In this series of postings, I’m slowly working my way through Charles Bridges’ classic book Christian Ministry.
In Chapter 6 Bridges discusses the qualifications one needs to lead God’s people. We err, he writes, when we don’t take seriously God’s standards for leadership as revealed in Scripture or when we add to these standards.
Probably we are most inclined to settle for qualifications that are too low. He encourages us to “aim high.”
Christian Ministry (Charles Bridges) – Chapter 6
The fundamental qualification for leaders of God’s people is a deep sense of our own “personal unfitness for the task” and an overwhelming sense that, in spite of my unworthiness, “God has called me” to this task. A look at those in Scripture whom God called into leadership shows that:
- God typically calls those whom others have rejected and deemed unsuitable
- Those whom God calls, he trains and equips for the work he has for them (he is the one who “makes us adequate” -2 Cor 3:5-6 NASB)
Bridges argues that,
A consideration of the “qualifications” for Christian Ministry is the truth that “only God can equip one to be a minister of the Gospel.” Put another way, the necessary qualifications “must be given from above.”
He finds the primary pattern as far as qualifications are concerned in Jesus himself, and secondarily, in the apostle Paul. Jesus, he writes, exhibits “a most harmonious combination of seemingly opposite characteristics”:
- the dignity of God and the sympathy of a man and a brother
- an awareness of the authority conveyed by his Father’s commission, yet exhibiting the humility of one who came to serve, not be served
- a sense of authority yet using gracious words tempered “with “the meekness of wisdom and the gentleness of love”
Most of chapter 6 in Bridges book considers what Bridges believes are the three basic qualifications for those who lead God’s people: 1) Spiritual attainment (what we might call Spiritual maturity), 2) Mastery of Scripture and 3) the necessary Spiritual gifts
1) Spiritual Attainment
“Since the ministry is a spiritual work,” Bridges writes, “a corresponding spiritual character seems to be required.” Without this, the effect of our influence on those we lead will be “unprofitable, even harmful.”
In short, what is needed is holiness. Those who lead God’s people must be …
Men of God – men taught by God – men consecrated to God by a daily surrender of their time and talents to his service – men of singleness of purpose – living in their work – living altogether but for one end.”
This, observes Bridges, is learned only over time, in God’s “school of adversity.” God uses adversity, combined with discipline, experience and the ongoing study of Scripture to make us holy.
2) Mastery of Scripture
Secondly, those who lead God’s people must have more than a rudimentary knowledge of God’s Word. Paul wrote Timothy that Scripture is able to “make us wise unto Salvation” (2 Timothy 3:15). But Scripture mastered and applied to life goes further and makes the man of God “competent, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
“Without this a minister is “incompetent for the great end of his work – to speak unto men to edification and exhortation and comfort.”
3) Spiritual gifts
Finally, Bridges argues that those who lead God’s people must exhibit the gifts necessary for the ministry God has called them to. He begins by discussing the need to be able to must be able to “communicate and apply what has been imparted.” Then he goes on to outline the need for wisdom – knowing how to apply God’s Word to people’s lives.
“Each one of these three categories of qualifications,” concludes Bridges, “is important, far too important to be trifled with.”
