In every major company across the world, there is a chain of command. You have the owner, the CEO, the upper managers, the middle managers, and then the front line workers. Some companies have much more intricate chains of commands, and others have little to no order in their leadership. You can easily distinguish which companies do well and which companies don’t based off of the performance, organization, and quality of their leadership team.
The church really is no different. There is an owner - Jesus Christ. There are the “CEO’s” - the Elders, or Shepherds. There are the “managers” - the Deacons. There are the front-line workers - the Members. I am not trying to devalue the embers of a local congregation by calling them the “front line workers.” In fact, they are often the ones who do all the work and get little to no credit.
There is a purpose in this discussion, however. Many churches have gotten away from the biblical pattern of leadership roles. There have been changes in the order of the chain of command that God ordained. There have been perversions to the standards and expectations that God put in place for the people who are qualified to fulfill such roles. There has been no concern given for the wisdom of God and the way He planned for His church to be lead. In many cases, the reason could be chalked up to ignorance. Most folks really don’t know that God had a plan for the leadership of His church, and if they did know that, they certainly don’t know what all was involved. So let’s discuss it together.
1. Elders
Before we can gain an understanding of the church’s leadership we must first gain an understanding of how the church is organized. The New Testament refers both to “the church” (Colossians 1:24) and also to “the churches” (Romans 16:16). This is not a reference to many denominations that make up one universal church (1Corinthians 1:10-13), but rather to the many congregations that all teach and practice the doctrine of the New Testament (1Corinthians 4:14-17), and which are all part of the one church that Christ established. The New Testament further teaches that these local congregations of the New Testament church should each be governed according to the direct authority of the New Testament itself, and that each congregation should appoint qualified and experienced Christian men to make sure that the congregation is following accurately the teachings Christ. Paul gave to Timothy and Titus each a list of the qualifications for elders. Notice, in the side-by-side comparison below, that Paul did not give two different lists, but the same list to both men. It should therefore be understood that this list of qualifications are applied to the elders in every established congregation of the Lord’s church.
These qualified men are referred to by a number of descriptive terms and phrases. They are referred to as elders (Greek: presbuteros, also translated presbyter - Acts 14:23; 1Timothy 4:14; Titus 1:5), overseers (Greek: episkopos, also translated bishop - 1Timothy 3:1-2; Titus 1:7), and shepherds (Greek: poimen, also translated pastor - Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11; 1Peter 5:2). These men are further defined as, “those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord.” (1Thessalonians 5:12), as those who “watch out for your souls.” (Hebrews 13:17), and as those who stop the mouths of those “who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not for the sake of dishonest gain.” (Titus 1:10-11).
The terms elders or presbyters, overseers or bishops, shepherds or pastors are used interchangeably to refer to the same group of men in the local congregations. These are not titles but rather terms describing these men and the work they do. The word elder, for example, denotes someone who is older. No specific age limit is given, but these men must be old enough to meet the specific qualifications laid out for them. Since these terms are specific and apply to this certain group of men it is improper to misuse them. The word pastor, for example is frequently misused and applied to the local ministers of churches. The word bishop is also misapplied in the sense that there is often one chief or archbishop over several other bishops in several churches. It is important to understand that these are not biblical applications.
As we noticed earlier, when Paul gave the list of qualifications to Timothy (1Timothy 3:1-8), he described the office to which he was referring as the office of a bishop (v.1). When he gave the same list of qualifications to Titus (Titus 1:5-9) he described the same office or group of men, as elders or bishops (vv.5, 7). On one occasion when Paul was in the city of Miletus, he called for the elders from Ephesus to come there and meet with him (Acts 20:17). Among the many things that Paul said to these men was this admonishment, “Take heed to yourselves and to 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.” (Acts 20:28). In these verses we see a group of men from the church in Ephesus, whom Paul referred to as the elders, being instructed to oversee (or bishop) and shepherd (or pastor) that congregation of the church of God. The apostle Peter also wrote a passage where he used all three of the terms and applied them to the elders. Peter wrote, “The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; not as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.” (1Peter 5:1-4). Here again we have Biblical reference to the elders being instructed to shepherd and oversee the flock that is among them. We also see that Peter refers to himself as a fellow elder. Peter was able to refer to himself as an elder in the official sense because he obviously met the qualifications and had been appointed to that office by the church most likely in Jerusalem. Timothy and Titus and Paul, on the other hand, were mentioned many times as localized gospel preachers/evangelists and yet they are never referred to as pastors, bishops or elders.
It is God’s intention that every congregation of the church of Christ should appoint qualified elders to oversee and shepherd the church. To further support this understanding we are given, in the New Testament, numerous examples of established congregations that had appointed elders. We know, for example that the church in Jerusalem had appointed elders (Acts 11:30; 15:2; 21:15-18). We know also that the church in Ephesus had appointed elders (Acts 20:17; 1Timothy 3:1-8; 5:1, 17, 19). Paul instructed Titus, whom he had left on the island of Crete, to appoint elders in every city (Titus 1:5). We know also that there were elders in Thessalonica (1Thessalonians 5:12-13), and in Philippi (Philippians 1:1). We know that it was the consistent practice of Paul to appoint elders in every church that he had helped to establish (Acts 14:23). So also, when Peter wrote to the Christians who had been scattered by persecution, whom he referred to as the “pilgrims of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,” he included a special encouragement to the elders among them (1Peter 5:1-4).
