Church Government The scriptural organization of the Local Congregation and its Relationship with other Congregations

Church Government When we look around the “Religious World” today we see many differing opinions on how the government of a local congregation should be set up. We see men called Elders, Deacons, Pastors, Senior Pastors, Priests, Apostles, Doctors, Reverends etc. Each of these names designating some type of office or authority. Looking at all these groups there would seem to be no standard by which a congregation should be governed. Each group just does it their own way!

By Whose Authority? The problem with this “you do it your way and I will do it mine” type of thinking is that we DO have a standard in religious matters. That standard is the New Testament! The authority of Jesus Christ contained in the New Testament is what should govern us in matters of religion. Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

By Whose Authority? To do things in the “name of the Lord Jesus” means He has given us authority to do them. Saying we are doing things in “His name” doesn’t make it so. Mt 7:21 ¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Lord: Greek word Kurios: supreme in authority 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

By Whose Authority? Mt 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Although these claimed Christ as their master and performed many works in what they said was the “name of Christ”, Jesus called them “workers of iniquity”. Why did Jesus would call them “workers of iniquity”? Because the things they did were not truly in “His name” or by his authority. They had been deceived!

By Whose Authority? The point I am trying to make here is this. We need authority from the New Testament for all we do in religion. Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…. We are not going to look at all of the different church governments in religion today. Instead we will simply look at what the New Testament gives the Authority for. The best defense against being led away into error is to know what the Truth is.

Elders What does the Bible say about the government or leadership of the local congregation? One of the first things we learn about God’s plan for the structure of the local congregation is that it has qualified Elders.

Elders When Paul and Barnabas revisited the congregations they founded on their first missionary journey they appointed elders. Ac 14:23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Elders We see two points that are mentioned here that need to be noted. Elders: They appointed more than one elder in each church Every Church: The elders that were appointed in every church not elders over many churches We see both of these points brought out in other parts of the New Testament. In every case where the Elders of a congregation are mentioned it is always plural never singular.

Elders The Church in Jerusalem had Elders plural. Ac 15:4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. The Church at Ephesus had Elders plural Ac 20:17 ¶ From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. James encourages those who are sick to call for the Elders to pray for them.

Elders Jas 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. From these few verses we see that the New Testament authorizes a plurality of Elders. Never do we find a congregation having one Elder If a congregation has only one Elder it is getting its authority for this from somewhere besides the scriptures.

Elders, Bishops, Pastors & Shepherds Just so we have a clear understanding of who we are talking about when we use the word Elder lets look at some other names they are called by. Bishop: Paul while giving Titus the qualifications of Elders also calls them Bishops. Tit 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,

Elders, Bishops, Pastors & Shepherds Pastor or Shepherd: a name we hear so often today in the religious world is Pastor. This word is found only once in the KJV of the New Testament Eph 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, It comes from the Greek word “Poimen” which means shepherd and in every other use of this word in the New Testament it is translated “Shepherd”

Elders, Bishops, Pastors & Shepherds Since this is the case then Pastor and Shepherd describe the same office. The office of an Elder. 1Pe 5:1 ¶ The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 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; Peter tells the elders to do the work of a shepherd.

Elders, Bishops, Pastors & Shepherds The NKJV translates it “Shepherd the flock of God” We have determined so far: We must have Authority from the scriptures for what we do in religion. Each congregation had more than one Elder. An Elder, Bishop, Pastor and Shepherd are all names for the same office Therefore we can conclude any congregation with only one Elder, Bishop, Pastor or Shepherd is not doing all things in the “name of Christ”

Elders, Bishops, Pastors & Shepherds There are qualifications for this office. Tit 1:5 ¶ For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you-- 6 ¶ if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,

Elders, Bishops, Pastors & Shepherds Tit 1:8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober- minded, just, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. A man who does not meet these qualifications simply cannot serve in the office of an elder and be pleasing to God

Congregations Were Independent Each congregation was independent of another The authority of the leaders or Elders of a congregation was limited to the group they were a part of. 1Pe 5:2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; We don’t have any example of one congregation exercising authority over another.

What We Don’t Find in the Scriptures As a matter of fact we have no example of local congregations having any coordinated joint efforts of any kind. We see no denominational organizations of any kind. We see no organization of the Church beyond the level of the local congregation. We see no Church headquarters. We see no Church conventions.

What We Don’t Find in the Scriptures Since these things are not found in the scriptures can we truthfully say they are being done in the “name of the Lord”? Or can we say they are being done by faith? Ro 14:23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin. The only way they can be done by faith is for them to be contained in the Word of God!

What We Don’t Find in the Scriptures Ro 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Setting up man made governments for the Church that we have no authority for in the scriptures is wrong on a few different levels. They cannot be done in the name of the Lord They cannot be done by faith They are an addition to the perfect law of liberty

What We Don’t Find in the Scriptures Re 22:18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. With such warnings how could we dare chance adding mans schemes to the Word of God!

Conclusion To know how serious God is about doing things His way instead of ours all we need to do is look at all of those Old Testament Examples. Cain tried it his way. King Saul tried it his way. Jeroboam tried it his way. King Uzziah tried it his way. Do we really think we can get away with doing it ours?

Conclusion God has laid out his plan for the leadership of the local congregation in the scriptures. A plurality of Elders over one local congregation Anything other than this originates from man not God! Man’s thoughts and ideas just aren’t going to cut it with God.

Conclusion When we interject mans ideas for the government of the Church then we fall into the same trap as the scribes and pharisees. Mt 15:7 "Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 8 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” Lets make sure of our soul’s salvation by staying with the authority of Christ in all we do in Religion!