IN 1 Timotei 5:20, Paavali kirjoitti syntiä tehneestä vanhimmasta seurakunnassa ja mitä tehdä, jos vanhin teki syntiä. Paavali neuvoi Timoteusta olemaan vastaanottamatta syytöstä vanhimmasta, ellei syyte perustunut kahteen tai kolmeen todistajaan. Only when the accusation was based upon two or three witnesses, Timothy had to rebuke the sinning elder before the congregation so that the fear of God would remain. Let’s look at what the Bible says about the spiritual meaning and purpose of rebuking a sinning elder publicly (before all in the church).
What happens with a sinning elder in the church today?
Tänään, many Christians would immediately think or say: “What a harsh and mean thing to do!”, “Oh, that poor man (the elder)! We don’t have to do it that way, because that poor man suffered already by sinning” or “The Bible commands us to walk in love, and this is not a sign of walking in love and showing love to your neighbour. Nobody wants to be embarrassed in front of the whole congregation, because we are not perfect, we all sin”.
Many Christians would say these things because they are carnal instead of spiritual. They walk after the flesh instead of the Spirit.
Instead of being led by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, they’re led by their opinions, Tunteita, ja tunteita. Kuitenkin, this is very dangerous for the Body of Christ.
Tämän takia, Christians don’t change their lives to the Word of God. Sen sijaan, they adjust the words of God and Jeesuksen Kristuksen käskyt heidän tahtonsa mukaan, Himoja, ja toiveet. They close their eyes and make their ears dull to the truth of God.
Tässä artikkelissa, the elder is written in the masculine form because it’s easier to read. But it applies to both males and females.
Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear
1 Timotei 5:20
What does the Bible say about the characteristics of elders in the church?
An elder is commanded to the Lord Jesus Christ and is an ambassador of the Kingdom of God (as every Christian should be). The Bible says about the characteristics of an elder (bishop) that An elder should walk in righteousness and be blameless (which means having no sins in his life).
An elder should be a husband of one wife, having faithful children, who are not accused of riot or are unruly. One that rules well his own house, lastensa alistaminen kaikella painovoimalla.
The elder should be blameless, Jumalan taloudenhoitajana; not self-willed, ei pian vihainen, ei annettu viinille, ei hyökkääjää, not given to filthy lucre.
An elder should be a lover of hospitality, hyvien miesten rakastaja, raittiina, vain, pyhä, and temperate. He should hold fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayer.
The elder should feed the flock of God. He should take the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being a lord over God’s heritage. But the elder should be an example to the flock (toimii 14:23, Timotei 1:6-9, 1 Kikkeli 5:1-3).
Elders belong to and represents the Kingdom of God
Every born again Christian, including an elder, is a citizen of the Kingdom of God. Uudestisyntyneenä kristittynä; a citizen of the Kingdom of God, you have a responsibility. You have to obey the law and the rules of the King and His Kingdom.
As a born again Christian and follower of Jesus Christ, you are an ambassador; a representative of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.
You are no longer a representative of the kingdom of darkness. Tämä tarkoittaa, that you don’t live in submission to the ruler of the darkness (Paholainen) and obey him. You don’t do what the devil, maailma, and your flesh (sielu ja vartalo) say and command you to do.
Se johtuu siitä, että, you have crucified the flesh in Christ and live in submission to Christ. You obey Jesus Christ (Sana) and you do what is written in the Bible.
Ja ne, jotka ovat Kristuksen, ovat ristiinnaulittaneet lihan kiintymyksillä ja himoilla
Galatians 5:24
A sinning elder has the devil as father
When an elder sins it means that the elder lives after the flesh and listened and obeyed the devil instead of God. Vanhin, who sins rebels against God and disobeys His Word by fulfilling the desires and lusts of his flesh.
Through his deed of unrighteousness, he has rejected the Word and denied Jesus Christ. Sitä deed of the elder showed under whose authority he lives and to whom he listens.
Sinä olet isästäsi paholaisesta, ja isäsi himoja sinä teet. Hän oli murhaaja alusta asti, äläkä asu totuudessa, koska hänessä ei ole totuutta. Kun hän puhuu valhetta, hän puhuu omastaan: sillä hän on valehtelija, ja sen isä. Ja koska kerron sinulle totuuden, you believe me not. Which of you convinces me of sin? Ja jos sanon totuuden, why do you not believe me? Joka on Jumalasta, kuulee Jumalan sanat: ette siis kuule niitä, koska et ole Jumalasta (John 8:44-47)
Katso Eedenin puutarha. Adam and Eve didn’t have a sinful nature, but they believed the words of the serpent (Paholainen) and followed up his advice. While God was very clear and warned them what kind of evil would happen to them, if they ate the fruit from the forbidden tree.
Despite God’s warning, they believed the words of the devil instead of the words of God. Through their deed of eating from the forbidden tree, they rejected God and His truth and obeyed the devil and his lie and sinned.
It is the same for everyone that walks in sin. Ne hylkää Jeesus (Sana) ja Hänen käskynsä, and believe and obey the lies of the devil, who works through the flesh and the world system.
