“Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood” Acts 20:28.
Last week we looked at the importance of committing to a church by becoming a member, and the need for a membership list for the elders to be able to do their job, delegated to them by Christ when He ordained them to be elders. This week we’ll look more closely at elders’ responsibilities.
“So Yahweh said to Moses: ‘Gather to Me 70 men… whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them…. I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone.” - Numbers 11:16-17
Elders serve with the minister in pastoring and bearing the burden of the people. Here is how the RCA’s Book of Church Order elaborates on the responsibilities of elders.
“The office of the elder is one of servanthood and service representing Christ through the action of the Holy Spirit. In the local church elders are chosen members of spiritual discernment, exemplary life, charitable spirit, and wisdom grounded in God’s Word. Elders, together with the installed minister serving under a call, are to have supervision of the church entrusted to them. They are set apart for a ministry of watchful and responsible care for all matters relating to the welfare and good order of the church. They are to study God’s Word, to oversee the household of faith, to encourage spiritual growth, to maintain loving discipline, and to provide for the proclamation of the gospel and the celebration of the sacraments. They have oversight over the conduct of the members of the congregation and seek to bring that conduct into conformity with the Word of God, thereby empowering all members to live out their Christian vocation in the world. Elders exercise an oversight over the conduct of one another, and of the deacons, and of the minister. They make certain that what is preached and taught by the minister is in accord with the Holy Scripture. They assist the minister with their good counsel and in the task of visitation. They seek to guard the sacraments of the church from being profaned. An elder may administer the sacraments, if authorized by the board of elders.”
In other words, elders are co-shepherds with the pastor. They take an interest in the lives of their flock, looking to encourage and model healthy spiritual growth, and to gently correct when they see problems. They protect the flock by warning them about false teaching and worldly temptations. They provide for the congregation’s spiritual nourishment, arranging for a minister to preach the Word and celebrate the sacraments.
The New Testament (in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9) has the most to say about what kind of man can be an elder. It assumes we know what elders do, and instead lists qualities that men must have to be considered as an elder. We should prayerfully consider these passages as we nominate elders to consistory each year.
Please pray for your elders, and ask your care group elder what you can do to make their calling more enjoyable and less burdensome (Hebrews 13:17).
No comments:
Post a Comment