Christ was the harshest with those who were religious leaders who loved their prominence. Those leaders who thought they were above others, placing rules and burdens on their followers that God never commanded.
When we encounter those who are seen as “religious leaders” who refuse to be corrected using the scripture then this person who is “religious” is not qualified to be a leader. Often young leaders disrespect the elders in their group, refusing to listen to them.
2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries[a] wide and the tassels on their garments long;
6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;
7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.
8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.
9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.
10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.
11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Notice in this passage that God never commanded us to use titles to distinguish one person above another person. Everyone has a job to do, some are elders, some administers and so on, but no one is above another. In our modern culture Christians say; “Pastor so and so” as though he is higher than others. Using the word “pastor” as a title denoting a superior position, which is contrary to God’s instructions.
1 Peter 5:1-5 “1 Therefore, I urge elders among you, as your fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and one who is also a fellow partaker of the glory that is to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not with greed but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as domineering over [c]those assigned to your care, but by proving to be examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading [f]crown of glory. 5 You [g]younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT HE GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”
The younger men and women must treat the older men and women with respect. It is disobedience and an attitude of superiority for the younger men and women to chastise or instruct their elders. It is one thing to bring a concern to the older believers desiring to know why they say or do what they do, but it is not appropriate to correct or chastise them as though they were beneath the younger.
I have experienced younger Christians who think they know it all, chastise me for things I knew I was right about because they were scriptural. But in every case the younger one never asked or listened to the reason for the scriptural assertion, they just rebuked in a snarky tone of voice and never heard the reasons for the Biblical stance. I never chase after someone who shows this kind of disrespect, in fact, I keep my distance. If someday they have learned respect and honor then perhaps we can have a conversation this time instead of a demand to be superior.
Matthew 23:1-12 “Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries[a] wide and the tassels on their garments long;
6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;
7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.
8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.
9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.
10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.
11 The greatest among you will be your servant.
12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
1 Timothy 5:1-2 “1 Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.…
Leviticus 19:32
“You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD.”
We are living in the times of 2 Timothy 3 in which dishonor for their elders is nearly all we see. We have become so accustomed to it that most see nothing wrong with it, to the culture it is normal.
May the Lord give us patience and wisdom as we navigate through this culture of deception and rebellion.
