Rev (Dr) Quek Suan Yew

THE ELDER MUST BE "GIVEN TO HOSPITALITY," "APT TO TEACH" AND "NOT BE GIVEN TO WINE"

1 Timothy 3:2-3, "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3. Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;"

"Be Given to Hospitality" -- The Greek word is "phi-lo-xe-nos". This is a compound word from "philos" which means "friend" and "xenos" which means "stranger". Literally "phi-lo-xe-nos" means "friendly to strangers". The opposite of "phi-lo-xe-nos" is Xenophobia which means the fear of strangers.

Living in a crowded city like Singapore has made us less friendly to strangers. Instead, we have become more wary. We shy away and remain silent rather than say a cheerful greeting. We see our neighbours nearly every day, especially in HDB lifts, but most times not a word is exchanged. Some will be absorbed with their mobile contraptions and a few may stare ahead. When the lift door opens, we troop out of the lift and head off to our respective busy schedules. Is this the way we ought to behave among strangers?

We need to ask ourselves what the meaning of the word "stranger" is, as used in the above verse. If strangers refer to strange men or women whom we do not know at all, and we invite them into our homes for a meal or to stay, then Christians would be putting themselves in great peril. Some of these strangers might be criminals or even psychopaths. Could this be the teaching of the Bible? The word "stranger" does not have to refer to a total stranger or rather "strange" people whom we do not know at all. The Scriptures do not require us to put ourselves or our loved ones in danger in the manner described above. We are to be careful at all times and use our common sense when it comes to whom we invite into the privacy of our homes.

In the days of the apostles, Christians were under persecution. There were many who had to travel from city to city to escape persecution or for business or on missionary endeavours. They would need a place to stay. There could have been families whose loved ones had been martyred or arrested and needed a home to stay in for a season of time. Today, there might be missionaries who come to town looking for a place to stay because hotels might be too expensive or no affordable rooms are available. These are the "strangers" we are told to care for and show hospitality. In other words, they are not part of our family but they are part of God's family. We can invite them to our homes for a meal and, if need be and space permitting, provide a roof over their heads.

Inviting "strangers" into our homes for a meal can be quite demanding. There is the cost, the preparation, the cooking, washing and cleaning. The feeling that follows after everyone leaves is very satisfying but it is tiring, both mentally and physically. And this is only for a meal. Imagine having to look after a "stranger" in our homes for a week or a month! He eats and sleeps in our homes and watches every move we make. We cannot be our "relaxed" selves and dress any way we like because there is a "stranger" in our homes. We may have to wash his clothes and so on, as well as accept and learn his culture. We are to do it without blame, i.e. willingly and cheerfully as unto the LORD. In short, he becomes part of the family for the duration of his stay.

Do you like or love to have people over to your home, or to stay if need be? Some Christians have very nice homes. They look as if they’ve been taken out of a magazine of "Best Homes". Children are not allowed to sit on the sofa because they might dirty it with their grubby hands. Nothing must be moved or touched at all; it’s as if one is living in a museum. Invisible "do not touch" signs are placed everywhere in the house. Owners of "show piece" houses or flats or apartments will find it hard to be hospitable. Guests can’t help but feel uncomfortable for fear of dirtying the house and "offending" the host. The host might even grimace at every little "misdeed". Living in such a home would be "torturous". The stranger may indeed feel like a "stranger" when he is supposed to be made to feel like a part of the family, which should be the aim and purpose of one who is "given to hospitality." There are others who would not even allow a stranger to come to their homes for some reasons. Their homes cannot be used for church fellowship. They guard their "privacy" very jealously, so much so that they live like a recluse; home is like their fortress and no trespassers are allowed! A man who treats his home this way cannot be an elder. He will not know how to befriend strangers when he is introduced to them in the church. His demeanor reveals his awkwardness. How can he be asked to reach out to others as a representative of God when he is not a lover of strangers? He needs to love them in order to see that their souls are dying in sin and to reach out to them for Christ's sake. He could be encouraging a Christian brother or sister by his hospitality.

The elder’s house must be a home where "strangers" are welcome and would feel at home. He is "given to hospitality".

"Be Apt to Teach" -- The phrase "apt to teach" comes from the Greek word "di-dak-ti-kos," which means "to be able to instruct." From this Greek word we get the English word "didactic." The elder has to be a capable teacher of God’s Holy Word. In order for the elder to be able to teach, he must first know the Word of God. If he does not know the Word of God, how is he to teach?

