{"id":887,"date":"2016-03-04T17:44:36","date_gmt":"2016-03-04T06:44:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.reformationministries.com.au\/blog\/?p=887"},"modified":"2016-07-11T14:05:36","modified_gmt":"2016-07-11T03:05:36","slug":"shepherding-shepherds-pt-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.reformationministries.com.au\/blog\/2016\/03\/shepherding-shepherds-pt-8\/","title":{"rendered":"Shepherding Shepherds (Pt.8)"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Sterling Shepherds)<\/span><\/p>\n

8.0. Elevating Elders.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The last issue that must be addressed with the closing words in this series is the critical deficiencies that exist within the Eldership today. As a Reformed Christian, time has been spent in different Reformed denominations and the one thing that they all have in common is a deficient Eldership.<\/p>\n

In one major Reformed denomination, it is not uncommon to find unbelievers and unskilled men holding the office of Elder \u2013 something contrary to the Word of God \u2013 which leads to poor pastoral care and shepherding. In another denomination, there is great organisation of the Eldership, but little effectiveness in reality. In other words, there is a really good system, but there seems to be little substance to the system. However, what most Reformed denominations seem to have in common is their inability or unwillingness to take seriously the Biblical instructions in regard to Elders and Eldership. By this we specifically refer to the Biblical criteria for elders, their Biblical character, and their charter.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Some years ago, we found ourselves in hot water for insisting that prospective elders be measured by the Biblical standards. You would not think that such a request would have brought such vehement responses, but it did. On one occasion, we were hit with everything from, \u201cWhy don\u2019t you leave?\u201d to the guilt-trip-inducer of \u201cYou realise that you are judging God!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Now, we are happy to admit that in those days our zeal outweighed our tact and verbal articulation. However, we must also admit that as we have grown a little wiser, understood Scripture better, and continued to raise the same objections, the opposition has not lessened one iota! This is tragic because it is really the fundamental cause of many of our current problems within the Church.[1]<\/a> Biblically speaking, a people are only as faithful as those who govern them. Thus, if we are truly serious about reform in the Church, we must begin by addressing the deficiencies within the Eldership. This can only take place effectively when the Elders clothe themselves in humility. This is so because the Elders are the ones who have the greatest ability to bring substantial reform, but that reform needs to begin willingly from within their own ranks.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We have no desire to turn these pages into an exercise in \u201cElder bashing\u201d or to simply create a catalogue of disasters. \u00a0Yet, it is also important that people understand what these deficiencies look like, how they come to the fore, and how they present themselves. Thus, we will try and give a few varied examples:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. In one instance, the Elders found themselves in a vacancy. After several months, these Elders announced that they would not be doing any pastoral visitation<\/em> because it was, in essence, beyond them. To highlight this betrayal of their role, you need to understand that there was something like twenty of them. The problem was not that they were stretched for resources; they were simply stretched for talent, willingness, and a genuine understanding of their role.<\/li>\n
  2. A second instance concerns the election of Elders. In this denomination, the church order added a few qualifications to the criteria for eldership, namely age and sex. Consequently, when the voting form was produced, every member of the congregation who met those two criteria was listed. Can you guess the number of candidates? We will give you a hint. They wanted to fill eight positions. No, you are probably not even close. The finished list exceeded eighty names. Yes, 80, just for clarification.<\/li>\n
  3. A third instance involves a visiting VIP. In the worship service children, and possibly women, read the Scriptures. This was a new event in this congregation, not witnessed up until this time. Upon viewing this, a concerned citizen who was due to preach, and whose identity will be kept secret to protect the \u2026, wrote to the elders raising this issue, insisting that, according to Scripture and the Confessional standards of the denomination, qualified men alone should read the Scriptures in worship. Their response? The concerned citizen was disinvited to preach 36 hours before worship and upon turning up to worship was confronted with an elder\u2019s wife reading Scripture. The concerned left. The next week another woman got up and read the Scriptures. The association was terminated soon thereafter.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Of importance, though, is the reaction. It was antagonistic and ungodly. Rather than talk, instruct, counsel, or listen, these Elders responded with vitriol and hostility and then began to parade their error in a manner not heretofore seen. In short, they acted from pride and were simply happy to see a family driven out of worship, rather than act in a Biblically sound manner.[2]<\/a><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. The fourth instance is a general instance. In a certain Reformed heritage, it is commonplace for ruling elders to do a \u201creading\u201d service if the teaching elder (minister) is absent. This means that the Elder must read from a manuscript prepared by a minister. This practice is raised for two reasons. First, it has the tendency to turn the Reformed view of Eldership into an Episcopalian view. Second, this practice cuts the heart out of the Scriptural instruction which says that an Elder must be a \u201cfaithful man, who will be able to teach<\/em> others\u201d; able \u201cboth to exhort in sound doctrine<\/em> and to refute<\/em> those who contradict.\u201d[3]<\/a><\/li>\n
    2. Lastly, we return to the statement above, wherein we were accused of \u201cjudging God\u201d. In this discussion, the elder who opposed us was greatly displeased that we had dared to criticise the Elders\u2019 stand. Discussions turned to all sorts of fancy \u2013 Who is perfect? So and so did not really stack up, but he turned out to be a good elder! Then, the words etched in our mind for good came to the fore when the standard of an elder\u2019s family was raised. This elder responded with a \u201ccome back when you\u2019ve got teenage children!<\/em>\u201d which seemed both then and now as though he wished that our family would fail just so that our stand would be proven wrong. This conversation only came to a close when we put before him this question \u2013 Does the Bible state that a prospective elder must meet certain criteria to be worthy of office?<\/em> This chap was like a dog with a toffee. His mouth went round and round; lips pursed and danced, then came the affirmation, \u201cYes!\u201d This man knew enough to know that the Bible did list the criteria for office, yet he fought tooth and nail to defend an indefensible position and an Eldership that had together abandoned the Biblical principles.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Okay, let\u2019s move on. We have no desire to focus on the people herein represented. Sins offered, sins committed, we pray sins confessed, are all in the past and have all been dealt with by Jesus\u2019 all powerful and cleansing blood<\/span>. Rather, the intent is to look at the fallout of these \u201cinstances\u201d and to make sure that we learn the lessons.<\/p>\n

