There must always be an understanding and agreement between the elders and the congregation if their work is either pleasant or profitable. The Lord knew this, and he has made laws to govern their conduct toward each other. The Lord's laws are perfect, and his way is always best. He knew the human nature before he devised the plan of redemption, and all the laws that he has given to regulate human conduct are adapted perfectly to man's needs, frailties, and weaknesses, though not always to man's wishes. All the disorder, misunderstanding, jarrings, and frictions of earth come as the result of the infraction of some of God's laws. Where his laws are known and properly observed, there is always harmony and peace and perfection.

      When man and woman lived in their Edenic home and were the companions of their Creator, there was no law given to govern their relationship further than that they should be one flesh. They needed no law then. God's order obtained, and all things were good and very good. Both woman and man filled their respective spheres as naturally as the fishes swam in the water or the birds flew in the heavens. The question of their inferiority or superiority to each other never troubled them. It was after sin entered the home of man and wrought its ruin that God told the woman that her desire should be to her husband and he should rule over her. A failure to observe this law has made countless thousands mourn.

      In the interest of the cause of Christ and for the peace and happiness of each local church, every Christian should learn what is the will of God relative to the organization of the local church. Having learned in the preceding chapters that each congregation is to have a board of elders, and having studied the duties and qualifications of elders, it is now appropriate to learn what are the duties of each church to her elders. Let us number the New Testament injunctions to the members of the congregations and take particular notice of them just as we did its instructions to the elders. The members are admonished to--

      1. Duly regard the elders. (1 Thess. 5:12.) "But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them exceeding highly in love for their work's sake." The word which is here translated "to know" is used Hebraistically and means "to acknowledge," "to respect," or "duly regard." Any Christian who ignores the elders and proceeds with any of the affairs of the church without consulting their wishes or heeding their directions is in flagrant disobedience to this passage of scripture. Any member who lightly regards their admonitions or disrespects their ruling is guilty of disobeying God.

      2. Esteem them exceeding highly in love. This emphasizes the first admonition. They are admonished to know and to esteem the elders--not only to esteem them, but to esteem them exceeding highly; and not only to esteem them exceeding highly, but to esteem them exceeding highly in love; and all of that for their work's sake, or because of the honor of their work, because of the responsibility and dignity of their position. Also men who possess the character and scriptural knowledge and spiritual attainments that elders are required to have are worthy of the esteem, respect, and love of all men. But it should be noticed that the elders are to be esteemed highly for their work's sake, or, as stated above, because of the honor of their office. Men respect the governor of a State or the judge of a court not because his character merits deference, but because of his position or office. In the light of the above scripture, what shall we say of those church members who speak disrespectfully and, even disparagingly of the elders? Let us try the Lord's way a while, brethren.

      3. Imitate their faith. (Heb. 13:7.) The elders are told to be examples for their flocks, and here the members are told to imitate them. Paul often exhorted Christians to follow him, as he followed the Lord. Every religious teacher should teach by example as well as by precept. We learn to do things best by seeing others do them. Like the village preacher, the elders should not only allure to brighter worlds, but they should also lead the way; and the congregation should be content to follow.

      4. Submit to them. (Heb. 13:17.) When a Christian becomes a member of a congregation, he then and thereby places himself under the oversight of the elders of that congregation. It is then his duty to submit to the elders. When they admonish him, he must hear them. If they find it necessary to reprove or even rebuke him, he must heed. If they give him work to do, he must do it, if he can. From the elders he should be willing to receive counsel, encouragement, and help. And this they will, if they are the Lord's kind, be ready and anxious to give. Sometimes a man comes into a congregation and begins at once to try to change the methods and manners of a congregation, to force the elders to submit to him, and to make the whole church over to suit himself. In some cases the change might be an improvement, but it is assuming too much authority for a man to undertake such a task uninvited and before the people know whether he is either capable or worthy of the task. All members of the congregations, whether they are new or old, must submit to the elders.

      5. Obey the elders. (Heb. 13:17.) It would,be impossible for the elders to rule over the church if the members would not submit to them and obey their ruling. The eldership would be mere mockery unless their authority is regarded. This is the reason many congregations do not have elders to-day--not because they do not have men who could do the work, but because they have members who love to have the preeminence and who do not have the requisites for membership in a Christian congregation. It is very convenient for such individuals to discourage any desire to appoint elders with the suggestion that there is not a man in the congregation who is qualified. Not infrequently they ignore the elders and dispose of them with a contemptuous "they-are-not-fit-for-elders" remark. If the elders allow such as,that, they are truly "not fit." The congregation must obey its elders in all that God teaches, or ask them to retire. If the elders do something that any member considers wrong, he should speak to the elders about it and ask for an explanation. Possibly they can make it clear to him, or it might be that they would see that they did make a mistake. No man is, and no set of men are, past making mistakes. All scriptural elders know that they are not infallible, and they welcome corrections and advice and information. If any decision of the elders is found to be wrong or injudicious, they will correct it. If they do not, they, and not the members, are rebellious. If a man should find it impossible conscientiously to obey any ruling of the elders, there is but one course for him to pursue: withdraw his membership from the congregation. This will never be necessary unless either the member or the elders are obstinate and desire to exalt an opinion or whim of their own above the word of God and the good of the church; for if it is a matter of fidelity to God, it would be an easy matter to turn to the New Testament and determine what is right or wrong. People who will not obey the elders rebel against the will and authority of God and cannot expect his approval or blessings. God plainly says: "Obey them that have the rule over you."

