Elders in Every City

“The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” [1]

The grace of God that appeared was His Son Jesus Christ. He is the One who taught both by His Words and His deeds what it looks like to be like God. Our original purpose was to be in God’s image. Sin corrupts our ability to be a good reflection of God. This is why we needed God’s grace. We needed a perfect man without sin to die for our sins. To cover our race with His righteousness! To redeem us from slavery to lawless deeds, to purify us, and restore the original zeal that Adam and Eve had before the fall to do good works that please God.

It is necessary now to be taught and reminded constantly of who God is, and who we are. Many in the world do not know God, love God, nor want to be in His image. Thus, the Lord, in His grace anoints people to serve the body of Christ in various ways.

For example elders, “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you.” [2]

These elders are to reflect God’s image in their relationships with wife and children.

“If a man is blameless (ανεγκλητος – not accused), the husband of one wife, having faithful children (not in category of prodigality) or insubordination.” [2]

The first human assembly involved a man, a wife, and their two children. The family unit preceded synagogues and the churches. Is the man’s children faithful or prodigal?

“A bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful Word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.” [3]

I like the metaphor of yoke-bearers. Jesus said to take His yoke upon us. To be yoked with Jesus means to walk as Jesus walked. Jesus did not do His own will. Jesus did not contradict the Bible either by Word or deed. In all things, Jesus pleased the Father. The bishop or overseer of the body of Christ in a certain location is to be a yokefellow with Christ. His first ministry is to Christ. Christ, by His Spirit, will help him to fulfill the requirements listed above. [4]

In days of Paul the Apostle, there were already many misrepresenting Christ by their deeds and behaviors. Many were insubordinate, idle talkers, deceivers, and subverters of households. They mistaught people for the sake of dishonest gain. They were lazy gluttons. Paul urged his disciple Titus to “rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith.” [5]

Bad leaders profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.” [6]

A body of believers is to reflect the image of Christ.

Older men are to be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience. [7]

Older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things. They are to urge young women to love their husbands and children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their husbands so that the Word of God is not spoken against by others. [8]

Young men are to be sober-minded, examples of good works. Integrous teachers! Reverent and incorruptible! Speak words that cannot be condemned so that opponents of the faith will be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of the body of Christ. [9]

Bondservants are to be obedient to their masters. Not answering back! Not pilfering! Examples of good fidelity! This behavior beautifully adorns the doctrine of God our Savior. [10]

The elders are to remind the believers to be subject to rulers and authorities. Obey! Be ready to do good works! Speak evil of no one! Be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. [11]

The body of Christ is to reflect the image of God. Authentic believers have been transformed by Christ from people who serve harmful ambitions to people who love and serve God, as well as one another.

“For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” [12]

God, in His mercy saved us. He washed us from our sins and He has renewed us to live like Jesus lived by giving His very Spirit to dwell in us. Though it is difficult to live like Jesus in a world that hates Him, God graciously has given us the promise of eternal life. This hope helps us.

A Church’s non-verbal goal should not be to cater to people’s sinful natures, but to “be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.” They are to avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law which are unprofitable and useless. After a first and second admonition, they are to reject a divisive people from the body. They are to meet urgent needs that they may not be unfruitful.” [13]

So often, I think of that Proverbs which speaks foolishness being bound up in the heart of a child. We need God to help us discern foolish behavior from wise behavior. The eternal welfare of souls hangs in the balance.

Does a shepherd do right by enduring congregations that do not want Christ-likeness. Those congregations that well-attend food and fun programs, but not Bible studies or prayer meetings. Should a body of believers be dissolved if none of the leaders reflect the image of Christ that is set forth in God’s Word, and if they do not want to change? In some cases, I felt it unjust to blame the body because the leader that proceeded me allowed things to get so out of hand. In other cases, the congregation had a history of being rebellious and abusive to those God sent to help them.

Jeremiah the prophet continued to speak the Word to non-compliant people. He suffered a lot of pain and grief because of them. The tribulation that was coming to them was so great! God compelled him and others like him to keep warning them.

Jesus said, “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them.” The Apostles did this. “But when they opposed and insulted him, he shook out his garments and told them, ‘Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the nations.” [14]

I have found it helpful to keep the urgency of proclaiming Christ to the nations as the main priority. Self-serving people cry out when the focus shifts from pampering them to proclaiming Christ and making disciples. That is okay. Yes, it hurts. They react in unpleasant ways, but keeping Christ and His mission first is best for them. If they depart, remember that Jesus and Paul also had disciples abandon them. Plants tend to thrive after a good gardener’s pruning and so do congregations.

A body of Christ that abides in Christ and conforms to Christ grows up in Christ and produces disciples that glorify Christ. This is good and faithful service unto the Lord!

[1] Titus 2:11-14
[2] Titus 1:5
[3] Titus 1:6
[4] Matthew 11:28-30; 1 John 2:6; John 6:38, 12:49; Galatians 5:25
[5] Titus 1:10-14
[6] Titus 1:15-16
[7] Titus 2:2
[8] Titus 2:3-5
[9] Titus 2:6-8
[10] Titus 2:9-10
[11] Titus 3:1-2
[12] Titus 3:3-7
[13] Titus 3:8-10, 14
[14] Mark 6:11; Acts 18:6