"THESE SHEEP, WHAT HAVE THEY DONE?" (4/10)
Charles E.
Wigg
Age, maturity,
wisdom? We normally think that these three things go together,
but it is not always so. Because of his long experience, David should have known
better than to yield to Satan's temptation, but still he
yielded.
On the
occasion of his attempt to bring up the ark to himself at Jerusalem, he learned
the disaster that comes from doing even a right thing, in an un-scriptural, a
wrong way. But here again he is doing a thing, which when commanded by God
was right, but by ignoring what was commanded about the taking of the atonement
money, he was breaking the command of God, doing away with the safeguard that
God had
provided.
I have
noticed how that some servants of God, who have been much used of Him, in
earlier years; when they grow old have become proud. They have come to expect
that the believers should respect them, and should do what they command, or
advise, without delay, and without question. If any dare to withhold from them
the respect that they think they deserve, or dare to act contrary to their
commands, or advice, then they have used their considerable influence, and
political power, to humiliate such people, and any who would follow their lead.
Let us learn from the mistakes of these dear
brethren.
I have
also found the same with some assembly elders, they also have become proud,
because of the responsibility entrusted to them as leaders. They expect that all
should both respect and obey them, even when their life and example is no longer
what it was, or what it should be. They are no longer qualified, because of
this, to act as elders, but still insist that all should both honour and obey
them.
While
eldership is a life-long responsibility, yet it does not make the elder
sacrosanct, or above discipline. Because of their greater privilege, they also
bear a greater responsibility. so Paul instructed Timothy, that the elders who
sinned, he was to rebuke before the whole assembly, so that the rest of the
elders, and the rest of the assembly may fear, 1 Tim. 5 ; 17-21. It will
be argued that Timothy was an Apostolic Delegate, and that we do not have such
today. This we admit, but we do have the Apostolic Command, and today this
should be carried out by the other elders in the
assembly.
Even
among the elders themselves, because of carnality, friction often arises, and
instead of humbling themselves before God, they will seek to gather support for
themselves from amongst the assembly members, especially amongst their own
family members, i,e. sons, daughters, wife, cousin-sisters,and cousin-brothers.
It has sometimes happened that those elders with wealth, or positions of
authority in their employment, have used their money, or their position to grant
favours, thereby buying
support.
After
having mustered sufficient support, they will then insist on their ideas, or
commands being obeyed, or followed, even to the dividing of the assembly. Thus
they sacrifice the unity of the assembly, and the peace and fellowship of the
saints, on the altar of their pride and ambition.
Many innocent sheep are thus made
to suffer and bleed, so that the "shepherd", may have the satisfaction of having
his own way. Having got their own way, these "hirelings", have been known to
forbid any social contact, or fellowship between believers who once enjoyed the
sweetest fellowship. What a tragedy all this is!
[To be concluded]