Truth Magazine

By Mike Willis

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine (1 Tim. 5:17).

The Lord placed in the hands of the elders the responsibility of oversight and pastoring. Younger men, regardless of how much mental discernment they might possess, were not chosen for oversight of the church. Preachers more than elders have been contributors to the publications circulating among us. Recognizing that we are allowing a vast fountain of spiritual resources to go untapped by the journals, I consulted with brother Fred Pollock, president of Guardian of Truth Foundation and elder in the Mill Road church in Cincinnati, to put together this special issue of Guardian of Truth. His advice, recommendation of names, articles, and other input were absolutely essential for this issue. To him goes the thanks for the planning and collecting of these articles.

Most of the men who have contributed to this special issue are not regular writers for a journal. Some were reluctant to participate in this issue, having a very modest opinion of their own abilities. Perhaps their humility is one reason their reputations as God-fearing men have spread outside the local churches of which they were members. We have gathered their articles together and are delighted to print them in this issue.

The elders who have written have tackled some difficult questions, such as whether or not to relocate when the community around the building is deteriorating and the members are leaving the area, the preacher/church relationship, appointing successful business men as elders, when to resign, developing men to lead the worship, keeping good communication between the elders and the rest of the congregation, developing a good teaching program, keeping out false doctrine, etc. Understandably, many of the comments which are given are judgmental decisions and your judgment may differ from that of those who have written. I simply remind you that these men are elders men who have the experience of years and are the God-appointed men to lead us in making judgmental decisions. That does not mean that they are infallible or that their judgment in their local situation is best in your situation, but it does give us reason to give them a respectful hearing. Though the following text is obviously applied to the local church, perhaps we have not done it an injustice to use it to encourage respect for the elders who write in this special issue.

And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake (1 Thess. 5:12-13).

We have moved through a period during which our culture manifested very little respect for the aged. Some of this lack of respect for the elderly among us has spilled over into the church. Young men sometimes speak as if wisdom was never learned by any before themselves. Some seem to know the answers to questions they have never heard. We desire to engender greater respect for all elderly people but especially those who, having met the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, were appointed to serve as elders over the local church.

The Lord’s church in some places has been troubled by those who have denied that elders have any authority, as taught by Charles Holt and several others. The Lord is the one who gave the elders the work of oversight (Acts 20:28) and commanded the rest of the church to submit to them (Heb. 13:17). Even as we hope to avoid the influence of the culture which shows little respect for aged people, we also hope to avoid the influence of the false teachers who deny that elders have authority to oversee a congregation.

As you read the articles which have been submitted, I think you will appreciate the insight provided by these men and desire more contributions from these and other elders on a more regular basis. Perhaps these articles will prime the pump for contributions from other elders. I think you will enjoy this special issue of Guardian of Truth.

Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 1, pp. 2, 4
January 5, 1989

By John Haley

This special issue asks elders to comment on various needs facing the church today. The great need to develop men who are willing to take part in the public services is apparent. The title of this article correctly implies our anticipation that in attempting to meet that need we may hamper the worship service. Why this concern? Why do we worry that using inexperienced men in our services is likely to cause a decline in the quality of our worship? I’m afraid the answer to that question points us to an even more fundamental need facing us today and that is the need to re-focus on the object of true worship. In my judgment, to a significant degree we have forgotten the design and purpose of worship. It is this lapse of memory that is to a great extent responsible for discouraging untrained men – young and old alike – from a willingness to participate publicly in our collective worship. Furthermore, this forgetfulness is responsible for our reluctance to ask these inexperienced men to serve. Somehow we view their unsophisticated, naive efforts as unsuitable for our worship – surely their incompetence would only hamper our services. The goal of this article is to show why we have come to feel this way, and to help us remember again that what makes worship such a wonderful and unique experience is its object rather than our expertise. In reminding us of this we hope to rejuvenate our worship and at the same time encourage our men to a willing and enthusiastic participation in it.

