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Qualifications for the Ministry By Dan Cafeo What are the biblical qualifications for an ordained minister in the true Church of God? How is he selected? By what criteria? Is any man eligible? This subject is often overlooked and yet it is extremely important. An unqualified minister can wreak havoc in the church. He can misguide. He can abuse his authority. He can oppress. He can cause division. He can threaten the very salvation of the church membership. He may even be oblivious that he’s causing harm. And this is exactly what we have seen in the true church of God. So let’s see what the bible says about the requirements for this office of responsibility. Then let’s use these requirements to evaluate the church ministry, past and present. To do this, we’ll use only two methods for determining the validity of any ordination: (1) the specific instructions in the bible, and (2) the examples in the bible.
REQUIREMENT #1: He must meet the minimum age of 30 years old. This will come as a surprise to many, especially to those who were ordained at a young age. But we lack Biblical precedence for ordaining ministers any younger than thirty years old. Christ himself was thirty years old when he began His ministry (Luke 3:23). Why? Couldn’t He have started at an earlier age? After all, He was God in a human body and displayed His supreme, Godly mind prior to age thirty (Luke 2:47). Was it the political climate of day—was it not yet ripe for His ministry? Was it the disciples that God the Father hand-picked for the work? Was He waiting until they were the right age? Was it related to the timing of prophetic events being fulfilled? We could list a wide variety of factors. But clearly, God could have affected any of them so that they came to fruition earlier or later, to accommodate His plan. The answer to why Christ began His ministry at age 30 only comes by (1) understanding the importance of His example and (2) understanding human development. One of the key reasons Christ came to earth was to set an example. He did everything perfectly and set the benchmark (1 Pet 2:21-22; Eph 4:13). He knew His conduct would be recorded for our benefit so everything He said and did was intended to be studied and imitated (1 Cor 11:1; 1 Tim 1:15-16). Now look at human development. Most men don’t really begin to mature emotionally until about age thirty. Most men in their twenties are reckless and arrogant. They lack humility and wisdom. They tend to act on emotion. They just haven’t experienced enough life to adequately serve in a supervisory position. Which is why Paul instructed Timothy not to ordain novices (1 Tim 3:6). It is clear that this goes beyond training. It requires the application of training. A college graduate is still a novice until he or she has applied their acquired skills and gained experience. Additionally, young men generally don’t command respect from others while still in their twenties. And this barrier to acceptance by the congregation can cause resentment and rejection. So, when this all-important age requirement is not met, it can cause serious problems. And from our perspective now, we can look back over Church history in our lifetimes and see that the violation of this basic principle has caused serious problems. It’s not our intention to place blame on anyone for past mistakes in the Church of God. Only to point out how important is to avoid deviating from Biblical instruction, to make sure these mistakes are not repeated. The Church of God grew at such fast rate that Mr. Armstrong felt compelled to start a college, primarily to train a ministry, in order to attend to the spiritual needs of a growing membership. But ask yourself, can a young man in his mid-twenties, fresh out of school and newly ordained, with a bible under his arm and a new wife, having never held a job in the outside world—with almost no experience in life—adequately attend to the spiritual needs of church members? Was the vanity of youth gone yet? Could he adequately advise on child-rearing? On marriage issues? Could he have commanded any respect? This is not a condemnation of Mr. Armstrong. We have the upmost respect for him and appreciation for his faithful service to God. No other man was used by God to restore doctrines that had been lost for centuries. However, Mr. Armstrong was human and not infallible. God allowed him to make mistakes the same way he allowed David to make mistakes. The same way he allowed Abraham to make mistakes. And other men. But it is all according to His purpose. We must learn from our mistakes and correct them. Especially, in light of biblical teaching. And the bible plainly teaches—by Christ’s own example—that a minister should not be ordained into an office of responsibility until age 30. What about the disciples? It is not clear what age they were, but by using the many examples that follow we can reason back to answer the question.
