Church Government, Part 4

February, 2007

by: Jack Hughes

• The Church and Church Issues

We come to our last form of church government in this Calvary Review. We have examined Episcopalian, Congregational, and Presbyterian forms of church government so far. Now we want to consider what might be called “local church elder rule.” This is not an official title, but it works. In our last Calvary Review it was pointed out that not all elder rule churches have a Presbyterian form of government. There are in fact many elder rule churches that are independent or which belong to a denomination which have elders who rule but which do not have presbyteries, synods, or general assemblies. Usually they only have one class or kind of elder. It is this form of church government that we wish to examine in this Calvary Review.

History of Elder Rule Church Government

After the Apostles died the church split into many denominations, associations, and even cults. Why does this happen? In short it is the truth or in some cases the lack of truth which causes division. Let’s consider an example. It is 150 AD. The apostles are all dead. The New Testament is being compiled and there are very few commentaries or resources which help believers interpret the Scriptures. One church leader believes from his study of the Scriptures that people should be baptized or submersed three times, once for the Father, once for the Son, and once for the Holy Spirit. He believes this because Jesus said in Mt. 28:19 to baptize His disciples in the name of the “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” Others understand the text to mean that people are to be submersed once in the single name of the triune God, who is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each group is very convinced their view is the correct view and so a division occurs between the triple dippers and the single dippers.

While the mode of baptism is not essential to salvation, there are no non-essential doctrines in the Bible. Elders are told to refute those who contradict. Well the differences in doctrine have made it difficult to function together so there is a split over the correct mode of baptism. Granted, both views can’t be true, but both think their view is true. The truth does this. It divides people. It creates antithesis. As soon as you say you believe a certain truth you are also declaring you do not believe any other view that contradicts it. Hence through the years the church has split over and over again as each group has sought to align itself with what they perceive is true and right. Church government is no exception.

Early on some wanted to pattern the church after the Jewish synagogue. As the church grew and spread, some invented the Episcopalian form of government merging some biblical concepts with a lot of worldly concepts. Later came Congregationalism with its many forms and Presbyterianism which moved closer to the truth. Some groups taught that the preacher was the only elder, everyone else is a deacon. Other churches disregarded eldership all together and decided to have deacons only. Yet the deacons often functioned as elders. They became elders with the title of deacon and often did the task of both elders and deacons. Others added new categories such as trustees, or advisory councils, or leadership boards. Some imported terms and ideas from the business world and tried to mix them in with what the Bible teaches. Even among churches that have elders, often times they speak of “The Minister” as the man who preaches. The guy in the pulpit is often treated as the CEO of the church and referred to as “the Senior Pastor.” He calls the shots as the leader over leaders. Practical reasons are often adopted for doing this. It is easier to have unity if everyone submits to one person.

However, we must not forget that Christ is the head of the church and the Word of God is sufficient to tell us how to practice church government. We err when we try to mix the world’s wisdom with God’s, and treat God’s Word as if it is defective and God himself was unable to figure out how His church was to function. These thoughts are blasphemous and impugn the character and nature of God who is perfect in knowledge and wisdom. Yet men have always tried to help God out by adding things to the Bible, often with good intentions, but always leading to problems and stealing glory from God.

Consider that the Bible knows nothing of kings ruling the church, or popes, or cardinals, or arch bishops ruling over multiple local bodies of believers. The Bible says nothing of presbyteries, synods, or general assemblies. The Bible knows nothing of deacons ruling the church, or trustees, or elder “boards.” The Bible does not support the ideas of “Senior Pastor,” “Executive Pastor,” “Associate Pastor,” “Reverend,” or the concept that the guy who preaches is “The Minister” or “The Pastor.” Some of these statements may be shocking to you but please search the Scriptures for yourself and you will discover that churches have imported a lot of worldly terms and concepts into the church which do not belong there.

In most cases the Scriptures are not thoroughly studied and instead people familiar with the world suggest that certain titles or ideas be practiced because they have had success with these in their work place. This is usually not done with any evil intent, nevertheless the result is that God’s Word is not obeyed. Even though many churches are able to function quite nicely by adding or subtracting from the Scriptures it always results in God not receiving the glory He deserves.

