ELDERS IN THE CHURCH One of the peculiar characteristics of the church of Christ is the scriptural organization of the church that includes overseers in the local congregation. Paul and Barnabas, on their return hom from the first evangelistic tour, appointed elders in every church. Luke records, "And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whome they believed" (Acts 14.23). The apostle Paul later wrote to Titus, saying, "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee" (Titus 1.5). Those men who serve in this office, or work, are called elders, bishops, or overseers, pastors, or shephards. Each designation highlights a certain characteristic or the man, or the work. The word "elder" indicates an older, or senior, man. A young man is not qualified to serve. Young or old is somewhat relative. A teenager might look at a man 30 years of age and think of him as old. When I came to the Shelbyville Road congregation, I was 28 years old; but brother Totty call me "the boy." No one calls me that now. "Bishop," or "overseer,." (both from the same Greek word) means to supervise or see over the flock (Acts 20.28; I Tim 3.1; Titus 1.6). A man who does not have the time to devote to overseeing the flock should not be considered for this greatest of works. This, too, is somwhat relative, because some men make better use of their time than others. A "pastor," or "shephard," means one who tends, cares for, and protects the flock of God. This indicates that the man who serves as one of the pastors (there is always a plurality of pastors in the locak flock according to the New Testament) will be one who knows the Bible and can comfort the feeble and fight off the wolves (Titus 1.9-11). David killed a lion and bear in order to protect his father's flock; shephards with the word of God will from time to time have to stop the mouths of the gainsayers and false teachers in order to protect God's flock. A man who cannot teach a Bible class is not qualified to be an elder. A few years ago Jack Lewis of the Harding Graduate School in Memphis, TN, argued that elders have no authority except by example in the local congregation. Why brethren continue to use this man is beyond me. Sometime back I heard a brother, supposedly sound in the faith, declare that we should give no ground to the false teacher (Gal. 2.4-5). Yet, I know full well that he and others have given ground to those who have given ground to the false teachers such as Lewis. Consistency is a rare jewel. But the New Testament does teach that elders have authority in the local congregation. Paul said in reference to the qualifications of the elders, "One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)" (I Tim. 3.4-5). The word "ruleth" or "rule" means to preside or superintend. Also, Titus 1.7 says, "For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God...." Arndt and Gingrich's lexicon says that the original word in a figurative sense means, "of the administrators of divine things." How can one be an administrator without having some authority? So, elders have authority in the local congregation. Let this point be clearly understood by all: One elder has no more authority over the congregation than the youngest member of the church. It is the eldership that exercises authority and then only in matters of expediency. All members, including elders, are under the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt 28.18; Col 3.17; Ac 2.36). An elder might express his view on amatter, but that does not mean he is speaking on behalf of the eldership. Am man speaks out of turn when he speaks for the elders when the elders have not expressed themselves. But are elders "bosses" of the church or the preacher? A "boss" in the accepted use of that term means "a politician who controls votes in a party organization or dictates appointments or legislative measures; an official with dictatorial authority over an organization." There may be some who have that concept of elders, but they are dead wrong. The term "bosses" indicates forcing people to do their jobs or dictating to them. The church is not a union nor a political machine nor even a company where men dictate to others. Peter commanded elders, "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the over sight 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 ensamples to the flock" (I Peter 5.2-3). The word "lords" could very easily be translated "bosses" and do no violence to the text. We need to use Bible terms for Bible things. I am thankful that from day one of my labors with this fine congregation the elders have not "bossed me around." They have trusted me to do my work as God has authorized me. I have known of places where preachers have been told how much time they were to spend in the office, visiting the sick or the wayward members, or doing their personal work. I knew of one congregation that told the preacher they wanted him to spend forty hours a week doing personal work, i.e., knocking on doors in the community, and the rest of his time he could get up his four or five lessons for the week. Needless to say, the preacher did not stay there very long. That congregation had no concept o fhte work of a preacher and did not deserve one. If elders have no more confidence in the preacher they hire than to dictate like that, then they should not hire the man in the first place. A preacher who does not have the discipline to study for his lessons should get out of preaching or be dismissed. Let us call Bible things by Bible names and do Bible things in Bible ways. | ||||||||