Articles
Answering Questions About Elders
Answering Questions About Elders
By Paul R. Blake
(The following represents a Bible discussion I had with a friend about elders - prb) “In our recent women's class a question was asked that I didn't have adequate answers. Should we lay hands on the sick so that we can help heal the sick with a prayer of faith, not that we have miraculous healings like the apostles?” James 5:14-15 - “Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”
There is nothing overtly miraculous about the work of the elders toward the sick. First, it was a common practice for elders to lay hands on persons for a variety of reasons. Some elders did indeed have the gifts of healing, but not all. Elders also laid hands on men that were going out to do a work for the Lord. The laying on of hands in this case was not to heal, but to show endorsement of the men. Others had hands laid on them to authorize them to do a task. When Paul warned Timothy in 1Timothy 5:22 to "lay hands suddenly on no man," he was saying that one needs to avoid giving endorsement to a man in haste; otherwise, he unwittingly becomes a partaker in that man's sins by ignorantly giving his approval. In the case of James five, I believe the elders to be laying hands on the sick, not to impart healing, but rather to formally show their affirmation in desiring this person be healed and their unity in the matter of the sick one's need for God's help.
Secondly, righteous men were ordered by the apostle Paul to use their hands in holy prayer to God (1Tim. 2:8). It was not uncommon to use the hands to help emphasize the petition being made to God in prayer.
Third, the use of oil was a customary process for the sick in Biblical times. Folks ate a low-fat diet (not by choice) and lived in a dry, dusty climate. The skin would become parched and cracked, especially in times of sickness when one could not keep food and water in the stomach. The fatherly, physician-like presence of the elders praying and soothing the sick persons limb's with oil would be a great comfort and reassurance to him.
“And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Doesn't this refer to spiritual sickness, rather than physical sickness?”
Evidence that it is not a miracle performed by elders that heals the sick is found right in this verse. What does James say saves the sick? "The prayer of faith... and the LORD shall raise him up" (see also James 1:6). That is precisely how we are healed from our illnesses today. We ask in faith, and the Lord answers with His mighty providence and power. Please note that in this verse is also the evidence that the sickness under discussion is physical and not spiritual... "and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." James distinguishes the "raising up" from the "forgiven him" with the Greek conjunction "kan" (a conditional 'and') which translates literally "AND IF." This means that the condition of being in sin (discussed after the 'kan') is not necessarily present in the state of sickness discussed before the 'kan'. Since sin is always present in one who is spiritually sick, we therefore conclude that the sickness of verse 15 is not spiritual, but physical. In this verse, being in sin is distinct from being sick.
“Isn't it also a duty of the elders to visit the sick?”
I have always maintained that the duty of elders is to visit the sick. How that job got passed off onto preachers, I can't figure out. I also believe that an elder needs to hold the hands, or put hands on the shoulders, or an arm around the sick person when he prays for them. I am not an elder, but I always try to hold the hands of the sick when I visit them and pray for them. The need for comfort and the need for prayer remain; therefore, the need for elders to touch and pray for the sick also remains.
However, the imperative for oil anointment no longer remains. We no longer live in a dry climate, and we certainly do not have a low-fat diet. Therefore, the need for oil on the limbs no longer remains. Yet, I believe elders can offer access to other comforts of a physical nature today equivalent to that of first century oil anointing.
“If it be that it isn't just for those who were given the Holy Spirits gifts, then should we also ‘greet one another with a holy kiss,’ should men ‘lift up holy hands,’ and other things that the early church participated in at the time.”
I am not certain there is a connection between these matters and James 5:14-15. We do extend warm, affectionate, physical greetings to one another, i.e. hugs and handclasps. Kissing no longer meets the criteria of Romans 16, because it does not mean the same thing as it did in the first century. Proper clothing, greetings, food customs, et cetera, change from nation to nation, culture to culture, and from time to time. We no longer wash feet, because we no longer wear sandals and walk miles along dusty roads. We humbly extend Christian hospitality in ways understandable in our culture. The point of holy kisses was affectionate greeting. The point of foot washing was humble service to travelers. We fulfill those needs, but not with first century cultural practices that would be meaningless in another time and place. Good questions, my Friend! Be well.
Wednesday Night Services
By Whit Sasser
At Wednesday night services, the Bible is taught, the word of God Almighty.
Wednesday night services increase our faith as we better understand and appreciate the unsearchable riches of Christ.
Wednesday night services are a midweek respite from life in a sinful world, a recharge of our spiritual batteries.
Wednesday night services help prepare us to meet life's challenges.
Wednesday night services help to build stronger character.
Wednesday night services provide an opportunity to associate with brethren and encourage each other.
Wednesday night services provide an opportunity to bring others with you to hear the Gospel of Christ.
Wednesday night services enable us to join our hearts in prayer and praising God in song.
Wednesday night services may be the time when you hear some truth that will change your life forever.
If you don't attend Wednesday night services... What do you do with that time? How does that activity compare to these blessings? Which activity will better help you go to heaven? Which is a better use of your time?
Upcoming Sermons
10/22/23 AM - “Beneath the Banner of the Cross”; PM - “Jezebel Stirred Him Up”
10/29/23 AM - Jesus’ Family; PM - Guest Speaker: Andrew McPherson
11/5/23 AM - “When People Bring Up Your Past, Tell Them Jesus Dropped the Charges.” (Requested); PM - Worship in Song: Congregational Choice of Songs
11/12/23 AM & PM - Gospel Meeting with Jeff Himmel
11/19/23 AM - Psalm 90: Moses’ Last Prayer; PM - King Manasseh: You Can’t Undo the Past
11/26/23 AM - “By Your Patience, Possess Your Souls”; PM - “But, I Want It Now!”
