Lead from the front, not from behind

Here is our focus passage for this week:

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. (I Peter 5:1-4)

Possibly when you read those words, you shrug your shoulders and think, "Well, that is not really relevant to me....I'm not an elder or pastor of a church."

While it may be true that we are not pastors, elders, or "bishops", I'm here to tell you that these verses are still very relevant to us! Peter and Paul both had instructions for those that they called the elders of the church..... and their advice sounds remarkably similar to some words that apply directly to us.
Here is one verse:

...... your leaders ..... keep watch over you as those who must give an account.....  (Hebrews 13:17)

And here is another:

Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. (Acts 20:28)

Now look at these that speak directly to women:

She speaks with wisdom,    and faithful instruction is on her tongue. (Proverbs 31:26)

Teach the older women to be quiet and respectful in everything they do. They must not go around speaking evil of others and must not be heavy drinkers, but they should be teachers of goodness. 4 These older women must train the younger women to live quietly, to love their husbands and their children, 5 and to be sensible and clean minded, spending their time in their own homes, being kind and obedient to their husbands so that the Christian faith can’t be spoken against by those who know them. (Titus 2:3-5)

The words of the 31st chapter of Proverbs are familiar to us, and we can hear the earnest words of Paul here, as he encourages elders (both male and female) to work, and not take the work lightly. Not to be casual or cavalier about it, but to treat it as a God-given responsibility.  The end result will be a people, a group of believers, who in their hearts have a vision of our glorious, wise, and all powerful God, who savor the opportunities to worship, and who encourage each other to spread the gospel in all the world.
Tall order, huh?
Yup.
In other translations (the NIV is above), Peter starts off, "Therefore, I exhort the elders among you." What is the "therefore" there for? (Grin)

Our ole friend Peter (don'tcha feel kinda like you know him, now?) has been warning the Christians who have been scattered about that they need to withstand opposition and persecution. In the previous chapter, he has even called it a "fiery ordeal." Remember the verse (4:17) that said the fiery trial would come first on the church..... then on sinners. For believers, opposition is for purification and for refining.
Let's look at two Old Testament texts that might have been lurking in Peter's mind as he wrote this letter....

Back in the book of Ezekiel, God's people committed abominations and God saw that it was time to judge His own city:

Now the glory of the God of Israel went up from above the cherubim,where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. Then the Lord called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side 4 and said to him, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.”5 As I listened, he said to the others, “Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity or compassion. 6 Slaughter the old men, the young men and women, the mothers and children, but do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the old men who were in front of the temple. (Ezekiel 9:3-6)

This is hard for us to understand in our day. Where is our compassionate Friend? Where is the merciful One that pardons us? We must remind ourselves that He is also a Holy God, and the people were wholly without regret or repentance....
Another passage that Peter may have been thinking of is this one:

“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LordAlmighty.2 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness,  (Malachi 3:1-3)

"The sons of Levi" are, of course, the priests. Now, we know that all believers are now priests..... but I don't think we can read this and fail to see that the refining fire will purify the leaders first. So, we can see why Peter would say, "therefore," I exhort the elders......it's because the fiery ordeal will begin first with elders and leaders.

What's that you say?
You don't think you are a leader?
Au contraire!!! Pardon my French. (Grin)
Each and every one of us is a leader to someone..... a mature Christian is someone who is a model, an example; they influence others in positive ways according to biblical standards. Modeling Christian virtues is crucial. We have been called to be examples to those around us, whether they are believers or unbelievers.
Jesus told us:

The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher. (Luke 6:40)

Jesus was telling us that one's true godliness, or God-likeness, is revealed in our actions, and that those actions influence others for good or for evil.
Students, children, and those we don't even know are watching us, will emulate their teachers, parents, and those they look up to. And that may be us.

It's a bit intimidating to be thinking of ourselves as "elders" or leaders, no? Those verses seem to indicate that there is a fearsome responsibility involved. And that if the elders, or mature believers, will lead the church into strength and glory, they will also lead the church into the refiner's fire of God's purifying judgement.
We won't stand outside the church giving suggestions for how to cope with the fire.
We won't stand praying as others go in.
We will lead other believers into "the fiery ordeal."

So, if we are going to lead by example, I'm kinda hoping that Peter has some words of instruction and advice for us, don't you?
Join me next time...... he does have some words to help!