ADDENDUM: SHEPHERDS—THEIR CREDENTIALS, CHARGE AND CHARACTER   

One key to success in a local church is found in having good shepherds, Acts 20:28-32. The way God’s shepherds conduct themselves personally and in their oversight of the flock of God, will have an immense impact on the health and vitality of the flock. Yet, the eldership is often misunderstood, and that is a major cause of problems. This addendum examines three elements that are essential for God’s shepherds to be successful.

I.     The credentials of God’s shepherds.

A.  There are about 26 qualifications for the office of elder, 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9.

1.   Those given the most attention are usually those relating to the family. “Faithful children,” Titus 1:6. “Husband of one wife,” 1 Timothy 3:2. If these are met, a man may be ordained an elder with only minimal thought to other qualifications.

2.   Yet, one element may be given virtually no consideration at all—leadership.

B. The very nature of the office demands leadership. When a church appoints men to this work who lack the ability to lead, it can spell death to that church. Some argue that there is no qualification that says elders must be leaders. This shows a lack of understanding of the office and of the several words used to describe it.

1.   An elder is a leader appointed for his maturity and spiritual experience. Presbuteros is sometimes used in a general way of an older man. It is also used in a very specific way of those older men who were respected as decision makers. “Elders at the gate of the city” were decision makers, Deuterono­my 21:19; Ruth 4:11. It is no coinci­dence that men in the church are called elders. We stress leadership because they make decisions that affect the church’s course.

2.    A bishop is a leader appointed for his ability to superintend, oversee, guide and direct. Episkopos is the word for bishop and overseer, (epi—above; skopos—see). The bishop is one who manages and superintends others—deacons, teachers, etc. Again, we emphasize that he is a leader.

3.    A shepherd is chosen for his ability to lead the flock. He has concern for the sheep. Poimano is the word for shepherd and pastor. He leads and feeds the sheep, Acts 20:17,28; Psalm 23. He is more than a decision maker and manager.

C. It is obvious from the words used that God’s shepherds must be leaders.

1.   That requirement is as much a qualification as “husband of one wife, etc.” It is difficult for a church to rise above its leadership, Matthew 15:14.

2.    If a church doesn’t have leaders with foresight, where is the flock headed? Leadership in the church isn’t a pretend game like “playing house.” It is not merely filling a role or wearing a title.

3.    It is a field of labor. It is the steady hand of the helm of the ship of Zion. It means setting a course, striking sail, and giving account for those on board the ship, Hebrews 13:17.

4.   Men are needed who will step up to the plate and say, “I am ready to serve, to sacrifice and to suffer if need be—for the cause of God.”

II.      The charge given God’s shepherds.

A.  While elders must be decision makers and managers, let us emphasize shepherding.

1.   The biblical use of pastor refers to a shepherd who tends, feeds and takes heed to the sheep, Ephesians 4:11; Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-2.

2.   The shepherd is a leader, yet we make a mistake if all we emphasize is “leadership.” That word can have a connotation that is cold, and puts one above, and at a distance from others. The opposite ought to be true. There should be a mutual love and attachment of shepherds and sheep.

3.   More than anything else, a shepherd is a servant—to Christ and to Christians.

B. We want to emphasize the charge of “shepherdship,” 1 Peter 5:2-4; Hebrews 13:17.

1.   Shepherds care for the sheep, John 10:13; Luke 15:3-7. The sick and injured must be assisted; the weak must be helped to survive and grow strong; the wanderers must be brought back to safety. Shepherds will give account for all this. Some elders can give account for every penny, but cannot account for sheep.

2.   Shepherds love sheep, not themselves. They live for the sheep, not themselves. Shepherds do not do what shepherds like; they do what sheep need. Shepherds are more than business managers of the church!

3.    A shepherd is a steward who will give account to the owner, Ezekiel 34:1-6.

4.   Shepherds are much more than decision makers. Some elderships ruin themselves and the deacons by making all the deacons’ decisions for them. Deacons are to be “over this business,” Acts 6:3.

a. A wrong view about shepherding leads to unqualified men thinking they should be elders. “I want to be an elder because I think I can make decisions as well as any.” If that is all you see, then you see one of the smallest parts of being an elder!

b. Illustration: A small child in daddy’s lap at the wheel of a car knows nothing of the danger of driving a car on a mountain road. The child does not know that having your hands on the wheel is but a small part of driving a car. The man who aspires to be an elder to “get his hands on the wheel” is no more qualified to be an elder than that little child is to drive a car.

c. This problem sometimes appears when church discipline is exercised. “The elders made a decision to withdraw from...” That is so shortsighted. They may be totally unaware of the hours of study, calls, and seeking of the sheep. All that some see is the decision to withdraw and not hours of shepherding. Shepherds need to make decisions on discipline, and they need to be timely to be effective. They must wrestle with the misperception that withdrawal is a final act—that it is a way of getting rid of someone. Shepherds seek to explain the “whys” and “why nots” to the congrega­tion—all while they are seeking the soul of the one gone astray. Shepherds seek help in restoring the wayward sheep. But, some think, “It was only a matter of making a decision.” What tunnel vision!

d. To those men who would be elders, mark these words well! Being an elder means being a shepherd. It means caring about people. It means doing for people. It is not enough to say, “Let me decide.” God asks, “Are you seeking the good of the sheep?”

e. The cause of God needs men who are willing to serve for the good of the sheep. They serve neither for themselves, nor for power’s sake, nor for personal glory or honor. They serve for the cause of God.

