Topical Bible: Ministers: should be Holy

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In the Christian tradition, the role of a minister is one of profound responsibility and spiritual significance. Ministers are called to serve as shepherds to their congregations, guiding them in faith and practice. A key aspect of this calling is the pursuit of holiness, as ministers are expected to embody the teachings and character of Christ in their personal and public lives.

Biblical Foundation for Holiness in Ministry

The call to holiness is deeply rooted in Scripture. In the Old Testament, the priests who served in the temple were required to be holy, as they were mediators between God and His people. Leviticus 21:6 states, "They must be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. For they present the offerings made by fire to the LORD, the food of their God. So they must be holy."

In the New Testament, the call to holiness extends to all believers, but it is especially emphasized for those in positions of leadership. The Apostle Paul, in his letters to Timothy and Titus, outlines the qualifications for overseers and deacons, emphasizing the importance of a holy and blameless life. In 1 Timothy 3:2-3 , Paul writes, "An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money."

The Nature of Holiness

Holiness, in the biblical sense, refers to being set apart for God's purposes and living in accordance with His will. It involves moral purity, spiritual integrity, and a commitment to God's commands. For ministers, holiness is not merely an external adherence to rules but a transformation of the heart and mind, aligning one's life with the character of Christ.

The Apostle Peter exhorts believers to holiness in 1 Peter 1:15-16 , saying, "But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" This call to holiness is a reflection of God's own nature and a response to His grace.

Practical Implications for Ministers

For ministers, the pursuit of holiness has practical implications in their daily lives and ministry. It requires a commitment to personal spiritual disciplines such as prayer, Bible study, and worship. It also involves accountability within the community of faith, as ministers are called to model the Christian life for others.

Moreover, holiness in ministry is reflected in ethical conduct, humility, and a servant-hearted approach to leadership. Ministers are to be examples to the flock, as Peter instructs in 1 Peter 5:2-3 , "Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them—not out of compulsion, but because it is God’s will; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock."

Challenges and Encouragement

While the call to holiness is clear, ministers face numerous challenges in maintaining this standard. The pressures of ministry, personal struggles, and the temptations of the world can all pose obstacles. However, Scripture provides encouragement and assurance of God's grace and strength. In Philippians 4:13 , Paul declares, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."

Ultimately, the pursuit of holiness is a lifelong journey, empowered by the Holy Spirit and grounded in the love and grace of God. Ministers are called to rely on God's strength, seek His guidance, and continually strive to reflect His holiness in their lives and ministry.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 28:36
And you shall make a plate of pure gold, and grave on it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 21:6
They shall be holy to their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy.
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Titus 1:8
But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
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Library

Answering the Reasons which those Ministers Give, which Hinder the ...
... Those who reckon themselves Ministers of Jesus Christ, ought to ... told us the words
of the holy Council of ... Fathers and Brethren, that the Church should have any ...
/.../chap ii answering the reasons.htm

No Minister Ought to Keep a Faithful Person from the Communion ...
... And if the Minister should at any time find himself ... at this, let him peruse that
holy Appointment of the ... which God has rised upon those Ministers which have ...
/.../the spiritual guide which disentangles the soul/chap i no minister ought.htm

The Work of God in Our Work.
... Ministers of the Word, and through them the people of God, should understand that ...
their complete inability to receive a holy disposition otherwise than as ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xiii the work of god.htm

Meditations of the True Manner of Practising Piety on the Sabbath ...
... those forty days Christ appointed what ministers should teach, and how ... ordained on
what day they should keep their ... he sent down from heaven the Holy Ghost upon ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/meditations of the true manner.htm

Of Passages from the Holy Scriptures, and from the Apocrypha ...
... of it as a thing impossible that the law should perish from ... God schismatics, and,
on the other hand, make Satan's ministers the organs of the Holy Spirit ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/of passages from the holy.htm

Entire Sanctification in Patriarchal Times.
... and pleased God, and was translated that he should not see ... of God, and the Son of
God is eternally holy. ... when the idea became prevalent, that ministers of the ...
/.../clark/the theology of holiness/chapter iii entire sanctification in.htm

The Holy Spirit Convincing the World of Sin, Righteousness, and ...
... them; yea, that the time should come, that ... especial manner designed for the suffering
ministers of this ... my Father's throne; the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, will ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/the holy spirit convincing the.htm

Entire Sanctification as Taught by Jesus Christ.
... is the word of God, and, of course, the sowers are all ministers and Christian ... spot
nor wrinkle nor any such thing, but that it should be holy and without ...
/.../clark/the theology of holiness/chapter vi entire sanctification as.htm

John Chapter i. 32, 33
... with the Holy Ghost. This he did know; but that he should do this so as to retain
the authority to Himself and transfer it to none of His ministers, this is ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate vi john chapter i.htm

Of the Teachers and Ministers of the Church. Their Election and ...
... of lawful calling is, that bishops should be designated ... speaking of the ordinary
election of ministers, but claiming ... the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 3 of the teachers.htm