Retirement or involvement?

[Z A]

Hi all,

The concept of retirement in the West and particularly in the church is due
for serious review and reform. Sure, it's fun to save some coins and to look
forward to the gold watch but that event should only open up more time and
opportunities to serve the saints and the lost, too.

What if the scriptural term "elder" really was to be taken literally and the
older ones in the church were actually ordained to perform the shepherding
function? I believe they are indeed appointed to such a work. They, without
exception, are also ordained to manifest the character requirements becoming
of a Christian mentor, teacher, friend, and guide. None of these things is
beyond the man who will simply apply to God to receive them. None require
certificates, callings, or outside training.

Interestingly, in several quarters of the Body, "Titus 2" clubs are being
formed which emphasize how older women are to train the younger females.
Good. But it is high time for the concept of older men training the younger
men to be recognized, encouraged, and practiced, as well.

In the institutional church world, too many "pastoral search teams" are
looking for the energetic, young guy to be their new CEO or "Senior Pastor."
The problem with that is that ALL Christian seniors are already appointed by
their Maker to serve as pastors. But let's not be too judgmental - many house
churches don't know much better.

I'm just noticing today that all but one of our Supreme Court Justices is
over 65 years of age and still busy. (A little too busy, if you ask me.)
Could not the church learn a lesson from them instead of continually putting
her seniors "out to pasture?" Programming them to be essentially useless
"laymen" - then regarding them as such. Failing to tap into their experience,
their wisdom. And failing to teach the younger men in the church - every one
of them - that they will assuredly be the elders of tomorrow.

Could we not learn something from the radio ads I hear each day featuring our
Secretary of State Colin Powell as he promotes his non-profit organization,
americaspromise.org? Seeking to get everyone involved, he boldly declares:
"Whether they are our children or not - we are all parents." Furthermore, he
proclaims that the problems with youth are far less in magnitude than those
of the careless and uncaring generation of older ones who have seemingly lost
all interest in the next generation.

Zane Anderson

1 Peter 5:1-2 The elders (not an office) which are among you I exhort, who am
also an elder...: Feed the flock of God (shepherding/pastoring in a caring
and unofficial manner) which is among you...

1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger (also not an office), submit yourselves unto
the elder (same word as above, contrasted with younger ones as it frequently
is in the NT).

PS: Are you looking for a detailed book which exposes the great eldership
identity cover-up? "The Elders, Seniority within Earliest Christianity" R.
Alastair Campbell, T.T Clark 1994. It's a high dollar book (50-70 dollars US)
but could be obtained via Library Loan. How about a book that highlights the
equality of all elders who serve the church as a team, without rank?
"Biblical Eldership" by Alexander Strauch. 1988.

[Norman Barry Cope]

Post by Z A
Hi all,
The concept of retirement in the West and particularly in the church is due
for serious review and reform. Sure, it's fun to save some coins and to look
forward to the gold watch but that event should only open up more time and

serve the saints and lost, too.

Dear ZA,

I am new to ng, I hope I have not broken etiquette by scroll-deleting most
of your message. However, at the moment my experience is reading endless
repeats of the same message, I am sure there must be a reason for this in
ng, and there must be a way of avoiding this from my end when I have learnt
to use this medium more effectively!
Anyway, I have kept the bit above as the bit I wish to respond to.
My observation is that if we wish to talk about retirement, then we must
first establish what we mean by work, presuming that is what we are retiring
from. I am currently a member (only just!) of the SDA Church, and a
discussion on what we should or should not be doing on the Sabbath is
contraversial, to say the least. I believe that from a Christian position,
all of our "work" is God's work. I am a school teacher, and I enjoy my work
to the point where I see no difference between it and "play". If I am
remunerated for my services (not always) it makes no difference to my
Christian concept of work.
Coming to "retirement", I hope to continue "working" until my dying day. I
feel that this is in line with your own sentiments.

God bless you, in Jesus name. Barry AC.