Titus 1: 5-9
For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, 6 namely, if any man is beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of indecent behavior or rebellion. 7 For the overseer must be beyond reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not overindulging in wine, not a bully, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, self-controlled, righteous, holy, disciplined, 9 holding firmly the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.
Paul’s instruction to Titus in the selection of elders is illustrative and instructive. There are 20 criteria listed (“beyond reproach” is repeated) indicating evaluating a single characteristic is not sufficient.
Applying the principle to DMM, our evaluation of disciples, churches, leadership, and movements can’t be one-dimensional.
Doctors don’t declare you healthy if your blood pressure is fine but you have stage 4 cancer. Business isn’t doing well if sales are up but profits are down and a plane that is making great time to the wrong destination is not a win. The trap we must avoid is allowing some really good things to cause us to overlook what is weak or missing. Leaders see the whole, not just the parts.
