Pastoral Epistles: 1 Timothy 5:22-23 - Avoiding Public Moral Failures

The best way to avoid being embarrassed by the moral failure of a ministry leader is not to raise them to that position too quickly. That’s what Paul means when he declares that we must not “lay hands upon anyone too hastily.” To lay hands on someone in this context is to affirm their suitability and readiness for public ministry leadership. It’s not enough for a man to declared that he’s called of God to pastoral ministry. The church must also say he’s called of God to the pastoral ministry. And the church must not do so simply because the candidate declared he is ready. But this has too often been the case. Young men who grow up in the church and cannot decide what to do with their lives decide to go into the ministry. Their church is thrilled to have a future minister among them, so they quickly affirm and ordain. And man who decided to enter the ministry heads to seminary. Somewhere, sooner or later, a disaster will occur.