“Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers” (1 Timothy 5:1-2 HCSB).
Our perspective toward others often serves to influence the way we interact with them. In the case of an older man within the local church community, 1 Timothy 5:1 encourages us to adopt the perspective of a fellow family member and view that person in a fatherly manner. This brief but important insight reminds us that a church family can often help fulfill the emotional needs of its members in addition to their spiritual needs.
You see, those who put this Scripture into practice help convey a measure of respect and dignity for those who may no longer derive such things from other areas of life. But the family-like structure of a healthy church benefits an older person in other ways as well. For example, an aged person who doesn’t see his children or grandchildren regularly may still enjoy fellowship with the parents and children of his local church family. Children, teens, and young adults may receive a similar blessing as they interact with elders who can share the benefit of their experience.
For instance, a man who came to Christ following a misspent adolescence can help younger members of a congregation learn from his mistakes. A man who has walked with Jesus from his youth can likewise share the benefits associated with a faithful life. In both instances, a man who knows Christ may continue to enjoy a life and ministry that is productive and relevant in his later years.
In like manner, Paul the Apostle counseled Timothy to view younger men as brothers. While this type of interaction may lack the deference of a relationship with a father figure, it often reflects the friendship and camaraderie that exists between peers with shared experiences. We often see the bond that exists in such relationships among those who characterize one another as “brothers from different mothers.”
Of course, there is always the potential for sibling rivalries to develop in such relationships. Yet even these rivalries can be healthy and edifying if there is an underlying foundation of mutual love and respect. As we’re told in the Biblical book of Proverbs, “A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need” (Proverbs 17:17 NLT).
In light of these things, it is not unusual to encounter those who feel a greater sense of unity with the members of their local church community than with those who share their genetic lineage.