While worship is nowhere defined in Scripture, its meaning is derived from the words used to describe it. For example, the principal word for worship in the Old Testament is shahah meaning “depress,” “bow down,” “prostrate.” the principal New Testament word proskuneo meaning “kiss (the hand, or the ground) toward.” These words bend the worshiper’s body and point his mind in one direction – towards God! Vine says of worship that it broadly “may be regarded as the direct acknowledgment of God, of His nature, attributes, ways and claims Even the English word “worship” derives from the Old English “weordhscipe” and means “worthship” i.e. worthiness, dignity, or merit, again pointing to the wondrous nature of the transcendent God of the universe. The point I want to make is that biblical worship centers upon Jehovah God and his majesty. The true worshiper is filled with the vision of Isaiah 6, “1 saw the Lord sitting on the throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of his robe filling the temple. Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory. And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filled with smoke” (vv. 1,3,4). God is at the.;.center of this vision of worship. Only peripherally does the worshiper see himself and even then only in relationship to the central object of ‘ his worship. This is clear from Isaiah’s vision as he goes on to say in 6:5, “Then I said, Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” The object of genuine worship is not man. It is God.

Today in the modern church, I believe we have lost this focus. Perhaps because of the combined evil influences of sectarianism and secularism upon the church, we have become people oriented in our worship. To be more specific we have enthroned self at the center of the picture. All too often worship becomes a time for us to don our Sunday best and put on smiling faces so that we may show the world what Christ has done for me. Or perhaps a time when I can in fact have my needs met so that I can become smiley-faced and feel good about myself. Quality worship then becomes synonymous with worship that effectively meets my needs. Our central question always seems to be, “How did this worship benefit me? What did I get out of it?” Self-enchancement and gratification becomes an object and end within itself. To be sure the true worshiper will feel good about himself. He will also be edified and up-builded. All of this, however, should be peripheral. Frequently it seems worship today feeds man’s ever expanding ego and exalts his view of himself. This is just the opposite of God’s intention. True worship focuses upon God and confronts man with the stark reality of God’s sovereignty. In consequence of this, man is literally driven to his knees in total self-submission as he considers his own pitiful inadequacy. In reflecting upon the quality of our worship, the central question ought to be: “Did I magnify God’s name to the best of my ability?”

How does this relate to the subject at hand? Simply in this way. To the extent that we thrust ourselves into the centerfold of worship, we magnify the importance of our doing things well. Now, whereas it is true that we magnify God when we honor his request that we sing, we magnify self when we pride ourselves in how good it must sound. Whereas we magnify God when we humbly approach his throne on bended knee, we magnify self when we pride ourselves in how correctly or elegantly the prayer was worded. Prayers should edify us but where is our emphasis? How many times, for example, has someone thanked you for “that prayer that uplifted me” as opposed to thanking you for a prayer that exalted the name of God Almighty. Quality worship, it seems, has come to be defined by how well we have mastered the art of making one another feel good. Our traditions, then, have determined the model preachers, prayer leaders, song leaders, public announcers and waiters behind the table who will best accomplish this end. There is a technique to be learned – a role to be filled. The extent to which we approach the “ideal” in each of these aKeas is the extent to which we feel good about our worship. You can readily see the pressure this puts on one who is inexperienced in any or all of these areas. With the focus upon man and the emphasis upon how he performs there is a great pressure to make a good showing. When one stumbles or doesn’t measure up to the standard, he is responsible for a deterioration in the quality of our worship. This kind of pressure arises from a carnal,.sectarian spirit among us and ought not to be. It greatly discourages men from making a genuine effort to serve God through leading in the public worship today. We need to remove that kind of pressure. As we have said, this can be done by de-emphasizing the im~ portance of how well we perform in worship, and focusing again upon the object of our worship – God himself. We need to regain the perspective that recognizes our very best to be nothing more than filthy rags before the majesty of him who reigns supreme. In doing this, I believe we will not only have done the single most important thing towards encouraging a willing public participation in the worship but at the same time we will have done that which is most needful in restoring the spirit of true worship. By way of reemphasis we could re-title this paper, “How To Encouarge The Development Of Men While At The Same Time Services.”

