Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. 1Tim.4:12-16, 5:1,2
I recently had a great brother in the Lord filling in for me teaching life group. (Sunday School) When I asked him how it went, he thanked me for the opportunity and said, "The teacher learns more than the student." I can concur with him on that. Being thrust into a teaching position in college and medical school when I felt scared and totally unqualified, made me grow up in the faith. I am currently teaching 1 Timothy in Life Group and because of that, it is causing me to meditate on it and put my thoughts on this format even though I type with one finger.
When we were recently in the Philippines, we ordained a 21 year old pastor because frankly, there was no one else.
Paul must have felt the same way ordaining Timothy. He knew Timothy had the gifts and experience and was much more qualified than anyone in Ephesus, but yet he was SO young. Paul discusses some of the potential problems with having a young pastor.
First of all, people would either discount what he says because of his age. I see this in medicine where doctors in training have idealistic views and standards coming out of training and when they vocalize them to me, I kind of have to chuckle and think, wait until they get out in the real world. A young preacher can teach from the Bible and be in danger of older people in the congregation discounting what he says because he hasn't been "around" yet. Also he is in danger of being bullied into compromise by older more powerful respected in the community parishioners. Paul tells Timothy, don't back down.
Secondly, he is going to have to grow in knowledge on the job. This means that he is sometimes going to make mistakes and admit he was wrong. I remember teaching in my 20's that because of the fall we now have to work, and an older wiser person came up to me afterwards and pointed out that Adam worked prior to the fall and we would be working in Heaven and work is actually a good thing. This is a danger of having a young pastor.
Third is keeping his life in order and pure. Young people haven't learned life skills completely like time management, saying no, social skills, managing finances, hygiene, etc. and must grow on the job into a mature adult but some of these things like money management or paying taxes could derail a young pastor quickly. He needs to have a mentor or group of people who he is submissive to help him in these areas. Don't assume a young pastor can manage his own life just because he is mature spiritually. Also a young pastor is going to have temptations that an older pastor wouldn't have. (although Steve Lawson is 73) Fortunately, Timothy didn't have video games to deal with or TikTok but at 68 years old, I would not be drawn away on account of these like my 21-year-old Filipino pastor might be.
Fourth is confronting people who are older than you. I touched on this some with the first point but young pastors, if they come on too strong with people older than them are in danger of being ignored. It takes tact, that sometimes-immature people lack, to get people to take your advice. Paul says to exhort people as if they were your father. I guess if I was going to address my Dad on some behavior that isn't honoring God, I would probably start with honor him for all the times he has done exemplary things and then to tell him how the grandkids are watching and how he can set them an example of Godliness in this area. However the young pastor chooses to do it, it needs to be done with "kid gloves" because of the honor old people are due.
Fifth, and I touched on it in point 3, he needs to be careful around young girls in the church. He needs to instruct them without being attracted to them. He needs to see them as his sisters and no one wants to be romantically involved with their sister, unless of course you are Commodus in Gladiator.
Lastly, how does he treat the guys his age? As brothers. They are equal to him in the family of God, so he shouldn't come off as "I am better than you."He also shouldn't descend into bad behavior with his "bros", knowing that if they are his brothers, it would get back to Dad. Considering young men as his brothers should deter bad behavior.
If you are in a position where you are choosing a pastor for your church, think and pray long and hard about selecting a pastor under say 35. I would say the risks outweigh the benefits. That being said, I know some young pastors in our area that are killing it. If you choose a young pastor, get him a life coach and a Biblical coach.
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