Show no Partiality to Anyone

(1 Timothy 5:19-21 – Show no Partiality to Anyone)

One of the most abhorrent things in the sight of the Lord is to show partiality. Whatever you want to call it, whether partiality, bias, prejudice, or whatever, it is evil in the sight of the Lord.

Christians are to show no partiality to anyone. We do not have the right to be partial on any grounds whatsoever. There is never a time when partiality is OK. Shun it! Despise it! Hate it with every fibre of your being for it is a great evil.

It is especially evil when you consider the grounds upon which partiality occurs: race, religion, status, wealth, skin colour, nationality, and so on. All are evil and all are to be avoided. We are to show no partiality to anyone.

Partiality to Elders

Before continuing, let us look at the scripture under review today in full.

19 Never admit any charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. 21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without favor, doing nothing from partiality. (1 Timothy 5:19-21)

There are always instances of people in leadership showing partiality to their friends and colleagues. It’s a case of “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.”

But when it comes to the Elders in the church we are to show no partiality to anyone. That includes fellow Elders and leaders in the church.

But if a charge is to be laid upon an Elder or leader in the church, you better have proof. There can be no trumped up charges just because you don’t like a decision of the Elders. The essence of this scripture is that if there is positive evidence of sinfulness being committed in the Church by anyone, including an Elder of the Church, then we should show no partiality to anyone.

Elders as examples

Sin is sin, and anyone who is persistent in sin needs to be brought to account.

It is even more serious for an Elder in the Church as they are meant to be an example to the rest of the body. But how can they be an example if they are persisting in sin? If an Elder is caught in fornication, adultery, pornography, theft, lying, or any other sin, how is that a good example to the body?

If there are two or more members of the Church who can attest to such sinful ways, and they can prove it, then we must show no partiality to anyone. The person persisting in sinfulness must be disciplined, even if they are an Elder in the Church.

It partiality is shown to an Elder, then the whole Church may be corrupted. They may believe that because the Elder got away with whatever they were doing, it is OK for them to do likewise.

But sinful ways are not acceptable in the sight of God, nor in His church.

Dealing with sinfulness

The method for dealing with Elders who persist in sinful ways cannot show partiality. They should be rebuked and disciplined in the sight of the whole Church so the whole Church learns and respects the rest of the Eldership. As the scripture above states, “…so that the rest may stand in fear.”

The Church needs to understand that no-one is above being disciplined. No-one is able to do wrong and be permitted to get away with it. And this is especially true for Elders and leaders in the Church.

If anything the discipline should be harsher for Elders and leaders because they are meant to be examples to the flock.

Summarising this process

In summary, first the sinfulness must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. It cannot be hearsay or a case of dislike. There must be incontrovertible evidence of the sinfulness in the Elder that can be proved by several witnesses.

We should note also that this sinfulness is not a one off thing. Anyone can make a mistake, but this scripture talks about Elders who “persist in sin.” There has to be evidence of an ongoing practice of carrying out some kind of sinfulness.

When such evidence is investigated and found to be true, then the Elder should be rebuked in the sight of the whole Church. They need to be disciplined according to the nature of the sinful ways they have been carrying out.

And finally, there can be no partiality towards the Elder persisting in sin. It cannot and must not be “swept under the carpet.” The matter must be dealt with appropriately and in the same manner that it would be dealt with for any other member of the Church. We can show no partiality to anyone.

This may sound harsh, but the Church is meant to be a beacon of righteousness. It is meant to be spot free and the unblemished bride of Christ. Sin in the Church is not acceptable, especially when the person committing the sin is in the Eldership of the Church.

You might also like:

Dealing With Sin In The Church
Jesus Came To Call The Sinners 2
When God Is Your Teacher
Prejudice Bias And Judging By Appearances
The Lord Knows Everything
Breaking Down The Barriers
God Shows No Partiality
Aiming For The Goal
No Partiality With God