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The Gospel Observer
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them
to observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:19,20).
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February 24, 2013
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Contents:
1) More on the Elders (Tom Edwards)
2) News & Notes
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-1-
More on the Elders
by Tom Edwards
Along with our study of the qualifications for elders in 1 Timothy
3, let us now also consider how they functioned in the early church
and learn some additional truths about them.
First of all, in matters of benevolence for the needy saints in
Jerusalem, the funds were given into the hands of the elders of each
congregation: "And in the proportion that any of the disciples had
means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief
of the brethren living in Judea. And this they did, sending it in
charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders" (Acts 11:29,30).
They, therefore, would have the responsibility toward distributing
that benevolence to the destitute members of the congregation in
which the elders were also members and served. So rather than
the funds being sent directly to the needy saints, it was entrusted
to the elders who had the oversight of it. It is also
important to realize that these elders could receive benevolence for
their needy brethren because the church they were members of did not
have the funds to provide for their own. Otherwise, that
church would have had that responsibility rather than receiving from
other churches. (In matters of churches supporting an
evangelist, however, the gospel shows that the funds were not sent
to the elders, nor to the church where the evangelist was
working. Rather, it was sent directly to him. So it was
a different method when it came to that.)
In Acts 14:23, we learn that there is to be a plurality of elders in
each congregation: "And when they had appointed elders for them in
every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the
Lord in whom they had believed." This, of course, does not
mean that a church cannot exist without elders; but in order to have
them, there must be more than one in that congregation to qualify
and serve. Therefore, if a church had only two elders and one
passed away or moved away, the remaining elder would then not be
able to continue serving as an elder.
The Lord's apostles were certainly a special group of men that He
had selected to carry out His will; and because they were, the
elders cooperated with them: "Then it seemed good to the apostles
and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them
to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas--Judas called Barsabbas,
and Silas, leading men among the brethren, and they sent this letter
by them, 'The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to the
brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles,
greetings'" (Acts 15:22,23). Consider also Acts 16:4: "Now
while they were passing through the cities, they were delivering the
decrees which had been decided upon by the apostles and elders who
were in Jerusalem, for them to observe." Elders today still need to
work with the apostles -- through the written word of God.
We saw in Titus 1:9 that the elder is to be able to instruct with
the gospel and convince those who oppose the truth. For he is
to be "holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with
the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in sound doctrine
and to refute those who contradict." So he is to be very
knowledgeable in the Scriptures that he may use it to encourage
others in living for the Lord and to help those in opposition to see
the error of their way.
Men who meet the qualifications and are serving faithfully as elders
are to be respected. Paul declares, "Let the elders who rule
well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work
hard at preaching and teaching" (1 Tim. 5:17).
What is this "double honor"? From 1 Timothy 5:18, it obviously
includes remuneration for their preaching and teaching: "For the
Scripture says, 'YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING,'
and 'The laborer is worthy of his wages.'" I often think of
Kelly Ellis, who had been an elder at the Lexington Avenue church of
Christ in Danville, Kentucky. When the church there began a
2-year Bible program that would consist of 3 classes a day, 5 days a
week -- with 6 different classes for the week -- Kelly had taken an
earlier retirement from the school system that he had worked with
for many years, thus losing out on a bigger pension, in order to
help out with the teaching of these Bible classes for about the last
11 years of his life. In doing so, he was paid for his
services, but it was less than what he would have made had he stayed
with his secular career.
We can also note in the very next verse that an elder could not be
charged with wrong unless there was a plurality of those who could
testify toward it. The passage states, "Do not receive an
accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three
witnesses" (1 Tim. 5:19). Though we are no longer under the
Law of Moses, Paul's instruction reminds us of a precept the Jews
were to live by during the Mosaical Period: "A single witness shall
not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin
which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses a
matter shall be confirmed" (Deut. 19:15).
Elders do more than set forth a good example for the flock: They
also instruct; and we, therefore, are to obey. For example:
"Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and
considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith" (Heb.
13:7). "Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch
over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them
do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable
for you" (Heb. 13:17). The KJV renders "your leaders" as "them
that have the rule over you"; and, obviously, the writer is not
talking about the civil authorities here -- though we do see
elsewhere that we are to obey them (Rom. 13:1-7). But, rather,
he is speaking of those who "watch over...souls," which is exactly
what an overseer is to be keeping his eyes on with concern for the
Christian's well-being -- especially his spiritual condition.
For it is possible for Christians to get caught up in false
teaching, to drift away from the truth, to be lead astray through
temptation, to allow the struggles of life snuff out their faith;
and, as a result, to lose their souls. So though we hope that
those in the civil authorities will be concerned for our physical
existence and what will make a better government and environment for
all, it is the elders of the church who have a concern that goes way
beyond that. For their regard is for the Christian's eternal
soul; and they will, therefore, strive to see to it that the church
remains pure, that the wayward be restored, that no soul will be
lost in that great judgment day.
