Last Sunday morning the message was titled, "Responsibilities of Children to Their Parents." We named these three: gratitude, honor and physical/emotional support. In the likeness of that message, there are some responsibilities that all of us have to the elders of the church. Yes, it is true that shepherds have a grave obligation before God to watch for the souls of those under their care. (Heb. 13:17, Acts 20:28.) But our emphasis today is our obligations to the elders.

Brother Harper asked me a question this week about shepherds of the church. He asked if I knew what they called shepherds in Germany. I replied that I did not know. He said "German shepherds."

We should all be aware that the Bible uses many different names to refer to those mature Christian men who oversee the local churches. Each name is important and refers to various aspects of who they are and what they do. Some of those names are pastors, elders (Gr. Presbuterous), shepherds and pastors (Eph. 4:11)(Gr. Poimevas), overseers (Gr. Episkopos), bishops (Gr. Episkopos) and presbyters. It should be noted that there are no other overseers locally, nationally and worldwide than these. Jesus is called the chief Shepherd. (1 Peter 5:4.) He is repeatedly called the "Head" of the church. (Eph. 5:23, Eph. 4:15, Eph. 1:22-23, Col. 1:18, Col. 2:19.) Peter, after referring to himself as an elder, moved directly from elders or shepherds to the chief Shepherd. Once again, there are no others.

One of the most interesting passages about elders is Acts 20:17-38. Paul met with the elders of the church of Ephesus at Miletus for the last time. They are called elders (Greek word is presbyters) in verse 17 and overseers to feed (Greek is overseers and shepherd) in verse 28. The KJV reads "bishop" in 1 Tim. 3:2. The Greek is episkopos. This person here described cannot be the local minister of a church. If so, Paul and Timothy would have been disqualified. Neither was married with believing children. Paul is not referring to ministers, but rather to overseers of the church.

There are several New Testament texts that say something about how a local church should respond to its overseers. We have a responsibility to these men and their families.

This is the same point that we made recently concerning children in their relationship to their parents. So much is based upon how we feel in our hearts. Everything begins there. If we are filled with thanksgiving, we will respond gladly and willingly in all the areas of responsibility. If we fail here, we will likely fail in our other duties.

We should appreciate elders for what they do for the whole church. These men have taken on themselves a serious task. They often endure stress and pressures while trying to serve the local church. Just because these men are mature and have had many experiences in life, that does not mean that this work is easy to accomplish. Human relationships are very complex. A local church is not unlike a family. The church is often likened to a family in Scripture. In the local church we have many more than just three or four members in the family. One wayward child in a family can cause the parents and other children untold pain and tears. Likewise, immature members who have not grown in the faith can cause the elders untold and unnecessary burdens.

We owe our elders the gift of gratitude. We ought to let them know that we appreciate what they do and who they are. The Hebrew writer expressed it this way:

"Obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you." (Heb. 13:17.)

In most churches there are very few who are serving in this mature capacity. I know one church that has over 400 members, yet they have only four elders. Most churches need more elders than they have. I wonder if one of the main reasons is because the men feel unappreciated and because they must deal with so many petty issues. If we respond the way we should to those who serve, they will do their work with joy and not with grief. What do you cause the elders? Joy or grief?

The above text from Hebrews 13 says again, "Obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves for they watch for your souls." Both the KJV and NIV say obey and submit. I believe that we have an obligation before God to do just that. We should develop and express a spirit of cooperation to the elders. The local church cannot grow and succeed in its serious mission to the lost and edification of the church without it. Most churches are stuck in a hopeless position and cannot go forward because there is no willingness to cooperate with the leaders. Programs fail one after the other because the membership does not follow.

I heard an elder address a congregation once in his frustration. In exasperation, he said to those gathered, You refuse to lead or be led! Isn’t that sad? Many church members are so conflicted within and so immature that they plan to oppose every good program. Their attitude is from the very start, I am opposed to it. Yet, the Bible says that we should be ready unto every good work. (Titus 3:1.)

It is wrong for men and women to oppose the eldership. There are women who are not careful what they say about those who serve. By their words, they show that they are not in subjection to the elders. Women today are throwing off the biblical injunctions about submission to their husbands or to any men. They make it clear that they do not plan to submit themselves. If so, you need to know that you are sinning against the Lord as well as against the elders. You know your own heart. What is your attitude toward the elders? Do you make their work easier or more difficult? Do you submit or oppose?

By the way, constantly bringing up petty, unimportant issues to the elders shows a spirit that is divisive and ungodly. I do not believe that the issue at hand is so important to most of these people. It does not really matter what the subject under discussion is about. It is simply an opportunity to oppose something. They have an axe to grind. They jump on any bandwagon.

There are many decisions that must be made in the work of the church. Many of these are matters of opinion. They are not right or wrong. It is a judgment decision. Some examples are: whether to have a bus program, a youth minister, a secretary, a church building, or a fellowship hall. Elders face many criticisms because many members do not seem to know that there are many such things that are optional and matters of opinion. In these matters, we should be cooperative.

"Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treads out the corn. And, the laborer is worthy of his reward. Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses." (1 Tim. 5:17-19.)

"Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king."

(1 Peter 2:17.)

"Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear; and honor to whom honor. Owe no man anything, but to love one another. For he that loves another hath fulfilled the law." (Rom. 13:7-8.)

In our western society, we have lost the meaning of honor. We do not know what it is and do not desire to show it to others. Old Eli in the Bible is a good example. He was a heavy man. When his grandson, Ichabod, was born, Eli fell off his seat and broke his neck. Ichabod means loss of glory and honor. His mother died in child-birth, his father and uncle died in battle, the ark of the Testament was stolen, and his grandfather died the day of his birth. The meaning is also found in Paul’s contrast of this life with the world to come: "For our light affliction which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." (2 Cor. 4:17.)

Those who occupied important, weighty positions in society should be considered as persons deserving of honor and respect. They were the elders of the city, teachers, policemen, parents, all the elderly, the king, etc. The Bible says, Honor all men, and honor the king. (1 Peter 2:17.) Elders or shepherds in churches certainly are deserving of honor. They fulfill an important role in our lives and in the lives of the community. Suppose that a community had no such leaders that others could look up to and follow spiritually. How weak the homes and society would be. How weak churches are that do not have such qualified men to serve. The crying need in almost every church and every community is for good leaders. We should encourage those who desire to serve and are willing to grow toward maturity.

There is a sense in which we should honor those in weighty positions in a way more than the individual deserves. For example, I may not agree with a particular President of the United States in his stand on various issues politically and socially. But I respect the office that he holds. I respect him above what he may deserve individually. If he were not President, I would not honor him. In like manner, we should honor elders above who they are individually. We should respect the plan God has given for the well-being of his church.

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men---for kings and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior." (1 Tim. 2:12.)

When Paul left the elders of Ephesus, he prayed with them.

"And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. . . and when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down and prayed with them all." (Acts 20:32, 36.)

It surely is encouraging to the elders to hear public prayers that include them and to know that we are praying for them and their families.