The Biblical Church
Excerpt from “The Master’s Plan for the Church” by John F. MacArthur Jr.
The church is a living community of people redeemed by Jesus Christ. No one is more visible to the watching world than those who are in leadership over the church. They are the ones the world will point to as examples of what Christians are. We’ve seen in recent years how a handful of highly visible but disqualified men can sully the reputation of the entire church. Who can say whether some of these people are even genuine believers? Satan commonly sows tares (false believers) among the wheat (true believers; Matt. 13:36–43). Therefore it is important to carefully evaluate someone’s life before he can be put in a position of Christian leadership.
The Elders
In the New Testament church leadership belonged collectively to a group of elders who were its leaders under the Spirit of God. One man was not responsible for doing everything, and that’s how it should be. The pastor is not the professional problem–solver who runs around with an ecclesiastical bag of tools, waiting for the next problem to repair or the next squeaky wheel to grease.
An elder is also referred to as a “bishop” in the New Testament. Elder emphasizes his title, and bishop, meaning “overseer,” refers to his duty. He oversees the flock. The New Testament describes it as a spiritual ministry that is concerned with two things: prayer and teaching God’s Word.
Decision–Making
The elders who rule in the local church are ultimately and primarily responsible to Christ—not to the congregation or some council. First Timothy 5:17 says, “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.” An elder is not necessarily involved in teaching doctrine; there are other capacities in the design of the Spirit. All elders, however, are responsible for making decisions after prayer and Bible study so that decisions can be made with the mind of Christ in the energy of the Spirit. Only then can they lead the church with positive effects for the entire congregation. Ruling as an elder is a high calling.
As previously stated, at Grace Church we are committed to the idea that when a decision is to be made among the elders, it needs to be made unanimously by men who have the mind of Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 2:16). It is made by common consent after prayer, the study of the Word, and sometimes after fasting. Then in a unified way they are able to deal with problems in the church.
Defending
Titus 1:9–11 says that an elder should be “holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to refute the opposers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.” The elders are to keep false teachers out.
Disciplining
The elders are to discipline Christians who fall into doctrinal error. Second Timothy 2:17–18 speaks of the destructive teaching of “Hymenaeus and Philetus, who, concerning the truth, have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.” The presence of heretics in the church is a serious problem that must be dealt with.First Timothy 1:20 records how Paul dealt with Hymenaeus and Alexander: “I have delivered [them] unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.” When a person teaches doctrinal error, he is put out of the fellowship until he is willing to abandon his error. Then God can begin to restore him.
Elders were ordained in every city where there was a church (Titus 1:5). They were chosen out of the congregation. A church is strongest, I’m convinced, when its own people rise to leadership. The elders who are chosen have been qualified by the Spirit of God and are prepared to serve in the local church.
The highest position of authority in the church belongs to elders, who rule under Christ as undershepherds (1 Pet. 5:2–4). Elders are responsible for teaching doctrine, administrating, disciplining, protecting the flock, praying for the flock, and studying the Word of God. They are answerable to Jesus Christ for their ministry.
Finding Elders
Acts 14:21–23 records the ordination of elders in the early church: “When [Paul and Barnabas] had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. And when they had ordained elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.”
How does God reveal to the church who the elders should be so that the church can ordain them? This passage suggests that prayer and fasting are part of that process. But in the end, the church must determine whom God desires to serve as leaders based on a set of biblical qualifications that are clearly delineated. Elders are not chosen on the basis of their knowledge of the business world, their financial ability, their prominence, or even their innate ability to be leaders. They are chosen because God has called and prepared them for the leadership of the church. The men whom God selects will meet the qualifications.
First Timothy 3 lists what is required of an elder: “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless” (vv. 1–2). That requirement encompasses all others. What does it mean to be blameless? It doesn’t mean that a man has to be perfect. If so, we would all be disqualified! It means that there must not be any great blot on his life that others might point to. Here are the characteristics of blamelessness Paul specifically lists:
[He must be] the husband of one wife [faithful to his wife], temperate, sober–minded, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach [able to communicate his faith]; not given [addicted] to wine, not violent, not greedy of filthy lucre [money], but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity [seriousness] (for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?); not a novice [recent convert], lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must have a good report of them who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (vv. 2–7)
Paul also wrote to Titus regarding the requirements for an elder: “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee” (Titus 1:5). In Titus 1:6–9 we find instructions that echo the qualifications in 1 Timothy 3. First of all we read that an elder must be blameless and “the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of profligacy, or unruly” (v. 6). An elder must give evidence of having been effective in communicating his faith to his own family. Certainly you don’t expect to see complete sainthood in children, but they are to follow their father’s faith with a measure of godly conduct.
Verse 7 says that the bishop or elder “must be blameless, as the steward of God.” He must realize that he is a steward who doesn’t own anything, but merely manages the affairs of God for the Body of Christ. Also he must not be “self–willed, not soon angry, not given to wine” (v. 7). About the only thing people could drink in New Testament days was wine because pure water was difficult to obtain. The Greek term pictures one who stayed beside his wine a long time, evidence that the person had a problem with alcohol. Also an elder must not be “violent” or “given to filthy lucre” (v. 7). He doesn’t react with his fists, and he doesn’t pursue money as his primary goal.
