Untheological elders are not going to be able to spot error. In all likelihood it’ll be a matter of emphasis and we start to get unbalanced in our teaching. Elders with a good knowledge of scripture and the Confession will be able to correct us, or at least flag up where we might be becoming unbalanced.
1. The church is weakened because the leaders do not model godliness. Congregations should be able to look at their elders and aspire to be like them in their life and teaching.
2. You place the future of the church in peril. Ministers come and go. Most elders will outlive ministers and have to choose the next pastor.
3. You put your minister in a vulnerable position. It may well be that the elders are weak men that allow him to do exactly as he pleasees. All the decisions go his way and people become afraid of standing up to him. Alternatively there are countless examples of elders who make the ministers life a misery by pulling up the hand break at each opportunity and being obstreporous.
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