In 1 Timothy the Spirit of God, through the apostle Paul, provides a young pastor (Timothy) with an inspired church manual. 1 Timothy 3:15, but in case I am delayed, I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. In chapter five Paul provides specific instructions related to body life including how the church ought to minister to widows and how widows ought to conduct themselves in the household of God. One of the passages of Scripture that always seemed just a little bit harsh to me was 1 Timothy 5:13, And at the same time they (young widows) also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.
Prior to this ministry, my overall experience with elderly persons and widows was both edifying and encouraging. My parents taught me to look up to those 'with grey hair' (Proverbs 16:31) and to honor "senior saints." As a pastor's kid I enjoyed many special relationships with adopted grandparents in the Lord.
When I came to FBC, Freeport the largest demographic in the church was comprised of senior members and widows. In my mind this provided the perfect opportunity for Titus 2 discipleship relationships to take place. But even in Titus 2 one of the specific instructions Paul gives is that "older women" are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good. As in 1 Timothy 5:13 the Spirit of wisdom warns older women about the dangers of gossip! Older women can help build up the family of God and they also have the potential to tear apart Jesus' church.
After many years in pastoral ministry I now realize why the apostle Paul repeatedly identifies this sin as a common temptation for older women and younger widows alike. Now I am in no way suggesting that acting like a busybody is a sin pattern exclusive to seniors and/or widows. Perhaps we should understand this the same we do "youthful lusts" (2 Timothy 2:22). Certain sins are especially alluring and ensnaring at certain stages of life.
Upon serving Christ from the front lines of ministry I now appreciate all the more the wisdom of the pastoral epistles (including Paul's directives in 1 Timothy 5:13 and Titus 2:3). Quilting clubs, Ladies' ministries, and informal visitation ministries to fellow widows and shut ins can be a tremendous blessing to any local church (see below)! These contexts can also become the source of much division and slander within the body of Christ. This tension is not unique to the 21st century church. In Ephesus, "Instead of ministering comfort to needy souls from the wisdom of Scripture and Christian teaching, they poked around in matters that were none of their concern, spreading rumors and so on" (per 1 Timothy 5).
Many of the petty conflicts and harmful schisms within our fellowship were often fueled by habitual gossip, malicious slander, and the bread of idleness particularly among the elderly women and widows in the church. Because our church had a large percentage of persons in this demographic older women and widows yielded quite a bit of influence upon our particular fellowship (for good and evil). A few years ago a godly female saint informed me that there were certain places in the sanctuary that she did not frequent on Sunday morning (the kitchen, one of the ladies' bathrooms, etc). Apparently, some of our chief gossips and busybodies in the church had claimed these areas in the name of "saving the church." I cannot tell you much how time the church leadership invested trying to resolve misunderstandings or attempting to win back "disenfranchised" church members who were greatly troubled by what was communicated to them by gossips and busybodies. Much of the information these persons received was not true; but sometimes it was tasty enough to swallow. Proverbs 18:8, The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts.
Much more could be said about this struggle. Another church leader summarizes this issue with the following conclusion, "Then as now, when we as the body of Christ do not redeem the time in these evil days by filling our schedules with good works (Eph. 5:15–16), we run the risk of serving sin when we have nothing else to do." May the Lord's church not grow weary in doing good!
Post Script- It would be inaccurate and irresponsible to post this blog chapter without also mentioning the faithful legacy and godly testimony of many senior saints and widows at First Baptist Church (past and present). I learned so very much from the tireless, sacrificial, Christ-like service of elderly caregivers (Lavonne Hartman, Vern Harrenstein, Roger Stees). I witnessed more than a few senior saints end the Christian race like Paul in 2 Timothy 4:6-8 (Dorothy Libby). Our church would not have been able to maintain a Wednesday night prayer meeting apart from the faithful commitment of widows and senior saints (who know how essential prayer is to everything). Our deaconess board was led by some of the sweetest servant-leaders a church could every pray for (persons like Betty Hamblin, Marilyn Van Drew, Marilyn Cummings, etc). Senior saints like retired missionary Dorothy Schwarze and Nancy Geiser provided a Titus 2 example for our entire church. Those who were most involved in the 'negative activity' described above left the fellowship of FBC long ago. I felt compelled to include this chapter because from my vantage point this behavior was one of the major contributors to the on going trials and tribulations of FBC. I would encourage you to consider Proverbs 11:9 and the rest of the Proverbs as it relates to the use of the tongue (biblical speech).
NOTE- I have intentionally chosen to not list any names of individuals who were involved in any behavior that from my vantage point was/is contrary to the Word of God. I have also tried to keep these real life stories as vague as possible in effort to "protect the guilty." Please also keep in mind that each of these articles is built upon the previous posts in this blog site.