REQUIREMENT #2: He must be married. This requirement is specifically outlined in the Bible. And yet, would you believe that there are some who were ordained as “ministers” in the Church of God who have never been married? It’s true. And we can say right here—emphatically—this is a violation of God’s instructions. We find these requirements in Paul’s writings. Turn to and read 1 Timothy 3. A minister and/or a deacon must be a husband. That means married, with a household under him. Because, “if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the Church of God?” (verse 5). Even if this instruction were missing from the Bible, common sense dictates that a man who has never been married is inadequately prepared to teach marriage principles. Yes, he can teach what the bible says, but he cannot speak from experience. And experience is one of the most valuable assets of any well-rounded teacher. What about Paul? Some believe that Paul was unmarried and therefore ministers are not required to be married (or previously married). But the scriptures prove otherwise. First, we must understand that God shows no partiality (Rom 2:11; Deut 10:17). His laws, statutes and principles constitute “one way” of life and are exacting, applying equally to everyone—without exception (Deut 15:15-16; Jer 32:39; Eph 4:4-6). This is reassuring. It means that God can always be trusted. That He has never—and will never—contradict Himself. So would Paul instruct Timothy on qualifications applying to ordained ministers, but he himself was exempt? If that were true, it would be a violation of God’s principles. Second, we must understand that there is very little information about Paul’s personal life. This has led some to assume that he wasn’t married, particularly when they read statements like, “I wish that all men were even as I myself...” and “...I say to the unmarried and to the widows: it is good for them if they remain even as I am.” (1 Cor 7:7). But we can just as easily takeaway that he was widowed or even divorced. So the requirement that ordained ministers must be married stands firm. Think about it. Would Christ warn His disciples against the hypocrisy of the Pharisees (Matt 23:2-3) and allow hypocrisy in His own Church? Never. What about Christ’s reference to those who make themselves “eunuchs” for the Kingdom of God’s sake, in Matthew 19:4-12? Was He promoting the ordination of celibate, unmarried ministers? This is what the Catholic church believes. But this passage of the bible is addressing divorce and remarriage, and those who divorce because of sexual immorality. When the disciples remarked that “it is better not to marry” they meant “RE-marry.” Let’s understand the scripture in context and not distort the meaning. They said, “If such is the case of the man with his wife...” Stop right there. The immediate context is about those who are already married, because it mentions a man with “his wife.” Therefore, the discussion between Christ and the disciples refers to matters of divorce because of sexual immorality. Christ then affirms that those who are “able to accept it”—remain unmarried after divorce—and thereby dedicate their time to God for the Kingdom’s sake, should do so (v.12). But only those “to whom it has been given” (v.11). In other words, to those who can endure a celibate life from then on, such as Paul. This principle is re-enforced by Paul in his letter to the Corinthians, when he wrote, “A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives, but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married....but she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment...” (1 Cor 7:39-40). Why is this? Why would Christ (and subsequently Paul) endorse being single in cases of divorce or widowhood? Because, “He who is unmarried cares for the things that belong to the Lord—how he may please the Lord. But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife.” (1 Cor 7:32-33). Those who are unmarried (divorced or widowed) can dedicate themselves to the work of God, if they are willing to do so. But this is not a commandment (1 Cor 7:28). Also, understand that Paul expected Christ to return in his lifetime (1 Thes 4:15-17). When he wrote this letter, he didn’t yet understand it would be many years in the future. He only realized later that he would not be alive when Christ returned (2 Tim 4:6). Therefore, his letters are written with a greater sense of urgency (1 Cor 7:29-31). Some will say that Christ wasn’t married, and since we’re using Christ as our example, it’s not a requirement. But is that true? Was Christ not married? Think about it. Christ was the God of the Old Testament. He was the one who appeared to Abraham (Gen 18:1), Jacob (Gen 32:30), Moses (Ex 33:11) and others. Christ was the one who wrote the Ten Commandments on tablets of stone (John 1:18). And Christ—as the God of the Old Testament—was married to Israel. It was a marriage covenant. Turn to and read Jeremiah 31:32, when He spoke about the New Covenant, He specifically stated, “I was a husband to them.” Furthermore, we—the Church—will marry Christ at His return, so we are engaged to Him now (2 Cor 11:2). If we fail to consider the spiritual parallels and prototypes when applying important principles then we fail to understand God’s plan and purpose. Very simply, marriage plays an important role in character development by providing daily training in leadership, teamwork and love, as well as providing greater insight into the opposite sex. Without marriage experience, a man is sorely deficient in a necessary component required for helping and guiding others.
REQUIREMENT #3: He must have a good reputation from outside the Church. This requirement is found in Paul’s instruction to Timothy (1 Tim 3:7). We read that a candidate for the ministry must have a “good reputation” from those in the outside world before he is ordained. Not from his parents or relatives, but from those on the outside. It’s another requirement which may surprise some, because it implies that an ordained minister must have previous work experience—not as a novice (v.6). Generally, only an experienced person can have a “good reputation” from those in the outside world—like a professional tradesman. Again, it aligns perfectly with the example of Christ—who was a carpenter (Mark 6:3). And it also aligns with the disciples that were chosen by God. They were tradesmen. Peter, James and John were fisherman. Matthew was a tax collector. Luke was a physician. Paul was in law enforcement. And we can reasonably conclude that the remaining disciples were tradesman as well. None of them were referred to otherwise. God—with few exceptions—has always chosen professionals to serve His purpose. He drafted them. He plucked them out of the world and used them. Can you find anywhere in the Bible where God used inexperienced novices? Can you find any example where God established a college to train ministers and then ordain them into an office of responsibility at a young age?
