CHARACTER AND REPUTATION

                                                                         

CHARACTER, a person’s moral or ethical strength, is undeniably more important than REPUTATION, which is what others think of a person.

That said, wouldn’t it have been better if a person has both these qualities?

In fact, those who aspire to hold high office in church must be above reproach (of sound character) and also have a good reputation with outsiders.*

Since believers are to continually grow into maturity, these qualities should also become part of their goals and aspirations in life.

Concerning making judgments about a person's character or reputation, let's remember: 

"So don't make judgments about anyone ahead of time--before the Lord returns. For He will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due" (1 Corinthians 4:5). 

*Qualifications for Overseers (Bishops):

Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.² Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, ³ not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. ⁴ He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full^[a] respect. ⁵ (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) ⁶ He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. ⁷ He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. (1 Timothy 3:1-7)

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