Truth Magazine

By Don Givens

There is much said regarding a “preacher shortage” in our time, and I certainly agree that we need more and more qualified and dedicated gospel preachers. Satan has far too many ministers. Yet there is another shortage of which we hear and discuss too rarely; that is the shortage of qualified, working shepherds over the local flocks.

There is an urgent need, all over America and in other lands where there are congregations of the Lord’s people, for men to become scriptural bishops, pastors, overseers. It is my judgment that many congregations should have elders, but do not have them.

How many young men are busy working, studying, and praying so that in future years they may serve as elders? (Are you encouraging, or discouraging your sons to become elders in their maturity?) We know that to become a good gospel preacher takes time, study, and effort (1 Tim. 4:11-16; 2 Tim. 2:1-7; 4:1-7): have we forgotten that the same is true regarding elders? The best advice I could give to any young man starting out in his spiritual life is: live so that someday you might be an elder in the Lord’s church. That young man will then nurture his spiritual training, enlarge his Bible knowledge, and keep his reputation pure!

The reason many local churches do not have elders even after several years is because the individual men have not been working for several years to qualify themselves. Elders do not “grow on trees” overnight.

Men, as they mature, should desire the work of shepherding the flock, with a proper and godly motive. What can we do to encourage more men to desire this good work (1 Tim. 3:1)? One thing we can do is love, honor, and obey the good elders we do have in scripturally organized congregations (Heb. 13:17). But if you are a member of a congregation which does not have shepherds, then do what you can to arrive at that goal!

If you are a young man, start right now to study, pray, and work hard to fulfill the qualifications later in your lifetime. Keep yourself pure! Remember that your “personal decisions” in dating, marriage, and business ethics will affect thousands of other people during the course of your lifetime!

If you are an older, more mature man, and you have the biblical qualifications, then desire the good work. Why hide your talents? Why rob the church of your leadership? Why bury your talent in the ground?

If you are a female Christian, then become such a temperate and faithful woman that you would be an asset as an elder’s wife (1 Tim. 3:11).

There is a crying need for shepherds in various local flocks all over this land and on foreign fields. I have preached the gospel from Florida to Ontario, Canada to California to Texas, back to Canada, in Washington and now in Hawaii, and the same urgent need stares one in the face in all places: the crying need for shepherds over the local flocks. No wonder the sheep go astray when there are no shepherds to lead them (Acts 20:28)! No wonder the sheep starve when no shepherds are there to feed them (1 Pet. 5:1-5)! No wonder wolves destroy the flock when there are no shepherds there to protect (Acts 20:29-31)!

Brethren, God has a reason for appointing “elders in every church” (Acts 14:23). Do you have a better reason for not having them?

Guardian of Truth XXX: 6, p. 173
March 20, 1986

By Daniel H. King

Watching athletes compete in a contest of physical strength, endurance, skill or speed should impress the observer with many lessons for life. This was assuredly the case for Paul. When he wrote to the Corinthians, he remembered those races and competitions that he had either seen himself or heard about. It was more than just a memory, though. It was an education, a training ground for spiritual success. He admired some aspects of athletic prowess and ventured even to recommend them to Christians: “Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain. And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air; but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected” (1 Cor. 9:24-27).

We are brought to appreciate many facets of the athlete by this text. We are also challenged to apply some of the lessons he may teach us:

1. Dedication. The years of training and practice, the many hours or special preparation, the sacrifices made all these things spell out one essential: dedication. Without it they would not have spent the time or made the preparation or sacrifice as they have. The more dedicated they are, the greater their chances for success – and they know it. Seldom are they just “lucky” or “unlucky.” When they win and the more decidedly they win, it is usually to be explained in terms of their dedication. “I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight 1, as not beating the air,” writes the apostle. He has his goal before him. He has made it his aim and he had dedicated himself to attaining it. Nothing can stand in his way. Nothing else is so important. Can the Christian do less than the athlete? With heaven as our goal and an eternal crown as our prize, can we manifest an attitude that is short on dedication and still hope to reach that goal? “They do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. “

2. Self-control. “Every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things,” he further says. Athletes watch their diet and make sure they have sufficient rest. They try to balance proper nutrition and exercise with the right amount of sleep. Likewise, the child of God will try to spend time with the Scriptures in study, time with people in trying to bring them to Christ, time with their families in carrying out their responsibilities there. In short, the Christian will try to balance his responsibilities and control himself and his time. He will not allow his habits to control him: “I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage.”

3. Training and Practice. Pity the poor contestant who has been injured and cannot practice for a prolonged period of time. He gets “rusty” and does not perform well. He needs practice. The Christian who leaves the race and finds himself “out of duty” will soon awaken to a multitude of evils in his life. One needs the association with other Christians and the constant practice that derives from living the godly life on a day-to-day basis. If one does not watch it, he is soon completely out of the race, for good and forever!