REQUIREMENT #4: He must have his household in submission. God’s government is from the top down, in a pyramid structure. God the Father is at the top and Christ the son is below Him. Christ repeatedly taught that He came to do the will of His Father and that His Father was greater (John 5:30; 6:38; 10:29; 12:49; 14:28). This is the only kind of governmental structure that works. You must have one person in authority, or else you will have conflict. Likewise, in the human family, you must have one person in authority or else you have conflict. Which explains why so many marriages fail. In our modern society, husbands and wives try to create “fifty-fifty” marriages. But that’s not what they get. Instead, they struggle for power and argue. And most often, the woman wins the argument because she applies pressure by withholding sex until she gets what she wants. This is not God’s way. God explicitly states that the husband must be in authority (1 Tim 3:4,12). But our society rejects God’s way, therefore the modern family is in peril. Marriages are broken, families are torn apart and the effects are disastrous. The divorce rate in the United States is now estimated to be 50%. A shocking percentage. In order to assure that a man is qualified to be ordained, he must demonstrate that he exercises authority in his household—what the bible calls “submission” or “subjection.” In our modern day vernacular, these words connote harsh treatment. But this is not the intended meaning. God expects a husband to lead with love and tenderness (Eph 5:25), and wives to submit to their husband’s authority (Eph 5:22,24). It is clear that even this principle was often forsaken in the true Church of God. Sadly, so many ministers and even evangelists didn’t have their households in submission. Indeed their wives “wore the pants.”
REQUIREMENT #5: He must be able to teach. In the first century, when the early Church was growing, Paul admonished Timothy and Titus to ordain men who were able to “teach,” “exhort” and “convince.” (1 Tim 3:2; 2 Tim 4:2; Titus 1:9). An ordained servant must not only have spiritual knowledge to teach others, but must have the disposition as well. Teaching is not easy. It requires a great deal of patience and humility. Patience because sometimes people are slow to learn and a teacher must repeat himself, and even find different ways to explain a principle. Humility because everyone has been given varying levels of comprehension. Some people are naturally smart and have good memories, while others struggle to learn and remember. A teacher who lacks humility will develop a superiority complex over those who struggle to learn. This usually affects teachers who are highly intelligent, who often forget that God is not looking for high intelligence in a person, but rather a sincere, humble heart for character development.
REQUIREMENT #6: He must be able to discern those who want to learn from those who don’t. Discernment is a valuable attribute. With it, a minister can size-up people and gauge their commitment. This allows him to focus his teaching on those who will benefit the most. Some people ask questions in order to try and catch someone in their words. In fact, the Pharisees constantly tried and failed to catch Christ in His words, so they could accuse Him. But He knew their thoughts and exposed them. An ordained servant must be able to discern a person with a sincere question from a person with an ulterior motive, such as those who openly challenge authority with a contentious spirit. Or those who promulgate false doctrines. This can be very disturbing to a Church congregation and a minister must be prepared to handle it (Titus 1:9; 1 Tim 3:13; Rom 16:17; Php 3:17). This is not to say that ministers are infallible and members should gullibly swallow everything without proof (1 John 4:1). But a person in authority should be approached in a respectful way. This is also about time. A minister has a great responsibility to attend to the spiritual needs of a group of people, which means he often gets spread very thin. So he can’t waste time on those who aren’t truly hungry to learn. Discernment doesn’t come easy or quick. Some are born with the gift of discernment, but most people must develop it over many years of human interaction. It requires age and experience (Heb 5:14). This fact reinforces the requirement for an age of no less than 30 years for an ordained servant. Only time brings experience and skill in these areas.
REQUIREMENT #7: He must be sober. This is a no-brainer. Sobriety is required of all of God’s spirit-begotten children. But it must be mentioned because many are prone to drink more than they should despite the fact that the Bible stresses moderation (1 Tim 3:3,8; Titus 1:7; 2:2). When we drink too much and become inebriated, our spiritual defenses are let down and Satan can more easily attack our minds. So what is drinking “too much”? Well, it’s different for every person and depends on body weight and very often how much food they’ve eaten. If you drink on an empty stomach, the alcohol moves into the bloodstream more quickly. If you drink in moderation, during a meal, the effect is not as severe. For most people, a glass or two of wine with dinner is fine. And drinking slowly is important. Even one glass of wine, if consumed too quickly can affect one’s judgement. Another aspect to sobriety is the spiritual kind. Those with a “carefree” spirit, who fail to take their calling seriously, are a danger to themselves and others. Joking, socializing and good camaraderie are uplifting and helpful, when appropriate. But prolonged, frivolous conversation and mindless chit-chat distracts us from our primary occupation as spirit-begotten children of God, which is to build Godly character and prepare to be teachers in the world to come. Time is short. This life is a vapor (Psa 103:15-16). It’s imperative that an ordained servant remain spiritually sober and fulfill his responsibility to be constantly teaching and exhorting. Too often our Sabbath meetings are more like social groups when they ought to be more like classrooms. This is where it’s important for the minister to set the proper tone.
