Defending the Truth to an Elder
In a previous post, I discussed how to biblically defend the truth with honesty and grace. With further meditation, God has expanded my views on this subject even more through reading Scripture, life events and observations, and I would like to discuss some other biblical principles God has shown me about defending truth.
Mainly I would like to expound on defending the truth when the person, whether opposed or ignorant, is considerably older than you are. I understand that most readers of this blog are “younger”, meaning teens/twenties. (this is not intended to make any of my readers feel old or exclude you… *smile* … I greatly appreciate the wisdom shared by my seasoned readers. Thank you!) I have just observed that we, as a younger generation, have strayed a little in our approach to defending truth. This could be because we are so passionate about it, or because we are ignorant of the biblical method. With that said I will continue:
1 Timothy 5:1 says, “Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father…” This is my main verse for this argument (or hopefully discussion). Timothy was a young man shepherding people who were inevitably a great deal older than he was. But Paul had two warnings: don’t rebuke those who are older (rather encourage as a father), and let no one despise your youth. (1 Tim. 4:12) We are to boldly share by our example/words the truth, but not rebuke or disrespect our elders in the process.
Also, in the book of Job we find the distraught older Job confused by his circumstances, and his three (and later a fourth) so-called friends come onto the scene. They all try to correct Job about the truth. What spoke to me was the fourth friend, Elihu’s, approach and attitude towards Job.
“Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you. I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.’ But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right. Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.’ “Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say. I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words.” (Job 32:4-12)
Elihu was a younger man than his friends, and this made a difference in his approach to Job. Indeed he was angered that these men were not imparting the correct truth to Job, and he did have something to say, but he waited with respect and gave them full attention before boldly proclaiming his opinion.
There many lessons we can glean from the observation of Elihu’s response as a younger generation. The first could be that we don’t know it all. (I know, you’re surprised…) There are many things God has yet to teach us through the seasons of life, devotion to Scripture, and advice from others (especially elders). We must embrace a humble mindset when talking and giving opinions to anyone. Christ Himself is a perfect Example. He “humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Phil. 2:8 ) Though He was the Son of God, (and Truth Himself) He was humble and obedient to His Father. What a great example for us.
Now, this is not to say that our advice or opinions are not the truth. A lot of times they are, especially when we are saturated in the Scripture. Again, we can learn from Elihu’s example because he stated truthfully that, “it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.” God can make us understand truth. In Psalms it says, “Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep Your precepts.” (119:98-100) God’s Word imparts wisdom and truth, even if you are young. If we are frightened to even speak the truth before an older person, this is missing the point as well. “Let no one despise your youth…” (1 Timothy 4:12)
I think respect coupled with a good grasp of Biblical truth is a great start to defending the truth to an older generation.
Your thoughts?
(For an additional thought and biblical principle, I direct you to this post Giving Wisdom.)
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Filed under: Devotional Life, Scripture on June 30th, 2008
I'm Kaysie, 22. Jesus follower. Lover of sunshine, trees, hot tea, books, music, family, the gospel, poetry and Barnes and Nobles. Has a weird obsession with paper. Over-analyzes almost everything. Adores simplicity. Lucky for you. 
I just read this post, and I have to say, God used you to speak directly to me. Thanks, and praise God.
By the way, where did you get your wisdom?
It’s all of grace.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” James 1:5
I can’t take the credit… God is the giver.
Praise God, because He is so generous! And that’s where I’m going for wisdom, too
On a serious note, I still feel a little pain from reading this post. I’ll be asking for more grace to respect my elders, both believing and none believing. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thank you for this post Kaysie. I sometimes struggle with being submissive and humble when listening to my elders. I always want to be right. It’s so hard when being reprimanded or counseled by friends or family who have more experience on a certain matter. And at age 19, I am beginning to feel like I am maturing more, so therefore I shouldn’t be told what to do so much. Wrong! I am still learning and will always be.
Thanks again!
