It has never been more important to put into leadership in the church only those suitably qualified.
Isaiah warns against choosing a ruler out of desperation to have at least someone (Isa 3:6-7, cf vv 4-5). Interestingly he draws a parallel with the case of the woman who chooses a husband out of desperation (Isa 4:1). In either case, “choose in haste, repent at leisure.”

To help us in this Don Burgess, my colleague with many years experience as a pastor, has written the following “few thoughts on calling office-bearers in the church of Christ”. As one who was myself thrust into leadership before I was suitably qualified (see here), and who could offer numerous examples of churches that have suffered through making this mistake over the years, I can only endorse the importance he places on these matters.
Also, though he has framed his counsel negatively in terms of what to avoid (‘red flags’), yet, by implication, there is much here positively to look for (‘green flags’). 

Red flags are still used in some places to indicate danger, for example, on a beach.
The phrase ‘Raising a Red Flag’ is also used metaphorically to indicate danger of another kind – the suspicion that someone is lying, or that the situation is not as it seems to be.

In the Scriptures God raises many warnings, or ‘red flags’, for His people, warning us of spiritual dangers. We are often warned of the dangers of the world, for example in 1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world or the things in the world.”
But there are many dangers which come from within the church as well.

Over the past 56 years I have been a member of 6 churches and have served under, or alongside, approximately 60 different elders and deacons. Following are some observations about how churches choose their elders and deacons and some of the dangers that face the church.
God is not ignorant of these dangers and so He has given us many ‘red flags’ to warn us.

ELDERS

1 Timothy 3:1, “This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop…”
The word the apostle uses here is the word for a male [andros], not the generic word for mankind [anthropos].
See this bright red flag! If your church is considering the need for elders then they must be males.
This doesn’t fit with the modern narrative, the push for equal opportunity. But it does fit with what God says – here and in the rest of Scripture. In the next verse the apostle says that elders [“bishops” in the AV & NKJV] must be “the husband of one wife.”
Despite what some ‘modern’ trans and homosexual people may imagine, it is impossible for a woman to be the “husband of one wife.”
This is perhaps the easiest flag to recognise of all the flags that God raises, but sadly it is ignored by some churches that want to ‘move with the times’.

Moving on to verse 2: “A bishop then must be blameless”
Not faultless, but blameless.
There was only one, and always will be only one, man who ever lived who was absolutely faultless – the man, Christ Jesus. Hebrews 7:6 tells us that Jesus was “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.”
The word “blameless” here means one who has a good reputation, one who is not to be often blamed for faults and offences.
Even those of the world know what a blameless man is. He is not perfect, but he knows he is not perfect. He admits and owns his mistakes and he cannot be charged with ongoing moral failures.

This ties in with verse 7: “Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”
Not just his fellow christians, but those whom he works with should be able to say he is a man of good character. Some people will ridicule the idea of noting the opinions of those outside the church, but the apostle Paul says we should listen to “those who are outside”.
Considering a man to be an elder in your church? Take note of what his workmates say of him. Does he come to work on time? Does he rort the system and take ‘sickies’? Does he put others down at work? Is he a good, reliable worker?

Then the apostle adds: “the husband of one wife” [see above], and “temperate, sober minded.”
He is to be a man not given to excesses. Excess food, excess wine [see also v.3], excess leisure activity, even excess work.
If a man is a glutton, what example does that set for the flock? If he is a drunkard he will also be a disgrace. If he spends most of his spare time on his hobbies or his sports how will he devote time to the work of the Lord?
And if he works 70 hours a week at his employment, how will he have time to devote to his family and the family of God?

The apostle follows with: “of good behaviour”
Not perfect but good.
This flag is similar to the word “blameless” used in v.2. An elder in Christ’s church must not only be one who is not charged with bad conduct, but he must be recognised for good conduct.
Considering a man to be an elder? Does he just sit at home in his spare time or is he ‘out and about’, doing good to others, especially those who are of the household of faith?
Remember Galatians 6:10, “And let us not grow weary while doing good… Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

In this matter of doing good, the apostle gives an example: “hospitable”
The word used in the Greek is philoxenos [philo (love) + xenos (stranger)] which means “love of strangers.”
For a man to be elected as an elder, his people should know what his loungeroom is like – and he should know what theirs is like – before he is elected, not in the hope that he will begin to be hospitable after he is elected and set apart!
If you are in a church of 300 people, it may well be that you have never been inside that man’s home, but in a church of 30 people it would be strange if he has never asked you to come for a time of ‘hospitality’.
Do you see the man welcoming newcomers to church? Does he, at least sometimes, invite them to his home? If not, why not?