Improving The Public

Although the above is to me the central issue of this topic, there are in fact some practical matters to be considered. For example, even as we have seen, the very best we have to offer God in worship is pitifully insignificant; nevertheless the spirit of true worship requires that we give our best (Mal. 1:6-14). The principle of good stewardship requires that we develop our abilities as best we can (Matt. 25). Each of us in our individual congregations has the responsibility to encourage one another in this area (Eph. 4:11-16). We can do this by providing special classes for the purpose of instructing ourselves in the purpose and design of worship and some practical ways in which we might strive to achieve this end. In these classes we must help individuals find their talents and then encourage them to develop those. I think it is an abuse of the stewardship principle to encourage one to spend time attempting to develop a talent that he does not have. For example, if a man has no ability to lead the singing why waste time in that area when he could be spending that time developing a talent he does have? He is discouraged from attempting to lead singing, not on the grounds that it would hamper our service, but rather on the basis of his responsibility to develop the abilities he has. One of the advantages of these classes is that we find which of us is best suited to serve in each area. We must also be willing to provide these inexperienced men with the opportunity to use their talents in the assembly. And, when they do that, we should encourage them by telling them how much we appreciate their willingness to serve the Lord in that way.

As I think back on my growing up days at 77th St. in Birmingham, I can remember several classes I attended to encourage me to participate publicly in the worship service. They were all helpful but none was as encouraging to me as sister Thelma West. When I would take a public part in the worship she, without fail, would quietly tap me on the shoulder and say, “Thank you, I appreciated that.” She and I both knew that my effort to serve God in that way as feeble and unpolished. I think she understood and was trying to teach me that God’s power was being perfected in my own weaknesses (2 Cor. 12:9). Engaging in true worship will make us aware of our own contingent nature while impressing us with God’s preeminence. Thank God for women like Thelma West. May each of us strive to encourage one another in the way she encouraged me.

In summary, how may we develop men without hampering the public worship? First and foremost, recognize worship for what it is. Put the spotlight where it belongs – on God. Quit trying to impress God and one another by our outstanding performances. Do the very best we can and then recognize that as the insignificant accomplishment it is. Remember that God’s power and his praise is perfected by our own weakness. Within that context, encourage our men to develop and use their abilities to magnify God’s name in worship. May I encourage you to lead a public prayer next Sunday? Let me remind you of the Pharisee and the Publican. Please read Luke 18:9-14. Remember the Lord’s admonition in Matthew 6:1-14 and refer to the Psalmist’s advice in 51:15-17. Finally, meditate on what the wise man said in Ecclesiastes 5:2: “Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.” Listen to and heed all these instructions and you will be well suited to lead a prayer in the presence of Jehovah; for you will indeed have recognized that the Lord, he is God, the Holy One of Israel, the Incomparable One! After all, isn’t that what quality worship is all about!

Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 1, pp. 10-11
January 5, 1989

By Gene Tharp

As we consider the question of whether a man who is successful in business necessarily makes a good elder, we first need to consider the questions: what makes a successful businessman? What makes a good elder? Can the two be reconciled? Foremost in our minds, however, should be the questions: what does God want?

While we consider the elements that determine whether or not a man is a success in business, bear in mind that there is a difference in the definition of success as determined by the world and success as defined by the word of God. When people consider a businessman as successful, I believe that they see a man who has acquired knowledge and expertise in his field. He has also accumulated some wealth through his business and is recognized as having achieved these things by others. He usually is active in social clubs and community activities. He has met the standards of being successful by the society in which he lives. Someone who merely makes enough to get by is not considered to be successful. In recent months we have read in the news about men who have made their livelihood by dealing in stocks, bonds and securities. These men made fortunes in their work and were considered very successful in their field. but when all of the facts were revealed, these men had used their knowledge and ability in an illegal way. Were these men successful? Most people would consider them to be successful.

While men like these are the exception rather than the rule, those who do desire to be successful have to dedicate their lives to their business. Many hours a day are put into their business so that they can got ahead in life. The things they possess reflect if they are a success. Expensive homes in good neighborhoods, expensive cars, fancy clothes, living in elite society are indications of being a successful businessman. Consider Psalms 49:18, “Though while he lived he blessed his soul; and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.”

