A word for Shepherds

1 Timothy 3 and Ezekiel 34 1 Peter
Peter moves towards the end of his letter by sharing a personal word with those in positions of leadership in the churches. In the light of the pressure the church will face, it must be right at the top and so he humbly addresses the leaders. A nation needs good leadership like Churchill in the war. In any human organisation you need wise heads and steady hands. Some church leaders play a national role like Martin Lloyd Jones and Spurgeon who were greatly respected by all. The future of the church depends on Biblically qualified leaders being raised. This passage is addressed to elders and the led – what to expect of them and ourselves in relation to them. Peter had had a hard time getting to grips with leadership of a Biblical kind.
WHO ARE ELDERS – verse 1
Elder focuses on that he is a mature man of God. Under Moses elders were selected for each tribe, they were mature men. In the 400 years between the Old Testament and New Testament church synagogues were led by elders. When the early New Testament began, the church was led by elders – see Acts 14. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in each church. In Acts 21 he called the elders of Ephesus and gave them a charge. There are 3 interchangeable terms. Elders – understand the truth and apply it. Overseer or bishop, exercise oversight, their function is to superintend matters. Pastor, this means shepherd, focuses on the tasks of providing care and feeding. They give leadership to and provide food for the flock. This office is constant. They are called bishop, minister, elder etc. The congregation needs leadership. It is a mark of a true Christian church. It is led by faithful men. A strong church needs committed leadership. It needs a continual supply of men being raised. Unless the leadership is strong, the church will crumble when it is under pressure. In the New Testament, there is always a plurality of elders, and some elders were financially supported by their members. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders. Paul told Titus to appoint elders in every city. 1 Timothy 5:17 – some were paid. The leadership is reserved for men. This matters today, there are various types of church government such as the catholic church that has pope-cardinal-bishop-priest, this is unbiblical. The New Testament model is one of local churches led by elders, it is not a democracy run by a committee.
WHY DOES PETER APPEAL TO ELDERS?
a) Peter appeals as a fellow elder. Notice the sensitive address. He does not pull rank by saying ‘I am speaking as an apostle’, no, he is speaking as one of them, under pressure as they are, in partnership with them.
b) Peter is also a witness of Christ’s sufferings. He had heard and seen Jesus. He had seen miracles, but he speaks of his suffering because he knows the believers were suffering, especially the elders. As Christ suffered serving others, so will they. Peter wrote out of experience, and as a student of the apostolic witness in Scripture.
c) Peter is looking forward to the Christian’s blessed hope. Peter shared in sufferings so he will share in Christ’s glory.
d) Peter’s exhortations are related to his teaching on suffering. He knew how slow he had been to learn from the Lord. He knows people often backslid and elders’ decisions were sometimes rejected. God chose ordinary mortals to be elders, we should not expect perfection. They have a burden. The corrective actions of elders need privacy, which means that all facts are not public knowledge. People do not understand why they have acted as they did, misunderstandings may result. Peter understands all of that and knows there is a sufficiency of grace to help.
WHAT IS THE CALLING OF ELDERS?
He interchanges the 3 words. He shepherds the flock, bears them on his heart, seeks them when they stray, defends from harm, comforts them in pain, and feeds them with the truth. His first charge is to shepherd the flock – when Peter was restored this was Jesus’ first charge ‘take care of my sheep’. He gave him a heart fir it and a willingness to do it. It is not learnt in a seminary. The pastor/shepherd looks out for the needs of the people and gets to know them. In a large congregation, a plurality of elders are needed.
WHAT SHOULD CHARACTERISE THE ELDERS WORK?
Each of them begins with a negative. Elders are respected and trusted by people but it opens up a minefield.
a) Their oversight must be willing service as a true expression of Christian love. They must have a good attitude to their work. He does this because he wants to not because he has got to. Who wants a reluctant leader? 1 Timothy 3:5 – men should aspire to the work so it can grow and be blessed. It should never be done grudgingly.
b) Their oversight must exhibit a good attitude towards compensation. God’s servant should never be covetous. Temptation of money has been the downfall of many. Those who do it for money are called hirelings – this means it is a wrong motive.
c) Their oversight must demonstrate a good attitude towards people’ ‘Elders are to be ‘overseers’ not ‘over-lords,’ – says Wiersbe. Elders must not be bossy but show people the way. Some pastors/ministers have become petty tyrants. ‘Heavy shepherding’ is a form of this where a heavy hand goes onto those who are unconventional. People end up being driven away. In the church there is room for differences of conscience. All sheep are different as are all Christians.
d) Their oversight must exhibit a good example to people. Nothing will ever affect people more than example. Nothing inspires confidence more than a Christ like example. ‘Like pastor, like people.’ The flock will follow the example – listen and follow. Elders command respect rather than demand it.
WHAT IS THE ELDERS REWARD? Verse 4.
There is an earthly reward, to be able to devote yourself full time to the ministry. The greatest reward will come when the Great Shepherd returns and rewards leaders. Leaders are often unappreciated but the slightest deed done in Jesus’ name in the remotest corner of the earth will be remembered because God writes it down in His book. This is preached to the elders and what they should do, they are flawed men, all of them. They need the prayers, support and encouragement of their people. This will lead to the congregation being blessed. We need to pray that churches – small and large – will have the leadership that they need.