as your authority for doing

With some other shepherds this morning discussing the nomination of other potential shepherds for the flock. For most of the names raised, there was no question whether or not the nominee was a Godly man and possessed the qualities outlined in 1Tim and Titus. Then why the hesitations creeping in?

Can we work with him? Will he have his own agenda? Will it take him away from that ministry? Is he too morose? Has he been around long enough? Does the congregation know who he is? Hasn't he already turned us down enough times? Are we nominating too many? Perhaps he can wait for a few more years?

I understand the warning in 1Tim5 about rushing to lay hands on people and pushing them to do work of the Lord. But I also don't want to impose false barriers not laid out by God through Paul. We may not like them, or know them, but the Lord likes them and knows them. How about we go by His opinion, how about that?