The World’s Concept Of Success

As we have considered the world’s definition of success, now consider what God has to say about those who desire to be successful or rich. While God never condemns someone because he is rich, he does condemn the attitude of obtaining or using riches for one’s self. Look at the parable of the rich man in Luke 12:16-21. He was a successful farmer whose ground was very fruitful. He had such a bountiful crop that his barns would not hold his increase. His attitude was not to help others with his goods, but rather to lay aside all for himself. God’s answer to him was that his soul would be required of him that night, then whose would be those things that he had provided? In verse 21, Christ said, “So is he who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich towards God.” Also the rich young ruler trusted in his riches (Matt. 19:16-30; Mk. 10:17-22). When Jesus told him to sell all that he had and give it to the poor and follow Jesus, he went away grieved because he had great possessions and would have to lose all of them. Jesus observed this and said to his disciples that it was hard for those who trusted in riches to enter the kingdom of God (Mk. 10:23-24). Paul said that those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and harmful lusts. He said that some have strayed from the faith in their greed and pierced themselves through with many sorrows (1 Tim. 6:9-10). Men whose goal in life is to obtain wealth and fame spend most of their time and energy in reaching their goal, using whatever means are available, even if these means are not legal, ethical or moral. Paul’s admonition to those who are rich is not to be haughty or to trust in uncertain riches, but rather to trust in God and to do good, to be rich in good works, ready to give, and willing to share (1 Tim. 6:17-19).

God’s View of Success

Turning now from what is the worldly view of success and looking in the Scriptures we can see that God’s view of success is quite different. While we often look at a person and judge him on his appearance, God does not do so. For example, when Samuel went to Bethlehem to anoint the one whom God had selected to be king, Eliab, one of Jesse’s sons, came before him. Samuel said that surely the Lord’s anointed was before him. God then said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or at the height of his stature because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:1-13). Although we cannot look into a person’s heart and see what he thinks, his words and deeds indicate what is in his heart (Matt. 15:18-20; Mk. 7:2023). Jesus said that we will know men by their fruits (Matt. 7:16-20). The things that men say and do indicate the objects upon which they place their trust.

Spiritually-Minded Men

God’s will is for men to be spiritually-minded, not trusting in material possessions. When Jesus came preaching and teaching about the kingdom of God, he emphasized the change from the physical law of Moses to the spiritual law of Christ. The Sermon on the Mount indicates this. Read through Matthew 5-7 and see the attitude change that Christ was seeking. The change from “Thou shalt not” (Ex. 20) to “Let this mind be in you” (Phil. 2:5) is indicated throughout the whole sermon. The Hebrew letter, chapters 7-10, emphasizes the change from the old physical law to the new spiritual law of Christ. Chapter 9:6-15 compares the Levitical High Priest with Christ the spiritual High Priest. All the letters of the New Testament emphasize the qualities of being spiritually-minded. As we look through the book of Acts and see the maturing of the church, we can see the emphasis on being spiritually-minded. In Acts 6:1-7, the quality of being spiritually-minded was stressed in the selection of the seven men to take care of the widows. They were to be of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. After Paul and Barnabas went through Asia preaching, they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch and strengthened the souls of the disciples as they exhorted them to continue in the faith (Acts 14:21-22). Paul stressed spirituality, the need to trust in God and to remain faithful through tribulation. The Colossians were urged to seek the things above and to set their mind on things above and not on the things of the earth (Col. 3:1-2). Their hope and trust was to be on things eternal and not on the possessions of material things. Peter cited the need for spirituality when he wrote, “. . . rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ, as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct because it written, be holy for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:13-16). A good description of being spiritually-minded is in Romans 8:4-5: “that the righteous requirements of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their mind on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”

Simply put, these Scriptures say that the one who is spiritually-minded lives his life according to the laws of God, trying always to please him. Those who are worldly-minded try to please themselves. We observe these things by people’s actions. Numerous Scriptures state that we are to be heaven-oriented and not to be worldly-minded. A person who has as his goal obtaining heaven and eternal life, not only lives his life for God, but tries to help others to do the same. That is why God wants men who have demonstrated this spiritual-mindedness for elders. The qualifications for an elder are mostly spiritual and not worldly qualities. Even the requirement of being married and having children stresses the aspect of spiritual qualities, i.e., ruling his own house well and having his children in submission with all reverence. The overseers of the congregation cannot afford to be anything less than spiritually-minded because of the example that they set, not only to the congregation, but to the world as well.

The necessity for elders to be spiritually-minded is paramount as they feed the congregation (1 Pet. 5:2) by arranging Bible classes and class material, teaching, encouraging, admonishing those who are contrary to God’s word. Much prayer, thought and discussion about the spiritual needs of the members is given. People observe the actions of elders and can tell whether or not an elder is of a spiritual nature. How can an elder instruct someone to be more faithful in service to God if the elder’s priorities are on material things? Encouraging a weak brother or sister, a new convert, an elderly Christian, a young mother, etc. to be more faithful requires one who is without doubt a faithful Christian. A pleasant and rewarding aspect of being an elder is to see a member grow in faith and knowledge and see the application of his growth in his prayers, teaching Bible classes, preaching, etc. This encourages an elder as he sees this Christian trying to please God in all that he does. As we observe the work of the elders, we recognize that a good elder is a man who is spirituallyminded, seeking to please God in all that he does.