REQUIREMENT #8: He must be respectful. It would be difficult to choose the character attributes that are most important in an ordained servant of God. They are all so important. However, respect must be at or near the top of the list (along with humility). This means respect for authority and respect for other people. Sincere respect. The two chief sins of Lucifer, who became Satan, were vanity (Ezek 28:17) and rebellion (Ezek 28:16). Similarly, the two chief identifying factors of a false minister are vanity and rebellion. We’ll discuss vanity later in the article, so we’ll focus on rebellion, which is essentially lack of respect for authority. God’s government is pyramid shaped, from the top down. God the father at the top, Christ under Him and so on. This is the only way to harmony and peace. Shared, equal authority is a recipe for conflict. In order to have harmony and accomplishment of any goal, one individual must be in charge and there must be a chain of command, working downward. Which means, for every one of us, there is someone in authority over us. In our local Church groups, that is the pastor. He is responsible for the spiritual welfare of his group and occupies his time teaching and counseling. But there is always someone above him, such as an evangelist. The admonitions of Peter and Paul to the churches are very explicit on this. Peter writes, “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” (1 Pet 5:5). He speaks first of respect for authority and next about respect for others. Likewise, Paul instructs Timothy by saying, “Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren.” (1 Tim 5:1). In this scripture, Paul is correlating respect for elders and respect for fathers. And how should we respect our fathers? We must look no further than Christ Himself, who set the example and always elevated His Father, demonstrating total respect (John 8:28; 15:8-10). Another fantastic example of a respectful person is David, whom God called, “A man after mine own heart.” (Acts 13:22). He showed great respect for authority, most of all for God. His words leap off the page in the Psalms and paint a picture of a deeply respectful person, with great reverence for God and zeal for righteousness. He wrote, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.” (Psa 111:10). The use of the word “fear” in this passage is not intended to convey a frightened frame of mind, worried that God is standing ready to destroy you for the slightest mistake. Rather, it is used to convey a sense of eagerness to obey, as a young son desires to please a father—but knows that there must be a punishment for sin (nevertheless, God is merciful to the repentant). This is written by a person who understood that there is great reward for obedience (Duet 6). David was actually “delighted” to obey God (Psa 40:8). He actually “loved” God’s law (Psa 119:97). He wrote, “Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.” (Psa 119:4-8). David showed great respect for others. He respected king Saul, even though Saul was determined to kill him (1 Sam 24:8-10). He respected Abner, who served as a commander in the army. When Abner was ruthlessly murdered, David commanded the people to rend their clothes and mourn, and they wept at his grave (2 Sam 3:31-34), even though Abner was considered a traitor. These are only a couple examples. There are others, such as with Abigail (1 Sam 25:32-39) and Mephibosheth (2 Sam 9:3-13). Not only must an ordained servant show respect for authority—which begins with God—but he must show respect for those under him. It’s respect in every direction.
REQUIREMENT #9: He must not be greedy. The Apostle Paul admonished Timothy (an evangelist) to find capable men to ordain as servants. He listed many attributes and most of them are repeated in this article. In one passage, he mentions that a servant must “not [be] greedy of filthy lucre.” (1 Tim 3:3,8). This may seem obvious to most people. But how many ministers have been guilty of this very thing? Very many indeed. Many have compromised with the truth, in order to preserve their paychecks. Not a few, but many! And they must stand before Christ one day and answer for it.
REQUIREMENT #10: He must have faith that God heals (and answers prayers). Faith is “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb 11:1). When we were converted and received God’s Spirit, we received a measure of faith (Rom 12:3). It’s the faith of Jesus Christ placed in us (Gal 2:16; Php 3:9). So when we exercise faith, we are believing that the Father will fulfill His promises to hear and heal, the way Christ had total faith in the Father. The “evidence of things not seen” is the promise from an invisible Spirit Being, that our prayer will be answered and healing performed. An ordained servant must be “sound in faith” (Titus 2:2), as the Apostles were (Acts 5:12-16). As a person grows in the knowledge and grace of God—which takes time—he is more sure of God’s promises because he has experienced many answers to prayer and seen the application of God’s principles yield rewards. Most often, the “elders” in the Bible were older and experienced. James wrote, “Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” (James 5:14-15). Divine healing is a subject that requires much more attention than is given here. Entire books have been written about it. In short, an ordained servant must know these basic truths like the back of his hand: (1) The beating that Christ suffered in our place is for our healing, spiritually and physically (Isa 53:4-5). (2) Christ promised that our prayers would be answered (Matt 21:18-22; John 14:12-14; 15:7). (3) God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). (4) Our prayers are answered because of our obedience to Him (1 John 3:22; James 2:14-26; Isa 59:1-2). (5) Our prayers will be answered according to God’s will (1 John 5:14-15; 2 Cor 12:8-9).
