By Jay T. Robertson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
BEING RESPONSIBLE
1 Timothy 5:1–8, 17–21
God does not save people so they can be “Lone Ranger” Christians. Not only does a person need a relationship with Jesus, he or she also needs a relationship with his or her brothers and sisters in Christ. We are a faith family. But because we are sinners saved by grace times of disagreement and conflict will occur.
Ephesus was no different. Faint-hearted, mild-mannered Timothy did not like conflict. The elders looked down on the young lightweight. Some of the elders had denied the faith and shipwrecked the faith of others. False teachers were present. Women wanted to be in charge as elders. The church was unhealthy due to theological and relational confusion. How can our churches be healthy? How are we to get along with one another? What responsibilities come with being a member of a faith family?
Respect All (1–2)
When Timothy talked to older men and women in the church he was to talk to them with the respect they were due — even with the affection he would have for his own parents. And he was to treat younger men like brothers. Younger women in the church were to be honored and their purity was to be protected just as a brother would for his own sister. Churches are faith families and members should relate to one another accordingly.
Care for Widows (3–8)
The church is to honor genuine widows through support. These widows had no other family members to care for them. If a widow had physical family members who could care for her the family members should practice godliness and meet her needs. This act of godliness pleases God, demonstrates their faith and frees the church to help widows without family support.
If a family will not care for the needs of their own family, especially widows in their family, they have denied the faith and are worse than an unbeliever. This unloving act is sinful negligence. Lack of positive action, the sin of omission, contradicts one’s profession of faith. Your life is the best illustration of what you actually believe. Though one professes to be a Christian, he lacks the most precious of all the fruits that grow on the tree of the Christian life and conduct — love. Where this good fruit is absent there cannot be a good tree. If a professing Christian does not perform his religious duty with respect to those whom God has placed within the sphere of his special responsibility he is worse than an unbeliever.
Our goal as the church is to create a counterculture, a whole new society that demonstrates God is good, we are family and we love one another. We are to be a faith family who takes care of one another.
Care for Pastors (17–21)
The church is to honor faithful elders (pastors) with twofold honor. Double honor involves respect and includes pay. Pastors are to be expected to be good leaders in the church. They also must labor diligently in the study and proclamation of the word of God. A good pastor works hard to fulfill God’s calling on his life.
The church is to protect pastors from unfounded accusations. The elders are to be safeguarded against having to answer a charge unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. Lacking such support the accusation must not even be entertained. The reputation of the elder must not be unnecessarily damaged and his work must not suffer unnecessary interruption.
When an accusation against an elder has sufficient support and is sustained by the facts the sinning elder must be publicly rebuked. Elders who live with unrepentant sin must not be spared. In fact they must be punished more severely than others.
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