Elders; Primary or Plurality

Elders; Primary or Plurality

                  Throughout church history, there have traditionally been two principal positions regarding the structure of leadership in the local church.  These two approaches are:  (1) Plurality of elders, and (2) Unitary Leadership.  I am convinced that a decision-making plurality of elders best harmonizes with Scripture, as articulated in both the Old and New Testaments.  Therefore, I reject the unitary model or structure of church government.  Throughout the Old Testament, leadership by a council of elders is the primary governmental structure for the nation of Israel (Ex 3:16; Ezra 10:8).  The New Testament, moreover, records that Paul the Apostle, a Jew--thoroughly immersed in the OT and Jewish culture--appointed a plurality of elders to guide newly founded churches:  “And when they had ordained them elders in every church . . .” (Acts 14:23).

              Plurality, or shared leadership, is not merely a modern concept.  It is significant that our Lord Jesus Christ did not appoint “one” man to lead His church; rather, He personally appointed and trained twelve men—a plurality, or council, of leadership.  Thus, we see it is the head of the church, Jesus Christ, who has established precedence for a plurality of leadership.  Paul the Apostle, being commissioned by Christ Himself, commanded Titus to, “ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee” (Titus 1:5).  Further, Paul summoned the elders (plural) at Ephesus for his farewell exhortation, “. . . and called the elders of the church . . .” (Acts 20:17-18).  The Apostle Peter spoke much regarding the responsibility for shepherding the flock, suggesting in particular that this critical task belongs to elders from among the local congregation.  Peter said, “The elders which are among you . . . Feed the flock of God which is among you . . .” (1 Peter 5:1-2).  The Apostle James naturally assumes that there will be elders (plural) available to pray for the sick in each church; he proclaims, “Is any sick among you?  Let him call for the elders of the church . . .” (James 5:14).

                  Though the Scripture seems very clearly to advocate a plurality of leadership, the topic remains as deeply contested today as it has been throughout the history of the church.  Some argue that the New Testament provides a single elder structure for church government and rejects a plurality of leadership.  John Hammett explains, “Perhaps the classic case for the single pastor is that given by A. H Strong in his influential theology text.  Negatively, he begins by noting that there is no requirement for a plural eldership.”[1]    As Alexander Strauch writes, “By definition, the elder structure of government is a collective form of leadership in which each elder shares equally the position, authority, and responsibility of the office.”[2]

                  Theologically, the plurality of elders seems to fit the biblical pattern of Scripture.  Consider the doctrine of human depravity; it warns us not to entrust too much authority to a single man. There are others to consider that would be benefits for the local church; true biblical accountability, balancing and lightening the load, balancing people’s weaknesses, the dreadful realities of sin, etc.  James White “sees a plurality as advantageous in fostering maturity as elders learn from each other, in providing a check for the errors of any one man, and as helping in the exercise of church discipline.”[3] As we see biblically and theologically, there are advantages for the position of plurality of elders that preside over each local congregation.    

Tregg Istre                       

The Role of Women in Ministry

The Role of Women in Ministry

            There are explicit instructions that both define and limit women’s ministry throughout Scripture. In 1 Timothy 2:11-15, "[11 ] Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. [12 ] I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. [13 ] For Adam was formed first, then Eve; [14 ] and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. [15 ] Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control." Paul gives some direction regarding church practices when the church is assembled together. Specifically, three prohibitions are established: (1) women are to remain silent, (2) women are not permitted to publicly teach, and (3) women are not permitted to exercise authority over men in the church.

            Because the roles of pastor, elder and overseer all require teaching and exercising authority in the church, women are plainly disqualified from any role of authority. Paul also argues this case in 1 Cor 14:34-35, saying “[34] the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak . . .”

            Paul communicates the source for these prohibitions in 1Timothy 2:13-14, (1) being the order of creation and (2) being the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Paul supports his case with the laws of nature and creation. Paul’s argument is not that Adam was made first, but that Eve was formed out of him--was made out of one of his ribs.  Paul adds that woman was formed for man--for his service, help and comfort; and here lies the strength of the apostle's reason. The woman was made for the man, not the man for the women (1 Cor 11:9). The woman was deceived--not Adam, and Paul references this to support the case that women are not designed for leadership because they are more susceptible to deception.

            Paul continues in 1Timothy 2:15, “Yet she will be saved through childbearing.”  Here, Paul gives the main purpose of God’s design of women in creation is “childbearing.” Childbearing is to be the woman’s primary focus as the man and woman together work to take dominion for the glory of God (Genesis 2).

            Just as we have seen the restrictions and limitations upon women’s ministry in the word of God, we also find many encouragements for women to serve the Lord.

            In Titus 2:3-5, Paul gives an outline as to what women are to teach and where the context of this teaching should be done. Women are to teach what is good (vs3), and the drive of all teaching should be to prepare women to be keepers/workers in the home.  The ministry that should be carried out through the local church is older women teaching younger women how to love their husbands, to love and train their children, to be kind, pure, to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine, and submissive to their own husbands.

