Scot McKnight is an American New Testament scholar, historian of early Christianity, theologian, and author who has written widely on the historical Jesus, early Christianity and Christian living. He is currently Professor of New Testament at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard, IL. The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily represent those of BCNN1.
Seniors in our churches today are not valued as they should be. There are plenty of them in most of our churches as their numbers are growing. We value creativity of youth today more than the wisdom of age. So a reminder from the Bible and a rather noticeable demographic shift occurring in our churches that may call for us to form councils of wisdom in our churches.
The apostle Paul, in Titus 1, says this:
Titus 1:5 I left you behind in Crete for this reason, so that you should put in order what remained to be done, and should appoint elders in every town, as I directed you: 6 someone who is blameless, married only once, whose children are believers, not accused of debauchery and not rebellious. 7 For a bishop, as God’s steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or addicted to wine or violent or greedy for gain; 8 but he must be hospitable, a lover of goodness, prudent, upright, devout, and self-controlled. 9 He must have a firm grasp of the word that is trustworthy in accordance with the teaching, so that he may be able both to preach with sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it. [NRSV]
Not all old people were wise and not all young people were fools, but the Bible’s valuing of age is largely neglected today. But a remind of valuing age: the term “elders” meant “older people” and it would not completely off base to translate the term “elderly.” It was about the seniors of that society. Always.
Notice just a few texts from the Old Testament:
Ex. 3:18 They will listen to your voice; and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; let us now go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’
Num. 11:24 So Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD; and he gathered seventy elders of the people, and placed them all around the tent. 25 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do so again.
Josh. 24:1 Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God.
1Sam. 8:4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah
Prov. 31:23 Her husband is known in the city gates, taking his seat among the elders of the land.
Ezek. 8:1 In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house, with the elders of Judah sitting before me, the hand of the Lord GOD fell upon me there.
Acts 15:6 The apostles and the elders met together to consider this matter.
James 5:14 Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.
1Pet. 5:1 Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you
1Pet. 5:5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
You can ask the older folks in your church if they are valued, and they may tell you the truth. At least ask. A side note: “older” is a relative term now as it was in the Old and then also in the New Testament times. There isn’t and wasn’t a specific age when one turned into an elder.
A growing demographic today, as described in a recent report, is the “yolds.” The young olds.
Source: Christianity Today
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