Yes Michael, always showing respect to our brothers and sisters in Christ.   There is a difference like you show on an elder who is older than you and giving them respect.   I would treat my great grandmother with respect for her age, wisdom and the hardships she has gone through in life, and all she has taught me.  

A person who is an elder elected by a group such as in a home cell church, a large church, etc. could be of any age however as you said most of the time it is an older person, but in some instances there are the young that can come forth.   I believe that at the end of days that we are in now, there is a "pole reversal" in what a normal church is.    The youth are rising up in such mighty ways and I have seen some young people in their 20's that are more advanced than people I have gone to church with for 25 years.    I think that the torch has been lit and they are running at a swift pace.   They are advancing fast and this is the reason for this post, because it might seem a bit odd to some.   But it is the end of days and you cannot make up the time in Heaven for lost learning in the same manner on Earth.   One day of learning on the Earth will take you years in Heaven, that is why it is so important.   And maybe the youth know that their time is short so they have a lot to do compared to someone who has already lived their life.   But if someone who is more advanced than I am and is younger, wants to rise to the challenge of leading me, then I am all for it.    If someone is older, wiser and has been through the trenches of life with wisdom, then I am all for it if they want to lead.   But if those two people were going for the same position as elder, then we must look not specifically just at their age.   We have to see the advancement and age of their spirit.   Just because you are young and book smart doesn't mean you know everything....or just because you have been saved for a long time doesn't mean you have grown very much.  

That is all I was trying to get across.   Thank you for taking the time to reply to a lot of my posts.  I read all of them.

YSIC,
Nicole