As the elders oversee the congregation, their leadership will determine how effective the church is in the task of evangelism and teaching. Great care, therefore, needs to be taken when elders are appointed by a congregation. The need to appoint only godly, spiritually-minded men who meet those qualifications as set forth by the word of God is inescapable. The question of why they seek to be elders needs to be handled before they are appointed, rather than afterwards. Do they want to be elders so that they can be in charge of church affairs? Do they seek the office for prestige? Or is it for other reasons such as increasing the size of the building or a larger bank account? Do they really care about people’s souls and want to help them as Christians? The past conduct of those being considered for elders should be closely examined. The things on which they placed priorities will indicate whether they are more worldly minded than spiritually-minded. If the church is to remain steadfast in the faith and in efforts to spread the gospel of Christ, then only spiritually qualified men should be appointed elders.

An Elder’s Occupation

Problems can arise in a congregation because of an elder’s occupation. When an elder has a successful business, his business expertise plays a role in his oversight of the congregation. Practices and ideas that are sound in business are used to decide spiritual practices. A large bank account is accumulated for a rainy day or an emergency. Demand is placed on physical results such as more contribution, adding to the building in order to make it comparable to buildings of denominations in the community. Numerical growth is stressed more than spiritual growth. Less thought is given to the spiritual growth of the members and more to the physical aspect. As more thought is given to pleasing the outward man, the church becomes weaker and less of a positive influence for Christ in the community.

Other difficulties may arise when an elder’s business affairs demand a large. part of his time. The time available for his family may cause dissension in his family. Decisions affecting the local congregation may be put off because he is not available to help make them. His ability to meet with members for teaching, encouraging or admonishing them depends upon the opportunity to get away from his business. Also his standing in the community could affect the elders in leading the church in withdrawing from the disorderly. You may think of other problems involving a successful businessman as an elder. You also may not see these as problems.

A business experience can be helpful in dealing with the decisions of the church, such as using his expertise in business to make financial decisions. Sound business decisions need to be made when the congregation needs to expand the building in order to accommodate growth of the congregation. Sound financial plans need to be made, considering the spiritual rewards from the decisions. A businessman’s knowledge in such a case can be a plus for the congregation.

However you may feel about the situation of a successful businessman being an elder, remember that God has set the standards for an elder and we have, no right to ignore or change any of them. An elder has to hold fast the faithful word so that he can teach and exhort by sound doctrine those who are teaching things contrary to sound doctrine (Tit. 1:9-11). The need for elders to be sound in the faith in teaching and admonishing, and in guiding the flock cannot be taken too lightly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, God’s requirements for being successful is not how much a person has accumulated in material possessions or fame (Luke 12: 15). A truly successful person is one who has placed his priorities properly, that is, loving God and being desirous of serving him with all his heart, soul and mind (Matt. 22:37-38). God does not recognize a man for this wealth. His recognition of man is based on man being spiritually minded. When elders oversee the congregation, how well they perform in the office depends upon the spiritual qualities of each and not on how successful they are in business.

You may agree with all you have read so far, but applying these thoughts to yourself may be difficult. If a man in your congregation who lived in a poor neighborhood was being considered for an elder, would you want him selected as an elder over you? Would you agree to an highly successful businessman who is spiritually-minded being chosen as an elder over you?

Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 1, pp. 6-8
January 5, 1989

By Rufus Clifford, Jr.

Why do churches fail to grow? I’ll tell you why: they do not have functioning overseers. Active, vibrant leaders are essential in government, business, and in the church. A governor who does not function will be ineffective and cause the state much harm. A corporate president who does not perform will lead his business into bankruptcy. An elder who views his office as an “honorary position” and does not function is displeasing to God, and will stymie the growth and spiritual development of the Lord’s church. A nice building in a good location, a good teaching and personal work program are certainly necessary for growth, but the real secret for the success of a congregation is functioning overseers. No congregation will be any stronger or more active than its leaders.

