Holiness and the Minister

Here is "part three" of the series I started a few days ago. Perhaps you've realized by now: I do not plan to say all that could be said about a matter, nor to address what is always the "core" of an issue. Case in point: below are some thoughts on an issue related to holiness that I've pondered for some time, but is definitely not the main issue. Anyways...enjoy!

I was reminded of the complexity of the issue of holiness and pastoral ministry while reading something from Michael Horton recently. Horton brought up the so-called Donatist schism of the fourth century. If you recall, the Donatist scandal (basically) revolved around the issue of whether or not baptisms performed by bishops who afterward recanted under persecution were valid or not.

Now, ultimately, to unravel the Donatist issue involves going into issues of sacraments and early church politics- this is not the place for that. But, germane to our discussion is the core matter in the schism: what role does a minister’s personal holiness play in his actual ministry? Does unholiness taint his works as a pastor, rendering them ultimately ineffective? Or, do the works that he performs have some value in and of themselves? Ultimately, the early church decided that in the case of the sacraments, they have efficacy apart from those who administer them, but did that mean they saw the minister’s personal relation to the Lord and walk of faith as irrelevant to his overall ministry? Though I may not be qualified to answer that particular question, I do have some thoughts on the place of holiness in the life of pastors.

Specifically, I see a sort of tension in Scripture between the absolute essentiality of holiness in the life of ministers and the way in which the Lord’s work is carried on through a person despite his infirmities and even, we might say, his transgressions.

My two “go-to” passages for each aspect are 1 Timothy 4:16 and Philippians 1:14-18.

In the former there is a clear emphasis laid on Timothy’s integrity in “life and doctrine” as core components in his gospel ministry. He is to “keep a close watch” on himself in these respects, “for by so doing [he] will save both [himself] and [his] hearers.” Strong terms. And while we might wish to debate the exact nuance of “save” in the Pastoral Epistles (it takes on different meanings dependent on context), the undeniable point remains: Timothy’s attendance to his personal life has great ramifications not only for himself, but also for others in his life. In other words, holiness matters.

On the other hand, Philippians 1 pulls us back from the ledge in terms of thinking that all of redemptive history hinges upon our personal state of holiness. In that passage, Paul demonstrates his joy in the fact that Christ is preached, even by those with dead-wrong motives! What a shocking thought from the apostle: “I know that these guys don’t have integrity, but I’m still so glad they are preaching Christ.” What?! Doesn’t their lack of personal holiness hinder the effectiveness of the gospel ministry?! Paul astonishingly doesn’t go there- in this case message matters more than the messenger.

What then? How do we proceed? Well, obviously we don’t take the latter passage as establishing license for a lack of integrity in our ministry. That simply was not Paul’s point. His point was that, regardless of human interference, God’s plan rolls on. The Sovereign Savior’s work is accomplished amidst opposition and through the most seemingly hopeless situations, and this is great cause for rejoicing. The gospel is triumphing!

So, we return again then to 1 Timothy 4 (and a vast host of other passages) that explicitly instructs us as to the essential nature of holiness in a minister of God. Others may not heed their lives as they ought, but we may yet rejoice if the gospel advances through them in a way that does not bring shame to the message. But what joy can we have in knowing that, though speaking our Savior’s words, our own lives serve as no great example of holiness? What peace can we have in our own hypocrisy, knowing that God is not mocked and we will reap what we sow? And yes, Philippians 1 notwithstanding, what hope can we have of our Lord’s blessing upon our own particular spheres of service, if we will not cleanse ourselves and “be vessels for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21)? Let us, therefore, take heed to our lives and our doctrine, for “a holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of the Lord,” as the good Mr. M’Cheyne has said. But, to all who hold onto their iniquity, let them beware.