ELDERSHIP
FIGUREHEADS OR LEADERS?
Paul left Titus in Crete in order for him to ordain elders in every city (Titus 1:5). Things would be wanting until such time that Titus could carry out this task. There is therefore something that elders provide in terms of leadership that is needed for every local work. If congregations do not have men who are presently qualified, then effort needs to be made to get men ready. This would of necessity require blocks of time to get men prepared. A church that continues to ignore this principle will find itself over the years without the things that are “wanting”.
It might be easy for those who wish to corrupt God’s order by saying that an eldership rules over the entire city. God prevents us from making such a mistake. Luke tells us about the events of the first organized efforts to spread the gospel of Christ westward toward Rome. Paul had been a victim of stoning and had recovered and he and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch. Here is what they did. They confirmed the souls of the disciples and ordained elders in every church (Acts 14:19-23). When Paul wanted Titus to put the things in order that were wanting it was the act then of ordaining elders in every church.
When Christ ascended back to heaven following His resurrection, He gave gifts to men (Ephesians 4:8). He gave or set men in the church who were pastors (verse 11). When Paul met with the elders from Ephesus in Miletus, he commanded them to take care of the flock over the which the Holy Spirit had made them overseers (Acts 20:28). The pastor then that deals with the idea of tending or taking care of sheep, is a reference to this position of men who took care of the flock of God. God used the same language to say that the pastors (elders, overseers, bishops) are to feed the flock of God (I Peter 5:2). Elders, then, were to be over the flock in one locality and not have the authority to dictate to another congregation what they should do.
This operation was not designed to continue on in the sense of God setting them up in the local works. The gifts given by the Lord (Ephesians 4:8) would cease once the Word of God became a finished product (I Corinthians 13:8-10). How then would the church continue once the gifts ceased? Paul in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1 gives us qualifications for the office of elders. We are not given specific instructions as to how men are placed into the office, we are, however, given truths by which we determine the kind of men who will take care of the flock of God. God meant for this group of men, always in plurality, to see to the direction of the body of Christ.
If things are “wanting” it is a important clue for us to understand how things should be. It is either the case that every man does what is right in his own eyes or else the elders are in charge to direct the body of Christ (Judges 17:6; 21:25). When there was confusion in the worship of the congregation in Corinth, Paul ordered that all things must be done decently and in order (I Corinthians 14:40). Who would decide what is decent and in order? Would each member of the congregation have a “voice” to decide what they wanted in worship? Go back to verse 26 and see how wrong it was for each person to decide what they wanted. Elders are to provide leadership in public worship.
When a man desires to be an elder, he desires a good work (I Timothy 3:1). A work implies leadership. It is not only in terms of public worship but the work also concerns itself with watching for the souls under their charge (Hebrews 13:17). My life then is something that the elders are to watch for and take note of in my daily conduct. These men are to be leaders not only in arranging public worship but also in caring for the conduct of the souls of their flock. What helps them to stay focused is in realizing it is not in reality their flock but rather the heritage of God (I Peter 5:3). They are but servants of God in tending, caring and protecting that flock.
They cannot be dismayed or afraid to tend to the spiritual needs of those under their charge. When a Christian becomes overtaken in a fault, he needs to be restored (Galatians 6:1). If such a one fails to be disciplined by the actions of loving brethren, he must then be withdrawn from (II Thessalonians 3:6). Leaders of God’s flock must be willing to take the necessary actions to preserve and save any of its wayward members. Leadership does not shine brightly if elders ignore the evil and hope that it will go away.
(PART II NEXT WEEK).