Becoming Better Organized

The elders have appointed Doug Jordan to serve as one of our deacons, and they have appointed Logan Summers to begin service as an associate/youth minister. Doug will join Berle Evans and Brian Kenyon as they assist the elders in certain aspects of the Lord’s work. Logan has already been teaching the teenage class, and will also assist Brian more with the preaching responsibilities. With these “upgrades” taking place, it seems appropriate to remind ourselves of the roles of elders, deacons, and ministers in Christ’s church.

Christ Is the Head

The true, New Testament church belongs to Christ. Jesus said, “I will build my church” (Mt. 16:18). Note that “my” and “church” are singular—Christ only has one church, and that church was established in Acts 2, the first Day of Pentecost following Jesus’ resurrection (cf. Acts 2:41, 47)! No denomination (which means “division”) can be the church that belongs to Christ for two reasons. First, denominations started way too late. The first Pope was not officially crowned until around AD 600. How can that be the same church as that started in Acts 2? No Protestant denomination can trace its roots further back than AD 1517, when Martin Luther nailed his ninety-five theses on the church house door in Wittenberg, Germany! Second, denominations do not practice the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. By “truth,” I mean the Bible. In other words, no denomination was established by or continues by the Bible, the whole Bible (rightly divided, 2 Tim. 2:15), and nothing but the Bible! If they did, they would all be the same (cf. Jn. 17:20-21; 1 Cor. 1:10; Eph. 4:4-6). Because of the fact that the church of Christ belongs to Christ and that the church of Christ is to be guided by the Bible, we must allow the Bible to direct all that we believe and practice (Col. 3:17; 2 Tim. 3:15-16). How does that relate to church organization? The Bible teaches that Christ is the Supreme Head of His church (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18). Although local churches of Christ are autonomous, this does not mean they are free to believe or practice whatever they want. All of them are under the same headship of Christ! The autonomy comes in on matters of judgment and expediency. Each local church determines how it will carry out the will of God in its community and abroad. What works in one community, may not work in another. Who determines matters of expediency in the local church? The eldership, which brings us to our next point.

The Eldership Oversees

The eldership of a local congregation consists of spiritually mature men who meet the God-given qualifications (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:6-9). Though each of the elders must meet every qualification, no single elder by himself has the oversight of the congregation. Rather, the oversight belongs to the eldership collectively (cf. Phil. 1:1). The work of elders can be learned by examining the three terms that are used to describe them. First, the term “elder” comes from a Greek word that simply means an older person (Jn. 8:9; Acts 2:17; 1 Tim. 5:1; 2 Jn. 1). When the term is used in reference to the spiritual leaders of the church (Acts 14:23; Tit. 1:5), it emphasizes spiritual maturity. Elders should be among the most spiritually mature members of the congregation (cf. 1 Tim. 3:6). Second, the term “bishop” (Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:1-2; Tit. 1:7) refers to an “overseer” (Acts 20:28). An overseer is one who makes sure that what is supposed to be done gets done. Third, the term “pasture,” which translation occurs only one time in the King James Version (Eph. 4:11), is simply a shepherd. The Greek word behind it occurs eighteen times in the New Testament and is usually translated “shepherd” (Mt. 9:36; 25:32; 26:31). When used of elders, it emphasizes the watchful care the eldership is to have over the members of the local church. The verb form of “shepherd” is explicitly applied to elders, translated “feed” (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2). Elders are not to be “straw bosses,” barking out commands (cf. 1 Pet. 5:2-3), but are to set a good example while they oversee the congregation (Heb. 13:7), for they must give an account to God as to how they took care of the flock entrusted to them (Heb. 13:17).

Deacons and Ministers Serve

Deacons and ministers are not the only servants in the church. In fact, every member of the church must be a servant of Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 7:22; Rom. 6:17-18). Deacons and preachers are simply specific kinds of servants in the church. First, the term “deacon” comes from a common Greek word that means “servant,” or “minister” (Mt. 22:13; Rom. 13:4). When applied to “deacons” of the church (Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:8), it refers to special servants of the church that meet God-given qualifications (1 Tim. 3:8-13). Their exact work is not explicitly given, but they are to be ready to serve in any task they are given that is Scriptural and within their ability. Again, elders are the overseers, and they assign deacons their responsibilities (1 Tim. 3:13; Phil. 1:1). Second, ministers, as in preachers, or evangelists, specifically serve in the area of preaching and teaching the Gospel (cf. Rom. 10:13-15; 2 Tim. 4:1-5). They must be men of faith who faithfully teach the faith!
Let us encourage our elders as they oversee this congregation. Let us also be supportive of Doug and Logan in their work alongside the other deacons and preacher. The church can and will be stronger when we all work together!