4. Few Actually Win the Prize. Most people these days go about their religion as though everyone was somehow guaranteed a win. That is not what Paul says: “Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize?” He assumes that, for lack of dedication or practice or whatever, there are some who will not complete the race, or will finish it too late to gain the victory.

How much does heaven mean to us? It is certainly worth the effort. But will we be willing to put forth those energies essential to gaining the prize? “Even so run; that ye may attain!”

Guardian of Truth XXX: 5, p. 147
March 6, 1986

By Fred A. Shewmaker

In 1968 or 1969 my wife and I talked with a lady in her home at Sabina, Ohio. In some way she had connections with the Christian Church. The one at Sabina may have been called: “Church of Christ.” In our discussion mechanical music became a topic that was considered. The lady informed us of the local preacher’s assertion that the Bible does not authorize congregational singing. At the time such an assertion, to my mind, made that preacher a maverick. Now, less than twenty years later, the thing which he asserted appears to be the official doctrine of Independent Christian Churches.

When the lady supplied us with information regarding that assertion, we read Ephesians 5:19: “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” To the three of us this verse seemed to authorize each one in an assembly to sing with all others in the same assembly. Now comes Don DeWelt and those associated with him, denying that Ephesians 5:19 authorizes each one in an assembly for worship to sing while all others present are singing.

There is quite an irony in their denial. The irony lies in the fact that they are using the denial in an effort to unite mechanical music and non-mechanical music churches to which they refer as: “heirs of the Restoration Heritage.” This is ironic because as they appeal to a common heritage, they are abandoning the common ground of that heritage. Until recent times both the mechanical music and non-mechanical music peoples have held in common the belief that the word of God in such passages as Ephesians 5:19 authorizes all who come together into an assembly for worship to sing at the same time. Probably only certain preachers, and not the people in mechanical music churches, have abandoned that common ground of the heritage.

Shall we give up group singing in our assemblies, because some are denying that such singing is authorized by the word of God? Matthew 16.19 and 18:18 require having permission from heaven before doing a thing on earth. However, those denying that group singing in worship is authorized are not contending that we should give it up. To the contrary, they are contending unauthorized mechanical music may be used because we all agree that we can engage in group singing, which is according to their contention also is unauthorized.

The real issue is not whether or not mechanical music is authorized by the word of God. This has been made abundantly clear by DeWelt’s argumentation. He agrees that mechanical music is not authorized. That makes the real issue: can we or must we not employ in our worship things that are not authorized by the word of God. Even if DeWelt’s is right about group singing in our worship is authorized by the word of God. Because this is true, there exists a vast difference between those who accept mechanical music and those who reject mechanical music. The difference is in their attitudes regarding the need for biblical authorization for the things which they teach and practice.

DeWelt’s contention regarding the reciprocal nature of Ephesians 5:19 seems to me more an argument of necessity to his position than a requirement of the facts. However, rather than delving into that, there is another train of thought which I wish to pursue.

In 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul wrote, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” In 1 Corinthians 14:15, when dealing with orderliness in an assembly of the church, he also wrote, “I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.” Is he not here requiring the Corinthians to follow him as he would follow Christ? If not, what is his point? No doubt every one will admit that in singing any example Jesus set, which Paul could have followed, had to set before the Church was established. Did Jesus set such an example? If He did, what is that example?

Matthew 26:30 and Mark 14:26 follow the institution of the Lord’s supper by Jesus. He was with His apostles. “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.” The example Jesus left is an example of group singing in an assembly. By command Paul required following him as he followed Christ. We have full authorization to engage in group singing when we assemble to worship.

Guardian of Truth XXX: 6, p. 165
March 20, 1986

By Mike Willis

Ezekiel 34 denounces the “shepherds of Israel” because of their failures in leading God’s people. The shepherds were the tyrannical civil rulers over the nation of Judah who were more interested in “feathering their own nest” than in caring for God’s people. The shepherds of Israel failed to do what God commanded shepherds to do and then compounded their sin by using their position over the nation to their own financial advantage.

This passage is instructive to us for many reasons, not the least of which is understanding the proper work of a shepherd. Inasmuch as the elders in the New Testament are compared to shepherds (1 Pet. 5:1-3), we can learn from this passage the primary thrust of an elder’s work. Using Ezekiel 34 as our guide, let us consider the work of godly elders.

1. Feed the flock. Ezekiel said, “Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the Rocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock” (Ezek. 34:2-3). Peter charged elders over the church to do this work saying, “Feed the flock of God which is among you” (1 Pet. 5:2).

As one reads Ezekiel’s description of the tyrannical rulers over Judah who used the flock for their own financial benefit, he cannot resist comparing them to modern denominational “pastors” who are continually begging for money. Television evangelists are perpetual beggars who persuade those who can little afford to be separated from their money to send them a donation. Meanwhile the “pastors” own luxurious condominiums in resort areas of the country, drive luxury cars, and display their expensive jewelry. “Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.”