REQUIREMENT #11: He must not be ‘double-tongued.’ One of Paul’s instructions to Timothy was that an ordained servant must not be “double-tongued” (1 Tim 3:8). A double-tongued person is a deceitful and hypocritical person. Christ warned people to obey the scribes and pharisees but not to imitate their actions, because they were hypocrites (Matt 23:2-4). Sadly, this still happens in the Church of God. Many ministers “talk the talk” but they don’t “walk the walk.” Are they above the law? Are they excluded from obeying the very principles they teach? No. Another attribute of a double-tongued person is that they want to have it both ways. They want to please everyone, so become compromisers. What they ought to be doing is earnestly contending for the “faith once delivered” (Jude 1:3).
REQUIREMENT #12: He must set the example. This requirement goes hand-in-hand with not being double-tongued (hypocritical). What good is a minister who stands before a congregation and preaches a sermon on the principles of life and then proceeds to break those principles? This is exactly what Christ accused the scribes and pharisees of doing. He said, “...the scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.” (Matt 23:2-4) Repeatedly, Paul instructed God’s people to follow his example (1 Cor 4:16; 11:1; Php 3:17; 2 Thes 3:9). His position of responsibility required him to practice what he preached, contrary to the scribes and pharisees. He took his responsibility very seriously, knowing he would receive a stricter judgement (James 3:1), always aware that he was not immune to the penalties for failing to uphold this code of conduct (Matt 18:6; 1 Cor 9:24-27). Likewise, Peter instructed the elders in the church to be examples to the congregation, not “lords.” Serving as a minister requires the upmost honesty and openness. A minister is in the spotlight and must strive to exude the fruits of the spirit (2 Pet 1:5-8; Gal 5:22-23), mindful that Church members are watching. And that God is watching. God knows the hidden things, the inner thoughts (1 Chr 28:9; Rom 8:27; 1 Cor 4:5). A minister who does the opposite of what he preaches is not fooling God, no matter how hard he tries to hide it.
REQUIREMENT #13: He must demonstrate a labor of love. In His instructions to the Apostle Peter, Jesus Christ placed great emphasis on love, in service to the church congregation (John 21:15-17). A “minister,” by definition, is a “servant.” He is one who serves. Christ set the example as one who served (Mark 10:45). Christ got on His knees and washed the disciples’ feet at the Passover. Think of it. An immortal being, who was God in the flesh, who never had a beginning (Heb 7:3), through whom all things were created—washed feet. This humble act reminds us of one important aspect of our calling: to be servants. When you are on your knees, you can’t look down at someone. You must look up. No individual is fit to be an ordained servant unless they demonstrate this labor of love. This must be a prerequisite. Which means an individual must demonstrate this labor of love before his ordination. He must genuinely want to serve (1 Pet 5:1-2). He must want to help people and find great joy in the potential spiritual birth of church members. Have you ever met someone who is zealous in pursuit of a particular goal? If you have, you’ll know that they are consumed by it. They are always thinking and talking about it, with enthusiasm and interest. They spend their days, nights and weekends engaged in it. This is how all ministers of God should be. Loving to serve. Vigorously interested in people’s struggles and trials. At church services, they are never detached. They never isolate themselves. They are never aloof. Never guarded or reserved. They are always conversing with people, both children and adults, irrespective of wealth, status or familiarity. They are approachable, friendly and kind. They are filled with irrepressible joy. This kind of servant defines the term “labor of love.” Years ago, a visiting pastor was approached by a local church elder desiring to know how he felt about the sermonette he had just given. The visiting pastor, replied to the elder, disdainfully, “I wasn’t listening to your sermonette. My mind was occupied with the important message I have to give.” That elder could have been preaching heresy, but the “pastor” would never have known it, because he wasn’t paying attention. Instead he was focused on what he was about to give, seeing it as more important. It is well known that Mr. Herbert Armstrong routinely listened to sermons and sermonettes that were given in the Ambassador auditorium. The audio system in the auditorium was connected to his home nearby, so he could listen. That’s a servant who is ‘plugged-in!’ One who's eyes and ears are open. One who is not detached and self-centered. One who is concerned for the spiritual welfare of the membership.
REQUIREMENT #14: He must protect and rebuke Church members. God has placed ministers as servants, but He has also given them authority to “rebuke” if necessary. This is because Satan is most busy trying to disassemble what God is building. The Church has suffered division and rebellion since it was founded on the day of Pentecost almost two thousand years ago. Many of Paul’s writings contain rebukes. He frequently marked individuals by name. The Apostasy started early on and the Church still suffers from false ministers and false doctrines today. Therefore, at times, God’s true ministers must exercise their authority and “rebuke” those who oppose true doctrine in order to protect the congregation (1 Tim 5:20; 2 Tim 4:2; Titus 1:13; Titus 2:15). It must be said, however, that someone who approaches a minister with humility and respect, in need of scriptural clarification, should be received with openness and love. No one is infallible. Even Mr. Armstrong was approached from time to time, after discovery of doctrinal errors (Pentecost, Divorce and Remarriage). He received them warmly and studied the subject thoroughly. He once said, “One of the proofs that this is God’s true Church is that, when we’re wrong, we’ll change.” It’s imperative that God’s true ministers protect the church membership and guard the truth, in the same way a true shepherd protects his flock from harm. This requires boldness and fearlessness. It requires occasional confrontation. It requires leadership. It requires that the minister fully understands the authority given to him and the ability to exercise it, without arrogance or egotism. But it also requires that everything said and done be in strict accordance with the scriptures.
