As bureaucratic activities in creases in the church there is a tendency to look for some professional skills or social influence and forget the spiritual qualification when selecting a new elder.
The ambassadorship conferred by God upon those chosen to be elders in the church is in many cases more powerful than the ministry of angels could possible be, for they have never known the bane of sin or the blessing of pardon.
Out of cleansed and happy hearts can the human instrument speak to their fallen fellows, and through the vibrant sympathy and knowledge of the saving grace of Jesus they can be used mightily to teach and touch and turn sinners to God.
The highest, the holiest, and the heaviest responsibility ever imposed upon someone is the privilege of leading God's people. The fact that we have this entrusted treasure in earthen vessels is evidence of its high privilege, its great power, and its peculiar peril. No loftier dignity could ever crown a human brow.
All elders should bear in mind that the power is not in the human skills or any natural or acquired gift of an intellectual kind; but rather in acquaintanceship with the Lord Jesus, and in their personal devotion and true character.
"The local elder must be one recognized by the church as a strong religious and spiritual leader and must have a good reputation 'with them that are without' .... The elder should not be chosen primarily because of social position, or because of speaking ability, but rather because of a consecrated life and leadership ability" (Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual, 57).
If the inner life of the elder is not transparent, if it is not sincere, candid, free from the taint of selfishness, pride, unholy ambition, and deceit, the Holy Spirit can make no saving use of the most splendid intellectual, literary, or educational gifts. Such elders may have influence but cannot have true efficiency.
Elders may have pleasing personalities and delight their hearers with a kind of genius, wit, and humor; but their ministry will not bring fruit to perfection.
Such elders may charm others, may cause their churches to increase in membership, worldly honor, and wealth; but in winning people to Jesus Christ they fall short, for their hearts don't know the joy of spiritual life; they may get people to be loyal to them but not to Jesus Christ. "God calls for workers. Personal activity is needed, but conversion comes first; seeking for the salvation of others next.... Each one is to awake to the necessity of having personal holiness and a personal living faith. Then will God's work be done" (Review and Herald, Sept. 10, 1903).
When Moses had to select leaders, God gave him this orientation: "Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens" (Exod. 18:21). When the apostles were organizing the Christian church and needed to select helpers, they were very careful and gave this orientation to the group. "Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business" (Acts 6:3). Later when Paul was training Timothy he warned him. "The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" (2 Tim. 2:2).
Therefore it is of primary importance that we recognize the true relationship between a living experience of faith in Christ and missionary service.
In these days of stress, as we seek to extend the triumphs of the cross and count our material resources necessary to advance the work in our congregations, there is danger of placing emphasis upon human mechanics and professional skills, to the detriment of the spiritual life and a living, personal experience with Jesus our Savior.
Let us pray to God to give us a close relationship with Jesus and a wholesome balance as we serve His people as leaders.
