Witness Lee on Elders Needing to be Ezras

[TLFisher]

This is from Witness Lee speaking regarding elders at the Nehemiah training 12/29/94.

The main responsibility of elders is to teach. (1 Timothy 3:2). Witness Lee went on to say elders don't know much of the biblical truths to teach. Calling on the Lord is not a truth. Neither is baptism, speaking in tongues, presbytery, etc. What is truths are justification, sanctification, conformation, transformation, and glorification.

Many elders have had no capacity to teach. Elders have received the appointment to bear the responsibility, but do not practice the responsibility. That being visiting saints, shepherding, feeding, and caring for the saints. This is what Witness defined as being an "Ezra". Ezra was a scribe. He was skilled in the Book of Law. What elders have been doing is what Witness Lee defined as "Zerubabbel". That is to be administrators. As Witness Lee has said too many Zerubabbels and not enough Ezras. Is this the condition of your localities? Appointed elders functioning as Zerubabbel. Wanting to function as the local administrator, but to be an Ezra is too demanding. Who has time to visit the saints, to shepherd them, to teach, to feed them, to care for the saints?

Terry