The role of the pastor
Three words are used to refer to the office of the pastor in the New Testament. They are all three used in one passage found in 1 Peter 5:1–3 (NASB)1 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,2 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;3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.
The role of the undershepherd is described with three words:
• Elders (Gk. presbuteros) is a term that suggests the respect and esteem due a pastor by virtue of his divinely appointed office (v. 1);
• Shepherd (Gk. poimainÅ), used as a verb in the text, describes a pastor’s spiritual ministries—to feed, protect, guide, and pray for the flock of God (v. 2);
• Overseers (Gk. episkopos) emphasizes administrative responsibilities (v. 2).
These terms are synonymous; yet each has a distinctive nuance of meaning in describing the pastoral office.
Paul told the elders in Acts 20:28 (NASB)
28 “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.
Speaking to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:2 (NASB) he said,
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with great patience and instruction.
Explaining the gift of God to the Church at Ephesus Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:11–12 (NASB)
11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
These verses concerning the role of the pastor clearly delineate the responsibility for church leadership does not lie with the office of deacons or with committees, but with the Pastor who has been placed in the local church by the Holy Spirit. The three words used describe the distinctive nuances of the same office—that of a man called by God to equip the saints for the work of ministry.
In response the congregants are to Hebrews 13:17 (NASB)
17 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.
The shepherd of the sheep is not led by the sheep, but leads the sheep according to the directions of the owner of the sheep. In too many churches today the sheep lead the shepherd and do not allow him to fulfill the calling which God has made on his life.
I realize that this post does not address the issue of a pastor abusing the office and how to deal with that situation. That will be a later post.
Tommy
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Biblical Church Polity
The Pattern of the Early Church
The description of the early church in Acts 2:42-47 gives a basic outline of what God intends the church to be:
42 And they [the early church] continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
The church is made up of people called by God to be His children. The Lord intended for there to be a visible church for a testimony to the world. An organization’s structure is determined by its purpose. For example each position on the football team has a particular job. It is structured to meet the needs of the purpose of the team—offensively to score, defensively to keep the other team from scoring.
The church has basically a two-fold purpose that is stated in many different ways by different churches. Purpose statements usually include something along these lines, “To glorify God by knowing Him and making Him known.” A more expanded version would be “to make disciples by growing in our relationship to God and teaching others in keeping with Bible instruction.” Whatever the purpose of the church, the organizational structure should be to undergird and facilitate that purpose.
Acts 2:42 delineates the basic ingredients of church life in the first church. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. The only other thing you can add to that was preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. Everywhere they went as they had opportunity they provided witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. As a result “the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (v. 47).
Don’t think that evangelism wasn’t important to the early church because it was not delineated. It was a “given” that each would person would share his/her faith. The purpose of the church was plainly given by Christ in what is known as “The Great Commission” (Matthew 28:18-20). Unfortunately in many churches it is “The Great Omission.”
The basic functions are:
Bible Study
Fellowship
Prayer
Preaching
Witnessing
We find that the first expansion of the church organization took place in response to a particular need in the church. Most are familiar with the passage in Acts 6. The need arose because the task of ministry was too great for the Apostles. Church organizational growth should be in response to the needs of ministry. Often these needs are not perceived early, resulting in conflict which will always focus attention on the need.
The twelve apostles led the early church until needs demanded the organizational structure develop and elders and deacons were trained to lead and serve. One must be careful that the church not become bureaucratic rather than functioning as a body with each member fulfilling a particular task or role. Often the pitfall of organization is that the church operates like the government rather than as a body. What are the purposes of committees and councils and are they the most efficient way to accomplish the work God has given the church to do? Are they good stewardship of His resources?
Questions that are essential for the church to ask are:
1. What is the basic task of the church?
2. Is the leadership biblical?
3. Is the church organized to efficiently carry out that task in a biblical, efficient way that is good stewardship of God’s resources?
The description of the early church in Acts 2:42-47 gives a basic outline of what God intends the church to be:
42 And they [the early church] continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
The church is made up of people called by God to be His children. The Lord intended for there to be a visible church for a testimony to the world. An organization’s structure is determined by its purpose. For example each position on the football team has a particular job. It is structured to meet the needs of the purpose of the team—offensively to score, defensively to keep the other team from scoring.
The church has basically a two-fold purpose that is stated in many different ways by different churches. Purpose statements usually include something along these lines, “To glorify God by knowing Him and making Him known.” A more expanded version would be “to make disciples by growing in our relationship to God and teaching others in keeping with Bible instruction.” Whatever the purpose of the church, the organizational structure should be to undergird and facilitate that purpose.
Acts 2:42 delineates the basic ingredients of church life in the first church. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. The only other thing you can add to that was preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. Everywhere they went as they had opportunity they provided witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. As a result “the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (v. 47).
Don’t think that evangelism wasn’t important to the early church because it was not delineated. It was a “given” that each would person would share his/her faith. The purpose of the church was plainly given by Christ in what is known as “The Great Commission” (Matthew 28:18-20). Unfortunately in many churches it is “The Great Omission.”
The basic functions are:
Bible Study
Fellowship
Prayer
Preaching
Witnessing
We find that the first expansion of the church organization took place in response to a particular need in the church. Most are familiar with the passage in Acts 6. The need arose because the task of ministry was too great for the Apostles. Church organizational growth should be in response to the needs of ministry. Often these needs are not perceived early, resulting in conflict which will always focus attention on the need.
The twelve apostles led the early church until needs demanded the organizational structure develop and elders and deacons were trained to lead and serve. One must be careful that the church not become bureaucratic rather than functioning as a body with each member fulfilling a particular task or role. Often the pitfall of organization is that the church operates like the government rather than as a body. What are the purposes of committees and councils and are they the most efficient way to accomplish the work God has given the church to do? Are they good stewardship of His resources?
Questions that are essential for the church to ask are:
1. What is the basic task of the church?
2. Is the leadership biblical?
3. Is the church organized to efficiently carry out that task in a biblical, efficient way that is good stewardship of God’s resources?
Monday, April 18, 2011
BIBLICAL CHURCH POLITY
The fundamentals
No body is complete without a head. There is an old saying, “Anything with no head is dead, and anything with more than one head is a freak.” The Bible plainly teaches that there is structure to all relationships. The ultimate head in all relationships whether social or governmental is God. He is the one who places all heads of government in office (Romans 13:1) and He is the one who is to be the head of the family (Ephesians 5:22-26). Ultimately man must give account to God for all of his activities.
Even though Jesus and God are equal, the Scripture teaches that Christ submits to the authority of the Father. Various passages give account of Christ’s submission to the Father. One of the references is 1 Corinthians 11:3
3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
The head of the church is the Lord Jesus Christ. In Ephesians Paul says, Ephesians 4:15-16 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. Although we are to do everything we can in the church, it is the power of Christ that makes everything everlasting work.
No body is complete without a head. There is an old saying, “Anything with no head is dead, and anything with more than one head is a freak.” The Bible plainly teaches that there is structure to all relationships. The ultimate head in all relationships whether social or governmental is God. He is the one who places all heads of government in office (Romans 13:1) and He is the one who is to be the head of the family (Ephesians 5:22-26). Ultimately man must give account to God for all of his activities.
Even though Jesus and God are equal, the Scripture teaches that Christ submits to the authority of the Father. Various passages give account of Christ’s submission to the Father. One of the references is 1 Corinthians 11:3
3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
The head of the church is the Lord Jesus Christ. In Ephesians Paul says, Ephesians 4:15-16 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. Although we are to do everything we can in the church, it is the power of Christ that makes everything everlasting work.
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