One of the qualifications of an elder is that he be “apt to teach” (1 Tim. 3:2); he should be qualified “both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers” (Tit. 1:10). This qualification of an elder places on him a burden to learn the word of God and how best to teach it.

In some congregations, the elders seldom participate in the teaching program. Some do not teach because they cannot teach and others do not teach because they do not want to teach. Although part of the work of an elder is to oversee the teaching program to be sure that qualified teachers are faithfully teaching God’s word, the elder who never participates in teaching the flock will soon lose the respect of the flock.

2. Strengthen the diseased, heal the sick, and bind up that which is broken. Ezekiel continued his rebuke of the elders of Israel saying, “The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken. . . ” (Ezek. 34:4). The work of a literal shepherd would involve carefully nurturing those sheep which were diseased, sick, or with broken bones.

The shepherd of the church is to watch for the souls of men (Heb. 13:17). He should notice when someone in the congregation becomes sick or broken. His responsibility as a shepherd is to work with the sin-sick soul to bring him back to health. When a member of the congregation begins to miss worship services, the elders should be among the first to call and/or visit the Christian to see what spiritual problem is endangering his soul. An elder who never checks on those who are becoming weak and are about to die will not be able to lead the congregation.

3. Retrieve those who are driven away or lost. Ezekiel added: “. . neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost” (Ezek. 34:4). The work of an elder was demonstrated in the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15:3-7.

And he spake the parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lost one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

The good shepherd of this parable went out looking for the lost sheep. Should this describe the work of godly shepherds today?

When a member of the church wanders into sin, the elders should go after him. There should not be an attitude of indifference, self-righteousness, or condescension displayed toward a sheep which has wandered away and become lost. Rather, there should be a concern for the lost soul of man, a desire to see that person saved in the day of judgment, which motivates the shepherd to go after him.

Neglected Work

Some among us see shepherds who are neglecting this portion of their work. They are writing that elders have no authority over the flock of God. God has given elders “rule” (“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves” – Heb. 13:17); they are “over us” in the Lord (“And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord. . . ” 1 Thess. 5:12). They have the responsibility to lead the congregation in the realm of decisions of a judgmental nature. They have no legislative or executive authority. God has granted to them the work of leading the congregation in obeying the commands revealed from heaven.

Apparently, some men view the work of elders much like a business. They make decisions regarding the spending of money; they make decisions regarding which subjects will be studied in which classes and who will serve as the teacher; they lead the congregation in securing a preacher (and dismissing him). All of these works are within the legitimate sphere of labor given to an elder. They oversee the treasury (a legitimate part of their work), but neglect the sheep.

Far too many elders are leaving any work which demands personal involvement with the sheep for others to do. Some elders rarely, if ever, practice hospitality, although this is a specific qualification given to elders (1 Tim. 3:2) and required of Christians generally (Heb. 13:2; 1 Pet. 4:9). They very seldom visit the members who are beginning to miss services, who have a spiritual problem, or otherwise need spiritual help. They act like the responsibility lies solely on the member who is going astray to contact them if they have a spiritual need. Inasmuch as they are not actively involved in working among the flock, they make very poor leaders of any program aimed at restoring the erring and seeking the lost. Some elders never meet with the congregation to inform the congregation of work which is planned and to receive input from the congregation about perceived needs. Soon they lose contact with the flock altogether. When they make a decision on some matter of judgment which does not reflect the desires of the flock, they wonder why the members of the church are upset and do not trust their leadership abilities!

Someone has said, “The preacher does the work of the elders; the elders do the work of the deacons; and the deacons do nothing.” I suppose that is an exaggeration. However, sometimes there is not a little truth in the observation. The preacher generally is actively working to save the lost, to restore the erring, and the keep others faithful. Some who are elders are busy at work mowing yards, painting classrooms, cleaning the baptistry, and other works which need to be done around the building. These jobs could be given to deacons or other members who lack the spiritual qualifications to do the work which elders should be doing. The result is that some elders, even many conscientious ones, are not doing the work which God assigned for them to do.

Some elderships seem more concerned about the upkeep of the physical facilities than they do in the saving of the lost souls. They are constantly looking for things which need to be done to the building but generally are negligent of the needs of the sheep and the expanding of the borders of the kingdom of God. More time is spent in the business meetings discussing the maintenance of the church building than in how to reach the lost.

Conclusion

God has placed a heavy responsibility on the shoulders of elders. Those with whom I have been associated have been honorable men whose faith I have sought to emulate. I do not write as one who has been disgruntled working with elders whom I could not respect. Rather, I write to call the attention of all God-fearing elders to the great work to take up the task before us with zeal, working among the flock of God to meet the spiritual needs of God’s people.

Guardian of Truth XXX: 6, pp. 162, 184
March 20, 1986