So what is the biblical, God-glorifying method of church government? I would like to think it is the form of government that we practice at Calvary Bible Church, but I am not under the delusion that we have a perfect form of church government, because we do not. It is still common for people to refer to me as “the Senior Pastor” though I never refer to myself by that title and the Scriptures give no support to it. Yet the elders of Calvary Bible Church have labored to let God’s Word tell us how to oversee Christ’s church. Granted, worldly terms, worldly titles, and worldly practices still remain, but we are committed to being as biblical as possible.

Biblical Support for Elder Rule Church Government

As stated in the previous Calvary Review where we discussed the Presbyterian form of church government, the concept of elders ruling the church is easy to find in Scripture. In fact there are three common terms used interchangeably to describe elders and their function. The first term is elder which refers not to age so much as to spiritual maturity. Often the two go together as Christians should grow in godliness and wisdom as they mature in the Lord. However there are many older believers who are immature in their walk with the Lord and are not elders in a spiritual sense.

The second term is overseer. The term overseer describes one who looks out over or gives oversight. Elders are also called overseers because they are to look out over or look after the people and affairs of the local church.

The third term is pastor or shepherd. This term implies feeding, protection, care and oversight. Just as a shepherd watches over his sheep to make sure they are safe, healthy, and well cared for, so the elder is to do the same for those in the local church.

In Acts 20:17 we learn that Paul sent for the Ephesian elders and in vs. 28 says to them, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” Here Paul is speaking to the elders and tells them that God has made them overseers to shepherd or pastor the church of God. All three terms speak of the same group of men.

Peter, in I Pet. 5:1-2, is addressing elders and says, “Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 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.” Again, we see elders being exhorted to “shepherd the flock” and “give oversight.” Here again the concepts of elder, shepherd and overseer are all describing the same group of men.

We see the same thing when Paul gives the qualifications of elder in I Tim. 3:1-7 and Tit. 1:5-9. In I Tim. 3:1-2 Paul refers to elders as overseers. In Tit. 1:5-9 he refers to them as elders and overseers. In the context of both books the tasks of shepherding are explained in detail. So it is beyond dispute that elder, shepherd or pastor, and overseer all describe one and the same office. It is not just the man in the pulpit who is “The Pastor” but all elders are to be pastors and overseers.

The function of elder is described in many ways e.g., “rule,” “manage,” or “give oversight.” The latter term we have just discussed. When Paul is listing the qualifications for elder he says in I Tim. 3:5, “if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?” The word “manage” is the same word translated “rule” in I Tim. 5:17. In I Tim. 5:17 Paul says, “The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.” Here elders are described as “ruling.” The same term is used in Rom. 12:8 where the NASB translates it “lead.” Paul encourages leaders saying that “he who leads,” or rules, is to do so “with diligence.”

Some have a problem with the idea that there are other believers in the body of Christ that they have to submit to, yet this is what the Word of God teaches. Paul describes several church leaders in I Cor. 16:15 and then says in vs. 16, “that you also be in subjection to such men and to everyone who helps in the work and labors.” The author of Hebrews exhorts in Heb. 13:17 saying, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.” Peter speaking to young men in I Pet. 5:5 says, “You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders.”

It is also interesting to note that when the term elder is used in relation to the leaders of the local church it is always plural in form (e.g. I Tim. 5:17; Tit. 1:5; James 5:14; I Pet. 5:1, 5). This means it is God’s will that every local church be governed by multiple elders who all have equal say and authority. Paul tells Titus in Tit. 1:5 to appoint “elders” in every city so that the local churches in those cities could have a plurality of leaders.

The church is to be led, managed, ruled, or overseen by godly, mature, experienced men (not women) who meet the qualification for elder (must be the husband of one wife) and who have been appointed to that office. There is only one class or kind of elder. There are no super elders, senior elders, or associate elders and no distinction between ruling and teaching elders. The only distinction is between those who are paid and not paid (I Tim. 5:17), but being paid doesn’t make one more powerful or give one more authority, it merely frees an elder up to labor exclusively in the work of the ministry.

Now you might wonder how a group of men who all have to meet the same qualifications and have the same authority function together, make discussions, and rule, manage, and oversee the church. In our next Calvary Review we will discuss how the elders of Calvary Bible Church attempt to do this.