A note from our Pastor:

”Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.”

1 Timothy 5:20

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

In our study verse this week, the Apostle Paul continues to address how elders or ministers in the community of believers, and their behavior, should be addressed. In the prior verse, the Apostle told Timothy to not receive (or hear) an accusation against a minister unless multiple witnesses could support such a charge. Now in this week’s verse, he seemingly flips completely in his instruction.

Why such a significant change in the attitude of the Apostle?

The most likely explanation is the unwritten one. The sin of the minister, to which the Apostle refers, was not a simple and common infraction of a moral standard. Rather, this infraction is a violation of the commandments of the New Testament to love God first and to love your neighbors second. Consider a few examples of this sin and why the Apostle’s prescribed course of action is so strong.

The infraction referenced is the minister using his place within the community of believers as a place of power. He chooses to reign over the congregation in an authoritarian way — judging the actions of the members and condemning them publicly. His desire as a minister is not to empathize and counsel but to command and control. This violates the commandment to love one’s neighbor, even in the most restricted application. The minister in this situation should be rebuked before all.

Another hypothetical, the minister in this case has made the pastoral care of the congregation into a job. Rather than trusting the community of believers to provide for him in addition to his work, he expects them to provide for him and his family fully. The pressure on the congregation becomes intense while the pastor is doing little more than preaching on Sunday mornings and visiting hospitals. This violates both the commandment to love one’s neighbor and to love God. Rather than focusing on either of these commandments, the preacher is focused on his status. This sin deserves to be rebuked before all.

Finally, and perhaps most obviously, if the minister has ventured into the world of false teaching. This false teaching could be blatant and against the core doctrine of scripture. For example, teaching that eternal salvation is accomplished by the works of people rather than by the completed work of Jesus Christ upon the cross. Or, the false teaching could be more subtle and could be quietly promoting racism, sexism, or other forms of bigotry instead of love and compassion. Many sound ministers have done this over the years and most congregations accept the false teaching without question. Regardless of the type, the false teachings should cause the minister to be rebuked.

As we consider this verse, it is important to remember that the Apostle instructed Timothy and others to exercise caution when accusations were brought against a minister. However, if the minister was sinning in the way described the rebuke was to be strong.

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah