Finding Faithful Elders and Deacons - Monergism Books

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How to Use This BookHOW NOT TO USE THIS BOOKThis book is not a sourcebook for leading witch hunts and rebellionsagainst leaders. Shepherds are not perfect men. Though Godsets the bar for pastoral ministry necessarily high, he uses thepoles of grace to support that bar.Users should keep the Lord’s grace in mind as they read, lestan overly critical, gospel-forgetting, judgmental attitude develop.Few things are as harmful as the Lord’s people becoming censorioustoward the Lord’s under-shepherds. In fact, the Bible itself tellsus that rebellion against our spiritual leaders is of no advantage tous (Heb. 13:17). I very much hope this series of brief meditationswould be an advantage for both pastors and people.May the Lord be pleased to use this volume to help us recognizethe gifts he has already given to his body for our growth inChrist (Eph. 4:11–16).Thabiti M. AnyabwileGrand Cayman, Cayman IslandsOctober 12, 201016
8DESIRES A NOBLE TASKIf anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.1 T I M O T H Y 3 : 1In order to find reliable men to serve as elders, the first thing weneed to look for is men who desire this “noble task.” We want menwho have a heart for it, who “aspire to the office.”This, in my experience, is not as straightforward as it sounds.Some men may “want the office,” but their wanting is really lust forpower, and so they are not fit. Conversely, some men who are fitfor the office think that wanting it shows pride, ungodly ambition,or impoliteness. Finally, some men are probably qualified, butthey either lack the desire or think they are not qualified becausethey’re holding onto some idea of a “super elder.”STIRRING ASPIRATIONPractically speaking, one of the first things a pastor must do is clarifyand teach godly ambition, including the godliness of aspiring tobe an elder. 13 Faithful pastors will regularly encourage young men(including twenty-somethings) to include in their personal aspirationsthe goal of becoming an elder. After all, every characteristicthat Paul lists for elders in 1 Timothy 3, except for the quality ofbeing “able to teach” (v. 2), should mark every Christian man. Thepastoral challenge to aspire to be an elder is good and godly. It’sanother way of saying to Christian men, “This is what Christian51
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