Let Them Serve with Joy
When one considers the role of being an elder (pastor, shepherd, etc.) in the Lord’s Church, and the level of effort it takes, it is no wonder that the first qualification to be found is that of desiring the office (1 Timothy 3:1).
We could speak of all the difficulties elders face, and surely there are many. But I want us each to consider that we have a role to play, too, in making the office of elder “desirable.”
It is found near the end of the book of Hebrews, where the writer tells all Christians to “obey your leaders” (Hebrews 13:17). Then the verse says, “Let them [watch over your souls] with joy and not with groaning.”
I hear people say often that we have a leadership crisis in the Church. There are too many congregations where men just are not willing and/or qualified to be elders. That may be the case in some places, and if it is, we need to pray for those locales.
However, I want to suggest that one reason we have many congregations with a leadership shortage is because we have a “followership crisis!” We do not let the elders serve with joy.
This verse is not a suggestion. It is a command. I break this command when…
- I question the elders about every decision instead of showing my support.
- I constantly sin, despite their prayers and encouragement.
- I miss services on a regular basis.
- I do not submit to their decisions and decide to try my own way of doing things.
- My family acts one way at home, but totally another way when away on vacation.
- I allow my children to put school, sports, shopping, and social media before youth activities and worship.
- I spend the drive home Sunday complaining about everything.
I fear that many Christians are going to lose their souls over this command. They see it as no big deal to question, complain, and even be a bit defiant, because “it’s my relationship with God.”
That may be true, but elders will give an account for your soul, too.
Elders need to rebuke at times, but they do not do so without sincere prayer and a heart for reconciliation. They must make decisions at times that might be difficult or even unpopular, but they do not make these decisions as some type of power play.
Christians, let’s let them serve with joy. When we do, we may just solve a leadership crisis.
QUESTION: What makes this command of Hebrews 13:17 so difficult?
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Photo credit: ColoradoSenate on Creative Commons (no, these aren’t elders, but I liked the picture!)
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6 Comments
wayne davidson
I originally feared being an elder for I had attended congregations where every decision by the elders was wrong, and my fragile ego would not be able to take that. However, being an elder at Lebanon Road has been a real joy, even when there were problems the congregation backed the elders making th job easier.
Scott McCown
Thanks for putting this down. I am filing this in Evernote.
JamesTBates
Our identity as American, rugged individualist, Christians is directly tied to this problem. Overseers are necessary and strongly desired in a strong-group dynamic where all Christians recognize their role in the family of believers. When we stop working as a group and worry only about our “personal relationship”, we fail to see the need for the divinely designed leaders of the group. As we have entered the emergent Church era, I keep seeing more and more congregations that do not even want an eldership, and that is a tragedy of missed potential. I pray frequently for my congregation to develop real, caring, pastors. Thanks for the article, Adam.
Adam Faughn
I have heard you say that on various occasions. I have to concur that, while Lebanon Road isn’t perfect, the people here make being a leader far easier than it would be in other places. Also, having elders like you makes being a member a joy!
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Rachel Lane
From the view point of a member, I think elders (&members alike!) need to learn & apply both trust & humility. We just left a congregation where elders were “forced”out because nobody applied either of those qualities at the end. We live in a city of maybe 200k people and there are 7 congregations with only one very liberal church that has elders. It is so sad when we forget the church is to serve God, and not to be self-fulfilling.