FOLLOWING ELDERS INTO ERROR

Mike Johnson

Elders have a vital function in the Lord’s church.  They are to oversee the flock— they are to feed, or shepherd, the local congregation of which they are a part (Acts 20:17, 28; I Pet.  5:1-2).  Elders are to watch for grievous wolves (or false teachers) who threaten the flock (Acts 20:29-30), exhort and convict those who contradict sound doctrine (Tit.1:9-11), admonish the members (I Th. 5:12), and be good examples to the flock (I Pet.  5:3).

Another significant passage is Hebrews 13:17.  In speaking of elders, it says, “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account.  Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” Members are to be subject to the authority of the elders who oversee the flock, and most Christians recognize this principle.  However, there are times when elders may lead a church into error by having it involved in various activities that are without Bible authority.  What should be the attitude of the members at this point?

Frequently, errors will creep into a congregation.  Some Christians will defend their involvement with that congregation based on the authority of the elders.  They might contend, “These men are our elders, and we are to be subject to them.” The idea seems to be that the individual member is relieved of the responsibility of fellowshipping and rebuking error (Eph. 5:11, 2 Jn. 9).  They feel like this because the elders, whom they are to be subject to, have decided that a particular practice is Scriptural.  This thinking is erroneous.  Let us apply the reasoning to some other realms of authority to which we are to be subject.

(1) Government/Citizen– The Bible teaches us to be subject to civil authority (Rom. 13:1-7).  However, should we obey the government if it tells us to do that contrary to God’s Word?  This situation occurred in Acts 5 when the Jewish authorities imprisoned the apostles for teaching God’s Word.  After an angel released them, they returned to the temple to continue teaching.  When brought before the council, the high priest (28) asked them, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name?  And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” Peter then responded, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (vs. 29).  Thus, when God’s law comes in conflict with the ordinances of men, obedience to God is still essential!  The authority of the civil government does not give us an excuse to disobey God.

(2) Husband/wife– The Bible also teaches the husband is to be the head of the wife, and the wife is to be subject to her husband (Eph. 5:23-25).  However, if a husband were to tell his wife not to attend church services, for example, she should not do what he says.  In that situation, she would have to obey God rather than man.  The wife would be unable to excuse herself before God for missing services based on being subject to her husband.

(3) Parent/child– Another principle taught in the Scriptures is that children are to be subject to their parents (Eph. 6:1).  Again, they are to obey their parents “in the Lord” (vs. 1).  A child whose father tells him to lie, for example, could not do so as he is asking the child to violate God’s Word.

The lesson from the above examples is quite clear.  Being subject to human authority does not justify our participation in error.  Citizens are to be subject to the government, wives are to be subject to their husbands, and children are to be subject to their parents.  However, when any of the above authorities ask us to violate God’s will, we must disobey them and are responsible when we do not.

Similarly, we cannot justify our involvement with a congregation that practices error based on subjection to the elders.  Elders leading a group into error do not serve as a “buffer” between the members and God, as members are still responsible for their involvement with that error.  What if the elders of a congregation, for example, decided to put instrumental music into the worship?  Could a person justify his involvement with this innovation by saying it was the elder’s decision, and we are to be subject to the elders?  Would the person be any less responsible?

We must remember Ephesians 5:11.  This passage says, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”  2 John 9 points out how we must “abide in the doctrine of Christ.” Further, Paul warned the Ephesians elders that after his departure, “savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.  Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.” (Acts 20:29-30).

As Christians, we must not tolerate error—we cannot fellowship it.  On Judgment Day, excuses we make for our involvement with error, such as blaming the elders, will not do us any good!