MPC, 12th November 2000.1 Tim 5:17-25 - Accountability Counts
Phil Campbell MPC, 12th November 2000.
I've got to confess that every now and then on a Saturday I can't help but buy a NSW newspaper. They have a few copies of the Sydney Morning Herald at Brookside; and if you're quick you can get one.
And in the magazine that came with yesterday's Sydney Morning Herald, there was the sad story of a NSW School Teacher - who'd hung himself. Because he was unfairly accused of sexual misconduct with a student. And the text at the top raised the question - have the accusations gone TOO FAR? Or are they only just starting to go FAR ENOUGH?
Because alongside the sad story of a teacher like that, you've got the terrible story of Bill Darcy. Who's been splashed over the news all week.
Weeding out corruption like that, dealing with LEADERS WHO BETRAY A TRUST... it's a tricky business. Making sure that wrongdoing gets dealt with. At the same time as protecting the reputation of the innocent.
The Queensland CJC; this year it's dealt with 2861 allegations of police misconduct.
Interesting, down south the police minister a couple of years ago made a policy. He said this. He said, in the past, when police were charged with criminal offences, they were suspended on full pay until the trial. But that's going to stop. And from now on, he said, police officers accused of a criminal offence would be suspended WITHOUT PAY. Until the trial.
Now of course the NSW Police Association wasn't impressed at all. They said, we should be just like ANYBODY ELSE...INNOCENT until proven guilty. To which at the time, the minister for police said "The point is, we need to be setting a TOUGHER STANDARD than the general community. BECAUSE WE EXPECT A HIGHER STANDARD FROM OUR POLICE. Because we expect our police to UPHOLD law and order, because we expect our police to SET AN EXAMPLE, because of those things we're going to be hard line."
And you can see the point, can't you? You expect a higher standard of lawkeeping from the people responsible for making us keep the law. It's all about ACCOUNTABILITY. And if you're the one SETTING THE STANDARD, then you need to be the first one KEEPING THE STANDARD. If you're the one representing the law, then what you do is very, very important. Because you can very easily bring the law into disrepute. And that's what's been happening.
Well, if that's the way it is with the police, how much more with us. How much more with CHRISTIANS. Because we don't just represent law and order. WE REPRESENT JESUS.
And people are usually very quick to remind us of that, aren't they? I remember one non-Christian friend of mine, he used to always watch me. And he'd weigh up everything I said. And everything I did. And whenever he'd catch me out, he'd get this pleased look on his face, and he'd say "That's a bit INCONSISTENT isn't it?" Inconsistent with the fact that I said I was a Christian. That I said I was a follower of Jesus.
It was actually a good thing to have a friend like that. Because he really kept me on my toes. And made me determined to show him that being a Christian WAS ABOUT being different. And made me determined to do my best NOT to bring Jesus into disrepute.
Well, if you have a look at our passage you'll see it's about the same idea. We've been looking at Christian leadership the last few weeks here in 1 Timothy. And this is a passage about SETTING HIGH STANDARDS. About the need for Christian leaders to be careful about the way they live. So we don't bring Jesus into disrepute. So we don't undermine our message.
It's something that applies to church leaders. And it applies just as much to Christian slaves. In fact, it applies to every Christian.
AN HONOURABLE JOB
First of all, lets have a look at what Paul's got to say about Christian leaders. We've touched on this section before, so we'll just look at it briefly.
And the first thing he's got to say about eldership, about directing the affairs of the church, is it's an HONOURABLE JOB. More than that, he's actually saying GOOD CHRISTIAN LEADERS are worth PAYING. You can see that from the next verse; and when he says they're worthy of double honour, it's a polite way of saying they ought to be paid in a way that shows what you think of them.
Now it seems to me that back then eldership wasn't a full time job; except, it seems, for the ones who'd preach and teach. And he says, to make sure they can do that properly, DOUBLE HONOUR THEM. Pay them enough so they can afford to do it.
And so Paul makes the simple point that leaders who lead well, leaders in the church who direct the affairs of the church WELL are like a GOOD OX. Worth feeding. And honouring. Because, he says, the scripture says, "Don't muzzle the ox while it's treading the grain. And "the worker deserves his wages."
Maybe you haven't ever stopped to think where the money goes when you stick it in the plate. But Paul says, if someone's doing that, it's an important enough job to be worth PAYING FOR. And honouring. And double honouring.
PUBLIC REBUKE
Well, that's the positive side. Leaders who lead well deserve honour. But the bad news is, that's not always the way it is. And so here's the other side of the coin. What are you going to do when a church leader runs off the tracks? With an elder or leader who's doing wrong.