It is God’s clear intention that there should be more than one elder in each congregation. We know that the church in Jerusalem had a plurality of elders overseeing the work of the church there (Acts 15:2, 6), as did also the church in Philippi (Philippians 1:1), and Thessalonica (1Thessalonians 5:12), and Ephesus (Acts 20:17) and so on. We know that Paul commanded Titus to appoint elders (plural) in every city (Titus 1:5), and Paul and Barnabas appointed elders (plural) in every church (Acts 14:23).
2. Deacons
What are “deacons?” The English word “deacon” is found only three times in the King James, New King James, and American Standard Versions. The Greek word is “diakonos,” which means “servant,” or “minister.” “Diakonos” is found thirty times in the Greek New Testament. Twenty times it is translated “minister.” Seven times it is translated “servant.” Three times it is transliterated (the Greek word is made into an English word) as “deacon” (Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:8,12). It is transliterated in these three cases because the context clearly shows a special class of servants is being considered. A servant is one under the authority of others (Matt. 8:5-10). One who humbly serves is great in Godʼs eyes (Matt. 20:20-28).
What are the qualifications for deacons? There are nine specific qualifications found in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. A deacon must be “reverent” (grave in KJV); he fears God and respects His Word. A deacon must not be “double-tongued.” That means he is consistent in his speech. He is not a gossiper or liar (Col. 3:9; Rev. 21:8). A deacon must not be “given to much wine.” “Wine” is generic in the Bible and can refer to that which is fermented or that which is unfermented. The adverb “much” indicates it is forbidding over-indulgence; therefore gluttony. A deacon must not be “greedy for money.” He must not be covetous (Luke 12:15). He is not one who lives for the purpose of making money. A deacon must “hold the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.” The “mystery of the faith” is the Gospel (Eph. 3:8-12). He is a student of Godʼs Word and lives by it. Deacons “must first be tested and found blameless.” A new convert should not be chosen as a deacon. Deacons must be mature, faithful Christians. A deacon must be the “husband of one wife.”He must be a man; therefore women cannot be deacons. He must be a married man. He must not be a polygamist. He must not be unscripturally divorced and remarried. Deacons must “rule their children and their own houses well.” He must have a good family life. His wife and children will be a credit to his leadership. A deaconʼs wife must also meet certain qualifications. “Likewise their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things” (1 Tim. 3:11).
What do deacons do? There are common misconceptions of the work of deacons.
1. “The church is overseen by elders and deacons.” Elders are the overseers; deacons are servants. A deacon is not a “junior” elder, nor is he necessarily going to be “promoted” to the eldership. Any authority that a deacon has is given by the elders.
2. “A church can have deacons without elders.” There is no NT example of this; if the men in Acts 6 were deacons, the apostles were the overseers until elders were appointed (Acts 11:30). If deacons are appointed without elders, they will soon become “elders” without being qualified.
3. “Elders are only over the spiritual work of the church and deacons are over the physical work.” Only the elders are overseers and they oversee the entire work of the church. Antioch sent a contribution for famine relief to Jerusalem; it was delivered to the elders (Acts 11:29,30). It is difficult to separate the spiritual and physical in the work of the church for the physical is tied to the spiritual. A deaconʼs work is that which is assigned to him by the elders.
Deacons are special servants of the church who must meet God-given qualifications, but all Christians are servants.
3. But…you didn’t say anything about women?
It is important for us to consider what the argument actually is among people today. Folks want to know why women can’t lead in worship (I.e. preach, lead singing, lead prayers), and they want to know why women can’t serve in positions of leadership (I.e. elders, deacons, preachers). While I think that there are great women of faith that could deliver a powerful message that would impact hundreds of lives, and I know that there are women who could lead with passion and vision, I also know that there is Biblical precedence for men to serve in leadership positions and in the public worship.
Most people today will base the foundation of their argument on the fact that the whole “women’s roles” issue was a cultural thing, and that things have changed with the times. Everyone is vying for equality. While I am an advocate of equality, there are some things that just don’t change. The way I see it is this… things in the Bible are either tied to culture, or creation. There really isn’t any wiggle room there. For example, let’s consider a passage of the Bible most often associated with the subject. The text reads, “Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve” (1 Timothy 2:9-13).
Now, put that Scripture aside for one moment and consider a few things with me. Who was created first? Adam, or Eve? If you said Eve…we need to talk! Adam was created first on purpose, so that from the dawn of creation it would be known that it was the woman who would be in submission to the leadership of man and not roles reversed. Fast forward to the days of the temple in the Old Testament. Who were the ones who held priestly offices in the worship of the tabernacle and temple? Was it men, or was it women? If you said women…we need to talk. It was the men who held the positions of leadership in the worship assembly. When you reach the New Testament, obviously the message is still the same. Men are to be in positions of leadership in the church and in the worship of the church. Why would God mysteriously change that today? Some things in the Bible do change with culture, yes. This thing doesn’t though. It is tied to creation. Look at 1 Timothy 2:13. It literally references the order of creation. There is no way around it. God intended for men be leaders.
Does this mean that women are only limited to the kids and the kitchen? Absolutely not! There are huge roles that women play in accomplishing the will of the Father. They teach their children (2 Tim. 1:5), they teach young women (Titus 2:3-5), and they assist in the furthering of God’s kingdom (Acts 18:2-3). I wouldn’t be a Christian today if it were not for my mom. The problem is not with women being active in service and participation. The problem is when her actions and service take the authority away from the man, especially in the arena of public assembly and corporate worship. It is important to understand that.
Ample evidence is given in Scripture to defend the truth of God’s idea for leadership. Be willing to read, study, and grow so you will be ready to defend!
Sources:
Biblical Leadership in the Church of Christ by David Banks
Identifying the church of the New Testament by Wayne Jackson
Organization of the church by Michael S. Cole
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