Leading Well

Introduction

This passage is near the end of this portion of 1 Timothy which deals with how to relate to different groups within the congregation.

Over the last two weeks, we dealt with the church’s obligation to widows.

Dealing with older women in the church.

Now we will shift focus to the older men of the church.

This passage is directed at Pastors in specifically and elders in particular.

But the character, the dangers, and the practical applications are for the entire church because elders are exemplary Christians.

Everything they do should be an example to the congregation of what they should aspire to.

This is a very practical but important issue in the church today.

Only about 1% of pastors leave the ministry per year, but that doesn’t mean pastors don’t struggle with many burdens.

One news article reported: Nearly half of pastors (47%) say ministry demands are more than they can handle. Two-thirds (67%) feel they are always “on-call.” One-third (34%) report feeling isolated, and nearly 1 in 5 (19%) say their church holds unrealistic expectations of them.

Taking care of elders and pastors is an important work of the church in accomplishing the Greatest Commandment (loving your neighbor as yourself).

Galatians 6:10 ESV

10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Today we will address Paul’s commands to Timothy regarding how the Church should relate to its elders.

Elders are Worthy of Honor

1 Timothy 5:17–18 ESV

17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”

The first issue that Paul brings up is the issue of Renumeration: How should ministers be paid?

Elders are the same overseers Paul talked about back in 1 Tim. 3:1-7

1 Timothy 3:1–7 ESV

1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

Elders/Pastors/Overseers have two essential functions.

To rule the church—managing God’s household (overseers).

This is important—a local church never belongs to its pastor; it belongs to Jesus; we are under-shepherds.

So elders are to teach Jesus’s doctrine, pray for the work of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and chart the course for the church’s future toward Jesus.

If they care for the flock well they are worthy of double honor.

Double honor means two-fold honor.

That they are worthy of reverence and respect.

Think well of faithful pastors; speak well of them with other.

It’s such a wonderful gift to receive a word of encouragement, or to meet someone who hear a kind thing expressed by a brother.

This means also that we receive their correction.

Hebrews 13:17 ESV

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Faithful pastors don’t expect to be treated like kings, for that would be disqualifying.

That they are worthy of renumeration (a paycheck).

Elders here refers not simply to the elders of the church, but particularly those who are engaged in regular preaching and teaching ministry.

Especially: This is about those who would be considered full-time pastors employed by the church. (not every elder).

The church recognizes two practical divisions in the elders of the church:

There are ruling elders; godly men drawn from among the laity.

Then there are those men who have been set apart for a particular ministry of preaching and teaching: Full-time pastors who are usually employed by the church.

Pastoral staff, according to Paul, ought to be provided for materially in their work.

Paul provides two Scriptural evidences in support of this idea.

The first comes from Moses in Deuteronomy 25:4

Deuteronomy 25:4 ESV

4 “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.

This is a practical matter to allow an oxen to consume some of the grain that it was engaged in threshing.

If an oxen is permitted to derive sustenance from its work, how much more should a pastor be permitted to derive compensation for his work.

Paul expands on this in 1 Corinthians 9:7-12

1 Corinthians 9:7–12 ESV

7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? 8 Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10 Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.

The second comes from a direct quote of Jesus Christ from Luke 10:7

Luke 10:1–7 ESV

1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.

This practice has its roots in Biblical history. Consider 2 Chronicles 31:4-5

2 Chronicles 31:4–5 ESV

4 And he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion due to the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to the Law of the Lord. 5 As soon as the command was spread abroad, the people of Israel gave in abundance the firstfruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field. And they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.

Providing for full time ministers has the helpful result that their focus may be given more fully to the ministry of the Word and prayer.

Paul explicitly chose to waive this right for the sake of his ministry as an apostle, as he wrote to the Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 9:12 ESV

12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:15 ESV

15 But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting.

1 Thessalonians 2:6–9 ESV

6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. 9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

But this is clearly established as the exception that proves the rule.

Practically, this means that churches should strive to provide for their pastors as an expression of love to God and to them for the work that they do.

Elders are Held to a High Standard

1 Timothy 5:19–21 ESV

19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. 21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.

Accusation: How should ministers be disciplined?

Because of their honored position, the church should deal properly with reputation of those elders.

Then, as now, not every elder serves well.

How do you deal with grievances against elders?

Discipline requires caution, courage, and fairness.

We must exercise Caution in discipline.

Allegations must be dealt with properly, as accords with the teaching of the Scripture.