            Women are very important in the church.  Let us consider some of the ways in which women have been vehicles for God’s will: it was a woman that brought Jesus into the world, and many women assisted Jesus during His earthly ministry (Lk 8:3-2-3).  It was a woman who anointed Jesus for His burial prior to His death (Matt 26:6-13).  It was mostly women who stood at the cross (Matt 27:55-56), and it was women who first came to the empty tomb and first believed the resurrection and reported it to the Apostles (Matt 28:1-8).

            Any deviation from the biblical pattern outlined by Scripture will lead to apostasy and a total departure from the word of God.  Paul warns that if we depart from older women teaching younger women in the ministry then we will cause the unbelieving world, “to blaspheme or revile the word of God” (Titus 2:5).

            The authority of Scripture makes it very clear that women have a great opportunity to serve Christ in His Church, to strengthen the home, and influence society through raising children for the next generation. If we depart from the sufficiency of Scripture, from the laws of nature and from God’s creational design, then we will destroy the very structure that God has established.

     

Tregg Istre

Marks of the True Christian

Marks of the True Christian
 [9 ] Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. [10 ] Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. [11 ] Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. [12 ] Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. [13 ] Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
 [14 ] Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. [15 ] Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. [16 ] Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. [17 ] Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. [18 ] If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. [19 ] Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” [20 ] To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” [21 ] Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
(Romans 12:9-21 ESV)

NINE SHORT EXCERPTS FROM COTTON MATHER’S “A FATHER’S RESOLUTIONS.”

NINE SHORT EXCERPTS FROM COTTON MATHER’S “A FATHER’S RESOLUTIONS.”

1. At the birth of my children, I will resolve to do all I can that they may be the Lord's. I will now actually give them up by faith to God; entreating that each child may be a child of God the Father, a subject of God the Son, a temple of God the Spirit—and be rescued from the condition of a child of wrath, and be possessed and employed by the Lord as an everlasting instrument of His glory.
2. As soon as my children are capable of minding my admonitions, I will often, often admonish them, saying, "Child, God has sent His son to die, to save sinners from death and hell. You must not sin against Him. You must every day cry to God that He would be your Father, and your Saviour, and your Leader. You must renounce the service of Satan, you must not follow the vanities of this world, you must lead a life of serious religion.
3. Let me daily pray for my children with constancy, with fervency, with agony. Yea, by name let me mention each one of them every day before the Lord. I will importunately beg for all suitable blessings to be bestowed upon them: that God would give them grace, and give them glory, and withhold no good thing from them; that God would smile on their education, and give His good angels the charge over them, and keep them from evil, that it may not grieve them; that when their father and mother shall forsake them, the Lord may take them up. With importunity I will plead that promise on their behalf: "The Heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit unto them that ask Him." Oh! happy children, if by asking I may obtain the Holy Spirit for them!
4. I will early entertain the children with delightful stories out of the Bible. In the talk of the table, I will go through the Bible, when the olive-plants about my table are capable of being so watered. But I will always conclude the stories with some lessons of piety to be inferred from them.
5. I will single out some Scriptural sentences of the greatest importance; and some also that have special antidotes in them against the common errors and vices of children. They shall quickly get those golden sayings by heart, and be rewarded with silver or gold, or some good thing, when they do it. Such as,
   • Psalm 11:10—"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."
   • Matthew 16:26—"What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"
   • 1 Timothy 1:15—"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."
   • Matthew 6:6—"When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret."
   • Ephesians 4:25—"Putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour."
   • Romans 12:17, 19—"Recompense to no man evil for evil . . .. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves."
6. Jewish treatise tells us that among the Jews, when a child began to speak, the father was bound to teach him Deuteronomy 33:4—"Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob." Oh! let me early make my children acquainted with the Law which our blessed Jesus has commanded us! 'Tis the best inheritance I can give them.
7. I will cause my children to learn the Catechism. In catechizing them, I will break the answers into many lesser and proper questions; and by their answer to them, observe and quicken their understandings. I will bring every truth into some duty and practice, and expect them to confess it, and consent unto it, and resolve upon it. As we go on in our catechizing, they shall, when they are able, turn to the proofs and read them, and say to me what they prove and how. Then, I will take my times, to put nicer and harder questions to them; and improve the times of conversation with my family (which every man ordinarily has or may have) for conferences on matters of religion.
8. Restless will I be till I may be able to say of my children, "Behold, they pray!" I will therefore teach them to pray. But after they have learnt a form of prayer, I will press them to proceed unto points that are not in their form. I will charge them with all possible cogency to pray in secret; and often call upon them, "Child, I hope, you don't forget my charge to you, about secret prayer: your crime is very great if you do!"

Cotton Mather

A MISSION CHARGE FROM OUR DEAR BROTHER SPURGEON

"Lost! Lost! Lost! Better a whole world on fire than a soul lost! Better every star quenched and the skies a wreck than a single soul to be lost!

"If there be any one point in which the Christian church ought to keep its fervor at a white heat, it is concerning missions. If there be anything about which we cannot tolerate lukewarmness, it is the matter of sending the gospel to a dying world.

"If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for."