19.2 Restore
© 2018 Christ Revealed Bible Institute
One verse catches the essence of the primary function of ministry in the daily life of the Church. And we are speaking of that gifting that is called shepherd or pastor or elder. We will mostly use the word “elder.”
Brothers {Christ includes fully male and female}, if a man or woman {anthropos includes both} should be caught in some offense or error, you who are spiritual restore {the best choice of word} such a one inside a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself, lest you also be tempted. Carry one another’s great weight of value, and thus you shall fulfill [complete the measurement of] the law of Christ (Galatians 6:1-2 – JSV).
The role of the elder is to re-connect each precious believer with Christ their only life whenever they forget.
The Gift of Eldering. In this lesson we want to look at the functions of the elders in the daily life of each local assembly of the Church and in the next lesson, those same functions inside the worship service, the primary place of “approaching” the Holiest things inside of God.
Now, every individual member of Christ serves the role of encouraging one another in all the good-speaking of Jesus. We are speaking of a gifting anointed by God that is beyond that general speaking of comfort and faith. In any Community of Christ, those functioning as elders are NOT “in charge,” nor do they make decisions for anyone. Certainly, as adults, the elders participate in the governing body of the community, but only as brothers and sisters, not as “elders.” (Except in one specific way.)
The Function of Elder. What role, then, do the elders play in the life of the community? What is their function? Get this one thing right and life together has the hope of working as God intends. Get this one thing wrong and, regardless of whether community is “successful” or not, it’s not a good idea.
First, those who are gifted of God in this function in the Church are recognized as having that gift of shepherding, on the one hand by the apostolic and prophetic ministry and on the other hand by the entire congregation. In a community of 70-80 people, around (roughly) 7-8 individuals will function in this role, about half women and half men.
Recognized? Now, this statement “elders should be recognized” contradicts what I said about ministry being a gift not an office and that the “office” of eldership is a destructive concept. Yet, at the same time, those who are recognized as elders do have a unique role to play in the community, a role that would not be filled by the majority of believers.
My hope is that the Spirit of the Lord would show the difference between recognition and office in practical ways as the word of Christ our only life allows. At the same time, I know from years of practical experience that there are always going to be difficulties of many different sorts arising in any gathering together that are best dealt with privately by a small plurality of “elders.”
Four Parts of Watch Care. The task of those who are elders is to watch over the spiritual health of every individual in the community, of every family in the community, and of the community as a whole. Beyond that, they also oversee the worship services of the community, that everything flows in the good order of the Holy Spirit.
Let me be specific about the parts of “watch care.” The first part of watch care is to be the example of life-laid down. The second is personal care to each one. The third is resolution of conflict. And the fourth part is the protection from evil.
Galatians 6:1-2 is the operative action, to RESTORE, of parts one to three, but not part four. Evil is not restored but removed.
The Core. When I speak of a core in any community of those brothers and sisters who are committed together to the revelation of Jesus Christ through them, a core out from which the entire community grows in healthiness in the Lord, I am referring mostly to the gifting of shepherding. In all things, the shepherd is the example; that means, showing, not telling.
Now, it’s not that these brothers and sisters do not live as real humans, free in Jesus to be themselves; it’s that, in conflict, these, out from their commitment to Jesus and to one another, practice being the Mercy Seat at whatever cost to themselves. They are life laid down and love poured out; they share heart with Father as examples to all. – Remember those leading you in the way, who speak the word of God to you, observing carefully what comes out from their way of living; imitate their faith (Hebrews 13:7 – JSV).
The Example. Never once does an example say, “Carry your cross, brother.” Rather, they do as Jesus did; they carry the cross for you, though they stumble along the way, knowing that Father is the One who carries all. A “leader” who says to a “follower” to “carry your cross” is simply trying to get his way, to get the follower to bear the pain of the situation so he can go scot free. Such is not Christ.
Being the example of Christ towards others is the most important part of the gift of shepherding, because only then is there something out from which the community can grow. The other parts of the gift cannot bear fruit apart from this first.
