Youth Elders?

Negative
  1. should not be "novice" (1 Tim 3:6)
    "Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil."
  2. Timothy was not an elder but a "preacher and apostle"  (1 Tim 2:7)
    "Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity."
  3. although terms elders, bishops, pastor, and overseer are used interchangeably (Acts 20:17, 28; Titus 1:5, 7) i have yet to find a passage where timothy referred to as an elder.
  4. most apostles are also elders (1 Peter 5:1; 2 John 1; 3 John 1) but there seems to be some distinction in Acts 15:22
    "    Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:"
  5. it is an oxymoron
  6. Jesus was 30 or more years old when he started ministry.
  7. no known EGW affirmation for calling youth as "elders"

Attempts to Defend
  1. 24 elders in heaven are not married
    1. PROBLEM: wait till you get to heaven, where marriage is none, and jewels are ok (crowns).
    2. SOLUTION: most-recent-instruction should be followed. elders should be husband of one wife, not a "novice".
  2. paul calls apostles as elders (1 Peter 5:1; 2 John 1; 3 John 1), timothy is an apostle (1 Tim 2:7), timothy is young (1 Tim 4:12), therefore young timothy is an elder
    1. PROBLEM: apostles are elders, timothy is an apostle, timothy is also a preacher, therefore all preachers are elders, and all preachers are elders, hehehe. and since all preachers are christians, then all christians are elders, hehe.
    2. SOLUTION: find a passage there young people are referred to as elders

Suggested Solution

call young leaders as "youth leaders" or "apostles" or "church leaders". as long as the terminology does not redefine biblical meaning / prescriptions.

there is no doubt that God has called the youth to be prophets (acts 2:17-21, Joel 2:28-32) to prophesy in the last days.

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