This post is a little lengthy but I think you will enjoy it and it might get you thinking.
Is it that I am getting older or maybe just now noticing? I see the pastors of all these churches across the nation and they are getting younger and younger. At least it seems that way to me. As I was growing up I was involved in church for as long as I can remember. Every Pastor I had was much older than I, although admittedly it’s getting tougher and tougher to accomplish each year. After all, I am growing a little long in the tooth.
I mention the pastors I had because I was always able to look up to them as examples. Not every pastor in my past was a good example but I can honestly say the majority were.
I know for myself I would find it hard to join a church where the leadership is too young. I have seen some churches where the ages of all elders added together nets out younger than me. The congregations must be comprised of mostly college students or young folks in the community. This makes me uncomfortable. Something is not resonating just right with this. I know there are exceptions to all general rules and I know the great Charles H. Spurgeon took the helm of the Park Street Pulpit at the age of 11. Sure, every once in a while, God creates a genius that can work for him. That isn’t me, and you can count them all on one hand.
The other thing I know is that young leaders are rough around the edges and need to get their wisdom through making mistakes as they grow. I watch out to see that those mistakes arent made on me.
So when I look for a church to join I look for a Pastor that can shepherd because he has been around the block. He has gotten past the point in his life where we all get the ‘sowing of the oats’ out of our system. He is settled and has his life fully under control. He is learned. I truly want someone I can respect, look up to and follow. A mentor, so to speak.
I noticed a church in Texas that was started just 5 years ago and is already approaching the very large attendance ranks and is doing multiple services per Sunday. Growing like crazy. Here is the Lead Pastor’s picture…
If you are anywhere at middle age or after this has got to look a little young to you. I checked out all the elders of the same church and all but one looks similar in age or younger. This church may be doing some great things for the work of the Lord but it would take some doing to get me to follow. Please don’t misunderstand me regarding the people involved. I respect this young pastor and I am sure he is a very sharp dude. I also do not question his calling. I just believe in an order (which I think God’s word backs up) and think one should look into associate pastor work or some type of mentor situation until the time is right. Don’t ask me what time is right though. I don’t have that answer.
A pastor is much the same as a Bishop and this is what God’s word says, “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach”, I Timothy 3:2.
And then when I thought I had seen the youngest I would see in the pulpit I ran across the story of Ezekiel Stoddard. When Ezekiel Stoddard was ordained as a minister at the Fullness of Time Church in Capitol Heights, Maryland, it was a unique celebration — one that turned heads and raised questions. Why? Because Ezekiel is just 11 years old. According to “Good Morning America,” the son of two pastors decided to become a minister at this very young age when God spoke to him in a dream. Here is Ezekiel…
Now let’s see… What kind of teaching or counseling can Ezekiel do for a 60 year old that is struggling with things in his life? What can he do to help a couple that is having marital trouble? What can he do to teach a teenager that is a little older than he is about what it means to be a man? How can someone so young be the shepherd of a flock? Lastly, how can he espound on the scriptures with studied knowledge. This is all very uncomfortable to me.
We need to look at some more qualifications from the scriptures. See 1 Timothy 3: 1-13, “This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus”.
We cannot go forward without also looking one more place. “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers”, Titus 1;5-9. I recommend the entire book of Titus for more requirements.
I know the bible is speaking toward spriritual age more than physical age. As to the title “elder”, I think age is definitely involved here, but I don’t know what age because that’s like asking “how high is up?” I do believe it doesn’t mean youth or young. I believe it speaks to mature. Those are the qualifications I have in mind for my pastor, elders, deacons or other lay leaders. Those are the qualifications under which I would evaluate myself for such positions.
I bring your attention now to an ancient document. (2nd-4th centuries).
The Apostolic Constitutions (or Constitutions of the Holy Apostles, lat. Constitutiones Apostolorum) is a Christian collection of eight treatises which belongs to the Church Orders. The work can be dated from 375 to 380 AD. The Apostolic Constitutions contain eight treatises on Early Christian discipline, worship, and doctrine, intended to serve as a manual of guidance for the clergy, and to some extent for the laity. It purports to be the work of the Twelve Apostles, whose instructions, whether given by them as individuals or as a body.
“…a pastor who is to be ordained a bishop for the churches in every parish, must be unblameable, unreprovable, free from all kinds of wickedness common among men, not under fifty years of age; for such a one is in good part past youthful disorders, and the slanders of the heathen, as well as the reproaches which are sometimes cast upon many persons by some false brethren…”
Wow! There it is… look at that…, “Not under 50 years of age”. I am just now getting old enough to be a pastor.
The Apostolic Constitutions of the fourth century give us many useful insights to pastoral leadership during that era of heretical combat and ecclesiastical “settling-in.” Bishops (“overseers”) were selected by city and region for the purpose of overseeing the work of all the churches, ministering to pastors, and helping with certain situations in individual churches. Though they could be younger than 50 years of age, the requirements were stricter for those who had not yet achieved that age and whose reputations were thus not as widely known. The bishop had to be the kind of person every pastor and every believer should be. Pastors today should aspire to the same lofty objective.
Pastors must have a system in place for advisors and confidants to help them to stay on course for holiness and a blameless walk with the Lord? To be accountable.
I guess I can’t close without offering up a picture of my pastor.
Now see… 
Doesn’t that resonate with some more comfort than the two above?
So there you go. You know what I think. Where do you stand on this issue and why?
“The Tubthumper”
