Time to check our resumes.
What if the elders in our local assembly ran an ad in the newspaper that read something like this: “Help Wanted: seeking qualified Christians to prayerfully share in exacting work to edify others. Must be willing to submit to godly authority.” Would we apply for the job? Elders seldom talk about it, but they could use the help of every believer in the assembly in three areas:
Reducing premature criticism
Some time ago, a Christian brother shared that the qualifications for an elder (or overseer) are “so low everyone should have them.” It’s true! Every believer should aspire to the qualifications of an overseer, not just an elite few. 1 Timothy 3:2-7 and Titus 1:6-10 outline the non-negotiable prerequisites: blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, of good behavior, hospitable, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, patient, not a brawler, not quick-tempered, not covetous, rules his house well, has faithful children, not young and/or inexperienced in the faith, has a good testimony to the world, not self-willed, a lover of good men, just, holy, holding fast the Word, and able to exhort or refute those who oppose biblical doctrine. This is not to say that elders—or their families—are perfect! Nor are they exempt from the educational and corrective work of our Lord (Heb. 12:6-7,11)—an overseer of the Lord’s flock and his family are subject to the same scriptural expectations and discipline as any other believer. However, there are Biblical guidelines in place for confronting sin in an overseer: accusations should not be received unless they are supported by “two or three witnesses” (1 Tim. 5:19). Such a safeguard protects the elder from backbiting, rumor, and innuendo that may originate from the personal animosity of some.
Sharing the load
Elders make time in their week to oversee and feed the flock (1 Pet. 5:2), counsel saints (Acts 20:17; 21:18), invite fellow believers into their homes (1 Tim. 3:2), visit those that are physically and/or spiritually sick (Jas. 5:14), recognize other believers’ God-given ministries (Acts 15:22-23), labor personally in God’s Word (1 Tim. 5:17), deliberate issues with others in the oversight (Acts 15:6-7; 20:17; 21:18), defend against doctrinal opposition (Titus 1:9-10), and make financial and administrative decisions on behalf of the local church (Acts 11:29-30; Heb. 13:17). It is easy to find faults in an assembly and bring them to the attention of the elders, but, before doing so, we must ask ourselves this: what are we doing to help? A preacher once compared the local church to a tree saying, “There are two things that suck the life out of an assembly—suckers and dead wood.” Dead wood contributes nothing but added weight to a plant, while suckers deplete its vitality. God forbid that we cease to perform our God-given responsibilities as branches of the true Vine and debilitate the whole rather than contribute to its beauty and function. Instead, may we live to build up and encourage one another, working through problems ourselves—if possible—before involving the elders. We all need to be active in using our spiritual gifts to practically minister to one another (Rom. 12:3-21).
Submitting prayerfully
In many of the epistles, various “people-problems” are implied or specifically addressed within the context of the local church. Unfortunately, the overseer must address many problems among the saints such as self-will, anger, division, doctrinal wrangling, and so on. Elders govern by example (1 Pet. 5:3; Heb. 13:7), from a scriptural base (1 Tim. 5:17), and from practical experience (1 Tim. 3:5). Their desire is to help fulfill the needs of the church (Acts 14:23; Php. 1:1; Titus 1:5), and this desire is God-given (1 Tim. 3:1; Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2). The end result of placing ourselves under the elders’ authority is benefit for all. Hebrews 13:17 reads, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” It is easy to submit to the elders when we agree with their decisions but much more difficult when their course of action is unpopular, or even when we believe it to be wrong. When we feel a problem has not been handled correctly, we should approach the overseer as a father, with meekness and respect, not with stinging rebuke (1 Tim. 5:1). In 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Paul exhorts Timothy to pray for those in authority. Whether we agree with them or not, our elders need our prayers!
May we answer the “help wanted” call in order to harmoniously work together with our overseers to the glory of God.