Bismarck Church of Christ

 Author - John Irby, source - Bismarck Church of Christ bulletin, 3/30/08

Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from what we believe; they will follow lying spirits and teachings that come from demons.

– 1 Timothy 4:1
Are we in the last times? Yes. That might seem a bit misleading, however, as the last times began with Christ’s resurrection and will continue until his return. Paul, in the fourth chapter of his first letter to Timothy, is warning him that in these last days there will be false teachers.

Those false teachers will follow lying spirits and teach things that come from demons. They will be hypocrites and liars. They will pretend to be religious. They will have dead consciences.

Biblical scholars tell us the ones – the false teachers - Paul was talking about, and the dangers that Timothy was facing in Ephesus, included those that were departing from the belief of one creator and one God. They were taking the idea of Christian privileges farther than all others had done, resulting in sin. They were denying the one and only God, even suggesting He was imperfect or perhaps an evil being.

Certain people in the church were following some Greek philosophies and were teaching that the body was evil and that only the soul mattered, and because of that whatever the body did didn’t matter. Because of God’s contact with the physical world, they wouldn’t believe that God was good because he had soiled himself. While they honored Jesus, they didn’t believe that he was human.

So why did Paul warn against the false teachers? Because he knew if they were not challenged they might be believed. That is a lesson for today.

False teachers have always been a threat to the church. So it shouldn’t come as any surprise that they are here today. Jesus and the apostles continually warned against them, and if we learn the lesson from Paul and others who warned about false teachers we need to stand up against them and speak the truth. We have to guard against any false teaching that can cause believers to dilute the truth, be it direct or subtle.

The evil powers of false teachers and their thoughts and desires of this world, come from the Devil. Ephesians 6:11 tell us to “Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil.”

That includes not being unduly impressed by a teacher’s style or credentials or charisma – the strategy and tricks of the Devil – but only by his teachings and true conclusions of Jesus Christ.

To learn more about false teachers and the last days read Mark 13: 21-23, Acts 20:29-30, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 and 2 Peter 3:3-10.

– John Irby

Author - John Irby, source - Bismarck Church of Christ bulletin, 3/15/08

     What does an elder do? Many in the church have a fundamental understanding or idea of how to answer that question. But sometimes we might expect too much, and in other situations we might not expect enough. When we have disagreements or different ideas, there is only one place to find the answers and that’s God’s word.

      An elder must lead and a real leader has a servant’s heart. In Matthew 20 Jesus was teaching about serving others. The context is for everyone, but an elder’s role including setting an example as described in verse 27: “and whoever wants to be first must become your slave.” One of the things an elder does is serve.

      Charles Siburt, in Abilene Christian University’s Elder Link program, suggests essential elder functions are easier to understand if they are viewed in a “job description” format with biblical, functional and practical divisions. He also advises that Christians should understand that individual elders will often have different strengths and weaknesses.

      The character of elders and how that is manifested in what they do is most important, he says, adding that growth, not perfection, is essential in elder skills and functions, which can be taught and learned.

      Siburt suggests seven functions of elders.

Teaching the faith. It includes guarding the gospel against different doctrines, promoting healthy beliefs and believers and laboring in preaching and teaching. Study verses include 1 Tim. 1:10, 5:17 and 6:20, and Titus 1:9.

Shepherding the flock.  This includes protecting the church from “wolves” that would devour it, ensuring good food for the sheep and managing the congregation with caring authority. Study scriptures include Acts 20:28ff, 1 Peter 5:1-5, 1 Tim. 3: 4-5, and 1 Thess. 5:12.

Consoling the afflicted. This consolation comes from God and is facilitated through Christians caring for one another, led by the example of elders who are gentle like a father caring for children or a nurse for the sick. Scriptures to review include 2 Cor. 1:3ff, 1 Cor. 12:25, Romans 13:8, 1 Thess. 3:12, 4:9 and 2:7, 11.

Encouraging Christian formation. Elder serve in this area by nurturing Christians so that Christ is formed in their mind and soul, helping Christians to grow from spiritual childhood and helping believers to go beyond basic teaching and move toward perfection through maturity. God’s word explains this encouragement in Gal. 4:19, Eph. 4:14-15 and Heb. 6:1.

Building congregational community. This is achieved when individuals become a household or family, and comes from edification, accepting one another, serving each other and hospitality to all. The concepts are clear in 1 Cor. 3:10-18 and 12:4-7, Romans 14:19 and 15:7, Gal. 5:13, 1 Peter 4:9 and 1 Thess. 5:11, 14.

Equipping the saints for ministry. All should minister and be good stewards of the gifts we have been give. But elders help us prepare by leading us to understand how our “body parts” (abilities) fit together. Eph. 4:12, 16 and I Peter 4:10 explain this process.

Facilitating reconciliation. When elders are humble, gentle, show patience and are devoted to the interest of others, oneness of mind and purpose in body is achievable. Elders’ work also includes using wise judgment to help the body avoid conflict and dissension, and if necessary, resolve it.

      Next week, the final part of this series on elders will explore the congregational process, when the time is right, of selecting elders.

– John Irby

Author - John Irby, source - Bismarck Church of Christ bulletin, 3/2/08

Hell, fire and brimstone. That describes the message preached by Robert D. Irby over the first few years of his 50-plus year ministry. My father mellowed over time and took to heart the old adage that one could catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

My father’s goal in life was to serve others and share the word of God. He learned over the years the communication methods that worked best, but he always worked hard at not compromising his beliefs, ethics and convictions.

