Today there is no doubt that Churches of Christ in America recognize a strong need for scriptural church government in “every city” and at the same time a great dearth of such government is present.
Back in 1990, Brother J. F. Dancer, Jr. made the observation that there was a severe shortage of scriptural elderships in American churches writing in the Guardian of Truth that many congregations have existed for up to fifty years (or more) who do not have scriptural Elders and Deacons, and seem to have no plan to get them any time soon.
Brother Dancer observed what had been done to alleviate the elder shortage. “Some congregations are disregarding the Bible and installing men who do not even come close to the qualifications given in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. Men have been appointed without any children and with children who are not believers. Men are in “eldership” who could not teach the first principles, much less convince the gainsayer. Others are designated who are not married and some who are barely 25 years of age and only a very short time as children of God” (Guardian of Truth; Feb. 1, 1990) Brother Dancer wisely observed that, “this is no way to properly solve this shortage.”
Some have claimed that the growth and stability of the early church is impossible to replicate. They tell us that in those days, when folks where going around from town to town and city to city working all sorts of wondrous miracles that the church grew and people where more faithful and thus it was easier to find qualified men. Well, I don’t doubt that the Church grew more and perhaps s people where more faithful and dedicated to the Gospel back then, but I charge that any one who says they had some privilege, some tool that we today do not have is wrong! The Apostle Paul described our condition, that is our having the word of God in it’s complete form, as “a more excellent way.” (1 Corinthians 12:31) We ought not look longingly back at the age of miracles and think that they had something better. That is not to blame for our elder shortage today.
One of the great reasons, I believe, why 50+ year old congregations don’t have any elders is that our boys aren’t being prepared for the position! Families don’t instill in there sons a desire for the office and they don’t discipline them enough that they live in a way to be ready for it when they are old enough. I just don’t hear very many young men who say, “I want to find a wife who will help me be an elder!” and I don’t hear very many young ladies who say they desire the position of an elder’s wife. Remember What Paul said to Timothy, “This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. (1 Timothy 3:1)
I write much of this to young men and boys who like myself are in a very important time of growth and development in their Christian lives. We need to give sincere and earnest attention to these things. I will say here at the start that I know of many young men who are doing right and are on the road to being great servants of the Lord and the Church, but I know of many who have perhaps never taken the time to think about this.
Certainly one thing vitally important to the developing young Christian boy, in order that he be ready for the eldership, is an intense study of the Word of God. An elder must be “apt to teach.” (1 Tim. 3:2) We have plenty of young men who can work wonders on and X-Box but wouldn’t know where to start when it comes to putting together a sermon and don’t seem very interested in learning. To the young men – put down those video game controllers and pick up a Bible, go to some of these older men in the church, preachers and teachers, and ask them for help in working up sermons and finding a good study plan.
But in a grave and serious way young men need to consider there reputation as a factor in how they will be able to serve God in their aged years. In 1 Timothy 3:7 Paul writes, “Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.” Other statements build off of this idea. I really don’t think that many boys consider this. I know a lot of young fellows who seem to think they can live, and date and party, and carry on how ever they want to while they are teenagers (and some on up into there 20’s) and then when they get to be about 35 they will start calming down and acting mature and worrying about what folks think of them. Well I am afraid that by that time it is often to late! People’s reputations are already destroyed beyond repair!
To boys who go around to these big meetings and womanize with all of the young sisters – be careful of the reputation you are building and the hard feelings you are stirring up in the Church. That may come back to haunt you years later when you seek the respect of those people, how many times I hear it said of a preacher or teacher, “well yeah, he talks big now, but I knew him when he was a kid and he treated all of the girls like dirt and only went after the ones who were dressed immodestly and had a bad reputation themselves.” To boys who are scoff laws, always speeding and trespassing on private property, always getting in trouble with the authorities and acting belligerent and rebellious about it – “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.” (Romans 13:1-4) Why do you think Paul wrote this to the saints in Rome? It was because they were going to undergo persecution soon by the government and they needed to have a reputation with the local authorities as decent, respectful, law abiding citizens for there own protection. Are you living in a way that will bring the church a good relationship with the Law, or will your behavior put the church under suspicion and ridicule? The clothes you wear, the attitude you have toward your elders and those in authority, the way you work on your job, all of these things determine whether or not you can one day serve the Church in that wonderful and desperately needed office of an elder? How is it with you young men? How is it with your sons parents?CED