My Dear Shepherds,
The other day a Christian friend I saw at our coffee shop was reading Jeremie Rinne’s little book, Church Elders: How to Shepherd God’s People Like Jesus. His pastor had asked him to help train new elders. I wish I’d had some training before I was elected as a deacon at age 25. I don’t remember anyone even praying for me.
Contrast that with this occasion in Antioch:
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting , the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off . (Acts 13:2-3)
Near the end of that first journey, the Apostles returned to encourage three churches they’d started.
And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. (Acts 14:23)
The circumstances in those churches were much different than ours. To begin with, everyone in them was a new believer. There wasn’t a senior saint to be seen. What’s more, those churches were born in turmoil. Paul and Barnabas had been driven from each of their cities after only a few months. So those new elders were out of their depth.
Much of our church work is ordinary, not a lot of drama. We’re neither bursting with new believers nor fending off plots to shut us down. Our elders focus on things like budgets, recruiting, and complaints. It’s easy to underestimate how much we and our fellow leaders need prayer, with the same urgency as those elders of the past. I wonder how long they prayed and what all they said?
They certainly prayed for vigilance and courage. Those elders were facing spiritual danger. Later, when Paul met with the Ephesian elders for the last time, he urged them, “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God … savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. … So be on your guard!” That warning certainly shaped Paul’s prayers for the church leaders.
Our churches face more danger than we and our fellow elders probably realize. In recent years, our churches have started security teams who quietly keep watch at the doors, in the halls, and around the parking lot. Perhaps elders should be given walkie-talkies some Sundays and take a turn to help us imagine our spiritual vulnerability. We would pray more urgently for one another and our flock.
I’m sure they also prayed for the continuing spread of the gospel, how to bring these new believers to maturity in Christ, for love to prevail, and for the Holy Spirit to move mightily among them.
And then there’s the fasting. I’ll have to mention that to my friend working on elder training! Fasting sharpens discernment, feeds faith, and reminds us of our hunger to know God and his will. It strengthens us and those we pray for in our conflict with Satan, and it helps us find our way forward with the gospel. Hunger sharpens our appetite for fruit. Ironically, fasting can’t be rushed.
Is there any better way to prepare your elders? Wouldn’t you love to be prayed for like that?
“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (Acts 20:32)
Be ye glad!