The Mosaic Law in Deuteronomy 19:15

Deuteronomy 19:15 ESV

15 “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.

Jesus’s teaching in Matthew 18:15-20

Matthew 18:15–20 ESV

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

And Paul’s previous teaching in 2 Corinthians 13:1

2 Corinthians 13:1 ESV

1 This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

This means that unfounded accusations should not be entertained or spread among the brothers.

The testimony of two or three witnesses is important:

This is counterintuitive today in the age of scandal. (Scandal sells)

It dominates politics.

It dominates popular culture.

It dominates communities.

Scandal and gossip playse upon our sinful desire to justify ourselves. It allows ourselves an unearned sense of superiority over others.

In this way, we protect the reputation of the elders.

This is important because of the stringent moral and character qualifications of elders; they should be above reproach.

We must have regard for what would happen to a person if the accusation was not true.

Character is more important to an elder than even his ability.

Satan is certainly out to destroy the ministry of faithful pastors, and accusation is a terrible and effective tool.

John Calvin noted this:

None are more exposed to slanders and insults than godly teachers. This comes not only from the difficulty of their duties, which are so great that sometimes they sink under them, or stagger and halt or take a false step, so that wicked men find many occasions of finding fault with them; but added to that, even when they do all their duties correctly and commit not even the smallest error, they never avoid a thousand criticisms. It is indeed a trick of Satan to estrange then from their minister so as gradually to bring their teaching into contempt. In this way not only is wrong done to innocent people whose reputation is undeservedly injured, but the authority of God’s holy teaching is diminished.

…as soon as any charge is made against ministers of the Word, it is believed as surely and firmly as if it had already been proved. This happens not only because a higher stander of integrity is required from them, but because Satan makes most people, in fact nearly every, over-credulous so that without investigation, they eagerly condemn their pastors whose good name they ought to be defending.

This is as true today as it was over four hundred years ago…there truly is nothing new under the sun.

The solution to this problem is that we should give our pastors the same protection that everyone has; never listen to to gossip or even accusations on the basis of one person’s testimony.

But establish credibility through the substantiation of two or three witnesses.

We need to have Courage in discipline.

Guilt should never be presumed, but neither should innocence.

Elders are not above the law, and when they do sin, it is all the more reprehensible on account of their honored position.

For this reason, Paul says that if an elder persists in his sin (meaning that his crime is substantiated), he must be publicly rebuked.

Public rebuke reflects the extent of the failure.

Public rebuke protects the reputation of the Church, the gospel, and the Lord Jesus.

Church discipline is often left to the side in churches because it is uncomfortable.

It rarely wins many admirers.

But our unwillingness to do the right thing can have disastrous results.

Consider all the many examples of lawlessness and cover-ups in the church today and the ruination it brings.

This is an urgent problem in the church today. Churches move not to protect the holiness of Christ, but the interests of the organization.

They allow the pastor to “resign” or otherwise move on quietly. And so, he moves on to do the same thing at another church.

And on and on it goes; unfit pastors sin with effective impunity.

Such is the extent of the problem, that Christians must often make apologies for the bad Christians before the even have the opportunity to share the gospel.

We must have the moral fortitude to love our church and protect them by doing the hard thing.

The public disciplining of a sinning elder has a powerful effect—it causes all to stand in fear.

It has a deterrent effect, warning other elders and the entire congregation away from sin.

Deuteronomy 13:11 ESV

11 And all Israel shall hear and fear and never again do any such wickedness as this among you.

1 Corinthians 10:11 ESV

11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

By having the courage to discipline errant elders, we show love.

Love of Christ and his moral perfections.

Love for the church.

1 Corinthians 3:16–17 ESV

16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Love for the offender.

Proverbs 27:5–6 ESV

5 Better is open rebuke than hidden love. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

We must exercise discipline with Fairness.

The standard of truth must be applied equally.

Without partiality, without prejudice.

This is a difficult work in itself.

John Calvin: There is nothing harder than to pronounce judgment with complete impartiality, so as to avoid undo favor, or giving rise to suspicions, or being influenced by unfavorable reports, or being excessively strict and in every case to consider nothing but the matter in hand.

The right way is rarely the easy way.

Paul invokes Timothy to remember that he is always in the presence of God and of Christ and of the elect angels.

In rendering judgment we must remember the just judge.

This means that we seek always to render just judgment after His character.

This means that we remember that there is a day coming when all men will have to give an account.

Elders must be Carefully Chosen

1 Timothy 5:22–25 ESV

22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. 23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. 24 The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. 25 So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.

