God’s Design
(12-12-04)
Eph.4:4-11
It is by Christ Jesus that
we each find our place in the Kingdom and in the Church. “ 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it ... 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,..”
We can see from Paul’s inspired words that Jesus is the one who
establishes not only the position but the placing of persons in those positions.
Jesus, who is the builder
of the Church, has established that the position of the eldership exist in His Church. It is right and necessary that a Church
comply with its Lord and Masters wishes. It is good that this Church Body desires to carry out Jesus’ desire for the
Church. After all Jesus is the Head of this body, isn’t He?
As we, as one body, move
forward in one mind and purpose it is good for us to visit those passages that shape our understanding. Passages that convince
us that eldership in all churches is desired by our Lord are: Acts 14:21-25; Titus 1:5 and 1Pet.5:1-5 are examples of the
eldership being established in “each of the churches” or already existing as is the case in 1Peter’s letter
to the churches scattered by persecution.
It can easily be seen that
Jesus compelled the Apostles to set in order the early Church and to put in place people to fill the order. The next two issues
for us would be the how? and the who? of having eldership and filling the positions. Scripture gives us little information
on the how to select and install men into the positions of eldership but what we do have is worth investigating.
Acts 14:23 “Paul and Barnabas appointed elders
for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.”
From this we see that Paul and Barnabas appointed but we do not know what the process was that they used. The only
hint of that is in Luke’s use of the word –From Strongs Concordance - G5500- ειροτονέω - cheirotoneō - khi-rot-on-eh'-o
From a compound
of G5495 and τείνω teinō (to stretch); to be a hand reacher or voter (by raising
the hand), that is, (genitive) to select or appoint: - choose, ordain.
This same word only shows up one more
time in the N.T. but by Paul in 2Cor.8:19 It is seen in this usage that process involves the Church holding some kind of selection
by vote or a showing of hands. In Titus Paul give instruction to appoint but gives no instruction as to the methodology to
use in doing so. Paul’s word choice for appoint or ordain is “set in place” which gives us little for how
to. What becomes apparent is the need to do so is governed by the rule – in decency and order. (1Cor.14:33,40) The ‘how to’ is left to each Church body to determine by their own council.
The last issue to be dealt with is; Who? Those who are placed in the positions of eldership must be Men of faith, full
of the Spirit, who earnestly desire to be elders. (Acts 6:3-5 shows us this desire for a lesser position, it is reasonable
to conclude that these qualities of faith, wisdom, and Spirit should also be present for a greater calling. 1Tim.3:1 shows
us that desire on the part of the individual is paramount as Peter agrees with in 1Pet.5:2)
Paul in writing to Timothy and to Titus concerning the placement of elders gives 2 different lists, one to each as
qualities to look for as maturity indicators. Our job is to pick men who measure best against these guidelines. The Cream
of Our Crop. (2Chron.30:1-27 [17-20, 23, 26-27]) “…Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, "May the LORD, who is good, pardon everyone 19
who sets his heart on seeking God--the LORD, the God of his fathers--even if he is not clean according to the rules of the
sanctuary." 20 And the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people.” With our Hearts set on Jesus’ will, we too are dependent on His mercy
and grace.