Why did Timothy have to rebuke a sinning elder before all?
Timothy had to rebuke the sinning elder in front of the whole congregation, so that every believer would have and keep a fear and awe of the Almighty God; the Creator of the heavens and the earth and all there is within.
The fear of the Lord had to stay present in the church. Because without the fear of the Lord, the believers would enter self-chosen paths. They would do what they wanted to do and live after their own will, aivan kuten maailma, sijasta Jumalan tahto.
The believers had to know that you can’t play games with the Almighty God and this is still the case.
Happy is the man that fears alway: but he that hardens his heart shall fall into mischief
Sananlaskut 28:14
How to prevent spiritual lukewarmness in the church?
Paul commanded Timothy to obey and keep this commandment. So that the believers wouldn’t become spiritually lukewarm to God and indifferent to sin.
Paul saw the spiritual state of the church. He discerned the spiritual realms: the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness.
Paul knew when a sinning elder would teach the believers in the Word of God (Raamattu), this evil unclean spirit that reigned in the life of the sinning elder, would come upon all the believers (kirkko).
That’s why Paul was so strict and careful with permitting and appointing believers in leadership positions.
Paul knew very well, what sin is and what sin produces in a person’s life.
Hän tiesi, että kun synti oli tolerated kirkossa, it wouldn’t be long before the whole church would be affected by evil and would die spiritually.
When an elder or any other person in the church walks in sin, it means that the person walks in darkness and that evil (pimeys) is present in the heart of the person.
Elders should live holy lives and walk in righteousness
In the many letters that Paul wrote to the saints, he continually urged them to live holy and walk in righteousness and to put off the old man. Every time Paul reminded the believers, että uskon kautta Jeesukseen Kristukseen, they had become a uusi luomus.
Paul taught them, how they should walk as the new creation in this new (henkistä) life that was given to them in Christ by the Jumalan armo.
Because as God, Jeesus Kristus, ja Pyhä Henki, Who lives in the born again Christian by the Spirit, ovat pyhiä ja vanhurskaita, so should the born-again Christian, who has been made in the image of God, be holy and walk in righteousness.
Tottelevaisina lapsina, älkääkä muovatko itseänne tietämättömyydessänne entisten himojen mukaan: but as He which hath called you is holy, olkaa siis pyhät kaikessa keskustelussa; Koska se on kirjoitettu, Olkaa pyhät; sillä minä olen pyhä. (1 Kikkeli 1:14-17)
Jumala on antanut poikansa (Sekä miehet että naaraat), everything in Christ to resist the devil and sin.
He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in High Places, so that we’ll be able to live holy and walk in righteousness in obedience to God and His Word, and represent and manifest the Kingdom of God on earth.
By the blood of Jesus and Hänen lunastavan työnsä, Sinut on tehty pyhäksi ja vanhurskaksi. Siksi, you’ll live and walk as the new creation in holiness and righteousness. Just like Jesus walked in holiness and righteousness through obedience to His Father and doing His will.
As long as you listen to the Word, and obey and do the Word, you stay in Christ and live after the Spirit in freedom under the blood.
A spirit of partiality in the church
Timothy had to keep this commandment, despite his relationship with the sinning elder (an acquaintance, ystävä, or family member), and despite his (sosiaalinen) status and wealth.
Timothy couldn’t allow any partiality in the church. He had to treat people equally, including sinning elders. If Timothy treated people unequally, he would be led by a spirit of partiality. (Lue myös: Elin henki).
You shall not respect persons in judgment; but you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it (Deuteronomy 1:17)
Minun veljeni, ei ole uskoa meidän Herramme Jeesukseen Kristukseen, kirkkauden Herra, henkilöiden suhteen (James 2:1)
How must the church treat a sinning elder?
In Today’s church, it rarely or never happens, that a sinning elder or a sinning preacher is rebuked before the congregation.
Ennen vanhaan, it was normal that a sinning elder confessed his sins and katunut before the whole congregation and that he was put out of his office and disarmed of his duties. But nowadays almost every ‘issue’ in spiritual leadership is resolved behind closed doors in a private setting. Many times it is kept a secret.
Joskus, but not always, the sinning elder will be temporarily removed from the office, so that ’the issue’ can appease. But after a short time, the person will be re-ordained again as an elder in the same church or in another church.
Edellisessä artikkelissa, the re-ordination of a sinning elder has been discussed. Therefore this will not be discussed in this article. If you haven’t read the article yet, and would like to read it, then you can click on the following link: Mitä Paavali tarkoitti asettamalla kädet yhtäkkiä kenellekään?
In the name of false love and grace sin is accepted in the church
Rebuking a sinning elder in public is no longer a formality. It is pushed away under the cloak of rakkautta ja armoa, and solved in a private setting. But this is not the way that God (ja Jeesus) wants the church to deal with sin.
Sitä body of Christ; the church is one body and not a divided body and should live holy.
The church needs to obey the Head Jesus (Sana), paholaisen sijasta (maailman hallitsija).
