Our Elders Are Dying! What Do We Do Now? - Joey Ferrell

I grew up hearing the story of Chicken Little (you know “the sky is falling, the sky is falling") and I know this title sounds a little like that, but there is some reality in what the title means….

Let’s take a few minutes to look at what is becoming a major problem within the church of today, and what the biblical idea is that can help us to determine “what do we do now?"

(Disclaimer: I do not serve as an elder. I have not served as an elder. In my current role in ministry working with The Gospel of Christ, I do not feel that even if all of the “boxes” are checked (which I indeed struggle with at times), serving as an elder would not be practical in my opinion, whatever that is worth, to serve the kingdom in the local church in that capacity being that I travel many Sundays to preach and to events across the country. I have served in capacity in the past as a deacon for a congregation, and have studied the roles of leadership in depth; however, I do not claim to be the authority, nor infallible in my thoughts.)

The bible has a clear idea on biblical leadership in the church as given in several passages. The overarching picture given is the idea of “shepherding” a flock as can be seen in 1 Peter 5 where Peter, himself being an elder, encourages and instructs his fellow elders using the three classifications that we might label as “elder (pastor), bishop, and shepherd.”

In the United States, the church faces a challenge and has for many years. Many good men have stepped into the role of an elder and served in that capacity until they were unable for various reasons…or they die. Unfortunately, when this happens, it can be very devastating not only to the point at hand in the congregation, but it also may include a dissolve of leadership completely as is established through the words of scripture in having a plurality of elders. One man cannot serve as a “pastor” even though the common language of our day misuses the term to identify those who preach often that may never be qualified to serve in the biblical practicality of qualifications in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. We won’t take this post to go over all of those qualifications, but we will touch on the idea of how one gets to that point.

So, with our elders “dying” with age or ability to serve, what do we do? Should we be concerned that the church may not have elders in the future or even in present? What is God’s prescription for elders in the church? Well, Paul told Titus to stay in Crete until there were elders and he told both Titus and Timothy what would be required, so there is definitely a biblical narrative that we need elders…in every congregation…when it is at all possible…so what do we do?

First off, we need to pray. Every congregation that does not have elders needs to pray about the future. Every congregation that has elders needs to pray about the future. Every congregation that has “issues” within the eldership of unqualified men, or sin in the camp or…needs to pray about the future.

Secondly, elders don’t just show up one day. As a matter of fact and expediency, it is probably unwise for a fairly new member (even if not a novice - which would disqualify one anyway) to serve as an elder. Why? Well, the principal of shepherding….a shepherd MUST know his sheep, and the sheep MUST know their shepherd. This takes time. This takes encouragement. This takes an open mind to both the man who may serve and the sheep who need him to serve to not be an impulse decision to “fill a spot” in absence.

Thirdly, elders need to be qualified. The church is NOT a business, a corporation or a social club where leaders are hired, appointed, or voted in because of their popularity or accomplishments…even though sometimes those lines are blurred because of the characteristics of good leadership in these latter mentioned organizations. Putting a man into a position that is not qualified is as equal to not having elders at all as they are in name only and not fulfilling the will of God.

Fourth, stop making it too difficult for men to become elders….hold on, read this again. For years, I have heard a lot of negative stories of how bad elders were treated…and it is even far greater to hear how preachers are treated at times! Why would any man want to serve (or his wife want him to serve) in a role that would constantly be torn down, mocked, challenged, scolded for decisions, and so on? Some state that a man is not qualified if he does not desire the work of a bishop (as we see in 1 Timothy 3); however, please pay closer attention to that context. The desire is a characteristic of the man, not a qualification. No man should serve that does not desire, but at the same time, qualified men should want to and work to have the desire….and that takes ALL of us to help encourage that desire, not just his own attitude. While it is true that some may desire the position in order to advance themselves, or to be in control (See 3 John about Diotrophese), or because they want to show their leadership talent, most elders I have ever met start with the true desire to serve God’s church and in turn His desires from a good place in their own heart. Stop questioning their motives, but also, men, please never ever think that this position is something that will change your status in the church or the community to elevate your importance.