Ordination: How should men be called to ministry?

In light of the many dangers inherent in church leadership and because of the destructive nature of elders falling into sin and reproach, it is all the more important to take care of who may attain the office.

How do you avoid the problems above?

Laying on of hands: the commissioning of elders, setting them apart for ministry.

The command is that the church should not commission elders who are unqualified. Ordination should not be taken lightly.

Know the standard of character and hold to it. Don’t succumb to the temptation to put elders in because they are needed.

Up-front wisdom is required for elder selection.

This is why Paul said that an elder should never be a recent convert.

1 Timothy 3:6 ESV

6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.

“Keep yourself pure.”

If a man is made an elder before he is ready, or because he is “needed,” without considering his character and qualifications, and he commits a grievous sin, all those who engaged in his commissioning would likewise be complicit and share in the blame for overlooking his flaws.

The church of Jesus Christ is too precious to deal so lightly with.

Verse 23 is a strange, seemingly anomalous, statement in the midst of the present subject matter.

But perhaps Paul is addressing Timothy in order to set his mind at ease about a difficult area for him.

Perhaps Timothy, in zeal to remain pure, has been abstaining from all alcohol.

But, in his zeal, he goes to far.

Wine had an important medicinal purpose in an age before filtered water. It settles the stomach.

Ambrose of Milan: We must drink then not for the sake of pleasure, but because of infirmity, and therefore sparingly as a remedy, not in excess as a gratification.

Timothy’s desire to appear pure was actually hurting him physically.

The lesson here is that we should not lay burdens upon ourselves that God does not mandate in Scripture and that does not substitute for righteousness before God.

After all, Paul has said that everything God has created is good and to be recieved with thanksgiving.

Drunkenness is prohibited, but a little wine in moderation is no sin.

1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV

12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.

Timothy perhaps has a tendency towards an unhealthy asceticism, which is a quality of the false teachers Timothy has been sent to correct and oppose.

What does this look like in our lives? Our pursuit of personal purity should never look like asceticism or legalism.

Certainly, there are many good reasons to abstain from alcohol:

Alcoholism destroys families.

Alcohol can be hazardous to health.

Drunkenness is the source of many social ills.

Liquor stores are often at the center of many blighted communities.

Within the church, there is the ongoing need to care for the weaker brothers in the church.

Nevertheless, we must make sure that the only burden we lay upon people is to trust in Jesus Christ and follow him in faith. Whatever our personal feelings and convictions on alcohol are, we must take care not to go beyond what has been commanded.

Continuing on, Paul addresses the need for discernment in the ordination of elders.

A person’s suitability is not always immediately obvious.

But, the fact that we cannot immediately perceive some men’s hidden sins does not absolve us of our responsibility as a church to examine the lives and character of those who bear the responsibility of leadership in the church.

Jerome: Certain persons sin so deliberately and flagrantly that you no sooner see them than you know them at once to be sinners. But the defects of others are so cunningly concealed that we only learn them from subsequent information. Similarly good deeds of some people are public property, while those of others we come to know only through long intimacy with them.

Some people seem to have made open rebellion a primary character trait in their lives.

Such that they may as well have their ticket for hell stamped an in hand.

They run headlong to judgment.

They are ruled out automatically.

Others have a great deal of experience and skill in appearing righteous.

They are better at hiding their sin.

But it will eventually be revealed (out of the overflow of the heart).

We must be willing to take the proper time to discern that such sinful patterns do not exist in prospective elders.

In the same way, while some people have good works and character in abundance and in the open, others quietly walk faithfully out of sight.

They make no show of the good they do, nevertheless, they do it in the sight of God.

Good character cannot remain long hidden.

There will always be evidence if we are willing to look for it.

Don’t always go based on first impressions.

Take your time in identifying men of quality before setting them apart for eldership.

Conclusion

Certainly Elders and Pastors are called to an important work in the church.

They are called to imitate the shepherding work of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

Take care of those who minister among you.

Pray that they rule well; teach and preach faithfully.

Honor them by being obedient to the teaching.

Do them the honor of watching out for them.

Stir them up to good works and obedience.

Pattern your lives in such a way that the pastor’s ministry would be a joy and not a trial.

As the apostles proclaimed, nothing gives a pastor greater joy than to see those in his charge walk in obedience and faith;

loving Him and others and walking in Christlikeness.

1 John 1:3–4 ESV

3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Philippians 2:1–2 ESV

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.