5.   Shepherds have responsibility for leading the flock, setting its direction and course of action.

a. In some congregations the sheep are eager to go, wanting to follow their shepherds, but the shepherds have set no goals, no plans, no work, and no course to follow. The sheep are waiting perennially for the shepherds to decide what to do. Shepherds must stay ahead of the flock—not behind.

b. In some churches the flock is starving; one of the sheep suggests some good pasture to the shepherds; the shepherds pass judgment on it whether it is good or bad—without realizing that they must be the ones who are seeking pasture for the sheep. Leaders initiate; they don’t sit and wait for something to happen.

c. Shepherds must lead the flock. They are the “power steering” of the church. Tragically, some elders only serve as “power brakes,” telling the flock what it can’t do. While shepherds sometimes have to tell the church “no” with respect to some works, doctrines or moral issues—where is the leadership? Where are the shepherds who will show the church what to do and where to go? Leadership is more than just having control of the church. Diotrophes had control, 3 John 9. Shepherds must lead.

d. Shepherds must take oversight of the flock, 1 Peter 5:2. If they do not, someone else will—a preacher, perhaps the deacons, a clique, the rich, women, cranks, etc. Havoc in the flock is the result, Matthew 9:36. Many people may desire power in the church. The elders are the only ones entrusted with the power of oversight. It is safe only in their hands. They must use it wisely.

C. One who would be a shepherd must care for sheep, John 10:11-13. Elders are often criticized because their actions may not be popular. If you would help the elders, help them by seeking sheep, not by criticizing the work they do.

III.      The character of God’s shepherds.

A.  There is a man in the Bible who was not an elder, yet he had the kind of character an elder needs in carrying out his duties as a shepherd. The man was a father, and as a father, serves as a model for those who would “rule well their own houses, that they might also take care of the church of God,” 1 Timothy 3:5. Joshua was not only a great military leader, he was also a great family man. See his character as a father in Joshua 24:14-15. His statement in this last sentence shows his determination to lead his family in the right way. There are lessons to be learned from Joshua for fathers today. “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  Joshua had...

1.   Concern about danger. The danger Israel faced was spiritual in nature—idolatry. God’s leader has the same concern whether leading the nation, the family, or the church.

2.   Courage to think for himself. The world looks with disfavor on a man who thinks for himself. A father must think independently of current fads and opinion.

3.   Conviction to stand alone. Joshua was one who was able to march to the beat of a different drummer. A godly father not only exercises authority in the home, but does so in the fear of God. He is not independent of God’s influence.

4.   Commitment to influence others. Joshua took responsibility for what others would do with their lives. Good fathers don’t let their kids run without direction.

5.   Confidence to speak for others. Joshua is not a boaster; this is a humble statement. It is a statement of commit­ment and determination, that as far as he can influence his family, he will do so. We must learn to express confidence that our children will do right.  We cannot say with absolute certainty what our kids may do, but we can expect them to serve the Lord.

B.          Qualities that make good fathers also make good elders, 1 Timo­thy 3:4-5. Character exhibited in one’s own house prepares him to lead God’s house. Note his traits:

1.   Concern about danger. He is not merely concerned with physical things, but about spiritual things. In the early church, shepherds guarded against dangers from Judaizers, Gnostics, pagan influences, etc., 2 Corin­thians 11:2-3; Acts 20:28-31; Titus 1:9. There are countless modern dangers against which elders must be on guard. The devil has not withdrawn his assaults on the church. This is the elders’ first responsibility. We pray, “Help the elders make good deci­sions.” But, decision-making is not the main thing they do; to be alert and watchful is!

2.   Courage to think independently. An elder is under pressure; he lives in your world. He watches TV, reads newspapers and faces the same pres­sure to con­form as you do. He is also under the pressure of family. The elder may make a decision, go home, and face family pressure to change the decision. He goes back and says, “We can’t....” He would rather face three other elders than his wife and children. He is under pressure from preachers. An elder who allows a preacher to control him is unworthy to be an elder (though he must not be self-willed.) He is under pressure from brotherhood papers. Will papers pull his strings? He is under pressure from other churches. He can’t ask what other church­es will think, but “Is this right or wrong?” God’s will must rule him.

3.   Conviction to stand alone. God’s shepherd can concede matters of judgment. Areas of judgment are not the place to take a stand. But, the elder has no right to compromise what God has said—matters of faith! The church is not a democracy, but a kingdom. In a democracy, authority comes from people, from beneath. In a kingdom, authority comes from above. (This isn’t to say that elders give no ear to the people; they must, in matters of judg­ment.) But, in matters of right and wrong, the voice that is listened to is the voice from above, 1 Peter 5:2-4; Acts 20:28. Elders must be assertive in insisting that God’s will be done. Timidity is not modesty. Lack of leadership is not humility. Elders need to be in the forefront of leading in the way that is right.

4.   Commitment to influence others. God expresses what shepherds’ goals must be in Ephesians 4:11-16. They are to prepare the saints to be ministers for the edifying of the body of Christ. To bring to the unity of the faith; to make the body a united, working unit. To bring to Christlikeness; that all may imitate Christ and be mature in him. To bring to stability in conviction; that all may know and do what is right. To bring every member (not just preachers and elders) to diligence in teaching. This causes the growth of the body unto edifying of itself. When this hap­pens, those elders are successful. No matter what else may be said of a church—its attendance, contribution, and plans—if this isn’t happening, the eldership is failing. Elders are responsible to see to it that God’s house is faithful to God.

5.   Confidence to speak for others. The shepherd must be willing to say, “This congregation is going to be loyal to God.” There needs to be encourage­ment, not berating.  The congregation needs to see itself as a united body of people who love God and one another. Just as a child has an image of self, so does a church. Churches have to have faults pointed out, but constant berating benefits little.

Let us all seek souls.