Personal Care. The second role of shepherding is personal care. This role goes in two directions. The general direction is that those who are elders, in communication together, keep themselves aware of the life and joy of each individual member. This is NOT a controlling thing – “You will be happy or else!” Nothing lifts people up more than a kind word and a smile coming from someone important in their lives, a recognition of their value. Yet there may be times when something more is needed, when two or three visit with a person, seeking to find the answer with them to whatever difficulty has arisen.
Private Counsel. Then, in the other direction, people often need private counsel. Although any member of the Church is free to seek counsel from any other member, of course, still, we are talking about those who have that extra gifting in that area. General counsel can certainly be one on one, but when things of great difficulty arise, then the individual member should speak with two or three elders together, preferably both male and female.
There are many private things in life that have no business being “discussed” in any large and general gathering. This is simply a key part of respecting one another. In fact, this kind of relating would fall under a similar thing as doctor-patient or lawyer-client confidentiality.
A Corporate Ministry. Yet such relating of confidentiality should never be one on one, but always with two or three of those gifted to shepherd, or, in certain difficulties, with all together. And thus, before continuing on, let’s place this function into the regular governance of the community.
Those who are elders should also meet together regularly, at least once a week. In their gathering, they will discuss only those things related to their role as shepherds, and not anything part of the general decisions of the community. Let me underline this again – being an elder is a corporate ministry, always shared by several. Then, in the general governance of the community, those who are elders function the same as everyone else except in one area.
In General Governance. Let me explain this one area of shepherding that must be added to the general community discussion. Let’s say that those who are elders are aware of a private difficulty shared with them in confidentiality. As they participate in the general discussion, they see that a certain decision would have negative consequences in a personal way on this member whose need should not be made public. In the general sharing, they should state that “there is a matter we should discuss together as elders before we make a final decision here.” Then, if they together continue in agreement that this decision would not be healthy for individual members, they share that concern with the general group maintaining as much confidentiality as would be proper.
Caring for One Another. You see, in the general decision-making of the community, if one member says, “I’m sorry, I respect all of you, but I just don’t witness to this decision,” then the decision is put on hold. In this case, it is the elders together who, for the sake of the individual member, share this same level of concern. And thus the decision is, again, put on hold.
This is a function that should never be abused, nor does it give anyone the license to “be in charge.” We are talking about caring for one another in specific and real ways in all the ups and downs of life. Yet in all of watch care over individual members, the governing word is “restore” – to bring each one into the faith of the Son of God their only life.
Conflict Resolution. The third task of the elders in the general community experience is conflict resolution.
In an earlier Symmorphy text, I mentioned Brian Dwyer, a brother with whom I walked for 8½ years inside the work arena of the community. Let me use our conflict as the example here. We just did not see eye to eye on how to do the work. Yet both of us were strong and certain. And so we contended with each other many times. Twice, the contention was so strong that an elder needed to intervene and bring the two of us to peace. (I can share freely about Brian because we know one another in some ways better than most.)
Being Peacemakers. It was only because both of us recognized the role of the elders, as well as their wisdom in the peace of the Lord Jesus, that allowed us to back off and let the conflict come to resolution.
Now, this is perfectly normal in life together. People will get mad at each other and say some very unpleasant things. And women are as bad as men in conflict, though they might express it in differing ways.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God (Matthew 5:9). Obviously, everyone can act as a peacemaker, but in those two times neither Brian nor I would have listened to anyone else except two of the men elders in particular – because we respected them, men who carried the cross for us.
Protection from Evil. The fourth area of watch care, protection from evil, is different and can be very, very difficult. This area of service also includes two things. First is protection from heavenly evil in spiritual warfare. This is a general and ongoing ministry, an essential role of a shepherd – keeping the wolves at bay.
Never imagine that your Christ-as-us community would never suffer demonic attack. In complete contrast, you will experience ongoing specific demonic attacks coming unexpectedly and in very differing ways. Spiritual warfare is also a gift coming at two levels, at the shepherding level and at the apostolic level.
Allow No Abuse. But in spiritual warfare, the elders are examples and leaders, that is, everyone is engaged together, and the elders will provide opportunity for each to participate and to walk victorious over heavenly darkness. The other direction is a different matter altogether.
At no point and for no reason can abuse be allowed to continue in a community. The one committing abuse MUST BE blessed in grace AND sent on their way. – Looking carefully lest any be falling short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up should crowd against to disturb you, and through this many might be stained {in their story of self}, lest there be any fornicator or unfit person [among you] (Hebrews 12:15-16a – JSV).