Though I would think most churches do, not all have a mid-week
service. But is it not better to have one? I feel
fortunate and enjoy being able to participate in two midweek
services: here at Park Forest on Tuesdays and in Gonzales on
Wednesdays. If a church has decided not to have a midweek service, I
wouldn't see that as a sin; but I personally would prefer being with
a church that had one. And when the elders have decided to
have a mid-week service, is it not then important that every member
strive to attend? Some people say that since it was just the
elders who set apart a day for a midweek service, that we don't have
to go because they are not God. But didn't we just read that
elders are to be obeyed? Consider this also: As Christians,
there are many people whom we are to submit to and obey: Wives
are to submit to their husbands (Eph. 5:22-24). Children are
to obey their parents (Eph. 6:1-3). Citizens are to obey their
government, the civil authorities (Rom. 13:1-7). And members
in a local congregation are to obey their elders (Heb. 13:17).
Can we make the argument that wives don't have to submit to their
husbands because husbands are not God? Or that children don't
have to obey their parents when told to clean up their room or to
take out the garbage because cleaning up their room and taking out
the garbage isn't something that God has specifically commanded
them? Or can citizens disobey the laws of the land and drive
30 mph over the speed limit because it wasn't God who specifically
put up that speed limit sign? In all these areas, we realize
the right the husbands, parents, and civil authorities have to be
submitted to and obeyed. And why? Because God says
so. But why is it that when we think of the need for
Christians to obey their elders that some folks minimize the
importance of that and even disregard some of what the elders say by
not wanting to assemble at the service-times the elders have agreed
on having for the spiritual well-being of the flock? Would it
not seem that out of all people, the elders, who are the spiritual
leaders of a congregation and watching over the souls of others,
should be at the top of the list of those to obey? But even if
they wouldn't be at the top of that list (which I would doubt), the
Bible still says, "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they
keep watch over your souls...."
Elders were not only concerned for the spiritual well-being of
others, but also their physical well-being. For something else
we see about elders is that they were to minister to the sick.
The Bible says, "Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call
for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him,
anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer
offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will
raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven
him" (James 5:14,15). Of course, this was during the age of
miraculous gifts in the early church, which we do not have
today. But the sick can still be visited and prayed for; and
anytime one is healed, God has made that possible through natural
means.
The idea of one man ruling over all the churches in the world is
nowhere found in the Scriptures, as we see in the case of
Catholicism with one man, the "Pope," serving over all. The
very word "catholic" actually means "universal...pertaining to the
whole Christian body or church" (Random House Webster's College
Dictionary). Nor do we find anywhere in the gospel where one
elder is to rule over a group of churches in a certain area (such as
with a Catholic "bishop" over a "diocese"). Rather, the Bible
shows that elders are to care for the local congregation where they
are members, and it is just to that congregation where they serve in
that capacity. For note what Peter says in 1 Peter 5:2,3, when
he addresses specifically the elders. He instructs them to
"shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under
compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not
for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over
those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the
flock" (1 Pet. 5:2,3). So it was only those in that
congregation, where the elders were members, who had been "allotted"
to the care of the elders.
Notice, too, from this passage, how the elders were to exercise
their oversight: "not under compulsion" (so not by force, duress, or
coercion), but "voluntarily." We had seen that even before
Paul had begun listing the qualifications, he had pointed out that
serving as an elder was something that the individual "aspires" and
"desires" to do (1 Tim. 3:1). It could not be forced upon
him. And in dealing with others, it should also be with a
willingness that love for their souls would enable. So
something an elder truly wants to do.
They were also to serve "not for SORDID gain," or "not for filthy
lucre," as the KJV renders it. "Sordid gain" is from just one
Greek word which Thayer defines as "eagerness for base gain." It,
therefore, also expresses the idea of morally low motives, such as
in being meanly selfish or mercenary. But, again, if a love
for God and the souls of others is what is motivating the elders,
there will be no room in their heart for sordid gain. And it
is that kind of love that will also enable the elders to serve "with
eagerness," as instructed. For they will then have that keen
or enthusiastic desire or interest in serving the Lord.
Lastly, we see that the elders were also not to be "lording it over"
the brethren; but, instead, being "examples." For that is also
a way in which the elders can instruct -- by their very lives, in
showing the way. Setting forth the right example can also have
a very positive and encouraging impact that will help others to
pursue that same course and live that right way. For what
truly makes a Christian a good leader is simply being a good
follower of the Lord. And, again, not only the elders, but
every Christian should strive to be that good example.
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-2-
News & Notes
Let those of us who are Christians be remembering the following
people, and their families, in prayer:
* Tom Smitherman (Lee's father)
who has been diagnosed with an aggressive prostate cancer.
* Bill Barfield (Linda Blevins' uncle) who
had been in the hospital and now a rehab center for a total of about
one year.
* Pam MacDonald who has serious back trouble.
* Cheryl Crews who has chronic ailments.
* Shirley Young who suffers from fibromyalgia.
* Jean Calloway who has health problems.
* Virginia Fontenot who has been a little under the weather.
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom.
10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the deity of Christ (John 8:24; John
3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts
8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water for the remission of sins
(Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet.
3:21).
6) Continue in the faith; for, if not, salvation can
be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Park Forest
CHURCH OF CHRIST
9923 Sunny Cline Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70817
Sunday services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 6 PM (worship)
Tuesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/go
(Gospel Observer website)
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html
(audio sermons)