Today we seem to have open season on leaders of all kinds. Those running for state and Federal office instantly become targets for members of the other party. And in the days of this COVID pandemic, many pastors have run into the same sort of opposition, with some church members insisting that normal worship practices be resumed immediately, while others contend with equal vehemence that it is unsafe to have any kind of gatherings. Caught in the middle, pastors find themselves taking fire from all sides.

Now, it is true that those who have been blessed to choose our own leaders need to take this responsibility seriously, and to seek God’s will as we elect them (5:22). And after they are elected, we do need to hold our leaders accountable. In 5:20, Paul says that it is important to rebuke even elders of the Church who persist in sin. No one should be above the law, whether the law of man, or the Law of God.

But at the same time, Paul encourages us to respect our leaders, especially those who have been chosen by God and recognized by God’s people as elders in the Church. Teaching God’s Word is hard, especially when it involves pointing out things people don’t want to hear. So it’s important that we not shoot the messenger when God’s Word tries to illuminate and correct the sin in our lives. Instead, we need to give our elders the benefit of the doubt, even if what they say doesn’t make sense to us at first.

And when an accusation is leveled at any leader, we shouldn’t just take one person’s word for it. No, in Deuteronomy, the need for two or three witnesses mentioned in I Timothy 5:19 applies to anyone accused of a serious crime (see Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15). Everyone deserves due process, even our elected officials, so we need to be careful about repeating unsubstantiated rumors about anyone.

But as we choose leaders in both Church and state, and as we hold them accountable so that they can lead us in the way of righteousness, I Timothy 5:21 also cautions us to avoid any sort of prejudice, any sort of partiality or bias. So, I wonder – if we were to put all of Paul’s advice into practice, how different would our national political life look? And how much more effective would all of our leaders be?

I Timothy 5:17-22 (NASB)

17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.
20 Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also may be fearful of sinning.
21 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.
22 Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thus share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.