He was also a life-long learner and loved studying the Bible. A few years before he passed away at the age of 85, we had an interesting conversation. He told me he had changed his mind on a certain aspect of the Holy Spirit. It wasn’t a significant change, but he felt he had a clearer understanding after years and years of study and prayer.

That attitude is one we should have as we look at the qualities of elders. We need to be open to the possibility we might not have a clear understanding of what we have been taught by our parents, church leaders, church educational tracts – or even hell, fire and brimstone preachers.

Take for instance the quality of “husband of one wife,” the meaning and context of which are probably the most debated of all of the qualities.

In 1957, Otto Foster, an elder in the church, wrote about spiritual government of the church. Here’s what he wrote about “husband of one wife.” Not a polygamist; nor a bachelor; nor a widower; nor one who for any reason has divorced his wife and married another.

Over the years that has been a widely accepted interpretation. Some church members, elders, ministers and congregations, however, have proposed a different context for the scripture suggesting it is ambiguous, even simply a generic demand for church leaders to reflect the highest Community and Christian values.

James W. Thompson wrote the following in 1997 for ElderLink Ministries after exegesis of the language and times: It (husband of one wife) is a demand that one not live promiscuously; that one not have sequential polygamy. More plausible is the view that the phrase expressed the requirement of faithfulness in marriage.

One of the arguments in favor of Thompson’s interpretation of the text is a comparison of the quality of being blameless. Absolute blamelessness is not realistic. We accept that the quality does not include perfection, and, in fact, blamelessness only includes several years of effort at purity. That analogy of currency of the quality is then extended to “husband of one wife.”

John Gill and other well-known and often credible commentaries say as much: “ … this rule (husband of one wife) does not make it necessary that he (an elder) should have a wife; or that he should not marry, or not have married a second wife, after the death of the first; only if he marries or is married, that he should have but one wife at a time; so that this rule excludes all such persons from being elders, or pastors, or overseers of churches, that were polygamists …”

Once again, it is important for me to write that it is absolutely not my intent to change anyone’s beliefs, only to foster critical thinking and dialog.

With that in mind, three additional things must be kept in mind about this quality.

First, a congregation can avoid potential problems when it is in general agreement as to the interpretation of the quality. Second, Christians should not compromise God’s word when it is rightly divided, possibly giving up the promise of salvation – but we should all consider setting individual leanings aside in a sign of unity if the Bible is silent, ambiguous or open to legitimate interpretation. And finally, a man seeking the office of an elder should defer and remove himself from consideration if controversies over qualities threaten unity.

Next week we’ll look at the remaining qualities.

Author - John Irby, source - Bismarck Church of Christ bulletin, 2/24/08

The advertisement asks: “Got milk?” Drinking milk, as the saying goes, builds a strong body. In the church we would do well to ask: “Got elders?” Those men who desire the job for the right reasons help build strong congregations and parts of the Lord’s Body.

Elders are appointed to be leaders in evangelizing, serving and shepherding, but they are not called to do everyone’s work – we are all commanded to work for the Lord. That’s one of many important things to keep in mind as the discussion and process toward the selection of elders is serious work – and 1 Timothy 5:22 provides further guidance: Never be in a hurry about appointing an elder.

Congregations need to fully understand that the elder process is one in which much study and prayer are essential.

ElderLink Ministries of Abilene Christian University is a valuable resource in navigating the process. Everett Ferguson, Ph.D., suggest there are three ways a congregation can determine work of elders – the names or designations, specific instructions and qualities or qualifications.

Qualities or qualifications historically have commanded the most attention, scrutiny and debate. That might not be the best place to end the elder discussion, but it is as good a place as any to start. Many have discussed the meaning of being blameless, or self-willed, not given to much wine, hospitable or self controlled. The translations used – King James, New Living Translation, New American Standard, etc. – can open doors for specific word definition and appropriate context.

And different bodies of believers, depending upon several factors, place more importance on some qualities, or at least interpret some more literally than others, yet remain unified with the institutional body.

Despite the possibilities for differences of opinion, the world of God can be and needs to be rightly divided. Possibly the two most important things to remember in looking at qualities of elders are: 1) no man is perfect; 2) Most of the qualities/qualifications involve character, not specific skill or knowledge.

It is not my intent in this series of articles about elders to convince anyone of anything – may God and His word always be your guide. But it is important in any study to keep an open mind as our understanding and faith often becomes more complete as we grow in the Lord.

Traditionally in the church, there is little debate about many of the qualities.

An elder must be a man whose life cannot be spoken against. He must be blameless. He must have a good reputation. He must be without reproach. But this does not mean sinless, as we all fall short of the glory of God and are in need of His forgiveness. Biblical scholars generally agree, however, the integrity and effort at a pure life – this blamelessness – needs to have been evident for several years.

Teaching the word of God correctly is another quality, and a heavy responsibility. It isn’t enough to possess Biblical knowledge; an elder must know how to use the knowledge to further God’s glory, help Christians grow in their knowledge and word of God and lead others to Christ. He must be able to do so in public, such as corporate worship, and in private, such as one-on-one Bible study with the unbeliever.

Elders are also called to hospitality, enjoying guests in their homes and being friendly and loving to and of others. While we all need to be accepting of others, while not accepting rebellion to God, an elder needs to be gentle in his approach in all matters, not given to anger or arrogance; humility should be his guide.

Next week, we’ll look at what is possibly the most debated quality, “the husband of one wife” or being “faithful to his wife.”