They Have Ceased Watching

The office of a bishop is a good work (I Tim. 3:1). It is to be taken only by those of high quality (I Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). The office yields great reward (I Tim. 5:17; 1 Peter 5:4). It involves the greatest responsibilities (Acts 20:28; Titus 1:9; Heb. 13:17).

Elders are to watch for the souls of the congregation they oversee. This duty is found in Hebrews 13:17.

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief. for that is unprofitable for you.

The soul of every member of the local congregation is to be watched over by the elders. When they stand before the judgment seat of Christ, they will give an account of how well they fulfilled this duty. This is an awesome and fearful task, is it not?

Sadly, many elderships have ceased watching. Members involve themselves in all manner of sinful practices, and elders say nothing. False teaching spews from the pulpit and classroom and is overlooked. Individuals leave the fold, and we make no effort to bring them back.

The situation is like the one which developed in Ezekiel's day:

And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them. Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds: Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost: but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them (Ezek. 34:1-6).

Several reasons might be given why elders have ceased watching for the souls of the members of their congregations.

One of these is fear. They fear the reaction of the sheep if they faithfully practice their responsibility. They will be ridiculed and charged with meddling. They will be shunned and avoided.

Another reason they have ceased watching is indifference. They do not care that Satan devours members. Their only concern is meeting the budget each week.

Another reason they fail is the overwhelming magnitude of their task. They look and see tens and hundreds who are their responsibility. To do their job properly would require hour after hour, day after day of energy-draining, heart-rending work. Rather than make the effort to begin, they push their responsibility aside.

If elders would faithfully discharge their responsibility, they could drastically change the present course of the church. Sin in the lives of members would decrease. Church attendance and contributions would increase. The office of a bishop would be looked upon with respect and honor, as it should be.

Elders, remember you will give an account of your faithfulness to your duties. May God not say of you, what God said of the shepherds of Israel: "Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand. . . ." (Ezek. 34:10).