But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.
Summary: An elder who sins is a serious situation for the leadership of a Christian church.
What kinds of sin do you think an elder might commit? How would a person responsible for being an elder deal with being ‘reproved before everyone’?
This is a very sensitive and difficult topic. People’s feelings being what they are, such a situation could do incredible damage if not handled properly. As Paul writes to the Galatians:
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)
Let’s follow Paul’s advice ourselves as we proceed with this topic.
First of all, it is important to note what Paul is not saying.
He does not say that an elder who has erred should be ambushed in front of the congregation and accused before everyone. This would be devastating to anyone except the most hardened heart.
What is not said is that there would be a process that takes place before anything like this happens. Remember what Paul just said in the last passage:
“Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.” (1 Timothy 5:19)
Before anything is decided, an accusation has to be brought and properly evaluated. If it is found to be credible, an investigation would follow. Then, the evidence is weighed. Finally, a judgment has to be rendered: Is the elder guilty of a sin?
If the answer is yes, the elder is well aware of the accusations ahead of time. Discussions will have taken place that help determine how the elder is responding to the situation. At some point, a decision has to be made as to the severity of the sin: Is it something that can be remedied by reproving the elder before the congregation, or is it more serious than that?
The reason for reproving the elder before the congregation is not to address the sin itself. Obviously, that will have been done during the discovery and evaluation process. Instead, as Paul clearly points out, it is so that the others, both general members and other elders, may take warning.
Application: Being consistent and transparent is important for church leadership.
Food for Thought: What happens to a congregation where the sins of elders are dealt with in private and never discussed in front of the congregation?
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I would say that if an elder, and really anyone given a leadership role in the church, commits a sin of moral choice or willfully pursues a hidden lifestyle of sin, it demonstrates a rejection of Christ as Lord and Savior. If the church council hides it in an effort to deal with it privately, when the congregation finds out it there will be rumors, dissent, anger, doubt, and mistrust. The exact opposite of unity in Christ. I do agree with Paul that if it is brought to light, the council should address it and then let the congregation know. It will come out eventually.
I attended a church while overseas in the military where a serious incident happened between two families (one of which was a church leader’s family who was in the wrong), and the council tried to “make a deal” between the two parties without addressing it to the congregation. The incident was of a nature that the congregation needed to be aware of it. The whole truth eventually came out, but not before a lot of turmoil and half the congregation departing.
Luke 8:17
For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.