Biblical Eldership Church Leadership

Paul ’s Instruction to Timothy

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Or for rulers to desire strong drink,

Lest they drink and forget what is decreed, And pervert the rights of all the afflicted (Prov. 3124,5; cf. Lev. 10:8,9; Isa. 2821,7,8; 5629-12).

Drunkenness has ruined countless lives. It is reported that nearly half of the murders, suicides, and accidental deaths in America are related to alcohol. One in four families has some problem with alco hol, making alcohol one of the largest health problems in America.13 The misery and heartbreak that alcoholism has caused multitudes of families is beyond imagination. No one who has worked with the people or families who are its victims jokes about its destructive power. Alco holism reduces life expectancy, breaks up families, and destroys people financially. It’s a moral and spiritual problem of the greatest magni tude. Elders work with people, often those who are troubled. If an elder has a drinking problem, he will lead people astray and bring reproach upon the church. His overindulgence will interfere with spiritual growth and service, and it may well lead to more degrading sins. Note, however, that Paul says, “not addicted to wine.” He is not presenting an absolute prohibition against drinking wine. He is pro hibiting the abuse of wine (or any other substance) that would damage a man’s testimony and work for God. NOT PUGNACIOUS: A pugnacious man is a fighter, a bad-tempered, irritable, out-of-control individual. The Greek word is derived from the verb “to strike” and suggests a violent person who is prone to physi cal assault on others. Wives and children especially feel the blows of a pugnacious man, and anyone who seriously frustrates a pugnacious man is a potential target for verbal, even physical, assault. Elders must handle highly emotional interpersonal conflicts and deeply felt doctrinal disagreements between believers. Elders are of ten at the center of very tense situations, so a bad-tempered, pugna cious person is not going to solve issues and problems. He will, in fact, create worse explosions. Because a pugnacious man will treat the sheep roughly and even hurt them, he cannot be one of Christ’s undershepherds.

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