First of all, in verse 19 there's a word of caution. Just because you hear a rumour, you don't necessarily believe it. Don't go on HEARSAY. And rumours were as rife back then as they can tend to be these days. So he says "Don't entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses."
But the hard part comes next.
You know, I reckon we're a funny sort of bunch these days. Because there are two opposite directions we'll go in. And they're both equally wrong.
It's easy, isn't it, to talk about people behind their backs. Character assasination. Gossip. And we'll condemn people out of hand without ever checking out the facts. We won't do it publicly. We'll do it in whispers. You hear an accusation. And you'll pass it on. And eventually everyone's heard it, and the mud sticks.
But then on the other hand we'll do this. We'll hear an accusation. And we know it's true. And we know someone ought to do something about it. And what happens? Everyone takes two steps back. Nobody's prepared to bite the bullet. Nobody wants to get involved.
And the situation just keeps on going. Because nobody's got the guts to do anything about it.
Friends, Paul says you just can't do it that way. Neither option is good enough when you're dealing with something as important as an accusation against an elder, a leader in the church.
Don't gossip about it. But DO DEAL WITH IT. Up front. In public. With integrity. Verse 20. Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly so that the others may take warning.
Bring it out in the open and deal with it. A public rebuke. And then other elders will be put on notice. Christian leadership is important. So watch the way you're living.
It's a hard policy to put into practise. And it's a lot easier just to gossip or to turn a blind eye. And Paul has to re-inforce the point to Timothy in verse 21. It's a solemn charge. I charge you in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, he says, to keep these instructions WITHOUT PARTIALITY, and to do nothing out of favouritism. As a leader Timothy has to be completely unbiased. Paul says, I don't care if he's your BEST MATE. RIGHT IS RIGHT. And WRONG IS WRONG. And there's no excuse for turning a blind eye when an elder runs off the track.
CAUTIOUS APPOINTMENT
Well, builders always say, MEASURE TWICE, CUT ONCE. Which applies with elders and leaders as well.And in verse 22 and 24, that's what Paul's saying.
I've said this before, but it's still just as true. There are plenty of churches where people have been made elders because they manage the local bank. Or because they're respected citizens. Or even because they've just moved into town and we were looking for a new elder.
Paul says "Don't be hasty." He says BE CAREFUL WHO YOU CHOOSE. "Don't be hasty in the laying on of hands." Don't go appointing elders who you haven't checked out properly. Verse 24. Because the sins of some men are obvious, he says, but there are others who aren't. Their sins trail along behind them and it takes a while to see the truth. And it's the same with genuine integrity as well. Sometimes a persons GOOD QUALITIES take a while to show through.
So Paul's advice is - allow enough time to see the reality. When it comes to appointing elders, be very, very careful. Because there's a lot at stake.
There's nothing like the wrong sort of Christian leaders to bring Christianity into DISREPUTE. And we need to set a high standard in the way we CHOOSE our leaders. And the way we hold them ACCOUNTABLE.
Friends, we need to take this very seriously as a church. If you're not one of our elders or leaders, you need to be doing TWO THINGS. Number 1, make sure you're HONOURING AND SUPPORTING those who are leading well. Make sure you keep supporting your WORKERS. Which include Maurie. And Jenny. And me. Because we're like the oxen treading the grain. Make sure you keep the feed up to us so we can keep at it. And let me tell you, the way the budget's looking at the moment, Wayne Fry is wondering how he can keep doing that. That's the first thing to be doing. Honouring and supporting your leaders who are leading faithfully and well.
But will you remember on the other hand, you're not called to support leaders who are NOT doing that. And you need to make sure while you give HONOUR WHERE IT'S DUE, you're also holding your elders and leaders accountable. Accountable for their life and witness. And that includes ME. And if you see something wrong, don't GOSSIP ABOUT IT. And don't just turn a blind eye. Because it's TOO IMPORTANT FOR THAT. Christian leaders have got the potential to bring God's name into total disrepute - if we're not held accountable. If there's an issue, be up front about it. Talk to me. Or one of the other elders. Not anonymously. But with INTEGRITY. And as we look at appointing NEW ELDERS in the future, we know the sort of qualities we need to LOOK FOR.
If you are an elder or a leader in our church, can I just say to you; it's a huge responsibility we carry, isn't it? And one that we need to take seriously. You mightn't have a friend like I used to have who'd set off the alarm bells every time you do something that's inconsistent with following Jesus. But let me tell you, people are watching. And they take notice.
And if we want people to take what we're saying seriously, we need to be living it. Every day. With honoured elders. Chosen carefully, and held accountable. And with each of us living lives of service that have got real integrity.
It's a big responsibility. But we shouldn't expect anything less from one another, should we. Because when people look at us, they expect to see something of what JESUS IS LIKE. And its up to us to show them.