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The principle in 1 Tim. 5:19 has a parallel in Matt. 18:15-17. With one or two witnesses, confront the person of his sin privately. If he mends his way, continue in fellowship with him. If not, tell the sin to the Church. Similarly, if there is a charge to be made against an Elder, an accuser’s story must be backed by reliable witnesses. Otherwise, it is mere slander. If an Elder persists in his sin, then that error must be exposed.
The root meaning of the word ‘sin’ (Gk. – hamartanō) means to wander from the path of uprightness and honour – and violate God’s law – to do wrong. The passage does not pinpoint the types of sin. But God lays bare before us the errant ways of even the Patriarchs in the Bible. We know that King David, a man after God’s own heart, had an adulterous affair with Bathsheba. Abraham lied to Pharaoh about His wife being his sister. Matthew, Jesus’ disciple, was initially a tax cheat. The Bible brings to light these sins so that we may observe the truth, avoid the mistakes, and not perpetuate the wrongs. Exposing the greed of Ananias and Sapphira in the early Jerusalem Church created “great fear over the whole Church” (Acts 5:11), effecting obedience and good testimony .
Just as disputes between Christians ought not to be dragged into court (1 Cor. 6:1), accusations of sinful acts against an Elder ought to be settled internally. Otherwise, dirty linen gets washed in public. Two huge entrapments since days of old are money and sex. Recently, there have been serious allegations against Church leaders for the misuse of Church’s funds. Church leaders are charged with extra marital sexual encounters. The sad thing is that these matters were not nipped in the bud? They definitely impact the public witness of Christians. The Apostle Paul cautions Timothy (and us) to choose godly leaders to lead the Church – “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure” (1 Tim. 5:22).
Singling out a sinning Church Elder is a tough thing to do but it is necessary. The Lord forbid that any of our Church Elders are living in deliberate sin. But if one does we must have the God given courage to follow Biblical instructions without partiality. Then, confess our sins one to another, and pray for one another so that – individually and as a Church – we may be healed.
