I was doing some studying yesterday in preparation for a Sunday School lesson and was reading 1 Peter 5:1-5;
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. (ESV)
As I read that I was reminded of Robert Reymond’s commentary on the passage in his New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith. He says that these verses very clearly imply a certain set of responsibilities for elders:
- Keep the members of their flock from going astray. This implies instruction and warning. An elder must be able and ready to teach those under his care.6 This means, of course, that he must faithfully labor to acquire a knowledge of God’s Word in order to teach it.
- Go after their members when they go astray. This implies reproof, correction, and in some cases the exercise of church discipline. Of course, elders should attempt by private instruction and admonition to correct an erring member of their flock at the earliest stage of a spiritual or moral defection, before open and censurable sin breaks forth that would require harsher measures of discipline.
- Protect their members from wolves teaching false doctrine and evil practice that would enter in among them. This implies meticulous, careful application of the admission requirements for church membership, and a constant effort to cultivate in the people a discerning apprehension of the distinction between truth and error.
- Lead their flock to the fold and pour oil into their wounds and give them pure water to quench their thirst. This implies pastoral concern and consolation. Elders should be keenly aware of the fact that many of their people will be broken in spirit and wounded for many and varied reasons. They should be ready, whenever the need becomes known, to visit the sick, bind up the broken reed, lift up the fallen hand, strengthen the weakened knee, and fan the smoking flax back into a bright and healthy flame.
Reading through these responsibilities once again gave me a great appreciation for the elders of my church and their commitment to live and govern our church according to the Word.