For an elder, the knowledge of the Word of God must be of utmost importance. Without the Word of God, he is unable to live a godly life according to Scriptures. He will make decisions based upon a worldly philosophy rather than a godly one. There is no substitute for a godly mind in tune with the Word of God. The elder may have a very high IQ in areas such as science or arts or technology; but when it comes to spiritual things, God’s perfect Word says that the elder needs the Word of God. Without the perfect Word of God to control his mind and his heart, the elder will bring great harm to the cause of Christ and the lives of God’s children. He will make carnal decisions and not spiritual ones. He needs the Word of God to guide him. Imagine an elder with a carnal mind in the Board of Elders. The rest of the elders might be godly and want to make decisions based upon God's Word. But this carnal elder with a carnal mind is not able to grasp the concept of a spiritual decision. He will argue and beat around the bush, insisting that his way is the best way even though it is a carnal way. The sad part is that he does not even know that his way is carnal. It has been his way of life and so he thinks it is acceptable for the church. He cannot capitulate, for to do so would mean he has to change his own life as well, which he is not prepared to do. To change his life is to acknowledge that his life has been lived wrongly these past many years. The pride in him would not allow him to face this frightful truth. He insists on going the way of the world. The other elders who can recognize the carnality of his way cannot allow his way to become the way of the church. The meeting can go on and on because the Board of Elders must make decisions based upon unanimity. That one carnal elder can ruin the church because of his carnality. The cause of his carnality is that his knowledge of God's Word is sorely lacking.

The primary nature of an elder’s responsibility is stated by the Apostle Paul in Acts 20:28-30, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." This is a non-negotiable requirement. If the Word of God is not known and taught by the elder, he cannot be an elder! Many churches have been ruined by electing a carnal elder into office.

The elder has to nurture and protect the flock. He cannot do that if he does not know the Word of God. The Word of God must be the highest priority in his life. If an elder says that he is not interested in theology, then he has no right to be an elder simply because theology is the study of God. If he is not interested in the study of God, how can he even be called a Christian, least of all an elder! He is not called to look after an organization or some finances. He has the responsibility to care for the lives of God’s children. The study of God’s Word must be paramount in his life. It must be his life-long quest. There is no limit or retirement in the study of God’s infinite and perfect Word. He can never say that he does not need to study God’s Word any further. He should have a proper system to guide him in his study of God’s Word. Attending a conservative Bible College like FEBC would be a good start. There is this person who was asked to study a few Bible Books in FEBC. His reply was that he already knows all 66 books of the Bible! Such a man is lying to himself. The arrogance of this man is very visible today as he thinks that his understanding of the Bible is the only right way and that he is never wrong. He has ruined many lives by his arrogance. Such a person should not be ordained but sadly he has been.

The issue here is more than just possessing head knowledge. There are some who may have good head knowledge of God’s Word but are unable to teach others. There is a student of the Bible who thinks that the accumulation of paper degrees would make him a good teacher. He has about six or seven theological degrees but sadly he cannot teach at all. He has no discernment, in that he has no ability to separate what is right and what is wrong from what he has been taught. In class, he merely regurgitated what had been taught and much of it was unbiblical. His teaching was incoherent. The words came out of his mouth but the phrases and sentences were unrelated. It was a sad display of bad biblical teaching! These people will ruin the hearers' view of the Bible who will have an impression that the Bible is an incoherent Book!

These teachers may have degrees in theology after their names, but if they are unable to organize their thoughts and lesson plans to instruct others in the Word of God, they would not be sufficiently qualified to look after the flock. The Word of God is the only milk and meat for God’s children. A church elder has no right to feed God’s children chaff (his opinions), which would include the wisdom of the world and his own opinions based on experience. The Word of God is the living Word and if he is not able to teach the Word of God in a clear and an exciting manner, he might just "kill" any interest in God’s Word. This would be likened to the wayward children of Eli, the high priests who caused the people of Israel to abhor the Levitical system of worship and offerings by their wicked ways. Every elder must be a life-long student of God’s Word and at the same time be a good teacher of God’s Word and feeding the flock so that they may conform to the image of Christ.

