The overseer must be “. . . able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict . . .” (Titus 1:9).
The pastoral elder is charged with the positive aspect of teaching, the exhortation in sound doctrine—but he is also charged with the negative aspect of shepherding, refuting error.
This is a qualification that is largely ignored or lost today. The under-shepherds of God’s church are charged with the responsibility of refuting error. This responsibility cannot be shirked or ignored. It must be done.
The Scriptures are clear that the primary weapon Satan uses against the church is false teaching (see John 8:44). The elder, out of love and concern for the church, is to rise up and refute error. Like a shepherd protecting the sheep from the wolves, the elder is to protect the people from false teaching and error (Acts 8:28-29, 1 Tim. 1:20).
The rebuking, refuting aspect of shepherding will not win popularity contests. Our cultural sensitivities often stop elders short of actually refuting error; it is not en vogue to expose false teaching and error. The elder may pay a toll for offending the beliefs and convictions of those who are led astray. Refuting error is not for the faint of heart, but neither is shepherding! But it must be done. Lives are on the line!
The goal of refuting is not to destroy people, but to save them from the consequences of error and false teaching. Elders ultimately want to see people restored, not merely refuted.
Practically, the pastoral elder needs to have a firm grasp of sound doctrine. He must be a man of the Word. But his knowledge and command of the Word of God must not be passive. He must actively refute error. He must actively expose false doctrine and false living.