Elders
- Thread starter Lanolin
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Too young? I'm 96, it was a long time living. I'm elderly.
Job_32:4 Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he.
Rom._9:12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
1 Tim_5:1 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
1Tim_5:2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
I have found that in today's world there is little respect for age. Everyone equates age with dementia. I am grateful for so many years of study and experiences, it seems to me they are very useful. I feel a great need to mother an share, but also feel rebuked.
Job_32:4 Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he.
Rom._9:12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
1 Tim_5:1 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
1Tim_5:2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
I have found that in today's world there is little respect for age. Everyone equates age with dementia. I am grateful for so many years of study and experiences, it seems to me they are very useful. I feel a great need to mother an share, but also feel rebuked.
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Hello @Lanolin, here are some of the requirements for both elders and deacons. Elders are to be mature ~in the faith~, not (necessarily) mature in years of life. Timothy, for instance, who Paul was writing to here, was quite young in years apparently.
God bless you!
~Deut
1 Timothy 3
1 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.
2 An overseer [elder/pastor], then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.
4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity
5 but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?,
6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.
7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain,
9 but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
10 These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.
11 Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things.
12 Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households.
13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
Titus 1
5 I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,
6 namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion.
7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain,
8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled,
9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.
1 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.
2 An overseer [elder/pastor], then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.
4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity
5 but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?,
6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.
7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain,
9 but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
10 These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.
11 Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things.
12 Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households.
13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
Titus 1
5 I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,
6 namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion.
7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain,
8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled,
9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.
God bless you!
~Deut
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Well as far as age goes.. biological age doesn't count as much as spiritual experience.
An 80 year old man may have only been a believer for a few months... they are a babe in Christ.. not an elder.
A 30 year old man being a believer for 20 years.. being converted at 10... could be an elder.
Christian maturity.. rather than physical age should measure an elder
An 80 year old man may have only been a believer for a few months... they are a babe in Christ.. not an elder.
A 30 year old man being a believer for 20 years.. being converted at 10... could be an elder.
Christian maturity.. rather than physical age should measure an elder
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hmm ok when talking about managing their houshold well how can you tell.
The children are all believers, how could you tell...
I recall one pastor had daughters and one fell pregnant who want married and none of his daughters attended that church, (they may have gone somewhere else, who knows) but maybe he was made an elder before all that happened.
I also recall another church where they were appointing a new youth pastor or minister, and he was divorced.
there are even youth pastors who are in their twenties and dont have their own families either. Im just wondering is that ok. Or is it they are deacons is that different.
Verse 10 says they must be tested...what is the test?
The children are all believers, how could you tell...
I recall one pastor had daughters and one fell pregnant who want married and none of his daughters attended that church, (they may have gone somewhere else, who knows) but maybe he was made an elder before all that happened.
I also recall another church where they were appointing a new youth pastor or minister, and he was divorced.
there are even youth pastors who are in their twenties and dont have their own families either. Im just wondering is that ok. Or is it they are deacons is that different.
Verse 10 says they must be tested...what is the test?
Since an elder/minister is to be the "husband of one wife" I think it is clear that Paul is speaking only of men being elders. Of course there are other Scriptures that give the same teaching.
Though the term "elder" can be taken to mean "older" - in the context on spiritual ministry it has more do with maturity.
Though the term "elder" can be taken to mean "older" - in the context on spiritual ministry it has more do with maturity.
I have known cases where pastors resigned because their children went astray. I am not saying they did the right or wrong thing, but just pointing out that some have taken that requirement very seriously.
A pastor once appointed as an elder/pastor is not immune from his children failing. But to appoint a person as a pastor who is openly living in sin and is not doing well with his family and community is probably not a good idea.
A pastor once appointed as an elder/pastor is not immune from his children failing. But to appoint a person as a pastor who is openly living in sin and is not doing well with his family and community is probably not a good idea.
what about the minsiter who was divorced...it may have been his wife left him, not he he left her, should that church consider appointing him. I dont know if they actually did. I was just visiting when they announced that.
what about churches that dont have any good men suitable, so women get appointed. Lots of churches do have women now, but some are staunch and just say men are clergy or staff only, and women only get to be secretaries or clean the toilet jobs, or do the dishes. When they already do all that at home anyway, I mean not to say women arent good at that, but, its not all they are good for.
what about churches that dont have any good men suitable, so women get appointed. Lots of churches do have women now, but some are staunch and just say men are clergy or staff only, and women only get to be secretaries or clean the toilet jobs, or do the dishes. When they already do all that at home anyway, I mean not to say women arent good at that, but, its not all they are good for.
While I applaud and appreciate learning about elders in the church, I feel that it is also important for each christian to understand what God wants of both our attitude toward our older generation and the responsibilities they have as Christians. Could we post what Christians have discovered about this?
The op asks what age we have to be to be an elder.
Our world has changed drastically in the last century regarding the elderly. Science has conquered many killing diseases so being elderly has started later in life, but our food is so artificial that being older and still able to function has been damaged. The old people are put in institutions, they used to be a part of the home. What is God's desire about this?
The op asks what age we have to be to be an elder.
Our world has changed drastically in the last century regarding the elderly. Science has conquered many killing diseases so being elderly has started later in life, but our food is so artificial that being older and still able to function has been damaged. The old people are put in institutions, they used to be a part of the home. What is God's desire about this?
I have heard in a few churches their ministers resigning because they had affairs/commited asultery after they got appointed.
One church had 'acting' ministers for a few years because of this, I had no idea, it was all in their past, and then they appointed someone who had a lovely solid family, but most of his five children have left now to live in another country. (Australia!)
He seemed to have a lot of good qualities listed, but...because he admited he was a former gambler and his parents had divorced, he did have some issues with love of money.
The church grounds had to be sold off to widen the road and he was considering developing the land and making a bigger church and carpark. I dont think the church needed to be physically bigger...but more effective in outreach.
One church had 'acting' ministers for a few years because of this, I had no idea, it was all in their past, and then they appointed someone who had a lovely solid family, but most of his five children have left now to live in another country. (Australia!)
He seemed to have a lot of good qualities listed, but...because he admited he was a former gambler and his parents had divorced, he did have some issues with love of money.
The church grounds had to be sold off to widen the road and he was considering developing the land and making a bigger church and carpark. I dont think the church needed to be physically bigger...but more effective in outreach.
