A Minister is Supposed To Live Above Reproach

I appreciate so much the kind and great words from Dr. Danny Akin to his students at Southeastern Seminary. He has a fantastic heart for God and love for His Word. What a terrific reminder by him that a minister must seek to live a life above reproach.

Integrity in Ministry: No Place for Compromise
(A Message From the President)

In 1 Timothy 3:1 the Bible says leaders in the church must be “blameless” (NKJV), “above reproach” (NIV). In recent days a number of stories have appeared in the media concerning well known ministers forced to resign because of inappropriate or unwise actions. The cause of Christ has been harmed and the respect for ministers significantly damaged. There are a number of issues addressed in Scripture that speak to the essential nature of integrity in ministry (1 Tim 3:17; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4), but let me encourage our students to especially guard their lives in 5 particular areas.
1) Guard your integrity by always being completely honest. Do not pad your resume or reputation with false or inflated accomplishments. The Bible says God hates a proud look and lying tongue (Prov 6:17). Be a truth-teller in every area of your life, both in the big things and the little things.
2) Guard your integrity in your dealings with the opposite sex. If you are married covenant with the Lord and your mate never to be alone with anyone of the opposite sex. Men, be known as a “one woman kind of man” (1 Tim 3:2; Eph 5:33). Ladies, be known as a “one man kind of woman.” If you are single, be careful in your conduct with the opposite sex. Treat them with respect due a sister or brother in Christ. Avoid those private places where your hormones can override your will and you make a bad decision that can change your life forever.
3) Guard your integrity when it comes to money. As a minister, require annually a full outside audit of your church finances. On the personal level, have nothing to do with the direct financial responsibilities of the church. Do not have check writing authority. Do not handle or receive money, but direct individuals to the proper persons who handle the finances of the church. Never use a church credit card for personal reasons. Use your own credit card for personal reasons. When you do use a church credit card, always document its use with a receipt and a description of how it was used. Maintain accountability with someone in your church office or on your finance committee. Go the extra mile to be above board and blameless.
Furthermore, realize people who love you will want to be a blessing to you. Develop an attitude of gratitude, but never one of entitlement. Ministers do not deserve nor should we expect special treatment. The Lord Jesus will properly reward us when we stand before Him (1 Peter 5:1-4). If that reward is not sufficient, I would suggest you get out of the ministry and do so quickly.
4) Guard your integrity when it comes to your family life. First Timothy 3:4 says we must rule our own house well and have children who are in submission with all reverence. Titus 1:6 adds that they must be faithful, “not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient (NIV). One’s family life is often an accurate reflection of their spiritual life. Godly men and women will raise up godly children who love Christ and obey the Bible. Few areas of investment will yield greater reward.
5) Guard your integrity with solid theological competency. Often moral and ethical sins grow out of a defective biblical and theological life. Failing to cultivate a healthy understanding of theological truth like the sovereignty and holiness of God, the sinfulness and depravity of man, the process of sanctification and the necessity of biblical wisdom, and the centrality of Christ and the crucified life, we begin to think and then live in a manner that is foreign to the clear teachings of scripture. Nothing will be more valuable in avoiding this danger than a steady diet of biblical exposition, whereby we are continually exposed to the totality of God’s revealed truth. What we believe will determine how we live. Belief and behavior always go together.
6) Guard your integrity with the model of ministry you pursue. God calls us to be shepherds of His sheep. We are not called to be CEO’s or drill sergeants. We are not called to be ranchers or dictators. We are certainly not called to be spiritual superstars or celebrities. A word of caution is in order at this point. The greater your natural gifts and abilities, the more susceptible you are to entrapment by these seducing sirens of the world. Men, and women, with charismatic personalities and a commanding presence can too easily operate in the power of the flesh and not the Spirit. They can be deceived into believing their own press and the accolades showered on them by adoring followers (fans!). If they are not careful, they can begin to believe they have the right to operate by a different standard. This is the way of foolishness. This is the way that leads to the damage, and potential destruction, of a ministry.
Brothers and sisters, there is no place for spiritual superstars in the church, who like proud Diotrephes, love to have the preeminence (3 John 9). No, preeminence is rightfully reserved for only one and His name is Jesus (Col. 1:18). Let us not lose sight of who we are, sinners saved by grace. Let us not lose sight of who really matters, it is Jesus. Let us not lose sight of how we serve, it is with integrity as we imitate Christ (1 Cor. 11:1) in every sphere of our lives.
I love you each and every one, and I pray for you. Please pray for me, that I will both run well and finish well, all for the glory of Jesus.

Daniel L. Akin
President
Southeastern Seminary