Sara
P.S. Sorry I haven’t left a comment here in awhile!!
Hi Sara! So glad you stopped by! Thanks for your comment… I struggle with the same things too. (hence this post!)
Great post!!
ps) You’ve been tagged! Check out my blog for details
Kaysie, dear, I tagged you. Check my blog for details.
Kaysie,
Amazing post! Thank you so much!!
Oh, and, by the way, I was wondering if it might be all right if I linked to your blog? You can email me at
lynnejbyrd@aol.com
to let me know.
Another fabulous post, full of wisdom. I am one of the somewhat older readers, but you do inspire me, and you shared some wonderful truth here. I have met (or know through blogs!) some wise-beyond-their-years young people- you included – and your enthusiasm and passion is delightful and contagious! But you are right about needing to share this wisdom with respect, not just because of your age but because (as you pointed out) we ALL are to share the truth humbly and with lots of grace.
Thank you, Rambling Rose, for your encouragement and wisdom. I really appreciated your thoughts.
I think Elihu is a false climax and a dead end He repeats the arguments of Job’s friends. God’s explicit condemnation of them is an implicit condemnation of Elihu. If he were the answer, then there would be no need for God.
You might be interested in this online commentary “Putting God on Trial: The Biblical Book of Job” (http://www.bookofjob.org) as supplementary or background material for your study of the Book of Job. It has a much fuller exposition of Elihu’s role in the book. It is not a sin to question God, to demand answers from God. There is a time and a place for such things. Elihu denies that. It is written by a Canadian criminal defense lawyer, now a Crown prosecutor, and it explores the legal and moral dynamics of the Book of Job with particular emphasis on the distinction between causal responsibility and moral blameworthiness embedded in Job’s Oath of Innocence. It is highly praised by Job scholars (Clines, Janzen, Habel) and the Review of Biblical Literature, all of whose reviews are on the website. The author is an evangelical Christian, denominationally Anglican. He is also the Canadian Director for the Mortimer J. Adler Centre for the Study of the Great Ideas, a Chicago-based think tank.
Robert Sutherland
PS. I can email you a copy of the manuscript if you wish.
Hi Robert,
Thanks for your helpful comment. Yes, I do agree that Elihu did not provide the final answer to Job, thus the need for God’s ultimate correction, I was simply using his approach as an example.
Thanks for the link to the website. I will check it out.
Wow, I absolutely loved your post. It is so right on. I admit when I first read the title i was like “oh great, another kid using the 1 Tim. 4:12 out of context” as I’ve seen so many do. I think they’ve got it all wrong. I don’t think that verse was a license for kids to tell adults to back off and “not to look down on them” but rather not to label all kids as immature, because some are and some aren’t.
However, no matter if you’re mature or immature spiritually you should always be respecting the elders and deferring to them, whether they’re wrong or right because it doesn’t matter if they are. It matters if you are by being disrespectful.
Like the post before this one about the meek inheriting the earth… that means all meek, young and old alike. I think teens who have used the 1 Timothy verse out of context have really started something bad for the Christian community as well as this nation.
I know there have been many times where I have been the smarter, more knowledgeable one in certain situations with adults, but that doesn’t give me the right to make sure my voice is heard. I pray God would continue to humble me as i know I can be proud of my knowledge of Scripture sometimes, and being prideful is one of man’s biggest downfalls.
I’m sorry if this comment is a little off the topic, but this is what my thoughts were while reading it. thanks for your post Kaysie.
Jocelyn, thank you so much for your comment! And I thought it was right on topic too.
You touched on a great truth about kids using 1 Timothy 4:12 out of context. It is sad how we can use that verse to be disrespectful to those older than us. Thanks for sharing your wisdom here. Great points!
Kaysie, I’ve read a number of articles in your web site and will read more as I have time. I thank God for your spirit and spiritual wisdom. Your former website and this one are filled with it. May God continue to enlarge your influence on this generation and meet all your needs.
An aged brother in Christ,
Mal Bicker