Tag Archives: Elders

BIBLE QUESTIONS, CHURCH

WHAT IS GOD’S PLAN FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH? — BOB PRICHARD

Jesus promised that He would build His church, saying to Peter, that “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). The heavenly Father “hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23). Thus Christ is the Head, and the only Head of the church, which is His body. There is no room for any human authority over the church, and the only organization of the church specified in scripture is that of the local congregation. There is no biblical authority for any organization above the local congregation, such as a denomination, convention, association, diocese, or synod. These are all inventions of men.

The apostles were specifically chosen by Christ to direct the church in the beginning, and were sent forth with the promise that “when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). That they raised the dead, healed the sick and did other miraculous works demonstrated that they were from God. Due to the special nature of their work, the apostles had no successors. There are no apostles today, nor anyone to stand in their place to speak authoritatively to the church.

The system that God established to oversee the work of the church as the apostles died out was one which allowed each congregation to be self-governed and independent. Three different kinds of leaders were mentioned: elders, deacons, and evangelists. Each congregation was to be overseen by men who are referred to in scripture as elders, bishops, pastors or overseers (all terms applying to the same leaders). The number of elders in each congregation is always plural in the New Testament. There is not even one example of an elder or pastor overseeing a congregation alone. Paul “sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church” (Acts 20:17). The deacons are special servants who work under the authority of the bishops, or elders. Paul addressed his Philippian letter to “the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons” (Philippians 1:1). No specific number of deacons or evangelists is given in scripture. Stephen and the other servants chosen with him (Acts 6:1-6) functioned like deacons (though not specifically called deacons).

Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus give very specific qualifications for the elders and deacons. 1 Timothy 3 gives both positive and negative qualifications for the bishops (or elders) and deacons. Paul writes, “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity” (1 Timothy 3:2-4). These qualifications are not optional. The qualifications begin with the admonition, “A bishop then must.” Concerning the deacons, he writes, “Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre” (1 Timothy 3:8).

The primary mission of the preacher, or evangelist, is to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:2). Timothy was not a pastor, or bishop, but an evangelist.

There is no reason that congregations cannot be organized today just as they were in the first century, with elders overseeing the work of the church, with deacons and evangelists serving under their guidance. This is God’s pattern.

BIBLE, CHURCH

SHEPHERDS — BOB PRICHARD

“Being a shepherd isn’t just sitting next to your dog on the field all day, smoking a pipe,” said Hungarian Ference Selay, who was trained as an architect, but the worked as a shepherd. Professionals were being enticed to leave city life in Hungary to work as shepherds, who now have to deal with complicated European Union laws. Selay actually spent more time applying for grants than warding off wolves (World, October 29, 2005).

We know the work of shepherds from the Bible. The shepherd king David is an inspiring example of how a man can rise from a humble position to rule a nation. The shepherd defends the sheep, keeps them safe, and cares for them with tenderness. No wonder Psalm 23 is the most loved passage in the Bible. “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1).

We have lost much in that we seldom use the word shepherd to speak of those who oversee the church. Our traditional use of elder implies age and wisdom. We seem to fear using “bishop,” another scriptural word (1 Timothy 3:1-2, Titus 1:7), because it seems to have too much baggage from the denominational misuse of the word. But why don’t we use shepherd? Peter urges, “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (1 Peter 5:2-4). “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28).

Knowing how the shepherd fought the lion and bear, and developed the courage to kill Goliath, what’s wrong with the word? “Being a shepherd isn’t just sitting next to your dog on the field all day, smoking a pipe.”