Especially the elders and leaders of the church should be spiritually mature, and walk as adult sons of God after the Word and the Spirit and bear the Hengen hedelmä.
They should live holy and righteous and be an example to Christians.
They should raise the believers in the Word of God, so that they will become like them, and like Jesus and walk after the Spirit instead of the flesh.
Valitettavasti, many elders remain carnal. They’re led by the spirit of this world and live just like the world. They approve and accept sin in the church and change the Word of God.
They change the gospel of Jesus Christ and the words of God in the Bible to their own opinion, feelings and the carnal will, himo ja toiveet, so that the carnal Christians, itse mukaan lukien, can live like the world, doing what they want and keep walking in sin.
What is the purpose of rebuking sin before all in the church?
When the sin of an elder is exposed in the church and the sinning elder is rebuked before all, and put out of the office, it ensures that:
- Christians keep the fear of the Lord (kunnioitusta) and have reverence for God and His Word
- Christians know that God is a righteous God and hates sin and He (ja Hänen kansansa) can’t have communion with sin
- The Christians are encouraged and urged to live a holy life and resist sin, and stay obedient to the Word
- Christians remain faithful and are serious about the things of the Kingdom of God and don’t become lazy and lukewarm
- The Church stays awake and watchful and be conscious of sin and its consequences
- Preventing lukewarmness among Christians
- Gossip and speculations about the matter and the sinning elder will be prevented in the church
An elder should practice what the elder preaches
When a sinning elder remain ordained or will be re-ordained after a short time and falls back into the same sin, will the elder still be credible?
When a sinning elder commands the believers to stay obedient to the Word and live according to what the Bible says, but the elder doesn’t do it and doesn’t practice what he preaches, do you think that believers will respect the elder and believe and obey his instructions?
The believers shall have little or no reverence and don’t believe his words let alone apply his words in their lives.
They shall think, “”Ha hear him talking! Telling us what we can’t do, but he does what he commands us not to do.”
Many elders are just like the Pharisees that acted piously in the presence of people. They commanded the people to obey the words of God, but in secret, kun kukaan ei katsonut, they disobeyed the words of God.
Kuitenkin, Jeesus, Joka oli uuden luomisen esikoinen, saw and knew everything by the Spirit. He knew their heart and exposed their heart before the people. Jesus didn’t hide anything and wasn’t secretly, but He exposed evil and tuhosi pimeyden teot.
Jesus still sees and knows everything. Pyhän Hengen kautta, He still exposes what happens in the dark. Jesus reveals everything, as long as the church keeps walking in His light.
Confessing sin before all
When in the old days, sinning elders confessed their sins before all, it ensured that elders would think twice before they listened to their flesh and gave in to the will, desires and lusts of their flesh and sin.
They kept a fear of God and respected His Word. They wouldn’t dare to change anything about the words of God and adjust the Word to their desires and lustts.
No one wanted to be ‘humiliated’ in front of the people. No one wanted to be marked as the sinning elder.
The people were spiritually awake and on their guard. There was a fear of the Lord and an awareness of sin.
They knew that sin was a sign of rebellion and disobedience to God.
They knew that sin had no place in the church. Because the church represents the righteousness of God and the spiritual authority of Jumalan valtakunta tällä maan päällä.
Christians knew that sin meant obedience to the devil and that sin caused separation between them and God.
In the modern churches of this day, sin is allowed. The sinning elder is not rebuked before the people anymore and because of that the fear of the Lord is almost gone. There is no desire among the people to resist sin and to live a sanctified and holy life in Christ.
Most Christians want to live just like the world and don’t want to give up their own life. They stay carnal and live their own lives after the flesh.
A sinning elder mocks Jesus and damages the Kingdom of God
Many elders and pastors of the church keep living like the world. They live after the flesh instead of the Spirit. The church visitors are not confronted with their sins anymore. They’re not corrected, because many elders and preachers walk in sins themselves. They do what pleases them and focus on themselves and their kingdom. They don’t care about the spiritual well-being of the believers and the Kingdom of God.
Joka kerta, when an elder or a preacher commits a sin, he mocks Jesus and defiles the body of Christ. Through his deed of disobedience to God he damages the Kingdom of God.
A sinning elder or preacher doesn’t walk in love and doesn’t love God above all. But a sinning elder loves himself and his flesh above all. He is a slave of his body and of the devil.
Obey Jesus and resist sin
Siksi, let us become serious again regarding the Kingdom of God. There must be a desire in every believer to obey Jesus and live holy and walk righteous in the will of God. Because the believer loves Him above all the believer keeps His commandments.
Resist sins, which come through the temptations of the devil in the flesh. Say no to sin, instead of becoming a synnin orja.
Jesus conquered sin through His perfect work of redemption. Jos synnytät uudelleen (your flesh died in Christ and your spirit is raised from the dead) olet uusi luomus. You are seated in Christ and He gave you everything you need to resist the devil and sin and manifest the Kingdom of God on earth.
Nobody has an excuse anymore. No one can blame someone else, not even the devil. Every Christian is responsible for his or her own deeds in life and shall be held accountable on the great Day of Judgment.
"Ole maan suola"
