1 Timothy 5:19-25
Eternity Online: John Edmiston (Editor)
Eternity-Inspiration for Thursday 12th March 1998
1 Timothy 5:19-25
(1 Tim 5:19-25 NKJV) Do not receive an accusation against an elder
except from two or three witnesses. {20} Those who are sinning rebuke
in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear. {21} I charge you
before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you
observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.
{22} Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people's
sins; keep yourself pure. {23} No longer drink only water, but use a
little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities.
{24} Some men's sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgement,
but those of some men follow later. {25} Likewise, the good works of
some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be
hidden.
These verses deal with the proper procedure for church discipline
and with drinking wine - an odd combination! Taking the drinking
issue first. Timothy is instructed to drink - therefore alcohol is
not "unclean", it does not automatically defile you as such. However
he is told to take a "little wine" - probably a glass or two a day.
This has been medically shown to be good for one's health. Drinking
is an issue that divides Christians and it is very much an
individual matter. Drinking can be wrong if it involves drunkenness
or pushes a new Christian or reformed alcoholic back into a drunken
lifestyle. Otherwise like the "all foods" and "all created things"
of chapter 4 - it is clean and good and can be consumed with a clear
conscience providing thanks is given to God. If you cannot thank God
for it - then don't drink it.
With regard to church discipline. Elders receive both extra respect
and extra punishment. Elders are to be protected from disgruntled
parishioners. No accusation is even to be entertained unless there
are two or three witnesses. However if the charge is found true they
are to be publicly rebuked. Public ministry means public rebuke!
This will also teach others to fear and avoid sin.
Pastors must guard against partiality. Their calling leads them to
be kind and favourable towards people. However this can sometimes
degenerate into partiality towards certain elders and dislike of
others. Partiality breeds politics and politics breeds discord. Many
a church is ruined by competition to be a "favourite of the pastor".
Partiality and favouritism is different from natural affection.
Pastors will naturally have some people they "click with" and others
they are averse to. However when it comes to church discipline and
rebuke they should both receive exactly the same treatment. The sins
of the favourites should not be brushed under the carpet while the
sins of the difficult members are brought out for public action.
Such evident favouritism is a tactic often employed by dysfunctional
churches, spiritually abusive churches and cults.
"Do not lay hands on anyone hastily", in the context of eldership
this may line up with the earlier exhortation: (1 Tim 3:6 NIV)" He
must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall
under the same judgement as the devil." Thus this laying on of hands
could mean with respect to ordination and calling into ministry. The
sins of those we supervise are in part ours as well. If we are
irresponsible about who we appoint to ministry then we are in part
responsible for the damage they do - hence the warning about sharing
in other people's sins. Coming back to the "laying on of hands" - I
don't think this is warning us against laying on of hands for healing
or blessing in a bible study group. To use this verse to prohibit the
laying on of hands in those contexts is to misunderstand the passage
which is a warning against improper ordination and its consequences.
Prayer:
Lord grant us impartiality when we do Your work in the Kingdom that
we may be just and fair people and make righteous and true and wise
decisions that bless Your Church. Amen.
---------------------------------------------------------------
These devotionals may be freely used in your bible studies and
sermons and passed around by email providing there is proper
acknowledgement.
Questions and comments on this devotional can be sent to:
[email protected]
John Edmiston ([email protected])
Editor - Eternity Online Magazine http://www.eternity-magazine.org/
Cults, exegesis, bible teaching, Christian life and leadership.
For the thinking Christian!
------------------------------------
This message is coming to you from the
Eternity_Inspiration list of Eternity
Online Magazine. If you would like to
cease subscribing, email
[email protected] with
"unsub eternity-inspiration" as the
first line of the message body.