Mining Grace

Part 1 - Part 2

Young men–rather than older men–should bear the greatest responsibility for the work of the church.

True?  Many Christians think so.  Sociologists make the distinction between traditional societies and progressive societies.  A traditional society believes its greatest resources are in the old and the wise.  A progressive society believes its greatest resources are in the young and the vibrant.

Biblically speaking, the church must be a traditional society.  This pattern starts in the Old Testament “gate” and ends in New Testament discipleship.

The gate of city in the Old Testament was the location of wisdom and old age.  Whether in official capacity or not older men served the city by offering advice, wisdom, and judgment in the gate.  Imagine a counseling office, the better business bureau, and the court room all in one location–this was the gate.  And this gate was where the wise men of a city served the people in this most crucial of roles.

For an example of this gate-work performed by godly old men consider Ruth 4:1-12.  Boaz desired to be the kinsman-redeemer for Naomi and Ruth.  Where did he go?  He went to the gate–the location of official transactions.  The “ten men of the elders of the city” sat in the gate and judged Boaz’s claim.  This particular event highlights the messianic theme in Ruth as Boaz not only serves the role as the kinsman-redeemer but also preserves the Davidic lineage to Jesus Christ (Luke 3:32).  This was all dependent on these elder men serving the city in the gate.

For a negative example consider Lamentations 5:14.

The old men have left the city gate, the young men their music.

Jeremiah weeps over the destruction of Jerusalem.  As his eyes pan the ruins they fall upon the gate.  The rubble is only a small part of Jeremiah’s grief.  More than this it is the absence of the old men that Jeremiah weeps over.  When old men cease to provide spiritual leadership in the church it is a cause for deep sorrow.

This gate theme carries over into the New Testament.  The whole concept of the eldership and the position of old men in the church assumes the highest responsibility in the church.  The qualifications of elder in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 assume a man who is old enough to have been tested by the trials and responsibilities of life.  The exhortations regarding how older men should be treated resound with words like respect, fatherly, and wise.

The New Testament retains the view that older men should bear the bulk of responsibility and leadership in the church.

As far as teaching on young men, the Bible is unanimous.  Wisdom very seldom dwells in the young.  The young are prone to foolishness.  They are particularly prone to deep struggles with sin.  They are maturing, growing in grace, and learning wisdom but…they are not there yet.

The church has forgotten the purpose of youth and unwittingly fallen prey to the “retirement” philosophy of American luxury.  The general perception of most men is that they will work hard until their 50’s or 60’s and then retire from hard work in order to focus on themselves.

The bitter fruit produced from this kind of thinking is churches where older men are noticeably absent from roles of spiritual leadership.  No one disciples men in their 30’s and 40’s anymore.  Young men are being entrusted with huge responsibilities in the church while lacking the wisdom and strength to serve well.  This is not because “young men need to take ownership and serve.”  Rather older men need to lead younger men in godliness, service to Christ, gospel living, and leadership in the church.

Older men, the church is suffering from your absence.  You are needed in the gate.  You are needed as pastors and leaders, as disciplers and deacons.  You are desperately needed.  There is no such thing as retirement from serving Christ in the church.  Repent of your selfishness.  Find great satisfaction in wearing out for the Lord rather than rusting out on the passing pleasures of the world.

Younger men, be very careful about bearing too much responsibility too early.  If you have a young marriage or young family, do not sacrifice them for the sake of ministry you shouldn’t be doing.  IN the end you will find you’ve destroyed your marriage, family, and your church.  Let older men lead.  Encourage them to lead.  Place them in the gate if you have to.  Ask for their counsel.  Invite them to disicple you.  Make conscious efforts to remind yourself and your church that the wisdom and resources of the church are richest in godly old men.