Macho Macho Man!

# 90 Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 1Ti 3:2 A bishop (pastor) then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, Next on the list of qualifications for the prospective pastor is he must not be quarrelsome. To be quarrelsome simply put is someone who is always looking for a fight. Someone who is always stirring the pot of controversy. He will strive with anyone, anytime, and over any matter. Pastor or pastor to be, let me tell you something. As the leader of a a congregation, fights and disputes will come all on their own. Controversies and disputes will show up at your door. No need to start them by yourself. (Hey pastor, can I get an Amen on that?) Disputes over things like style of worship, (organs or electric guitars?) which hymnal to use, (the new one or the old one?) what color carpeting should we install in the sanctuary, and other bones of contention will surface over time. I remember a story several years ago about a congregation splitting over how to spell halleluiah. One side said with an “H” the other said with an “A” To be sure, a pastor doesn't avoid controversy when it comes, but he also doesn't seek to stir it up, simply because he is spoiling for a fight. It's interesting that the Greek word here for “quarrelsome comes from the word “mache or machomai” I'm guessing we get the word “macho” from this word. So a word of advice to the calling committee. If your pastoral candidate wants to add “Macho Man” by the Village People to the hymnal. You might want to scratch him off the list! Jesus, (our model of the Good Pastor) never actively sought fights and quarrels, they came to Him, and He handled them appropriately. May all our pastors learn to do the same.