Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: March 25, 2007
RESPECT OF PERSONS
Lester Kamp
[The following article was taken from “Matters of the Faith” Vol. 10, No. 2
April-December, 2006 — Editor, Lester Kamp. Abbreviation “MOTF” stands
for “Matters of the Faith.”]
[CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK]
The Online Academy of Biblical Studies (OABS) once was a great and good work,
but their loyalties to men has destroyed their ability to accomplish good. This
work is overseen by the elders of the Phillips Street church in Dyersburg, TN and
is directed by Tom Bright, Sr. (please look at the editorial in the last issue of
MOTF to see how the director has changed since he wrote the words quoted in
opposition to placing more loyalty in men and schools than upon the Word of
God). OABS determined at "the eleventh hour" not to air on their website the
open forum of the in their unscriptural withdrawal that they were withdrawing
from only the elders at Northside—not from the members at Northside and not
from the preacher at Northside!!!! Yet, the Phillips Street church (and by the
obvious connection OABS) extended fellowship to GBN and their
unrighteousness by having bro. McDade for this Gospel Meeting. GBN is a major
project requiring major, regular contributions to sustain it.
Right is never determined by who is involved; right is determined by the clear,
unchanging standard of God's Word! George E. Darling, Sr. wrote in an article for
The Defender* (February 1972, reprinted May 2006), "Let us remember in these
days of love everybody (even the Devil, if he smiles sweetly and publicizes his
humility) that God's Word is still our standard, and if it means that we lose
every friend we ever had on God's green earth for the sake of Christ and His
church, then so be it." Later in the same article he added, "According to the Word
of God, sinners go to hell because they will not repent of their sins, and that
includes the lovely and lovable sins of the "heavy contributors" in the church
who want to live like the devil but still want to shut the preacher's mouth on the
subject of their sins." It is "high time that we awake out of sleep" (Romans 13:
11). It is still sinful to ignore sin! Sin must be reproved and rebuked—even if we
lose even if we lose every friend we ever had on God's green earth for the sake of
Christ and His church!
REAL ELDERS
Ben Justice
There are elders and then there are ELDERS — real elders that is — elders who
fully understand what their responsibilities are. Throughout my preaching
career, I have seen very few elders who really understood what it meant to be an
elder. Too many simply have their name on the church stationary and that is
about it. Elders are straightly charged with watching over souls (Heb. 13:17).
This entails many things.
First, real elders are those who meet God’s qualifications. There are simply too
many elders in the body of Christ who are no more qualified than my dog. As a
result, they do more harm than good. About the only things that brethren look
for when appointing elders is whether or not he is married and has believing
children. That’s about it. The rest of the qualifications are ignored. “Good ole
boy” elders may go along for a time when the going it sweet and rosy. However,
when the difficult and trying times come, they haven’t a clue as to what to do.
Second, elders have the responsibility to feed the congregation (Acts 20:28-32; I
Pet. 5:1-4). The original Greek word translated “feed” in Acts 20:28 and I Pet. 5:2
means more than just feeding food (although it most certainly includes that).
The word has to do with everything a shepherd would do to care for and provide
for his sheep. Thus, inherent in the word is that of nurturing, disciplining,
watching, and feeding. The word “feed” in Acts 20:28 is present tense, denoting
continuous action. Elders must always and continually do these things.
Practically speaking, elders will:
—> Thoroughly question those who solicit support or who are invited to hold a
Gospel Meeting or speak on a lectureship.
—> Practice corrective church discipline as the Bible teaches.
—> Plan for congregational development. Far too many elders are just concerned
with paying the bills and keeping house rather than spending time on carrying
out the work of the church and that is saving souls. It is great to have an
eldership who regularly meets to brainstorm and discuss ways to grow the
church spiritually and numerically.
—> Make sure sound doctrine is taught both from the pulpit and the
classrooms. Elders will make sure that the church is being built up in the most
holy faith. This also includes gospel meetings, lectureships, special lectures,
periodicals, etc.
—> Have the fortitude, knowledge and wisdom to stand before the congregation
and expose error when it presents itself.
—> Question those who seek and desire to place membership from other
congregations. In doing so, they are protecting the purity of the local church of
which they oversee.
—> Make sure only faithful brethren serve publicly. Elderships are not looking
out for the flock when they allow those in sin to serve in the worship services of
the church.
—> Mark and avoid false teachers and do so publicly, thus informing and
protecting the flock against the wolves.
—> Know where area congregations stand. Area congregations affect other area
congregations. This is just a fact. Not only does this apply to area
congregations, but also to brotherhood schools. Real elders are not afraid to
stand in the pulpit and expose erring congregations when needed.
—> Stand behind the pulpit and defend their preacher when he preaches a
needed sermon. There is nothing that upsets the relationship between the
preacher and his elders more so than the elders not supporting and backing him
publicly in preaching the truth.
What we need in the church are not mere figureheads. We need real elders who
take their job seriously.