On a positive note, verse 8 says that an elder should be “a lover of hospitality.” He must be willing to open his home to strangers. Besides the evidence that a well–managed household gives of his ability to manage the church (1 Tim. 3:4–5), it sets a good example for strangers and makes them feel welcome. An elder needs to have a home that displays what Christian living is all about. Furthermore, he is to be “a lover of good [things or men], sober–minded, just, holy, temperate, holding fast the faithful word” (vv. 8–9). An elder should know his priorities and practice self–control as he lives by the standards of God’s Word. A man who meets those qualifications has been given by God to the local church to rule and teach it, and is therefore worthy of honor.
Acts 20 gives us a look at the elders in Ephesus. In verse 28 Paul says, “Take heed, therefore, unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers.” An elder who rules the church must evaluate not only his own life but also the spiritual needs of his flock. We need to take note of everyone in the flock that God has given us so we can recognize and specifically pray for their individual problems and needs.
Paul also exhorted the Ephesian elders “to feed the church of God” (v. 28). What is it that the church must feed on? The Word of God. Peter said, “The elders who are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight of it” (1 Pet. 5:1–2).
Peter further said that oversight of the flock should not be done “by constraint [and] not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind” (v. 2). An elder shouldn’t serve as though his responsibility were a distasteful task but willingly because it is a privilege. His desire shouldn’t be to minister only to rich people who financially reward him but to minister eagerly to everyone. Verse 3 says, “Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock.” The best way to lead is not by being a dictator but by being an example. If you try to lead people without setting a pattern they can follow, they will resist your leadership. Leading by example is worth doing because of its reward, as verse 4 indicates: “When the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” That crown is promised to those who are given oversight of the church and who lead by the guidelines Peter established. The wonderful thing about getting that crown is that the elders who receive it will be able to cast it at the feet of Jesus Christ—the One to whom it really belongs (Rev. 4:10).
The Deacons
Acts 6 introduces us to a group whom many believe to be the first deacons. Though these men are never specifically called deacons, they are certainly an appropriate model for deacons. Apparently it was sometime after this that the office of deacon was officially recognized in the church.
In the earliest days of the church, the church at Jerusalem was led by the apostles. Eventually it was necessary for them to delegate some of their responsibilities to other mature Christian men. That enabled them to concentrate on prayer and teaching (v. 5).
Verse 1 says, “In those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.” One of the responsibilities of the church was taking care of needy widows. Contention arose because the Grecian Christians thought that most of the daily provisions were going to the Jewish widows.
Therefore “the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not fitting that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables” (v. 2). In other words, “We must concentrate on studying and communicating the Word of God. As things now stand, we have to serve meals and run over here and there, so we’re neglecting the Word of God.” They understood what their priority was.
The apostles then said, “Wherefore, brethren, look among you for seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business” (v. 3). These men were responsible for handing out financial support and various provisions to individuals in need.
Acts 6:3 gives some basic qualifications the men were to have: they were to be “of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.” Those fit well with the specific requirements for deacons found in 1 Timothy 3:8–9: “In like manner must the deacons be grave [serious minded], not double–tongued [telling a person one thing and another something else], not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre, holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.” The “mystery of the faith” is that God became man in Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 3:16). Therefore, “holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience” means to live in a Christlike manner.
Furthermore Paul said that deacons should “first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.… Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus” (vv. 10, 12–13).
The Congregation
For those who have been saying, “That’s right, deacons and elders, get to work”—now it’s your turn! Whereas the basic task of church leadership is to teach sound doctrine and explain how to apply it, the basic task of the people is to be Spirit–filled as they learn doctrine and then apply what they learn. The congregation is the object of the leaders’ ministry. Perhaps someday as a result of that ministry members of the church will become deacons and deaconesses, elders, or even evangelists and pastor–teachers. We all start at the same point: somewhere in the congregation. Those who are faithful with small tasks can be entrusted with larger responsibilities. Consider Philip: he was chosen to be a deacon and ended up as an evangelist. Similarly, Stephen—another of the original deacons—became a tremendous defender of the faith, even to the point of becoming the first Christian martyr. God might lift you to a place of leadership, possibly even to the point where you might be martyred for your faith in Jesus Christ.
The congregation is the part of the church that is to do “the work of the ministry” (Eph. 4:12). Hebrews 13:17 identifies the general obligation of a congregation: “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves.” Assuming that the leadership of the church is Spirit–directed, we are to obey them because they are ministering on behalf of Christ as His undershepherds. The congregation is to subject itself to their godly ministry, although they may not understand it all, and may even disagree sometimes with what the elders are attempting to do. The church’s obedience is a living testimony to the world. There are many things that hurt a church and destroy its testimony. The primary one is poor leadership or false teachers who fail to build the church on the Word of God. Another thing that weakens a church is a congregation that won’t follow its leadership. That causes church splits as well as other problems that are exposed to the full view of the world. Every church member must follow the design of the Spirit and be faithful and obedient.