The apostle moves on to: “able to teach”
A man who is to be an elder is not necessarily the ‘best’ teacher – but able to lead a Bible study, able to give an adequate sermon.
Does the man have a reasonable grasp of the Scripture so he is able to ‘teach’ over a cup of coffee when the Lord’s people are gathered together. He may excel in teaching or he may be adequate, it doesn’t matter – gifts are given in  various degrees and this applies to the gift of teaching as well.

In verse 3: “not given to wine”
This does not necessarily mean a teetotaller; he may very well partake of alcohol but he will not be given to excess.
This is just one example of the principle mentioned in verse 2: “temperate, sober minded.”

Moving on we have: “not violent”
Not just in actions, but in words also. I have witnessed more than one elder who has been a violent man in his words, intimidating people by the brutality or insensitivity of his words.
Here’s another red flag. Does the man come across as a bully, violent in words? Don’t elect him!

Then: “not greedy for money”
As you consider a man for bearing office in the church, ask yourself: “Is he a man who seems content with his work and his pay packet? Does he share his money/food/home/car with others?”
We cannot look into a man’s heart but over time, we will see how he uses the gifts that God has given him.

And then: “but gentle” – like our Lord Jesus is gentle.
Ask yourself: “How does he relate to the really old people in the church? Does he relate to them at all?”
“How does he relate to little children?”
“To someone who is disabled, maybe in a wheelchair?”

And: “not quarrelsome”
Sadly, some christians love a ‘good argument’ – but not a church leader.
Some christians seem to think that often being in a ‘robust’ debate about the modes of baptism, or the various millennial views, means that they are a strong Christian. It may simply mean that they are quarrelsome!
Are you considering nominating a man who is known for getting into lengthy debates after the church service. He may know a lot about the Bible, but he may be quarrelsome too! If so, raise the flag!

And: “not covetous”
This is similar to the phrase “not greedy for money”.
However some people are not covetous for money, but for the attention and applause of men. That’s why they are often quarrelsome, because they love to get into [and win!] a good debate.

Followed by: “One who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)”
Christian character begins in the home. It is [sinful] human nature to put on a good show for others – at school, at work, at the club or at church. But we all tend to relax in our own home [as we should] and let down our guard against our own sinful tendencies [which we should not!].
Are you considering a man for office in the church? It is appropriate to ask his wife, if he’s married, what he is like at home [discretely of course]. And, if his children are old enough, you may want to ask them what they would think of Dad being a deacon or elder.
More than once I’ve heard a wife/child complain: “Oh, Dad’s never at home now, what will it be like if he’s out at church meetings as well?”
If you are considering a man for office, it is appropriate to ask yourself: “Is this man’s home noted for being a place of order and peace and unity? Or, do the kids run riot; is the wife a continual whinger; is he a man who never seems to get things done?”

Verse 6 continues: “not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.”
Don’t set apart a school leaver to be a church leader! Don’t nominate the man who has only been converted a few weeks. Don’t consider the man who has only been coming to your church a short time. Don’t nominate a man whom you hardly know.
And remember, the last thing you want in your church is men who are “puffed up with pride [and] fall into the same condemnation as the devil.”
What havoc they will cause in the body of Christ!
Sadly, more times than I wish were so, I have witnessed leaders in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ who have become ‘too big for their boots’ and have caused untold damage to the bride of Christ.

Peter puts up a ‘red flag’ in his first letter, chapter 5:2,3:
“Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”

DEACONS

Then the apostle continues in verses 8 to 13 to outline the qualifications for deacons.
The qualifications are so similar to those for elders that it is not necessary to go over the same ground.
But I make just three observations that I believe apply to both elders AND deacons in the church.

1. “But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons” (v.10)
Sadly, sometimes men are appointed to office in the church because they are said to have ‘prospects’.
Words such as: “Oh, I can see that he will grow into the work”; or, “He shows really good potential” are used. But the Word of God says:  “But let these also first be tested.”
The gifts and graces of an office-bearer in Christ’s Church must be demonstrated before he is appointed, not in the hope that they will appear later.

2. “Likewise, their wives must be reverent” (v.11)
In other words: What applies to the man likewise applies to the wife [if he is married].
Is the man a good man, but his wife is a gossip? Forget about nominating him!
Is he hospitable, but she hates having people in her home? Forget it!

3. “For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (v.13)
What a wonderful encouragement for men, and their wives, to be engaged in the Lord’s work in such a way.
Let’s not kid ourselves, the work is often laborious, unrecognised, even boring and mundane. It is sometimes fraught with spiritual battles that affect our own family. It will sometimes mean sleepless nights, or being called out at 2am; sometimes mean you have little time for your hobbies.
But the great encouragement from the Lord of the kingdom is that there is: “a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus”

There are many ‘Green Flags’ also, in considering men for service in Christ’s church. But that is another story.

References & further reading:
– Biblical Eldership – Alexander Strauch
– The New Testament Deacon – Alexander Strauch
– Prepared to Preach – Al Martin
– Pastors and Teachers – Derek Prime