CALLED TO SERVE AS AN ELDER
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In our previous post, we've already explored the major roles and responsibilities of an elder. We talked about how the Bible paints the picture of elders as shepherds who feed, guard, heal, and guide the flock.
That's a big job description! The next logical question is what kind of person are we looking for to become a shepherd? Who will assume the role of shepherd in our churches and for God's people? We are looking for people who we can present before our congregations as examples to be followed.
Why should our elders be examples to be followed? The first answer is pretty simple but it's hard to swallow. We don't take advice on finances from broke people. We don’t take relationship advice from people who are constantly bouncing from one significant other to the next. We don't usually want someone leading us to a place they've never been. An elder is someone who is able to say along with Paul, "Follow me as I follow Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1)
We multiply what we are. Our people will become like the people who lead them. If the elders are growing and maturing, then it's highly likely that the congregation is also growing and maturing. If the elders are selfish, arrogant, or controlling, then you can bet the congregation is too.
Now, no elder is going to be perfect, but we are called to pursue holiness and maturity, so let's look at what the Bible tells us about what to expect from a godly leader.
In this post we will cover the calling of an elder. In the following posts we will explore the character and heart of an elder.
Calling
Calling is not a word that gets a lot of use in normal language. In Christianity, it very simply means that God has set aside a place and a purpose for us and "speaks" or "calls to us" to step into that place and fulfill that responsibility.
We see an example of this in Acts 20:28 when Paul tells the elders at Ephesus, “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders."
Notice that it's the Holy Spirit who has appointed the leaders. That means God wanted them to be the shepherds of the church. God himself was calling them to step into a place of leadership. God used the Holy Spirit to speak to their hearts and move them to care and lead God's people.
We need to examine our calling and the calling of those considering eldership. Paul told Timothy that, "If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task." (1 Timothy 3:1) Aspiration and desire can be either a good thing or a bad thing. Some people aspire to be elders because they want to change things. Other people desire to be elders because they like being noticed and like holding prominent positions. Still others have been gifted by the Holy Spirit and have sensed that they feel led to serve God's people as a shepherd, which is their act of worship to Jesus.
Peter tells us that elders should serve, "not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you...eagerly.” (1 Peter 5:2) Becoming an elder should never be accepted begrudgingly, or out of a feeling of obligation, or to simply make sure that the space is filled. I've seen people who accept nominations out of a sense of duty and not out of a sense of calling. Accepting a calling must be a heartfelt response to God showing you that he wants you to care for his people. An important question to ask yourself or a potential elder candidate is why they desire to be an elder. “In what way has God revealed this to you?” “In what way has your calling been confirmed by other mature believers?”
Timing and support
There are another couple of aspects that need to be discussed for those who are being considered for eldership. The first is the issue of timing. Is this time in their life, career, family, and spiritual maturity right to become an elder? It's possible that there is a calling on someone's life to become an elder, but the timing is not right. Moses was clearly called to be a leader of God's people, but the timing did not happen till much later. David was called to be Israel’s king but he did not wear the crown till the timing was right.
For example, is your pace of life conducive to being a pastor to God's people? This is not a side job, but a calling. This is a commitment that needs consistency. Are you available to gather regularly with the other elders to determine how to care for God's people? Are you available to personally care for others?
Some things to consider are numbers of work hours and work schedule, time needed for family events (soccer, etc.), and the time needed to cultivate a strong relationship with your spouse and your children. Are you highly committed to organizations outside your family and the church that would keep you from being an effective elder? If so, maybe the calling is right but the timing is not.
Additionally, the support of your spouse is critical to being an effective elder. There will be times when meeting with someone of the opposite sex means asking your spouse to be with you during that conversation, to provide perspective and support. There are times when an elder will seek the counsel and understanding of their spouse for decisions they need to make for the church. This is where it is critical that their spouse be spiritually mature enough to be able to offer godly wisdom.
A spouse who understands the time commitment and the nature of caring for people is an absolute necessity for an elder. Many times a funeral will come up unexpectedly and require immediate care. Or a conflict will arise and need to be dealt with swiftly. Families should never come second. However, if the elder and his spouse are united in their love of God's people and understanding of being called, it will create a sense of partnership that allows for inconvenience.
Calling and confirmation
When we talk about the callings we see in the Bible, God usually initiates that calling to an individual first. However, just because someone has been called by God to serve doesn't mean that it is immediately time for them to begin leading. One famous example is King David. David had been chosen by God and called to be the next king and leader of the Israelite people. However, it wasn't until 30 years later that he actually became king. I'm not saying that we have to wait that long, but this biblical example shows us that God's call and his timing are not always simultaneous. One of the best ways is to seek confirmation of that calling from other brothers and sisters in Christ.
A calling may be to individuals, but it is best to have that calling examined and confirmed by the leaders in your community.
Unfortunately, I learned this the hard way. Someone who I love dearly felt like they were being called to make a decision that affected their entire family. When they expressed that desire, I struggled to reconcile my feeling that they were wrong with their personal experience. They eventually moved forward with what they felt like they were being "called" to do. The results were disastrous and they ended up in a very difficult season of life. That doesn’t mean that God didn’t continue to work or even work all those things for good, but it might have been helpful to lead them through a season and process of discernment.
Now that we've looked at how elders are to be examples who are called by God to serve God's people, in the next post we'll look at the character traits of those who God calls.
