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Age of Elders
Age of Elders
In a paper called, “Elders in Context”, the writer examines “elders” throughout Jewish and Israel’s history. It is interesting how culture changes perceptions, even of an enduring position.
Consider this quote:
Concerning judges in the Quram community, “…in the Book of Meditation (no one is sure what this was) and, significantly, basic covenantal principles. They each had to be at least 25 years of age, but no more than 60 due to the likelihood of diminished mental capacity.”
We wouldn’t consider elders as young as 25! But, how “young” today is 60?! (I’m 59!!). How many elders, shepherds, pastors, bishops, are over 60? We rely heavily on their service which relies upon their mental capacity. Also important is their physical wellbeing.
On the other side of age, today it is far less likely to find a man who is in his early forties as an “elder”. It happens (it did me), which is determined somewhat by life experiences. Years ago I read (somewhere) that in Biblical times there was no “middle age”. Just as the phenomenon of teenagers became a social construct after WW2, so has “middle age” become ironically a new age. After all, how can someone have a midlife crisis without a midlife? In Bible times there was the youth and the aged. That does fit with what I read. Culturally, “old age” began around 40 years old according to what I read. That seems young today. However, when a lifetime is 70-80 years (Psalm 90:10), divided by two, midlife is between 35-40.
Both numerical examples miss a valuable point. Each name for this noble work (1 Timothy 3:1) has a meaning.
1. Shepherd (Pastor) refers to the care, protection, feeding, as a metaphor.
2. Overseer (Bishop) etymologically involves seeing, which includes by means of visiting.
3. Elder (Presbyter), we unfortunately relegate to age via culture. That’s a mistake. Its greater emphasis biblically is on spiritual age (i.e., not a new convert – 1 Timothy 3:6) and associated wisdom.
I am going to predict a future issue affecting churches. Despite this, we cannot lessen the character qualities (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1) for service. Nor can we rely on cultural, even church-driven traditional, definitions, mostly reliant on physical age – there’s a big gap between 40 being too young and 60 being too old.
Due to recent generations postponing marriage and children until their 30’s, how will that effect ages for when congregations accept men as being “elders”?
Here are some solutions:
1. Everyone has to stop postponing maturity within the spiritual realm. How many of the character traits for elders apply universally to all believers?
2. Congregations need to see that a man can manage his own household (1 Timothy 3:4-5) long before all or any of his children move out. Waiting to see if they remain “faithful” is adding to the inspired list. Plus, once saved always saved is as unscriptural with an elder’s child as it is with ourselves!
3. Rely more heavily on biblical interpretation than cultural definitions.
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