REQUIREMENT #15: He must be humble. This is perhaps the top attribute that God is looking for in a human being. It’s one key flaw in Lucifer which caused his downfall and great suffering in the universe. God tells us that Lucifer’s heart was “lifted up” because of his “beauty” (Ezek 28:17). Vanity leads to a superiority complex, with destructive results. It’s the chief flaw of despots and dictators who lust for power, because they care for themselves more than anyone else. It’s the opposite of love, which Christ defines as loving others more than oneself, even unto death (John 15:13). Today in the world, and even in the Church of God, vanity flourishes. But the most destructive kind of vanity is intellectual vanity. Many church leaders are pompous and arrogant. Many elders and deacons swagger and reek of a superiority complex. They care little for other people and are more concerned with having their egos stroked. They are generally intelligent, but they lack humility to keep their smarts in check. So they become puffed-up because of their knowledge (1 Cor 8:1). Then there are the want-to-be intellectuals. They look up to the intellectuals and want to be thought of as intellectuals themselves. They are just as bad. There is one attribute to these vain men that is unmistakable: they all seek an office of responsibility. While genuine, sincere servants work with no expectation of being ordained and generally prefer not to be ordained, the vain men seek it. They “butter up” to the ministry. They craft their sermonettes and sermons, then read them as speeches, careful to sound as highly literate as possible, often citing many non-biblical sources. They scarcely hide their conceit. They don’t like to converse with the lay members. They form cliques. These types should never be ordained, but sadly many have and the congregation suffers. God says, “to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word” (Isa 66:2).
REQUIREMENT #16: He must not show partiality. This means showing an unfair preference for some people over others. In society today, people show partiality to those with money or power. They do this in an effort to gain their favor and benefit from it. Likewise, people with little money or power “butter up” to those who have it, again, to gain their favor and benefit from it. This personifies the way of “get.” To show unfair partiality in return for money or favor contributes to corruption because it promotes personal gain at the expense of others. It promotes an “I got mine” mentality. This is most common in business and government, where unqualified people gain control—not by proven hard work—but by connections to influential people. Think about it for a moment. If the high positions in a company or government are filled by individuals who happen to be friends, relatives and acquaintances, that company or government will suffer from inefficiency, negligence and corruption. That’s because people are hired, not because of their qualifications, but their connections. And then, when a problem or inefficiency arises, it cannot be properly addressed because personal loyalties stand in the way of prudent remedies, such as probation or termination. People have a hard time firing their friend or relative, so that person stays in their position. And because they don’t fear being fired, they become increasingly complacent, caring little for the greater good. Whereas, if they weren’t relatives or longtime friends, their personal relationship wouldn’t be a factor—only right or wrong. This is why nepotism, cronyism (and bribery) hurts everyone. If this can corrupt companies and government institutions, it can corrupt church government as well. And it has since the beginning (3 John 9-10; Acts 20:29-30; 2 Pet 2:2-3). Paul instructed the evangelist Timothy to avoid partiality (1Tim 5:21). Likewise, James said, “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth [fine] clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?” (James 2:1-4) The “evil thoughts” are because the person who shows partiality has done so in an effort to gain something, perhaps a favor in return. Continuing on, James says plainly, “But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.” (James 2:9) This condemnation against showing partiality is not something men invented, rather it’s an admonition from God. He commanded the Israelites not to show partiality in judgement (Lev 19:15; Duet 1:17; 16:19; 24:17; John 7:24; Matt 18:10). He commanded them to have one law for all (Lev 24:22; Num 15:15,29). God Himself shows no partiality (Duet 10:17; Acts 10:34-35), and admonishes us to be the same way (Duet 10:18-19). He is fair and equitable (Psa 98:9). Even though some may try to make God out as unfair and partial, the evidence stands to the contrary every time. God looks on the heart (1 Sam 16:7) and is gracious and generous to the humble (James 4:6). Showing partiality is a terrible evil that must not be allowed in the churches. Sadly, it is most often committed by those in authority and the lay members often feel powerless against it. However, the principle of going humbly and respectfully to your brother with a complaint (Matt 18:15-20) applies to everyone, regardless of title or seniority.
