Paul writes to Timothy on disciplining the elders for 3-way purpose:
- Do not entertain false accusation: (5:19): Timothy being an young and zealous person should not entertain the false accusation on some elders or leaders or a member of congregation. Rumour, doubt, suspicion has no place in the church. It cannot become grounds for disciplining any member or leader of the church. It is very sad when churches disobey the Word and listen to rumours, lies, and gossip. Many godly pastor have been defeated in their lives and some have even resigned from the ministry. As the saying: “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire” may be a good slogan for a fire department, but it does not apply to churches. “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire” – could possibly mean that somebody’s tongue has been “set on fire of hell!” (Jam.3:6)
Ex: Spurgeon advised in “Lectures to My Students” that when people come to a pastor with gossip, he should say, “Well, all this is very important, and I need to give it my full attention – but my memory isn’t so good and I have a lot to think about. Can you write it all down for me?” Spurgeon says this will take care of it, because they won’t want to write down their gossip.
2. Rebuke the accused publicly: (5:21): Whenever an accusation is made, it should be accompanied by two or three witnesses. Every person who is accused has the right to face the accusers and so the witnesses should be brought before the accused. Paul takes a balanced approach both from O.T. and N.T. (Deu.19:15; Matt.18:16; Jn.8:17) that the accusation should be considered before two or three witnesses swear to it. Whenever such accusations prove to be true, Timothy was to rebuke the accuser publicly, i.e. before the entire congregation. All rebuking must be done fairly and lovingly for the purpose of restoration. In this way the remaining church members would take warning. This is the discipline administered through the congregation which is healthy thing for a every Christian and especially those who are in leadership. If such discipline is not enforced in a church where there are accusations, the church would end up in chaos.
3. Be impartial: (5:21): Paul gives a charge and commends the leaders and elders as “Elect angels.” We are Christ angels, not the judges. Timothy must obey the Word no matter what his personal feelings might be. There should be no partiality or favouritism. He must act without personal feelings or seniority rights or prejudice. Every matter must be settled judiciously without partiality otherwise the situation would become worse day by day.
4. Not be hasty for the ordination of potential leaders: (5:22): Paul warned Timothy that every man must prove himself before he was recognized and given ordination. The pastor must not rush, because time would season a man and his ministry.
Laying on hands on people could also be that if some people who had left the church on accusations, when they come back with repentance, the pastor and the elders would receive them into fellowship by laying their hands on them with prayer. In such cases, the pastor should not be rushing for this occasion. It is quite possible that the pastor may overlook the major problems still persisting in their lives. Whether it is ordination or rejoining into the fellowship, it is God’s calling, and time would test them of their commitment. Many people feel impatient for the waiting.
Those who take part in the premature ordination of an errant elder would share some of the blame for the negative consequences to their church through the errant elder. Paul advises Timothy to keep himself free from sin. One cannot deal with sin in another if one’s own life is not pure. It is better to wait for some time.
We all have enough sin of our own. We do not need to add to it by partaking in the sins of others. There are many ways we do this sometimes unknowingly.
- We share in the sins of others by setting a bad example before them.
- We share in the sins of others by approving them or ignoring them.
- We share in the sins of others by joining a church that spreads dangerous teachings.