Elders

Part 4 - Elders, Watch Yourselves

Our text is Paul's injunction to the elders at Ephesus. "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood" (Acts 20:28). We turn to the corporate thought in Paul's exhortation to the body of elders, "Be on guard for yourselves." Paul directs the injunction not so much to elders as individuals but to the elders as a group.

The local Session must be on guard concerning its corporate relationship with Christ. The local Session must understand and teach the gospel entrusted to them in a united fashion. This requires the elders to study together to understand the priorities of the gospel and the outworking of the gospel in family life, worship, and church evangelism. As a body, the elders must follow Proverbs 4:13, "Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life." How should the elders present themselves in the work of the congregation?

First, elders must put away personal preferences, desires, and positions in favor of the unity of the Session. The first duty of the elder is not to watch out for his own interests (Philippians 2:3-4) and attempt to drive the Session in the direction he thinks is proper (1 Corinthians 13:5). Such actions are a misapplication of the words of the apostle. You must catch the corporate flavor of his exhortation, "Be on guard for yourselves."

Second, it is the duty of the pastor, not only to lead the flock, but to lead the Session. Where there are doctrinal differences, questions concerning evangelism, differences in the philosophy of counseling, the elders must come together, look to the Scriptures for guidance under the tutelage of the pastor, and seek both truth and unity. The Session need not sacrifice either truth or unity if members come together with both truth and unity as a goal. A pastor need not side with one elder or the other within the Session to gain support so that his preference rules the day by the power of the vote. Neither should a minority protest in order to prevent proper courses of action to which it may disagree. Hear the corporate aspect of Paul's plea, "Be on guard for yourselves."

Third, pastors must learn to yield to the ruling elders. Often the pastor, new in the local church or new to the ministry, cannot understand the personal dynamics within the local congregation. He must defer to the decisions of the elders. Rarely will a Session ask a pastor to do something contrary to the Word of God. Differences in approach or style do not constitute grounds for objection. The body of elders must consciously work together for the truth and unity that brings glory to Christ. Remember the corporate aspect of the work. "Be on guard for yourselves."

Fourth, once the body of elders makes a decision regarding an aspect of congregational life, all the elders must support that decision outside the Session and before the congregation. It is intolerable for an elder to support a decision in Session and then go to a congregational meeting and argue against the recommendation of the board of elders. It is equally unacceptable for the pastor to assent to a decision of the Session and then privately, with members of the congregation, to express his displeasure with the decision of the Session. Such actions are not only inappropriate from a practical standpoint, they contradict the corporate nature of the mandate of Scripture, "Be on guard for yourselves."