A Root of Bitterness. A “root of bitterness” really is the core concept here. Consider my conflict with Brian. What if, at any point, you had come to either me or Brian in the hours after our disagreement and suggested to either of us that we should do what we could to hurt the other person. Both of us would have looked blankly at you and walked away. Deliberately hurting one another was not part of our persons, having no place in our love for Jesus.
Every type of normal human conflict inside of life together is separate from this admonition from the writer of Hebrews regarding how a root of bitterness WILL work to hurt so many people.
Deliberate and Malevolent Abuse. I am speaking of the deliberate and malevolent abuse of other individuals, something conducted only for self-pleasure. And it does take wisdom and care to distinguish between an action of normal human frustration versus an action of malevolent abuse. Yet that distinction MUST be made inside the private gathering together of the elders.
Let me list what I am talking about. Murder, or the soulless hatred that could lead to murder. Sexual, spiritual, or physical abuse of children. Adultery and fornication (both of which are violent abuse). Bitterness that refuses the Mercy Seat, but rather, seeps out in an undercurrent of accusation and rebellion.
Cannot Be Tolerated. All of the Christian Communities of my experience (and I lived as a member in six different communities over the years and personally visited an additional ten to twelve others) were godly, Spirit-filled, and ruled by the love of Christ. Nonetheless, I know of each one of these abuses having occurred, some quite close to me in one way or another.
The worst by far is sexual abuse of children, for the aggression continues inside that child for the rest of their lives. (Think of the people today in Laos and Vietnam, still being blown to pieces by American bombs dropped decades ago.) Such a thing cannot be tolerated, nor opportunity allowed for its exercise.
Aggression by Consent. In each of these things, the offender must be asked to leave the community – except fornication, which, though always an incredibly destructive action, one or the other (usually the female, but not always) could remain inside the grace of the community. Adultery, on the other hand, is such aggressive and destructive violence against so many innocent people that both perpetrators must be asked to leave, even to the loss of their families.
In both adultery and fornication, however, after at least a year’s time, the offending party can seek to win his or her place back inside the proper wooing of love over time, whether into the sanctity of marriage or into being restored to spouse and children. I have witnessed such restoration and know that, in spite of all the suffering, the end result is deeply good.
Grace in a Prison Cell. The most insidious evil, however, is the root of bitterness. This is the one abuse I experienced against myself – one time only. A person who will not place their bitterness into Jesus, but who chooses, rather, to allow it to seep darkness against others in the community, must be visited with by the elders. If that individual will not respond to clear and kind grace ministered to them, he or she must be asked to leave the community.
The grace of the Lord Jesus continues, most certainly, but Jesus can carry one who belongs to Him through years in a prison cell (if needs be) just as easily as in the Church. But an abuser of others cannot remain in the community.
Here is the bottom line. You CANNOT hurt people.
Protection, Not “Punishment.” Now, I have covered a lot of specifics in this short lesson that demand further consideration. Yet you, in your own experience with the Church, are not led by me, but by the same Holy Spirit flowing out from you. And in all things, the goal is always full restoration to the knowledge of Christ, each one’s only life.
Dealing with abuse does not have to be inside of any “consciousness of sins”; it just must happen. To allow for a second person to be hurt life-long by the same abuse is a crime in itself. God did not “punish” Ananias and Saphira; He just kept their abuse from hurting more people, and for their sakes as well.
There is a course in the Bible program, “Ethics in Service,” that will deal more with these things. This is enough for here.
A Treasure Hunt. Let’s bring this topic of the giftings of shepherding back into its full picture in the Church of Christ. – Have confidence in those who are leading you, and yield to them as they watch over your souls [your psuches] – {the story you tell yourself about yourself}, as they restore word to you; that they might do this with joy and not grief, for that would be unprofitable for you (Hebrews 13:17 – JSV).
In all of these things, we continue entirely in the path of the Holiest set before us by the writer of Hebrews (Paul fitting his thoughts into that path).
This path is a treasure hunt. “Restoring word to you” means restoring you to the glory and love of Jesus filling all that you are as you run with your brethren into everything that is God.