Here
is some additional guidance about bringing problems to the elders.
a. Do not wait until a crisis develops. One of
the great problems elders face is people waiting until it is too late or the
situation is already messy before contacting us. It is better to contact your
elders and find out that it is not a big deal than wait and watch the situation
explode.
b. The
greatest deterrent to contacting the elders is usually pride. People tend to
believe they can work things out without help or advice. Sometimes this is
true. But most often we need the input of other Christians, particularly those
God has appointed over us, to guide us.
If there is a problem in your home or life and you do not want to bring
it to the elders, ask yourself, why?
More than likely the reason is that you do not want your sin to be
known. Do not add to the first sin, the
second sin of covering it up (Proverbs 28:13).
c. Some
of you may worry that you are bothering us. Don’t. We are here to shepherd
you. If you think you should call, do.
d. We
would add here that the head of the household should usually be the one
contacting the elders. The exception would be if the head of household is in
serious sin and refuses to come to the elders. In that case a wife or teenage
child could approach the elders after they have rebuked the head of household.
This would be following the pattern set by Matthew 18:15-20.
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