REQUIREMENT #17: He must be growing in grace and knowledge. This statement was written by Peter (2 Pet 3:18) and means that we must be growing spiritually, refining our spirit character and striving for perfection—which can only be done with God’s help. We must yield to Him in strict obedience to His perfect laws, always with a humble attitude, then we can learn (Prov 1:7). And that’s the key. God says He works with humble people (Isa 66:2). One aspect of humility is admitting you don’t know it all. In order to grow in spiritual knowledge, we have to deflate ourselves and exalt God. We also have to follow His instruction manual at all times. Many have faulted on this point. Increased knowledge “puffs up” (1 Cor 8:1). It inflates the ego. This is where we short circuit ourselves and God can no longer use us. One common area seems to be when a person experienced in this way of life feels he knows all there is to know. And when approached with a biblical principle foreign to his mind, he rejects it outright, without studying it. Thankfully Mr. Herbert Armstrong never behaved like this. Twice, he reversed church doctrinal positions when shown to be in error (Pentecost, Divorce and Remarriage). Of all there is to know, how much do you think we understand? God used Mr. Armstrong to restore the foundational doctrines and Mr. Armstrong then encouraged the ministry to embellish on them and increase in knowledge through constant study. So why have some refused to accept new understanding? Mr. Armstrong had a thirst for knowledge and understanding. We must all have this same thirst. A desire to know more. Especially those in the ministry. However, our continual study and discovery of truths that are new to us must stand up to intense scrutiny. A false doctrine must not be allowed to spread. Which means everything must be analyzed with time, care and attention, aided by fasting and prayer. Nothing must be done in haste. To those already in the ministry, what if another minister comes to you with a scriptural insight not previously considered? If it is foreign to you, will you consider it? What if it contradicts a previously accepted belief? If Mr. Armstrong didn’t see it before his death, what then? What if a laymember brings something to you? Will you give it the same attention? God’s word says, “Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is [stupid].” (Prov 12:1). This is extremely important. Because, if a new insight is false, it must be proved false. If it is true however, it must be proved and accepted. (1 Thes 5:21). Stop and think: if a truth is made known to you and you reject it, are you not guilty of failing to grow in knowledge? “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (1 Cor 10:12) Growing in grace and knowledge is a lifelong requirement. A candidate for ordination must exhibit a spirit of humility and an appetite for knowledge—two chief attributes conducive to spiritual growth and understanding.
CONCLUSION: We’ve considered the primary qualifications for an ordained minister. We’ve done so by God’s instruction manual. Now lets review these requirements and paint a picture of a qualified individual. Our qualified man will be at least 30 years of age, married and have his household in submission, which means he has leadership qualities. He’s a tireless worker. He has a good reputation outside the church, such as by friends, associates and employers. He is a patient teacher, who demonstrates discernment. He drinks in moderation and is respectful to others at all times, particularly those in authority. He is not focused on pursuing financial wealth, except what is necessary to adequately provide for his family. He believes God can heal and answer prayer. He’s honest, open and trustworthy. He’s not hypocritical. He loves to help people and shows boldness in defending the truth. He never shows partiality. He’s humble, enthusiastic, sociable, kind and a good listener. He’s constantly thirsting for knowledge and occupies much of his time discussing biblical principles. He is the kind of person you would want as a pastor. He is the kind of person God can use. The kind of person God chooses to accomplish his work. Like Peter, James and John, who were tradesmen, old enough to be experienced in life, able to help and teach others. Which brings us to our final point. There are some Church of God groups who are endeavoring to establish a college, primarily to train men to serve in the ministry. But, unless a college is exclusively used to train men who meet the qualifications above, we believe this is a very serious mistake. There’s an old saying: “Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.” We must study history to avoid repeating the same mistakes. Ambassador College was established many years ago by Mr. Armstrong primarily to train ministers to attend to the spiritual needs of a growing church membership. It seemed the right thing to do at the time, however it is obvious now that it was inherently flawed, because it focused largely on raising up a ministry from a pool of young men. When we depart from biblical precedent, we reap terrible results. Young men were schooled, graduated, married (prematurely in most cases), ordained, given a bible, and sent off into the field to pastor church congregations. These inexperienced men could not meet the qualifications outlined in the Bible. They were too young. They had no experience in life and they never held a job in the outside world. And how many remained? How many eventually left the Church? A large number. It is clear now that those who left were not even converted. The damage this inflicted on church membership is severe. And the damage continues. Many of the young, Ambassador College graduate ministers, that moved to one of the many splinter groups, have never held a job in the outside world. This presents a problem. Lacking any worldly trade skills, many have no choice but to look for paid employment in one of the Church groups, in order to survive. It means that there may be ones who are not truly converted and still pastoring congregations, simply for income. It also means that those who are converted are more inclined to compromise their beliefs in order to stay with a group that is paying them. Make no mistake... we’re not vilifying every minister out there. Many are