The Last Human Freedom

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. - Hebrews 13:17 HCSB

Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl wrote, “We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”[1]

The truth of the matter is that all of us are dying. We are simply counting time until the Death Angel[2] comes knocking. Richard Baxter said he “preached as never sure to preach again and as a dying man to dying men.” However, knowing our bodies are mortal does not mean our spirits have to yield.

Godly elders will keep this in mind as they move about their flock, helping the tottering to stand and strengthening feeble knees.[3] Whether they preach or not, all the elders should participate in formal church functions. [4] These can include serving communion, teaching within the church, helping with weddings, funerals or baptisms and (with the right training) counseling. To say that only the pastor may do these things is to elevate the pastor to the Catholic idea of priesthood, something completely contrary to Protestant, evangelical doctrine.

Elders need to make prayer a regular part of their spiritual diet.[5] They need to be personally in touch with God before they can take a lead in any corporate worship. They are to welcome and practice hospitality toward visiting fellow servants,[6] receiving reports on God’s work and taking appropriate action.[7] Elders must strive to be competent counselors for individuals, couples, families, businesses and churches.[8] They should recommend the appointment of other elders to the church after much prayer and fasting and after the candidates have had adequate time to clearly demonstrate their character and servant’s spirit. Once the congregation has indicated their willingness to follow the Spirit’s leading in the matter, the elders should publicly ordain that person by the laying on of hands.[9]

However, all these functions are useless if they are not performed by the elders out love of God and of their wards.[10] As they move through the flock, feeding, comforting, praying, teaching and guiding, they need to be motivated by humble, grateful joy at having even been chosen for such a momentous task. They must keep the eternal view that God has placed in their hearts[11] in the forefront of their minds.

The congregation’s responsibility is to practice the last human freedom – the freedom to choose their attitude as they obey their shepherds within the boundaries of Scripture;[12] being careful that their caretakers can perform their duties with joy.[13]

[1] Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning, p.75
[2] 2 Samuel 24:16; 2 Kings 19:35; 1 Chronicles 21:15-16; 2 Chronicles 32:21; Psalm 35:5-6; Isaiah 37:36
[3] Job 4:4
[4] 1 Kings 8:3
[5] Acts 6:2-4; Colossians 4:2; James 5:15-16; 1 Peter 4:7
[6] Acts 15:4; 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8; 3 John 1:9-11
[7] Acts 15:4; 20:17-18; 21:18-19
[8] Ezra 7:10; Nehemiah 8:8; Colossians 4:6; Titus 1:9-11; 2 Timothy 2:15
[9] Acts 13:2-3; 14:23; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; 1 Timothy 4:14; 5:22
[10] 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
[11] Ecclesiastes 3:11
[12] Acts 5:27-29
[13] Hebrews 13:17