tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13873773.post114995086111893785..comments2023-09-17T08:45:50.720-04:00Comments on Stuff Out Loud: What's a Pastor to Do?Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04886866662463467215noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13873773.post-1150072718134631002006-06-11T20:38:00.000-04:002006-06-11T20:38:00.000-04:00oops. will cut and paste my previous response to ...oops. will cut and paste my previous response to the correct post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13873773.post-1150066354583795902006-06-11T18:52:00.000-04:002006-06-11T18:52:00.000-04:00Ok. I'll bite. A quickie response and I'll debat...Ok. I'll bite. A quickie response and I'll debate the wisdom of engaging further after some pizza.<BR/><BR/>First. Perhaps the reason Paul does not refer to the other elders that he istructs Timothy to address is the fact that he wrote the letter to . . . er . . Timothy. Hence the singular advice for a glass of Merlot for his stomach ailment in verse 23.<BR/><BR/>Second. The polity of the PCA, which I assume you're aware of, is a good model to study. It recognizes Teaching Elders (TE) as those whose primary labor are that of Word and prayer much as you describe in your post. It also recognizes Ruling Elders (RE) as men who are able to teach, and most do, but who share the work of Spiritual shepherding so that the TE can give himself moreso to his primary calling of Word and prayer.<BR/><BR/>In this arrangement, which I believe to be Biblical according to I Tim 5:17, the TE serves as the leader of the leaders (Moderator of the Session or Elder board) while keeping him from the pitfalls of autocracy, foolhearty belligerence, and personality cult temptation of being "the man" that many men of the solo presbyter with deacons fall into. It is the shared leadership aspect that is a protection to him as he has the greater judgement (Jas 3) to look forward to as a teacher of the Word. <BR/><BR/>3rd and last. Timothy is now being addressed by his mentor to lead his fellow elders in the way of Biblical truth as he is the one who has the priveledge of giving himself wholly to the work of ministry while his ruling elders work for their living just like churches today where the TE is full time in the ministry and RE's are in the work world but have the Spiritual gifting and calling to serve the Church as undershepherds of the flock. Hence the admonition to pay the TE what he is worth (I Tim 5:17, 18) to do exactly what He does as the lead elder. According to Paul's words, he is to lead by example as the TE, these men, his plurality of ruling elders, some of whom presumably laid hands on him at his ordination so that they will rule well as elders in the Church. <BR/><BR/>1 Tim. 4:14 (KJV) <BR/> Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. <BR/><BR/>(BTW, how do KJV'ers dance around the use of presbytery?)<BR/><BR/>Anyway those are some initial thoughts. Volumes have been written on this as I'm sure you're aware. <BR/><BR/>Pass the pepperoni!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com