He must not only teach with his lips but also with his life. His life of holiness is the evidence that he teaches with his life. If he teaches the truth correctly but does not live a holy life, then he is a hypocrite and does more harm to the cause of Christ and the Word of God. It is therefore important that every elder and potential elder must have a good consistent system to study the Bible. He needs to do this all his life. Candidates for eldership in Calvary Pandan are required to write theological papers (in their own words) of between 700 to 2,000 words and take an oral exam before they are considered for election These papers include -- The Inspiration and Preservation of the Holy Bible; Doctrine of Infant Baptism; Millennialism - Pre- or Post- or A-?; Doctrine of Biblical Separation – including modern day isms such as Neo-evangelicalism, Charismatism, World Council of Churches, Ecumenical Movement, etc.; How Can I Contribute to the Advancement of God’s Work in the Local Church? This is one of the crucial due diligent steps necessary to ensure that the candidates know God’s Word sufficiently to care for God's flock.

"Not be Given to Wine" – Literally, the phrase "not given to wine" means "not be seen along side wine." The Greek word is a compound substantive from "para" (along side) and "oinos" (wine).

The wine in the days of Christ and the apostles was not the wine that we are exposed to in our time. Wine today is manufactured in large quantities through the process of distillation which is quite different from the wine that existed in the days of Christ. Wine was simply fermented grape juice with a very low alcohol content of less than 2%. This fermented grape juice was used like chlorine for the purpose of purifying the water that the people may drink without getting a stomach upset. The only alternative to not using the wine then was unclean and untreated water. In strict obedience to the injunction of total abstinence, Timothy, the pastor, abstained from drinking wine and his stomach was affected. Hence Paul’s injunction to him was "Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities (1 Tim 5:23)." Paul told Timothy to use a little wine as a means to purify the unclean water before drinking and as "medicine" to settle his stomach problem.

Wine is not used for purification today. With advanced technology in science and medicine and the copious varieties of safe drinking water readily available, there is no reason for any Christian to go near wine or beer or any form of alcoholic drink. Total abstinence is certainly required of every elder. Total abstinence is taught explicitly in both the Old and New Testaments. In the OT the injunction for the priests was: "And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses (Leviticus 10:8-11)." The injunction for kings was: "It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy (Prov 31:4-9)." The sacred responsibility of the priests and the grave duties of a king over his nation forbade them to go near any wine.

Some have argued that the rule for elders is total abstinence but for the deacons, in 1 Timothy 3:8 "not given to much wine", it is not. They argue that deacons are allowed to drink a little wine but not much wine. This interpretation is faulty. The wine then and now is different. Even when it is used for purification purposes, the deacons were not allowed to think of drinking this wine mixed into the water. This is the literal meaning of "not given to much wine." Barnes explained 1 Timothy 3:3 well when he said, "The word much is added here to what is said (1Ti 3:8) of the qualification of a bishop. It is not affirmed that it would be proper for the deacon, any more than the bishop, to indulge in the use of wine in small quantities, but it is affirmed that a man who is much given to the use of wine, ought not, on any consideration, to be a deacon. It may be remarked here, that this qualification was everywhere regarded as necessary for a minister of religion. Even the heathen priests, on entering a temple, did not drink wine.--Bloomfield. The use of wine, and of strong drinks of all kinds, was absolutely prohibited to the Jewish ministers of every rank, when they were about to engage in the service of God, Lev. 10:9. Why should it, then, be any more proper for a Christian minister to drink wine, than for a Jewish or a heathen priest! Shall a minister of the gospel be less holy than they? Shall he have a feebler sense of the purity of his vocation? Shall he be less careful lest he expose himself to the possibility of conducting the services of religion in an irreverent and silly manner? Shall he venture to approach the altar of God under the influence of intoxicating drinks, when a sense of propriety restrained the heathen priest, and a solemn statute of Jehovah restrained the Jewish priest from doing it?" [Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, Swordsearcher 8.0]

There is absolutely no justification from Scriptures for the drinking of any wine today. The wine today is not the wine of biblical times. The wine in biblical times was for purification and medicinal purposes. We have many alternatives today in terms of medicine and clean water that do not involve wine at all. Total abstinence is demanded of every Christian, especially if he is to stand for eldership. This is also a non-negotiable qualification if he is to be blameless. His mind must always be sober and clear in order to be watchful. He bears the image of Christ in his earthen vessel as a Christian and an elder. There must be no occasion when he is not in total control of his words and his conduct. Wine will dull the person’s senses very subtly and it is only a matter of time before he brings shame to the Name of Christ by his failure to stop drinking. An elder must practise total abstinence! AMEN.