The Recognition of Elders
Correspondence continues to arrive on this subject and more is welcome. It will be kept for future reference. Before turning now to another topic, it seems fitting to quote from one correspondent in full. Two of his points should be especially noted: the New Testament does not give exact examples or commands regarding the installation of elders today. Secondly, he does not believe that Scripture leaves room for a democratic vote by everyone in fellowship. We have to agree. He writes:
“The New Testament teaches that the church planter selected the first elders in the assembly he planted. After that, the New Testament is quiet. This would seem to indicate that we are to look to the Lord for culturally sensitive ways of recognizing those whom God has prepared to serve. Since we are affirming God’s choice, we must be prayerful and patient until He reveals His will. The manner in which He reveals His will is likely to vary in the cultures of the world, but we can safely assume that the original elders will seek the face of the Lord in prayer and in mutual consultation until they are sure they have come to the mind of Christ.” —J.S.
The Priority of Elders
Many groups of believers are small, and so the burden of work tends to fall on a few or even just one pair of shoulders. Even in larger assemblies where there may be more to carry the load, there is always the danger that elders will get bogged down in procedural matters and the true work of an elder gets neglected.
We believe the above to be sadly true. It should provoke us to ask, “What is, or what should be, the true work of an elder?”
We must not try to answer that question by looking around to see what is going on in other assemblies, nor judge by what our own weakened condition might sometimes tempt us to accept. We must go back to the Word first of all, and then—with the Holy Spirit’s help—seek to put into practice what we find there.
Paul’s charge to the elders at Ephesus in Acts 20:17-35, along with Peter’s admonition in 1 Peter 5:1-2, make it very clear what the priority of an elder has to be: he must “take heed” to himself and then feed or tend the flock.
In light of the above, we should not be surprised to learn that it is essential for an elder to be “apt to teach” (1 Tim. 3:2). That does not mean it is necessary for him to be the kind of teacher mentioned in Ephesians 4:11. Public ministry may not be his forté, but he should be able to open up the Word and counsel members of the flock in an effective manner. Something is very wrong if we are comfortable with less (see Ezek. 34:2-10).
Extra-biblical procedures and programs are not the concern of a true elder unless he sees these things interfering with the local church’s four-fold ministry (Acts 2:42). Spiritually-minded believers may be involved in Sunday School, Awana, Coffee Hours, etc., but such programs require the leader to give most, if not all, of his time to them. An elder must be free to care for all age groups and every aspect of the local testimony. And for this to be done effectively, there must be at least more than one elder.
On occasion two elders may be a necessity, but this can give an unhappy situation where believers find themselves aligned to one elder or the other according to preference. This is a division waiting to happen. There is wisdom in seeking the Lord to raise up three or more, and it behoves elders everywhere to be training and encouraging spiritual younger men who may be the Lord’s provision.
—ed.