Being Family

Being Family
Words of Faith 6-2-2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2023
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

1 Timothy 5
[1] Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, [2] older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

Paul gives some splendid guidelines for Timothy in Pastoral relationships. We can apply these pointers in all our dealings within the Body of Christ. To sum it up in two words: Be family. Be a family of faith. Treat those who are older as you would your parents, with great respect. Treat those younger as you would a sibling, with honor and tender care.
Because Timothy was young, some particular attention was given to relationships with older men. Paul knew that, as a Pastor, there would be times when correction would be needed for an older man. It would be a delicate situation. Timothy must be careful not to appear "cocky," like the "young buck" trying to make his place in the herd. So correction must be an "exhortation" rather than a "rebuke."
The word in Greek, translated as "rebuke," comes from a root that is very active. It means to flatten out, inflict, or smite. It is a harsh word. Paul may have learned over the years the significant damage that can be done to a Christian soul when a leader "flattens out" a person, young or old.
Instead, Paul suggests an exhortation (parakaleo, par-ak-al-eh'-o) which means to call near, invite or invoke, entreat, comfort, and implore. When dealing with older people, there is a particular need to call them near and invite them to understand rather than smite them in a way that flattens them out.
In dealing with a young man, the approach is as a brother, essentially as an equal. Notice that Paul never suggests that a Pastor treat someone as a child. Communication is either with the respect of equals or the honor given to a parent.
Of course, all of this can be applied by a Pastor who is female, even if in different ways. Special care should be given in these relationships to bring the truth in love.
Paul gave particular direction regarding ministry to a person of the opposite sex. Specific care is needed when a male Pastor such as Timothy deals with a young woman. The dangers here are obvious and well-known. The best ministry to more youthful women will come from older women in the fellowship.
But this does not mean a male Pastor should not give Pastoral care to a woman. But this should always be as a brother to a sister, with absolute purity. Because even appearances can cause difficulty, a Pastor or Christian caregiver, or leader should never meet entirely alone with a person of the opposite sex who is not actually a family member. Billy Graham established this practice years ago, followed by many pastors and Christian caregivers.
Church offices often are equipped with large windows to create a semi-private environment. Office doors can easily be propped opened without sacrificing confidentiality. A cautious approach that avoids any situation that could be seen as compromising will be rewarded with a rich ministry that is constantly above reproach.
How are you doing in your family relationships?

Lord, give me the grace to honor those who are older than I am, even in times when correction is needed. Give me the wisdom to deal in kindness with younger people, always in purity. Give me always the courage to speak the truth in love. In Jesus' name, Amen.

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SUBSCRIPTIONS - To receive the Words of Faith devotion five days a week, send an e-mail message addressed to join-words-of-faith@hub.xc.org. To stop receiving Words of Faith, send an e-mail message addressed to unsubscribe-words-of-faith@hub.xc.org. The daily devotion and archive are posted at https://www.faithfellowshipweb.com/blog
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2023 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.