Fifth, plant the tree now! It has been said in many an illustration that the best time to plant a tree you want to use for shade was many years ago….but the next best time is yesterday or today. You cannot expect a man that is living a worldly life one day to be converted tomorrow and be qualified to serve as an elder in two years. It just does not happen like that. Many times when a man is considered a reasonable age to become an elder, he has lived an entire life. Sometimes that life has things that have happened that would disqualify him…as early as he became an accountable age and knowledge of sin was known, even if before becoming a Christian (i.e., unscriptural marriages). The time for us to be seeking elders is always now, but it is not always the typical candidates that we seek. We need to be training our young me (and women) to keep their lives on track to become “elder” or “elder’s wife” material (deacon can also be substituted as the qualifications are very similar). Our young boys need to know what an elder is and how they can become one one day. They need to see the joy in desire of the office. The teenagers need to know that the role of elder is one that they can look up to and strive to be. The young adults that recently were married need to know that God has a purpose for their lives in the kingdom. The middle-aged couple that has been faithful in their Christian walk needs to be encouraged to consider working toward that goal of desire and qualifications. We need to plant the tree today!

I was asked recently, and this is not a new question, why do we not have “elder training” schools sort of like we do preaching schools. Well, there would probably be a half dozen answers to that and all would be possibly correct, or incorrect. But, we do have elder training in the form of studying the qualifications together as a church family, preaching from the pulpit as a preacher, going to classes that are offered by various congregations and other lectureship events, and as we started off - praying for open hearts to the idea and the right path for congregations and members alike to find and grow qualified men to lead and shepherd the church of God!

Threads - a study on Women's Role in the church - Amy Lawrence

Threads

Women In the Church

As in any organization, every person involved has their part to do in order for the machine to run properly. Every part matters. The church is made up of many individual threads in a tapestry - a picture that should show Christ to the world. No thread is above another in worth or merit. 

None of us are worthy of salvation, but salvation is still given without partiality, Rom. 3. Women are often seen as less in the church by those that do not understand the church because we are commanded to submit to men. We are to have no leading role in the services of assembly worship, 1 Tim. 2:8-15, and are expected to have a “gentle and quiet spirit”, 1 Pet. 3:1-6. To outsiders, this is seen as demeaning and unfair. I’d like to show anyone that is interested in truth why being a woman in the church is neither of those things. The women that make up their respective threads in the tapestry of the church are as important as any other thread.

I’d like to encourage anyone reading this to consider the background of the church. The general population misses what is found in the background of any image because they focus only on what stands out. Women are a vital part of the church, but our roles are primarily found beyond the obvious. We are the daughters, mothers, sisters, and wives that make up the female portion of each congregation, and we each have specific responsibilities that are attuned to our given talents. Many would label these responsibilities as unimportant, but they couldn’t be more incorrect. What makes our responsibilities within the church so important? I’m so glad you asked.

First and foremost, we can be a Christian influence. The most life-changing and significant decision any person can make in this life is becoming a child of God. Yes, that is more profound than ANY decision we will make as human beings. Such a choice allows one to be adopted into the family of God Almighty. That in itself is worthy of our gratitude, 2 Cor. 9:15. Being a part of the family of the Father of all Creation should not only be a priority, it should carry with it a desire to be pleasing to God with an attitude of service. The adoption is only the beginning of this abundant life, but I do not want anyone to be ignorant of what this physical life is, exactly; it is a life of service, Luke 9:23. If service is beneath you, then Heaven is beyond you. We’ve been given the example of service and humility to follow, John 13:1-17, but more than that…we’ve been given the recipe for happiness, vs. 17. Serving is always a fulfilling endeavor - not just for the one being served, but for the one serving also. I say this because every Christian, whether male or female, must understand that we are all here to glorify God, not ourselves, Is. 43:7. A part of serving God is serving one another in love, 1 Pet. 4:8-10.

One must also understand that organizations cannot function without structure and order. We have been given the details of the structure and order God requires of His people, the church. This is a concept that has always existed among God’s people. Rules and regulations are a necessity to maintain that ordered structure. If you do not like to be ruled and regulated and feel that you never will, then being a child of God is going to be difficult for you. Humility is a necessary element of being a servant, 1 Pet. 5:5.

Women are as much the living stones that make up the building of God as men are, 1 Pet. 2:4-10. All stones, however, are told what our place is in that building. Proud women tend to feel that they can tell God what their place should be instead of the other way around. They feel that they are too strong, capable, and intelligent to be submissive to rules of gender as found in scripture. What they don’t realize is that, without God, they are none of those things, 1 Chr. 29:12, John 19:10-11. Everything we are or hope to be we owe to God - the Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent Creator - and every human being that has ever existed was fashioned by Him for one reason and only one reason: to glorify HIM, Is. 43:7, 1 Cor. 10:31. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and HE will lift you up.” (James 4:10) 

We have several examples of women in scripture that were humble and obedient servants to God. Before I reference these, I want to point out one simple detail. These women are not lauded in secular history. Only in scripture are they even mentioned.

