If the elders are not in charge, who is?
Notice how some passages indicate our Father is as
concerned with our corporate condition as He is with
our personal condition.
By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you
have love for one another. John 13:35.
Make my joy complete by being of the same mind,
maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one
purpose. Philippians 2:2.
Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions
among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind
and in the same judgment. I Corinthians 1:10.
Since the New Testament elder did not seem to be a
ruler in the sense of a governing authority, let’s fit
together passages dealing with elders and see how this
unity, described above, is supposed to work when we
assemble as required by Hebrews 10:25.
Peter exhorts elders in I Peter 5:2-3, shepherd the flock of
God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion,
but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for
sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over
those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to
the flock. Notice when Peter says flock of God among you
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he does not say ‘under you.’ Also from this verse we
are taught the elder is not a governing authority
because he is not ‘lording’ over other believers.
The governing comes from the assembly as a whole. In
Matthew 18:17, If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the
church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him
be as a gentile and a tax collector, Christ instructs the
church or assembly to have the final say. Of course this
could be a reference to the church which is
presupposing elders are making decisions, but since
elders are not given this authority anywhere else in the
New Testament don’t assume that is His intent.
Continuing in Matthew 18:19-20, Jesus says, Again I say
to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that
they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is
in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in
My name, I am there in their midst. This verse is in
context of church governance. And it is teaching about
consensus.
Although government is by consensus we also need to
consider that in several passages elders are charged to
protect the flock. Just as King David protected the
flock from lions and bears in addition to leading them
to food and water, Timothy was instructed to watch for
different doctrine, controversial questions, disputes
with words, friction and opportunistic men looking for
gain, I Timothy 6:3-5. Unity of the body does not come
at any cost and elders were involved in making
decisions as to what was and what was not edifying for
the body. Likewise, if only one or two members of the
body obstruct consensus in a biblical requirement, then
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elders are needed for shepherding. But, these are
opportunities for growth of the whole body. This is
not a time to take pride in our spiritual understanding
and leave loved ones behind.
Consider what Greek word proistemi #4291b teaches us
about the duties of elders. It is translated as rule only
one time in the New Testament. Hmm. This occurs in
I Timothy 5:17. One definition is to preside, govern or
superintend per New Analytical Greek Lexicon.
If we use this word definition then elders are placed in
a position of presiding over meetings and the flock. So
as not to contradict other passages the elders must
preside, not with the authority of a puritan preacher
preaching to a dutiful congregation or checking on
family catechisms, nor as busybodies, II Thessalonians
3:11, but by focusing the assembly on Christ, their
relationship with Him, and his commandment to love
one another.
Another definition of proistemi is to undertake
resolutely or practice diligently. Using this definition
we see elders as our examples giving us
encouragement and a model to follow. This definition
is supported by proistemi #4291b’s cousin, proimos
#4291a. Proimos is defined simply as ‘early’ which
brings a chronological aspect into the definition. This
would indicate that elders are older in the faith.
Surprise.
Titus 3:9-10 is an example of the duty of an elder.
...Avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and
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disputes about the law, for they are unprofitable and
worthless. Reject a factious man after a first and second
warning. We should endeavor to make their job easier
by submitting and loving them while weighing their
declarations with Scripture as they encourage the
assembly toward Christ and unity.
The elders have other duties during the assembly but
not in the forefront as much as encouraging the flock to
participate and keeping the group on edifying subject
matter. Not as Diotrephes, desiring to be first but in
the background caring, nurturing, protecting and
encouraging the flock, III John 9. The elders described
in the New Testament are examples to the flock that are
not perfect, I Timothy 5:20, but even in imperfection
are a witness of God’s indwelling spirit by humbly
seeking forgiveness and resolution.
A Diotrephes is great to have if our model is to go to
church, sit back in a pew and enjoy a good sermon.
But if our consensus model is that we are the church,
Diotrephes could discourage younger or quieter souls
to participate in the manner Paul prescribed. He might
encourage weaker brothers or sisters to look to him
instead of seeking Christ’s personal teaching through
His Word.
These texts portray elders who are as submissive to the
assembly as those assembled are willing to yield to
their guidance, Those (elders) who continue in sin, rebuke
in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of
sinning. I Timothy 5:20. The elders are allowing the
flock to grow and make decisions based on a consensus
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government which is patiently waiting before taking
action. Consensus does not compel unity after a
decision has been made. Consensus waits for unity
before making a decision.
Keep in mind this was not the flock of hundreds that
met in Juniper’s temple in Rome given by Constantine
or followers focused on John Chrysostom, the Golden
Tongued, in Constantinople, but a house church of
perhaps twenty or thirty believers.
Consider the unity Paul is portraying to the divided
Corinthians:
Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for
we all partake of the one bread. I Corinthians 10:17.
For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and
all the members of the body, though they are many, are one
body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all
baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether
slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. I
Corinthians 12:12-13.
But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant
honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no
division in the body, but that the members may have the
same care for one another. I Corinthians 12:24-25.
Paul is making the point that the unity of the
assembled believers is connected to their relationship
with Christ. We distance ourselves from God upon our
disunity. After all, by His nature He is One: the Father,
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Son and Holy Spirit. Therefore it seems evident
government would necessarily come from a unified
body. This is not governance by majority vote of a
congregation but by consensus of everyone who is
meeting together.
But if we wait for consensus we will never accomplish
anything.
We need to trust Scripture in this teaching. In I
Corinthians 11:2 Paul said, ...remember me in everything
and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to
you.
Perhaps God would have you wait at this time. God
requires everything and yet so little. He desires our
love, holiness in our lives, and asks us to witness to a
lost world. If consensus is not obtained in these areas
perhaps the elders have some shepherding to do. But
most decisions churches make today should be tabled.
Many church programs, new fellowship halls, fund
raising and personnel changes will simply not be issues
in Paul’s model of church government and meetings.
The Corinthians focused on their teachers who were in
the forefront. One would think this would facilitate
consensus. Looking to leaders would bring unity to
the Roman army, but looking to leaders did not work
at Corinth. Perhaps they needed one leader over the
other leaders. No, the branches needed to reconnect
with the vine. Christ.
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The Colossians followed religious authorities. This
seems the perfect way to maintain unity and consensus
if everyone in the church would submit. But instead
Paul warned they were not holding to their Head
(Christ) and were being defrauded of their prize in
Colossians 2:18-19.
The question we have to answer in regards to
governance is which is better. New Testament example
and instruction or our innovative systems of church
government?
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