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church? In dependence upon God, the desire to serve can enable an elder to en-
elders must care for the Christians, as dure when a coerced person will give up.
a shepherd feeds his flock, by teaching, Second, the work of the elder should
preaching, exhorting, rebuking and en- not be tainted by personal greed: “not for
couraging with the Bible. They are to be shameful gain, but eagerly” (1Pe 5:2c).
among the people they shepherd so that Spiritual leadership has historically been
they know the flock and can appreciate blighted by greed. It was silver that Judas
and respond to their needs, strengths and received for betraying the Lord. Churches
weaknesses. have stood out as centres of wealth in the
Pastoral care is all about bringing the midst of poverty, with leaders enriched by
Word of God to the people of God. By feeding on the flock rather than feeding
personal example and the help of oth- the flock. An elder requires an attitude of
ers, the spiritual food of God’s Word will selfless service, more concerned by what
strengthen, guide for the decisions of life, he can do for others rather than what they
and cleanse and protect from the defile- can do for him. Shepherds are not to fleece
ment of the world. It will also educate the sheep.
and enable growth in the knowledge of Third, elders should not take the place
God and our Saviour, bringing hope for as lords: “not domineering over those
the dark times of life experience and a in your charge, but being examples to
sure foundation upon which to build our the flock” (v3). It is always a bad sign
lives for God. when a church becomes identified with a
Paul emphasises this responsibility leader’s name, as if it belongs to him or is
when he instructs Timothy that elders subservient to him. This is what an elder
must be “able to teach” (1Ti 3:2). It is worth must avoid. A person behaving like a chief
noting that among all the qualifications of executive or a tyrant is not serving as an
an elder that Paul mentions in 1 Timothy elder. Elders lead by example, teaching,
3 and Titus 1, teaching the Word of God caring, encouraging, rebuking, but never
stands out in the lists. “He must hold firm as dictators. Their authority is derived
to the trustworthy word as taught, so that from the Lord, and their overarching aim
he may be able to give instruction in sound is to point to Him, for the people in their
doctrine and also to rebuke those who charge to love and serve the Lord, not
contradict it” (Titus 1:9). them. Rather than drive the flock from
As the elders oversee the local church, behind with a stick, shepherds lead the
they are to be careful not to fall into three sheep down a path they themselves have
common leadership sins. First, Peter already walked.
writes, they should do it “not under Peter will go on in his epistle to speak
compulsion, but willingly, as God would of the reward that awaits faithful elder
have you” (1Pe 5:2b). Similarly, when Paul service (v4) and the responsibility of the
writes to Timothy setting out the qualifica- sheep to respond to pastoral care (vv5-11).
tions of an elder, the first point he makes is In days when responsibility and service
that an elder should desire to do the work are declining for all sorts of selfish reasons,
(1Ti 3:1). An elder should want to serve the and the need for pastoral care has never
Lord in this way and not be forced to do been greater, let elders heed the call of the
so. When difficult circumstances arise, the Lord to shepherd the flock of God.

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