• Hannah

We meet Hannah in the first chapter of 1 Samuel. Society has changed drastically since then, but in Hannah’s time, barrenness was seen as a blemish for women. Hannah was taunted by Peninnah for being barren, but Hannah, instead of choosing to retaliate or find means outside of God’s will to have a child, chose to pray, 1 Sam. 1:10. God blessed Hannah with a son, 1 Sam. 1:20. She dedicated her son to God, both in name (Samuel = “name of God”) and in living sacrifice, 1 Sam. 1:20-22. 

• Tabitha (Dorcas)

In the latter portion of Acts 9, we meet a disciple of Christ named Tabitha. She had a significant reputation in her community - so much, that the widows of the city of Joppa were in tears when Tabitha had gotten sick and died, Acts 9:36-39. Tabitha had given these widows articles of clothing she had made with her own hands. 

• Priscilla

Along with Aquila, this couple worked with the apostle Paul in Corinth. They were of the same occupation as Paul (tentmakers), and so they had that in common, Acts 18:3. When Paul left Corinth, they travelled with Paul to Cenchrea, Acts 18:18-19 (where something happened for which both Aquila and Priscilla protected Paul at the risk of their own lives) and then to Ephesus. This couple also allowed the church to use their home for worship, Rom. 16:3-5, 1 Cor. 16:19, which was common in the first-century church.

• Mary and Martha

These were the sisters of Lazarus, and Jesus loved them all, John 11. They frequently had Jesus in their home, and we are shown that Jesus taught while He was there, Lk. 10:39. He was both fed and heard, Lk. 10:38-42. 

When we address the roles of women as found in scripture, we can see that they do not measure up to the world’s standard of greatness. God’s standard, however, is the one that matters, and God’s standard has never changed, James 4:4-10.

What are the roles of women in the church? What can (and can’t) we do? Every Christian in the church is to, first and foremost, submit to one another, 1 Pet. 5:5. We are all members of the same body, and we must all be able to work together in order to accomplish the purposes of that body, 1 Cor 12. Does this mean we can rule over the men? No. The structure of the church is shown plainly in 1 Cor. 11:3. We must know our place. Anyone that has ever cooperated in carrying an extremely heavy load knows what it feels like when someone abandons their place. It doesn’t just affect the apostate. It affects every person underneath that load. 

We must also understand that every little bit helps. Too many get offended because they don’t want the “little bit” jobs. They want the big jobs that put them on the tall pedestal. What they miss is the importance of the little jobs. I am reminded of the Japanese moral story of a horse losing its shoe simply because it was missing a nail. “For want of a nail, the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe, the horse was lost. For want of a horse, the message could not be carried. For want of a message, the battle was lost.” There is no role in the church that is unimportant. Even when we don’t feel seen, El Roi sees, Gen. 16:13. He sees when we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit those in need. He sees when we teach our children and fellow women about Him, influence others through our conduct, and exhibit a modest, gentle, and quiet spirit through how we dress and carry ourselves. Every little bit helps. You never know who has been brought to God simply through your influence - because they were able to see God through you, Mt. 5:16.

Allow me to list some of the things we as women can do in the church and in our homes to promote care for the church and sharing of the gospel. We can:

• -visit/call/send cards to the sick/shut in, Mt. 25:36

• -feed anyone that wants to eat, Prov. 31:14-15

• -clean the meetingplaces of the church, Prov. 31:27, Acts 16:11-15, 40

• -organize fellowship events, prepare communion, Eph. 2:19, Gal. 6:10

• -teach children/other women or aid other teachers, Deut. 6:7, Titus 2:4

• -keep teaching material up to date and stocked, 1 Pet. 4:10

• -participate in ladies’ days, Titus 2:4

• -volunteer to help in any task for worship, gospel meetings, VBS, missionaries, etc., Col. 3:17

• -be a good influence in the community in both service and conduct, Mt. 5:16

• -maintain your home, making sure your husband and children are well cared for, Prov. 31

• -be a godly daughter, wife, mother, sister, 1 Tim. 2:9-10

  
  I could go on, but I believe the gist is understood. There are a plethora of selections when it comes to what women can do. Just because we cannot be ahead of men in worship does not mean that we cannot do our part in spreading the Word. We are still the salt of the earth and the light set upon a hill. 

Our goal as Christians should be to draw all attention toward Christ. We should want Him to be seen. The only way to accomplish that is to look like Him, 1 Cor. 11:1. When we’re spiritually minded and focused, Christ is able to shine through us, 2 Cor. 4:3-7, and God is glorified, 1 Cor. 10:31. I hope that this study helps us to see that we are all threads in the beautiful tapestry of Christ, and we, as daughters of the King, have been given a place and responsibility that is profound. Godly women. May we know them, may we be them, may we raise them.