The apostle Peter tells elders to be examples for the people of God. If I as an elder accept that, does it make me arrogant? Does it make me shrink back and say, “Horrors, don’t follow my example, follow Jesus”? Yet Scripture is clear elders are to be “proving to be examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:3b).
Obviously, we can’t be examples of perfection; only Christ is that. We can’t be the examples that Peter or Paul were, either. They were, after all, mighty apostles! But what can we be an example of?
We have all heard that we are to lead by example, and Peter does make that point by warning against “lording it over those allotted to your charge” (1 Peter 5:3a). But that begs the question: to what exactly is our example to lead them? Do we want them to emulate our use of specific spiritual leadership or organizational skills, homiletical techniques, or shepherding practices? These are all good things, but they are specific to each person’s gifting and calling.
The question remains: to what then are we leading our church, “all” the flock of God that is under our care? Whatever that is, it is our example that will have the most effect on whether they get there or not!
I believe the “what” to which we are to be leading people is spiritual maturity. Our example as elders (and leaders) is that of fellow learners, fellow disciples, who are simply down the road a little bit farther than others. We take this leading by example seriously. We lead the way by our own striving toward spiritual maturity. An elder doesn’t say, “Follow me, for I have arrived.” No, he says, “Follow me, because I am striving to follow Christ; this is what striving looks like!”
When Paul wrote, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1), he wasn’t presenting himself as the goal; Christ is the goal. But he was presenting himself as someone to be imitated. That imitation was to be of one who is on a journey, whose goal is Christlikeness.
Just as the Corinthians should have been able to look at Paul as their example of striving after Christlikeness, so also today, believers should be able to look the elders for an example of what striving for Christlikeness looks like in our day and age.
Some might say, “No, thank you; I’ll go directly to imitating Christ. Why be distracted by fallible humans?” But this attitude fails to appreciate the value of example.
Christ is perfect, having never sinned, nor could he ever sin. We don’t see in him an example of someone dealing with his own failures to be perfect. And that’s the rub. He was certainly tempted in every way like we are (Heb. 4:12). “He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted” (Heb. 2:18). And we have an advocate with the Father when we do sin (1 John 2:1).
But Christ does not show us “by example” how an imperfect, sinful person follows a perfect example. He shows how a perfect person lives these truths out. Elders demonstrate how imperfect people follow the perfect Christ. That model is one of humility, striving, confessing, and continuing to pursue Christlikeness.
God has given elders specifics to formulate their thinking around. Commonly called “elder qualifications,” I like to think of them more as a picture of spiritual maturity. The thirty-one characteristics delineated for elders are actually scattered through the New Testament and applied to all growing Christians. Elders are called out specifically to a certain level of maturity that provides an example to others—in these areas.
BER has developed some resources to help elders and others strive toward spiritual maturity by studying the elder qualifications:
- An eighty-two-page study book, “Spiritual Maturity: Based on Elder Qualifications,” with essays and self-evaluation questions to help you develop toward maturity.
- A handy full-color quick-reminder card outlining spiritual maturity characteristics.
- A free “Biblical Elder Qualifications” app (available in both Apple and Android stores).
Now, go and be an example to the believers, that others might follow your lead!