Title:Pastoral Care of Church Members

Text: 1 Timothy 5:1-2

Title:Pastoral Care of Church Members

Truth:Pastoral care should be done as if the church is family.

Date/Location: Sunday August 12, 2012 at FBC

Introduction

The public ministry and the private life of the minister have been the focus in chapters 1 through 4. Now, the apostle transitions to the matter of pastoral care of individuals. He includes all kinds of church members. In the remainder of chapter 5, the Bible focuses on the care of widows, mentions the treatment of church elders and servants, and reminds Timothy how he should carry out his ministry of “personal” work.

It is important to note that this passage has a lot of present-day relevance in even the basic assumption that it makes, that is, that a pastor cares for the members of his church. Today’s too-popular CEO model of a pastor doesn’t give him a lot of contact with the hoi polloi! He’s too busy with “high level administration” or he “has staff to do that” or he is just lazy about his God-given responsibility and would rather make an easy salary and not get his hands too dirty.

I. Kinds of Church Members

A. Older Men – those older than Timothy. If he was under 40 years of age, this could include a lot of men in the church in their 40s-60s or older.

B. Younger Men – the peers of Timothy, perhaps 20-40 and even younger.

C. Older Women.Women of the age of Timothy’s mom and grandmothers.

D. Younger Women. Those around Timothy’s age and younger. Young women would be of childbearing age, and could even have been widowed already (1 Timothy 5:11).

Note how the pastor’s interaction with all the age groups relates to his exemplary conduct commanded in verse 12. If he is a good example, he will have a lot of credibility with the older church members; if he has exhibited purity, then young and old can trust him; if he is progressing in holiness, church members will be disposed to his leadership.

II. A Note on Translation When Words are “Missing”

A. In the first part of verse 1, the Bible uses the verbs “do not rebuke but exhort.” Then in each of the three following phrases, the Bible uses “as” to mark the parallel kind of treatment for the other age groups. Because “as” is used without verbs, the verbs are implied, so that Timothy is to treat the different age groups similarly. He will make appropriate modifications for their ages and place in life and so forth, but the manner of his care will be similar to how he would treat his father.

B. Because of the “missing” verbs, some translations supply what they believe fits the best. The verb “treat” is supplied by NIV for the younger men and understood for the women in verse 2. NET supplies “speak.” Other translations leave out the verb and suppose that you (the reader) will supply by ellipsis the word “exhort” or “appeal” which is the last verb of the previous clause. I take this to be a better approach to the translation in this particular case.

C. I do not hold that view absolutely, however, as you will see in the next paragraph. In other words, sometimes it is best to supply a word or words to help convey the meaning. Translation cannot always be an exactly word-for-word affair, as anyone who knows two languages and translates between them can tell you.

III. Manner of Care for Church Members

A. Care that is Not Harsh

The word rebukemeans to reprove or reprimand or express disapproval, but in a stronger sense than those English words convey. Translations add a word like ‘sharply rebuke’ or ‘rebuke harshly’ to get across the idea that the word originated from the idea of ‘striking at’ something. In this case, the supplied word in the translation helps convey the meaning appropriately.

Such ‘striking down’ or ‘hammering’ someone is forbidden. Maybe some pastors need sensitivity training or anger management classes!!

By the way, is this message only directed to pastors? Granted, it is directed toward Timothy. But this is Paul telling a mature Christian how to conduct himself toward other people. I believe this is directly applicable to us as well who have been brought into the family of God through faith in Jesus Christ. If it is good enough for a pastor, it’s a good rule of conduct for all of us.

B. Care that is Encouraging

Exhort suggests the idea of treating someone in a congenial or friendly manner. But it also can mean to appeal or urge or encourage someone in a course of action.

Exhortation in this context covers a lot of territory—how to handle false teaching, the priority of prayer, the conduct of men and women in the church, guidance on how to conduct public worship services, etc. It is mainly concerned with the salvation of the people to whom the pastor ministers (see v. 16), so it does not have to do with people’s idiosyncrasies that he might like to “fix.” Only things worthy of exhortation should be exhorted!

The text does not say to never rebuke an older man (or member of another age group). Rather, it expresses the way that he must not be rebuked, if it becomes necessary. The assumption is that Timothy would have occasion to confront older men regarding a sin that had to be addressed on a pastoral level. However, this was not to be done harshly.

The exhortationshould be done with great respect, as you would for your own dad. But this does not permit a kind of cutting of corners on the truth. Timothy still has to be direct (that’s not harsh),

C. Care that is Like Care for Your Own Family

That is, how you should care for your family. You cannot say regarding your harsh treatment of people, “well, that’s how I am with my kids or spouse, so I am just being consistent.” The point is this: how shouldyou be with your kids or spouse? Then, be that way with the church people as well.

The operative idea here is that Timothy should stop to think how he would treat his own father, his own brother, his own sister, and his own mother. He would respect his father and mother; he would be lovingly concerned about his brothers and sisters.

Suppose for a moment that a dear old saint is in the hospital with some serious or terminal condition. Too many times the church neglects such people. But, pastor friend, what if that were your own mother? Would you visit and minister to her? Of course! So it is with your church members.

D. Care that is Pure.

1. Toward Women

With all purity is associated most closely by placement in the text with the younger women. This is especially appropriate for a younger pastor like Timothy. The temptations then were no less than they are now in terms of personal contact with women in the church and society. Today we could say that a young man has more avenues to be tempted by women through media such as TV, movies, Internet, print, and so forth. And many pastors have fallen in those areas as well as in actual relationships with women. But in all Timothy’s dealings with women, he is to strive to be pure in every way—in terms of chastity, moral purity, pure thoughts and desires, etc.

Here’s the problem: you have a pastor who is a man and a sinner. You have a woman who is a woman and a sinner. He may be tempted toward her; and she may be tempted toward him; and the two can collide in a devastating way to produce immorality.

Women can make things worse by their manner and attire drawing attention to themselves and particular parts of their bodies. But the men cannot foist off the responsibility on the women entirely. She cannot help her good looks. He can make things worse by not following Job’s advice to keep his eyes off (Job 31:1).

Some practical advice: Have an open door policy. Have viewing windows in the doors of all offices and classrooms. Have others in the building when you are talking with a woman. Make every effort to avoid potentially compromising situations. Avoid situations where someone can make a false but ruinous allegation.

2. Toward All People

Unfortunately, the phrase “with absolute purity” cannot be limited to just a young man’s interaction with young women, as if that were the only place where problems could occur. It also must qualify his relationships to the older women and the younger men and the older men. There has been such a breakdown here, from fundamental Baptist churches to Catholic churches and every kind of church in between, with adulterers and pedophiles and all the rest. It is not even appropriate to talk about such thingsin decent company, as they say. But the need for purity is obvious.

Conclusion

All that is left now is to carry out what the Bible has taught. Examine yourself to see if your treatment of other people has fallen short. Seek God’s forgiveness and cleansing. Resolve with God’s help to do better.

MAP

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