Being appointed an elder is truly an honor. Paul says in 1 Timothy 5:17: “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine. ” Even though this is probably referring to monetary compensation, we see that being an elder is an honor, but not an “honorary position.” The one to receive honor is the elder who labors, implying action and function. To be an elder, a man must first “rule well his own house” (I Tim. 3:4). Having raised three children, I can testify that this involves lots of action and is not an “honorary position.” I Timothy 3:1 says, “If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. ” Notice that Paul describes the office as a working office, and not simply one of honor. Many today think of the eldership as a decision making board, served on by older men in the church as a position of honor. Having served as an elder for several years, I can testify that there are many tough decisions to be made, but also much work to be done. I’m afraid many don’t understand what it means to be a functioning overseer.

The function of elders and the character of their work is best described by the term bishop or overseer. Paul told the elders from Ephesus, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). To oversee is to watch over and manage; supervise, superintend. This is further emphasized by the word watchman as used in Ezekiel 33:7, “So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. ” Ezekiel was given the responsibility of a watchman over the house of Israel, to warn them for God. Thus, bishops are to supervise and watch over all the affairs of the church. They are to have vision enough to set goals for the congregation, make plans whereby these goals can be reached, and work with enough determination to see that they are reached. All too often, this is neglected, leaving the church with no direction and no program of work. Bishops are to oversee the work, worship, mission, and discipline of the church. They should not become so wrapped up in small things like replacing light bulbs, cleaning the building, and making duty rosters that they use up all their time, neglecting spiritual matters. The example of Acts 6 points out that work should be delegated to the deacons to be carried out under the oversight of the bishops.

As a physician, I am in charge of the care of my patients, however, I do not take every temperature, blood pressure, and pulse, or give every shot. These tasks are delegated and performed under my supervision. Just so it should be with bishops leaving them time to work with people. Building maintenance, benevolence, classes, check writing can be taken care of by deacons with the bishops meeting repeatedly with them to make decisions about what is to be done, especially what is to be taught in the classes and who the teachers are to be. It is also important for the bishop to consult with the evangelist about what topics need to be preached from the pulpit. When and where the congregation will meet for worship, who leads the singing, and who preaches must be decided by the overseers. With these things in mind, it is difficult to see how anyone could picture the office of an overseer as a non-functioning “honorary position.”

Peter exhorts the elders in 1 Peter 5:1-2 to “shepherd the flock of God which is among you. ” As we examine the work involved with being a shepherd, it will be apparent that this involves more than an “honorary position.” Jesus gives us a good idea of what a shepherd does for his flock in John 10:1-15. He points out that the shepherd knew his flock, he calls them by name, they know his voice, he is willing to lay down his life for them, he protects them from wolves, and they trust and follow him. What a beautiful description of how elders are to know each and every member of the congregation, keeping them from straying, protecting them from false teachers and doctrines, and making sure they are fed the proper spiritual food. They must watch after the souls of every member, realizing that they will have to give account to God for them (Heb. 13:17). This is a mind boggling responsibility that causes many shepherds to lose sleep. It helps to keep role at services which indicates those who need special attention. Visiting in the home of every family in the congregation will allow the shepherd to better know the members and gain insight concerning their spiritual needs. Shepherds are to be “examples to the flock” (1 Pet. 5:3) in every aspect of life; as husbands, fathers, businessmen, teachers, workers in the church, etc. The cause of Christ suffers today because shepherds fail to do these. things. In Ezekiel 34: 1-10, the Lord told Ezekiel to prophesy against the shepherds that feed themselves and not the flock, who fail to strengthen the sickly, heal the diseased, bind up the broken, bring back the scattered and search for the lost. Certainly, those shepherds who fail to function, who sit back and do nothing, believing their office is an “honorary position” fall into this category and stand condemned in the eyes of God.

Conclusion

Overseers are instructed by Paul in Acts 20:28 to “take heed unto yourselves. ” Self-examination is required of all Christians, but especially of elders. They need to ask themselves such questions as, “Why did I accept this appointment?” Was it for glory, honor, personal ambition, to boost my ego? Is my life above reproach? Am I setting the proper example? Am I a functioning overseer or just a figurehead who holds the office as an “honorary position”? Let us all pray that elders see and understand their duties and function in such a manner that the church will prosper and glorify God.

Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 1, pp. 5, 15
January 5, 1989