1 Timothy 5:19-25 "Accusations Against Elders"

Good morning, CCLC...turn in your Bibles to 1 Tim 5. We have come as far as verse 19. You can also dovetail 1 Cor 5 and James 2, * Last week...Finished hearing Paul's counsel...younger widows... * Better to remarry than to commit to the church, and long to be remarried and break a vow. * Paul as guided by the Holy Spirit lays out sound guidance for treatment of people that will profit them and will profit the church. * We also began to look at Paul's counsel to Timothy on treatment of church leaders. * The elder should receive double honor...remuneration and respect in due season. * Paul laid out Scriptural evidences to solidify his position which is wise indeed. * Today, we will continue to hear from Paul on treatment of elders examining what to do in the situation when an elder is accused of sin, and when they actually are in sin. Let's Pray! Please stand as I read 1 Tim 5:19-25 1 Tim 5:19 "Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses." 1. The Law of Two or Three witnesses: established in Deuteronomy. 2. Deut 19:15 "One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established." 3. This principle was given to the Israelites to establish a legal system where a person could be tried and convicted for their crime if two or three witnesses testified against them. 4. Also, a safeguard against a single witness who would make a false accusation. 5. In Matt 18, Jesus also cited this law when he guided the disciples in treatment of an offended brother. 6. "...if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'" Matt 18:15-16 7. So, Paul...taking from OT...following Jesus' application...gives Timothy the advice to only accept an accusation against an Elder if the testimony of 2 or 3 witnesses is established. 8. We live in a time, where if one person accuses a Pastor, the masses accept the accusation as fact, without fact checking, without hearing both sides, no benefit of the doubt, and even if the accusation is false. This is foolishness. 9. Pro 18:8 "The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body." 10. Gossip is like a delicious treat that one greedily consumes. People are addicted to gossip...just look at the popularity of social media, and the news...professional gossipers. 11. And, any Pastor who had been in ministry for a length of time can share stories of the most wild fabrications of gossip and slander. 12. So, Paul tells Timothy "Do not receive an accusation..." 13. The word not, followed by receive, which is a present imperative, indicates Paul was telling Timothy to stop an action in progress. 14. So, based on the Greek, it seems that Timothy was in error, that accusations were brought forth against elders and he was not following the proper guidelines to have 2 or 3 witnesses. 15. I wonder if people were despising Timothy's youth, 1 Tim 4:12, for mistakes he made in leadership? Definitely not clear, but if a leader is making mistakes, you can expect the whispers to begin. 16. To make matters worse....Accusation: "a formal accusation before a tribunal; a legal charge in the court of law." 17. Wuest: "Against an elder do not receive a formal accusation before a tribunal..." 18. So, if Timothy was allowing formal charges based on a single testimony, Paul is telling him to stop unless there are two or three witnesses. 19. Paul presents a balanced position. Paul is not saying to never listen to an accusation, but to be cautious when an accusation is presented by just one person. When 2 or 3 people make an accusation, pay close attention. Don't rush to bring a leader before a formal tribunal unless evidence is substantiated. In this next verse, verse 20, Paul explains a step to take when sin has been verified. 1 Tim 5:20 "Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear." 1. Major Idea of this Verse: Guard the ministry from valid accusations 2. The context here is still church leaders, and Paul tells Timothy to expose the darkness to the light. Don't hide the sin, don't sweep it under the rug...expose the sin for what it is. 3. It is necessary for the church to not stand in approval when a leader falls into sin. 4. First, the advice is to rebuke the church leader publically. 5. When a leader falls into sin, there is a damaging effect on the church and a damaging effect on the congregation. Some people even foolishly walk away from the church during these times. But, you don't throw the baby out with the bath water. It's a fallen world, and people in the church fall, but to forsake the assembling of ourselves is wrong as well. You don't walk away from Christ...No...this is the time to rise and intercede on the behalf of the person in sin. 6. The public rebuke is needed though to avoid confusion and gossip...the church needs to know sin has occurred and church discipline is being exercised. The church will not stand by the sin, but will do their part to help restore the fallen believer. But, the sin must be rebuked. Rebuked defined means to expose, to convict. 7. This does not mean every detail must be shared. It's a time of grieving for the person. A time to pray for the person and their family. A time to understand the church has boundaries, and this leader will be removed from leadership either for a season or indefinitely depending on the circumstance. 8. And, leaders are held to a higher standard. James wrote, "My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment." Jam 3:1 9. If you are in a public speaking ministry and you fall, expect a greater judgment and a public rebuke. Public ministry, public rebuke. 10. So, what about when a church member falls into sin? Do we rebuke that person publically? Discernment is certainly needed to examine the severity of sin, the situation, but we do have a Biblical example that serves as a model for us. 11. Turn to 1 Cor 5...and in this chapter, it seems that this is not a church leader, but a member of the church. So, Public rebuke, depending on the circumstance, could extend to church members as well. 12. 1 Cor 5:1-5 "It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles-that a man has his father's wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." 13. Verse 1: Issue: Sexual immorality, not even common in the unbelieving world, yet here it was in the Corinthian church. 14. Verse 2: The church was too prideful to address the issue and discipline the person. They accepted him, when they should have excommunicated him. ...which, kids, is officially excluding a person from church... what Paul meant by "taken away" in verse 2. 15. Only 1 time ever have I seen a person excommunicated: 1st time at Calvary Chapel Dumaguete: From the pulpit, the Senior Pastor publically rebuked a church leader who was trying to divide the flock to follow after him, and was falsely slandering the Senior Pastor. This man was in the wrong, was attempting to create division, and was sharing false information. 16. The church tried to work with him, but he would not cease, so the church had to take extreme action. 17. If a person is excommunicated from the church, this is not the end goal...it's a means to an end...which is restoration (seen in verse 5). 