God's Word speaks on the model of the church body and within that includes biblical elders, if available. (We see in the end times a falling away so many believers may be scattered.) What do we see in America today? One person running the show compared to biblical Elders who are to simply oversee when needed.

1. Biblical Elders
What is a biblical elder?
I chose to write on this topic for several reasons. We find so few men who are
acting as elders today that really do not meet the biblical standard at all. Most are
not what the bible says they need to be and that is shameful! I also realize it is
very important that we understand their role and who should be an elder in the
first place.
Let me also say for the record; I am a man who had a sinful past before I came to
Christ at age 45 and while I do believe even a murderer like Paul can be
redeemed, made new and become a godly elder; I myself have no personal
desire to be a elder/pastor/overseer at all. I will leave that role to others. We all
have different gifts and pastoring/overseeing others is certainly NOT mine!
Today many people are very confused as to what is a biblical elder and what are
the qualifications for a elder per God's Word? The Apostle Paul made it very
clear for us if only we will go to the Word for the answer. First let's address what
is an elder?
The word elder in Greek is presbuteros: it means an older man ( not by age but;
older in spiritual maturity ) Timothy was a younger man but a mature follower of
Christ. It is not based on age but a man's spiritual standing in the Lord. They are
to be overseeing the gathering, making sure the Word is kept and allowing /
encouraging other men to step up to teach and use their gifts often.
Note: many understand that elder, pastor and bishop have similar meanings and
roles.
Next, unlike your denominational systems today with one modern pastor in
charge, Paul calls for multiple elders to be in place. We see this all over the New
Testament churches; multiple elders not just one man as the CEO leader. That is
unbiblical. These men act as overseers of the body, not men to run it, control it or
to lording over it. (Jesus warned in Matt 20 they should NOT lord over anyone
but be servants to all) When you have multiple elders you have better
accountability and the body stands a greater chance of being holy/ looking like
Jesus Christ vs looking like that one man due to his certain theology.
Moving on we can find the instruction from the Apostle Paul in Titus on who can
be a elder and he notes several important things.
Titus 1
For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are
lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you— if a man is

2. blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of
dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of
God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not
greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just,
holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he
may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
Lets look at those closer......
An elder must be blameless.....
Keep in mind these instructions were for men that would oversee the
Lord's body. It is very important
that they have a blameless walk in the Lord. (Not a perfect past, not at all... but a
blameless walk after salvation.)
An elder must be a husband of one wife......
Clearly this means a woman cannot ever be an elder as so many today have
lady pastors/elders which goes against God's Word and ways. Also in their time
there were men with multiple wives and Paul is making it clear; one husband and
one wife is the godly standard. Now many will say "this means a elder could
'never' be a divorced man and remarried". While I cant prove it 100% with the
Word, I would say based on the spirit of the Word, I personally disagree. If he
was divorced long before he was a believer/elder and he was blameless after
that, he gets a new start in the Lord like everyone else. (2 Corinthians 5:17... he
is a new creation) But if he was divorced after being a believer and it had to do
with his own actions, I believe that would act to nullify him as an elder role
model. My own personal feelings are that it would always be "best" to have
elders who were not divorced in the past as that would remove any possible
issues for him as a overseer of the Lord's body. (The problem is it is very hard to
find men who will contend for the faith, are very sound in doctrine and are godly
qualified men who can teach.)
An elder must have faithful children.....
This is one area that seems very clear but it needs some clarification.
If a man has minor children at home they indeed must be in line with the Word or
how could he assist the body if his own house is in discord. But if a man has
wayward "adult children" who were raised and gone "before he came to Christ";
this would in no why disqualify him as a elder. Again, in my opinion it is always
best to have men who have a long and stable track record in Christ so a man
with believing children (as grown adults) is a very good thing indeed.
An elder mustbe blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-
tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a

3. lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled.
Here is where so many we meet in the role of elder/pastor fail very badly.
Some of the most angry, quick tempered, worldly and carnal people in religious
bodies are the men running the show weekly which is NOT their role. many seem
to be power hungry when they are to only oversee and encourage other men to
step up and use their gifts in the body. Sadly the system of man's religion today
is to have everyone sit in pews and listen to "one man" teach week after week.
This is a false system and you can learn about that in detail at our main blog:
http://spiritandtruthormansreligion.blogspot.com/ (exposing denominational
religion with God's Word)
An elder musthold fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be
able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
This means he must stand on God's Word and be able to teach it and apply it to
all areas.
Again as we go and talk with the denominational systems and the leaders
there; we see a gapping holes here as well. So many of them today have long
ago left sound doctrine to fill up buildings, please men and soothe the itchy ears
of the crowds in the pews ( 1 Timothy 4 )
These men are to be able to teach with sound doctrine those who contradict. But
most often they are the ones who are contradicting scripture and when
confronted about that in love, they run away into the darkness and hide. Those
who do this are mere hirelings ( fake paid leaders) and NOT biblical elders at all.
So we can see from Paul's instructions what a elder is, who should be a elder
and how that is carried out for God's glory. I am not sure why there is so much
confusion other then the fact people seem to refuse to just accept what God's
Word clearly says. It is a good thing to desire the role of na elder/pastor but
please don't be fooled into thinking it is a lifted up closer to the Lord role as it is
not. They too are to be held to God's Word and called out when they are in error
or teaching false doctrine. To not correct them is sin. Also don't think that by
having elders it somehow lets you other men off the hook to sit and just be pew
potato's as it certainly doesn't not! You are a priest to the Lord (1 Peter 4) so act
like it and do your part in the gathering as well.
God's plan for the body life is a wonderful thing. We are ALL called to be active
and part of the Lord's body ( 1 Corinthians14:26 ) using our gifts and living as His
holy body daily/24-7 and not just on a Sunday morning. Now not every body will
even have elders especially if you are a new gathering. In time the Lord will raise
up godly men for those roles. But you pray for your elders (if you have them) and
remember to help them by doing your part in the body always and be clinging to
the Word in all your ways.

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