The Elder (Cornelis Van Dam)

The Elder looks at this important office in both the Old Testament and New Testament eras.

In the Bible, you'll see mention of 'elders.'  In Presbyterian churches, there is (at least) one teaching elder (a pastor) and several ruling elders.  "An elder is called an office bearer . . . [and] an ecclesiastical office can be defined as a task given by God for a specific continuous and institutional service to his congregation with a view to its edification."  In general, an elder is to preserve and nurture life in covenant with God, which is characterized by serving.  They provide comfort, correction, nurture, hope, teaching, protection, and leadership of the congregation they serve.  They are "to be wise, understanding, and respected," and exhibit a "heart and love for God's people and their needs, as a shepherd does for his sheep."  They work "to restore peace to the community by judging rightly."  They're entrusted to pass on the riches of the gospel, as the ultimate task is "to point to Christ." Understandably, "the Word of God is central in the task of the elder shepherds in leading, gathering, and nurturing the flock."

"All these are awesome duties and expectations.  No wonder that the requirements for office are very high- a godly life, excellent knowledge of Scripture, and a genuine love for the sheep.  Elders must constantly seek to cultivate these virtues."   These things are impossible in our own strength, but "The Christ who gives the offices also enables with his Spirit those who serve his congregation."  As a friend told me, "The task is impossible, in our own ability, and it is crushing, in our own strength, and it is lonely, in our own pursuit."

This book was a mixed bag for me.  There's nothing wrong with it- it is a good reference pointing to all the scriptural mentions of eldership and explaining the office functions.  That said, it seemed overly repetitive (like he was saying the same thing multiple ways over and over).  It was also difficult for me to focus while reading this- I couldn't tell if it was the writing style, font choice, or just my own mental distractions.  It's a good resource, not just for elders but for any thinking of leadership in any organization.  All leaders, in my opinion, should exhibit qualities expected of elders.

Rating: B