18. Verse 3: Paul was not in Corinth physically, but was with them in spirit and has already judged that this man was in the wrong and action needed to be taken. 19. Verse 4: Paul expresses the authority for church discipline...in the name or our Lord Jesus Christ (Lord- title; Jesus- name; Christ- mission). And, Paul declares the church discipline is to occur publically, when they are "gathered together." This is in sync with Matt 18 discipline, the third step, to "take it to the church." 20. Verse 5: Paul advises to cast this person out of the church... to retain corporate church purity (which is expounded upon in verses 6-7), and to deliver them to Satan where he can satiate his flesh and realize sin is passing pleasure...by kicking him out of the church, he will be like the prodigal son who goes to the world and realizes it is empty...his sinful nature will be destroyed. 21. And, look the purpose of casting him out is restoration. "...his spirit may be saved..." speaks not only of his eternal position in Christ, but also a hope that will return, like the prodigal son, in sincere repentance and would return to Christian fellowship. 22. Good example of Restoration: 2 Cor 2:6-8 turn there... 23. 2 Cor 2:6-8: "This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, 7 so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him." 24. Here is an example of a person that received some sort of church discipline and now Paul is restoring the person. Possibly the same person in 1 Cor 5, but we cannot be certain. He is urging the Corinthians to forgive and comfort him and reaffirm their love to him so his is not overcome by discouragement. 25. There was a season of discipline, possibly exclusion from fellowship; and now it was time to forgive and restore. 26. Back to 1 Tim 5:20... Paul concludes verse "...that the rest also may fear." 27. For either the rest of the congregation, or the rest of the elders, this public rebuke will serve to create a healthy fear phobos (where our English word "phobia" is derived)... it's a fear of the discipline of God as administered through His church. It's a healthy check and balance both for the individual and the church as a whole. continue to verse 21 1 Tim 5:21 "I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality." 1. Wow...there is a lot to unpack in this verse. 2. This is a strong charge from Paul to Timothy...this charge seems to focus upon Timothy personally, not a charge to elders at large... 3. Not only does Paul charge or command in Jesus' name, he even throws in the elect angels...so, "before all the Heavenly hosts, Timothy, I Paul charge you." This is intense. 4. Reminds me the scene in the movie "A Christmas Story" when Schwartz dares Flick to stick his tongue to the frozen flag pole. Ralphie is shocked that Schwartz skips the triple dare and goes straight to the triple dog dare ("the coup de grace" of all dares). 5. Another interesting observation, is when Paul says "God and the Lord Jesus Christ" ...the construction of this sentence in Greek follows a Granville Sharp's rule, which affirms the deity of Christ. So the words "God" and "Lord Jesus Christ" refer to the same individual. Paul is stating Jesus is God. 6. And, then Paul calls on a second witness, the "elect angels." 7. This is the only time in the NT where the phrase "elect" or "chosen" angels is used. 8. Elect Angels are the angels who remained faithful to God, when Satan and a third of the angels fell with him. 9. Jude 6 "And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day..." 10. The elect angels were those angels who kept their proper domain...or original position of authority in heaven. 11. Paul calls on these angels as a witness. 12. Paul is charging Timothy to "observe these things" ... 13. Observe means "to guard"... 14. Given the context...it seems the "these things" Timothy is to guard are the topics Paul addressed in verses 19-20 (perhaps back to verse 17)...to guard the ministry from false accusations and to guard the ministry from valid accusations. 15. Why such a strong charge? Keep in mind...in verse 19, it seems that Timothy was allowing elders accused by even one witness to stand before a formal tribunal...even when 2 or 3 witnesses were lacking. Couple that with Paul's assertion to Tim in 1 Tim 4:12 to "Stop allowing people to despise your youth..." is seems that Paul's confidence in Timothy seems shaky. 16. Expositors states "It is easy to see that St. Paul had not perfect confidence in the moral courage of Timothy." 17. So, Paul seems a bit stern here, and if Timothy was slipping in leading, he likely needed a firm command. 18. Finally, Paul commands Timothy to "observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing without partiality." In matters of church discipline, there are 2 dangers to avoid: 19. "without prejudice" refers to not drawing a conclusion before all the facts are present...no prejudging. 20. An interesting command in light of verse 19, where Timothy seems to have prejudged elders by bringing them before the tribunal hastily. 21. Is this just a good general principle Paul is presenting, or was there something specific that Timothy had done that Paul had in mind? Difficult to say. 22. But, solid advice for us. We need to have all the facts before judging. One thing I observe with Social Media is how foolish people are to make judgments without all the facts. 23. James 1:19-20 "So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God." 24. "doing nothing without partiality"- Timothy was not to show favoritism (lit. "inclination toward someone"). Partiality is a sin. 25. God does not show partiality: Deut 10:17 "For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe." 26. When Moses appointed judges and officers, he instructed "You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous." Deut 16:19 27. Turn to James 2...There are many other scriptures, OT & NT, that speak against partiality, but one of the best segments, especially in the context of the church assembly is in James 2. 28. My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man, "You stand there," or, "Sit here at my footstool," 4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? 7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called? If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well; 9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors." Jam 2:1-9 29. Pretty clear. Timothy needed to be careful to avoid the sin of partiality, and we need to avoid the sin of partiality. If you are a person of faith, if you make that claim, and then favor some people over others...you are guilty of partiality. This is not a characteristic of God. 30. William MacDonald wrote, "Snobbery and caste distinctions are utterly inconsistent with true Christianity. Servility to human greatness has no place in the presence of the Lord of Glory. Contempt for others because of birth, race, sex, or poverty is a practical denial of the faith." 31. When a person who is different from us walks through our church doors, to demonstrate our faith, we must be impartial. continue to verse 22