      6. Count them worthy of double honor. We have already learned from Peter's language, forbidding an elder to do his work for the sake of lucre or money, that the elders in the New Testament church were paid by the congregation for their work. That fact is brought out still clearer by Paul in this passage (1 Tim. 5:17): "Lot the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor." The word which is translated "honor" is "times;" and, according to the lexicons, it means "salary," "stipend," "reward," "wages." The elders, therefore, received wages from the congregation, and those who ruled well were to have a double portion, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. Where are those brethren who used to oppose paying a preacher? Where are those who said it was wrong to give the preacher a stipend or stipulated amount? Did they never read or study this scripture? But some one may object that it is the elders that are here spoken of. Exactly; but the passage speaks especially of those who labor in preaching (logos) and teaching.

      If we had any doubt about the meaning of the word "honor," the rest of the passage would show its meaning.

      "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in word and in teaching. For the scripture saith," Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his hire." There can be no question as to whether the elders were supported by their flock in Paul's time; that is clear; but the question is, whether the churches should now support in a financial way the elders that rule over them. Why not? Is not this passage meant for us as much as any other part of the letter? Of course no man should do the work for a money consideration; and where a congregation is not able to thus reward its bishops, of course no faithful man would on that account refuse to do the work. Or if any faithful elder--or preacher, either--wishes to support himself and not be burdensome to the church, he has a fine example to follow. That was Paul's course, as we all know. He reminded the Ephesian elders of his course and told them to do likewise. (Acts 20:35.)

      Where the church is not so large but that the elders can meet all its demands--do their whole duty--and at the same time work for their support, there is no need for the church to support them; but in the towns and cities where the congregation is large and of a cosmopolitan membership, many weak members, a number of babes in Christ, and these completely surrounded by multifarious temptations and every influence but Christian, somebody must tend that flock; and whoever does it will have need to be everywhere at once and to be somewhere all the time. And yet he must have time for study, meditation, and prayer. If he looks after the sick, the dying, the destitute, the funerals, etc., and then prepares to teach (feed) the flock when it assembles for worship, what time will he have to watch concerning their souls, to get personally acquainted with his members and know their wants and needs? What man can make a living for himself and family and then do all this work for the church? Either task will keep a man busy night and day in our times. Every city church of any size ought to support at least two or three pastors (elders), if it cannot support all its elders, while they do their work; for they will all be kept busy if they do the work the Bible requires and the exigency demands.

      Those brethren who oppose a "pastor" should begin to teach the churches the necessity of supporting their elders so they can do the work. This work must be done, brethren; and if a church does not have men who are competent to do the work, by all means let them import a man or men according to their needs and ability to take care of them; and if these do their work well, let them be counted worthy of double honor, or stipend. O, how we need shepherds! Our flocks are scattered, our sheep have all gone astray. For the sake of the cause we love, brethren, stop arguing and go to work for Christ.

      Brethren sometimes say that if a disciple is not strong enough to stand alone or will not do his Christian duty without being urged,coaxed, invited, etc., he is no account, anyway. God's whole arrangement contradicts this. He has ordained that certain men be set apart and supported by the church to tend the flock, to feed his lambs, to watch in behalf of the souls of his children. Let the reader get his New Testament and read carefully the fifth chapter of First Thessalonians from the twelfth verse to the close. In verse 12 Paul says: "But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them exceeding highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves." Now he adds a postscript to the elders: "And we exhort you, brethren." First he beseeches the brethren to esteem the elders, and then he exhorts the elders to encourage the faint-hearted, etc. "We beseech you, brethren," to esteem the elders; "and we exhort you, brethren," you elders, to "admonish the disorderly, encourage the faint-hearted, support the weak, be long-suffering toward all." So God recognized the fact that there would be weak, faint-hearted, faltering, and even disorderly Christians, and he has arranged that these be cared for. It is the duty of every child of God to do all he can in caring for the little ones in the kingdom of heaven, "even these least;" but the work demands that men competent and qualified be enabled to give their whole time to this work. All around us people are perishing who never heard the gospel, and the churches that should be centers of power, cities set on a hill, radiating the light of the gospel into the darkest corners of the earth, are wrangling, slavering, driveling, debating, deteriorating, dying, and going to the devil; and all want of food--real spiritual food--husks of hobbyistic harangues or skinning" sermons from legalistic laggards in the religion of Christ. To all elders let us say, with Paul: "Take heed unto thyself and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood." (Acts 20:28.) To every preacher may we say, with Paul, again "Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee." (1 Tim. 4:16.) To all congregations say: "We beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them exceeding highly for their work's sake. And: "Remember them that had the rule over you [viz., Paul, Peter, Stephen, James, John], men that spake unto you the word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith (Heb. 13:7.) And: "The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me [them], these things do." (Phil. 4:9.) And by all means "let us cast off the works of darkness, and let put on the armor of light." (Rom. 13:12.)

1. How should the elders be regarded by the members of their flock?
2. Why should they be esteemed and loved?
3. Should the members follow the example of the elders?
4. In what way should Christians submit to the elders?
5. Is a man who will not submit to the elders guilty of disobedience to God?
6. How far should the members obey the elders?
7. Is a member allowed to rebel against the decision of the elders simply because he wants to have his own way? If he does, of what is he guilty?
8. If a man believes the elders to be in the wrong on any matter, what should he do?
9. How will the faithful elders receive and treat such a man?
10. If a man charges that the elders have done wrong, how should the other members treat his charges? Read carefully 1 Tim. 5:19. Remember this when you hear the elders spoken against?
11. What does it mean to count the elders worthy of double honor?
12. How much of the elders' time will it require to care for the church properly.
13. How can we find men who are able to spare so much time from their personal affairs?
14. What proof can you offer that the churches of the New Testament supported or paid their elders?
15. Is it right to support them now?
16. Is there not as great demand on their time now as in the first century?
17. Is the work any less important?
18. What is the greatest need of the churches with which you are acquainted?

[TMC 49-61]