We interrupt our regularly scheduled program to bring a word from the Word about elders. We talked this last Sunday morning, in a combined bible class, about the importance of elders and what makes an elder, from a biblical perspective. Participants in the class got a handy handout that will help us think through what it means to be a select good elders for our congregation. Here's the highlight reel, as I see it, from our time together.
-A really good place to begin talking about elders is back in the gospels when Jesus talks about leadership in his new community. Jesus has called a distinct community to follow him and has called them to a unique way of life. He wants leaders to emerge from within this community that can lead the community to become like him. Therefore a great place to begin looking for qualities of a elder is the life and teachings of Jesus.
-Jesus inverts the way the world looks at power. The leaders that Jesus seeks are those who are first and foremost servants of others. Jesus wants those who follow him to be servants just like him - and Jesus serves everybody. Mark 10:45, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many." Jesus calls those who follow him to serve and so leaders in his community need to truly exhibit service to others in all that they do.
-We talked about the interesting fact that biblical leaders don't generally want to be leaders! In the Old Testament when God calls a prophet the prophet rejects God's call at first. They don't want to do it! God wants leaders who are humble and don't think, perhaps, that they actually have anything to offer.
-The leading metaphor for a leader in the bible is that of a shepherd. God is often talked about as being a shepherd, right? And so a leader of God's flock should emulate God in this. Shepherd is a powerful image for a leader in the church.
I know we talked about more. What have I left out? What moves you about all of this? What difference do you think it would make if we served our servants?
Peace,
Aaron
