RULERS by John Norton Loughborough

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 20, 1900

RULERS

By John Norton Loughborough

“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.” Heb. 13: 17.

It is evident, not only from the connection in which this language is found, but also from the words of the text, that the rulers here spoken of are rulers in the church. Civil rulers have to do with temporal affairs and men's bodies; but the rulers here mentioned are engaged in carefully caring for the souls of those whom they rule. These same rulers are thus mentioned in the former part of this chapter: “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever.” Heb. 13: 7, 8. It seems that these rulers were those who taught them the word of God, and that submitting to the ruling was obeying that word.

The charge the Lord made anciently against those shepherds of Israel who should have tenderly cared for his flock, was this: “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.” Eze. 34: 3, 4.

It appears also that in the days of the apostles some such rulers sought to oppress the church. The beloved apostle John makes mention of such a one in the person of “Diotrephes, who loveth to have the pre-eminence among them, receiveth us not, . . . prating against us with malicious words; and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.” 3 John 9, 10.

To guard against such ruling in the church, the apostle Peter wrote to the ruling elders in his time: “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” 1 Peter 5: 2, 3.

Of that class of faithful rulers Paul spoke on this wise: “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his reward. Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.” 1 Tim. 5: 17–19.

In this same epistle the apostle, speaking of the qualifications of a bishop (the same office as a ruling elder at that time), says, “One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity (for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?).” 1 Tim. 3: 4, 5.

One very essential feature in proper family ruling is set forth in the case of Abraham, of whom the Lord said: “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment.” Gen. 18: 19. In the case of Eli, who failed in his government, the Lord said: “I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.” 1 Sam. 3: 13. Of David's fourth son, Adonijah, who exalted himself against his father to reign, it is said, “And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so?” 1 Kings 1: 6.

The course to be pursued by the one chosen to lead, or govern, a church is set forth in these words: “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.” 2 Tim. 2: 24, 25.

We should always bear in mind the word of the Lord by Solomon: “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” Prov. 15: 1. Also, “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” Prov. 16: 32.

A church ruler with grace to pursue such a course will not pharisaically “bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders” (Matt. 23: 4), saying, “Do this,” and “Go here;” but rather, being himself an example of what should be done, will lead the flock with the persuasive “Come on.” For such a course, he has the example of Christ: “When he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 10: 4, 27.

The proper ruling of the Lord's people is stated by the Spirit, through David, in these words: “He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.” 2 Sam. 23: 3, 4. That portion of David's reign thus characterized led him to say: “Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: . . . and thy gentleness hath made me great.” Ps. 18: 35.

In the Testimonies the Lord has set before us the evils of a wrong course of ruling, and also the right course to rule, or govern: “The worst of it is that often those who ought to understand why such action is out of place, drink in the spirit of the accuser, go to the polluted fountain of suspicion and distrust, and turning from the course justice marks out, are guided by some one's hearsay of another's action or character. . . . Are we to take reports, hearsay, as if they were verity and truth? Are we not to rebuke the talebearer who would make a condemned brother's course appear as bad as possible? No one can do the work of reproving and counseling in the way that Christ would have it done, whose heart is not filled with peace and love.”—Review and Herald, Oct. 24, 1893.

“Those who lead out for others to follow must be sure that they are not leading the people to a low standard, by their own want of the power of true godliness. Jesus will not excuse, in those who should be patterns of piety, a cold, loveless religion. He wants you to cultivate a great deal more love and humility. Pray much, and believe much, and frame your conversation so that you will lead the minds of others to devotion, to spirituality,—away from criticism, away from severity,—and to love and respect one another; to true courtesy. Express affection. Express sympathy, and draw close to the bleeding side of Jesus.”—Unpublished Testimony, July 6, 1886.

If the rulers in the church have hearts filled with such a spirit, their counsels, like that of John, will ever be of the nature of his loving words, “Little children, love one another.”

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.