      \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ask yourself these questions: Are the eighty men in one congregation all Biblically qualified? On what authority does a Session \/ Consistory vote to \u201copt out\u201d of their calling? Why would an elder who knows the Bible\u2019s teaching in regard to an Elder\u2019s qualifications fight that teaching? Why would a Session \/ Consistory react to a congregant with antagonism and in essence provoke that person publicly, so much so that they cannot worship and eventually leave the congregation? Lastly, why would denominations, knowing God\u2019s instruction to Elders, limit their calling and thereby passively create a divide within the Eldership?<\/p>\n

      The one common answer to all these questions is: a defective view of Elders and Eldership<\/em>!\u00a0 In the current context of our discussion on Biblical Counselling, we then must ask, \u201cWhat is the outcome of this deficiency? Answer: The sheep suffer!!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      Not properly vetting the candidates for Eldership means that the standards are not upheld and that ungodly and unable men are elected to office. When a Consistory \/ Session votes not to fulfill their calling, then there are no guardians of the flock. When Elders argue against the clear teachings of Scripture in order to hide their errors, it is an act of pride that robs the sheep of protection and blessing. When a Consistory \/ Session acts in an antagonistic fashion, then they are guilty of driving sheep into the dangers of the wilderness.[4]<\/a> Lastly, when denominations adopt practices that divide the Eldership in an unBiblical manner, why are we surprised when the bulk of the Eldership are viewed disparagingly as second rate and are, therefore, not esteemed by the sheep? Similarly, why are we surprised when the \u2018exalted\u2019 ones end up burnt-out or on stress leave because the \u201cworkload is just too much!\u201d<\/p>\n

      \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In all this the sheep suffer. In all this the cause of Christ suffers. In all of this the very Elders and Elderships themselves suffer<\/span><\/strong>.<\/span> Each failing is of great concern <\/em>because it plays into the hands of those who argue that Eldership needs supplementation by the university trained<\/em><\/span>.[5]<\/a> These deficiencies help to give rise to the \u201cChristian Counselling\u201d phenomena that is rife at the moment.<\/p>\n

      As anecdotes alone prove little, let us explain the detriment of these anecdotes by relating them to the commands and instructions given in Scripture\u2014our ultimate and only authority. Regarding Elders and Eldership, Scripture states:[6]<\/a><\/p>\n

      1 Timothy 3:1-7: It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to<\/em> do. 2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, uncontentious, free from the love of money. 4 He must be <\/em>one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity 5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 and <\/em>not a new convert, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. 7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, <\/em>so that he may not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil<\/span>.<\/p>\n

      Titus 1:5-9: For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains, and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, 6 namely, <\/em>if any man be above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. 7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God\u2019s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, 9 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<\/span>.<\/p>\n

      1 Timothy 5:17-20: Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, \u201cYou shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,\u201d and \u201cThe laborer is worthy of his wages.\u201d 19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. 20 Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also may be fearful of<\/em> sinning<\/span>.<\/p>\n