sincere and faithful servants. Many were ordained (drafted) too young and it wasn’t their fault. Let every minister ask himself, “Is my loyalty to God and His people or to my paycheck?” These might be strong words, but we have good reason to speak them. In the years preceding Mr. Armstrong’s death, some evangelists wrote something called the “Systematic Theology Project” (STP). This document contained the perfect elements for unravelling the doctrinal foundation that God used Herbert Armstrong to establish. It was at a time when Mr. Armstrong was busy traveling the world, meeting with world leaders and preaching the Good News of the coming Kingdom of God. So he was away from headquarters in Pasadena. It was also a time when the “rumor mill” began and many started to question who would take over when Mr. Armstrong died. This STP document began to be circulated among the ministry, along with instructions to preach from it. When Mr. Armstrong learned about it, he ordered that the STP be put aside and not used until he had time to review it thoroughly. These instructions were explicitly stated by Mr. Armstrong at a ministerial conference, and yet these instructions were ignored. The STP continued to be dispersed. Some faithful ministers followed the instructions of Mr. Armstrong and refused to preach from the STP. And we know of at least one minister who was relieved from service because of it—behind Mr. Armstrong’s back—all because he followed orders. Alternatively, many ministers did preach from the STP—quietly acknowledging they disagreed with it—compromising their integrity so as not to jeopardize their paycheck. Additionally, after Mr. Armstrong’s death, when the person appointed to lead the Church began to lay the foundation for apostasy by changing official Church doctrines, many ministers stayed on, receiving a paycheck, while “splinter” groups were organized underground. These underground groups eventually broke off from WCG, forming some of the larger groups we see today. But it took many months for these ministers to organize and cultivate the support of members willing to break off with them. So what are we saying? Our assertion is that the vast majority of WCG ministers chose to stay with an apostate church until their paychecks were guaranteed through the underground formation of a new church group. Why didn’t they leave immediately, when the church began to show signs of apostasy, purely on principle—no matter what the implications? Was it for fear of losing a paycheck? It’s highly likely they (1) lacked the faith to leave without pay and/or (2) lacked any trade skills to provide an alternative income. It’s important to note that some faithful ministers did step down immediately, refusing to get paid by a corrupt organization, preferring instead to not endorse WCG leadership. It’s clear now that a flawed system of training and ordaining ministers too early led to a weak ministry, who have failed to uphold biblical principles. How many of those who were ordained as ministers truly qualified? How many were even were truly converted? Let Christ be the judge (John 5:22), but the evidence gives us an indication (Matt 7:20). Mr. Armstrong asked this very question in the years before his death. He wondered how many members—and even ministers—were truly converted. One time, while speaking solely to the ministry at a ministerial conference in the Ambassador Auditorium, he spoke prophetically, “When it comes down to the end, I wonder if even two or three of you evangelists will be left.” After his death and the subsequent splintering of the church, many people left for good. Many even stayed with the WCG, which fully adopted worldly protestantism. So we ask the question: should we be using colleges to train ministers? Let’s use God’s instruction manual as a guide. Can you find anywhere in the Bible where God established a college? Let’s look at Christ’s disciples. Is there any evidence that any of them were young, college-aged men? Peter, Andrew, James and John were fishermen (Matt 4:18-20). Matthew was a tax collector (Matt 9:9). Luke was a physician (Col 4:14). Paul was in law enforcement (Acts 22:3-10), as well as tent making (Acts 18:3). But, more importantly, these men were “called.” They were drafted. They didn’t enlist. They didn’t seek an office. Christ said, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him” (John 6:44). Paul wrote, “So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.” (Rom 9:16, NKJV) You can’t seek God. Neither can you run from Him if He intends to use you. Everyone He has worked with was handpicked. Abraham, David, the disciples, Paul, Mr. Armstrong, to name a few—they were all drafted. Many tried to run from it. Moses asked God to send someone else to lead Israel out of Egypt (Ex 4:13). Jonah tried to run away literally and God had to get his attention (Jonah 1:10). Even Mr. Armstrong tried to run from it, as he writes in his autobiography. This is how God has conducted His work throughout history. Why should we try to do it any differently? Do we know more than God? Should we abandon Biblical examples in favor of worldly methods? The answer is a resounding, “no!” Please know that we’re not criticizing formal education, which is beneficial for acquiring skills to provide an income. We’re criticizing this method for producing ministers. The one and only method for finding qualified men to ordain as ministers in the Church is to use the Biblical criteria, as outlined above. They must be drafted. They must be selected carefully, after much observation (1 Tim 5:22). And never should those who seek the office of minister be ordained.
--------------------------------------------- FOOTNOTE: You’ll notice that “eloquent speech” is not listed as a qualification for a minister. This is because, although good speaking can be a great asset, it is never mentioned or implied anywhere in the Bible as a requirement for an ordained servant. God is not concerned with outward appearances and eloquent speech. He is concerned with sincerity and truth. Good speaking can be practiced and acquired over time. We should not be preoccupied with superficial things, rather what is in the heart. God said, “The LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” (1 Sam 16:7).
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