail to live above reproach, particularly as it pertains to God’s standards for leaders in his church, then we should not boast about that. It is not admirable or virtuous.
The scope of Paul’s category for being “above reproach” is clearly delineated from God’s law. Paul would have been familiar with God’s law and he was not creating a new law. From the teachings of Christ and from the Old Testament, Paul had plenty of character markers to paint a portrait of a virtuous man in God’s church. God’s law is filled with not only the situational demands but the expectations of the inner life of God’s people.
When we are standing on God’s word, and applying his truth to all of life, there is no doubt that we will often not be thought of well by outsiders. In fact, our world is chomping at the bit to see how the next pastor does not measure up. When we as Christians do not go with the narrative and reject the world’s standards and answers, we will suffer reproach. In fact, if we do not practice worldly discipline, it is more likely than not that in failing to live up to their standards and their own form of “church discipline” we will be considered “disqualified.” Does this then mean that we have failed to live “above reproach?” Not at all.
“Above reproach” is a fairly easy category to understand biblically. Leaders in God’s church should be holy. God is holy and defines what is holy. Where new technology or methods of communication arise in God’s plan to redeem all things to himself, it is on the local church to establish expectations and patterns of life which summarize and deduce proper application for this idea of “above reproach.” But God help us if we become like those in 1 Tim. 4:1-4 who add to the word of God and his requirements in order to appease the world. Adding extra-biblical law to God’s law is to become like the Pharisees who invalidated the perfect law of God by adding to it.
The leaders of God’s church must be above reproach. This is a biblical reality. That does not mean they will not suffer reproach or even be hated by outsiders. Many of the churches in our nation have been captured by the idea of “being well thought of by outsiders” but have failed to see that we cannot submit to the world’s standard in order to be well thought of. In reality, it seems an entire generation of Christians was taught to not “make people stumble” and that being “above reproach” meant avoiding things which would make others question your spiritual maturity. Christianity was reduced to perception management. It’s no wonder so many have become enslaved to the yoke of “public witness.”
Our good reputation is not based on following the patterns of the world. It is based on following God’s word. If we are going to see our culture renewed for Christ, we must dispense of the notion that pastors primarily exist as public relations officers for God. Pastors will suffer reproach and are to be above reproach. They should be well thought of and yet often will be despised. These are not contradictions. They are just Bible. The strength of God’s people is often connected to the strength of their leaders. Is it any wonder that our churches are not strong if we have essentially reduced our pastors to pleasing men so as to be above reproach and be well thought of by the world? If we care one iota about seeing American Chrsitianity renewed and reformed (dare I say experience revival), then we must dispense with these notions that pastors are somehow to be “held to a higher standard” than the Bible itself.
Are there pastors that have failed to live in accordance with God’s word? Yes, without a doubt. Yet in our eagerness to remain pure and holy and undefiled, we must not embrace methods other than God’s word. What are we to make of churches which are unable to discern the error of their pastor and must instead submit the pastor to a legal investigation to verify his character? God’s word clearly teaches that we don’t need to bring the world into the church to solve the church’s problems. When we go down this path, we only invite destruction and welcome in those very people Paul warns of in 1 Tim. 4. One of my dear pastor friends was subjected to this treatment after he sinned while in ministry. His life was turned inside out as the church sought to turn over any and every stone in his life to make sure he was trustworthy. Private investigators were hired to do a deep dive on his hard drive. Within a few years, his reputation destroyed and his trust violated by those in the church, he took his own life.
Jesus Christ is a friend of sinners. Pastors are sinners saved by grace. When pastors fail to live up to God’s standards, churches should practice church discipline biblically. To the degree that churches fail to follow God’s teaching on church discipline as the starting point and ending point for a pastor’s ministry, they invite destruction upon themselves.
Chase Davis is Lead Pastor of Ministry at The Well Church in Boulder, CO.