Current Blog Series : Biblical Vision Explanation
Biblical church
leadership is important because without it, God’s people are sheep without Spirit
empowered shepherds.
Your immediate reaction to the first of these two Elder
posts may be anger or desire for a “voting right” in the congregation. I would
lovingly remind you these are just the writings of a young minister, so you can
happily find a church anywhere that is congregational leadership if you so
desire.
I can hear the voice of one of my mentors quoting the
passage 1 Pet. 2:5, “we are a holy nation a royal
priesthood,” therefore we all have leadership within the church. As funny as it
may sound that is also true, but we are not all called to be the spiritual
guides, shepherds or “meat” providers.
All Believers are a holy
priesthood who offer our own spiritual sacrifices as priests (1 Pet. 2:5). We
are also all priests in that we have permission through the Spirit to enter
“Boldly into the presence of God.” Lastly all believers are priests because we
have all been gifted with varying gifts to help edify the whole body of Christ,
beginning with our own household first.
Joel 2:28 has lead me to an
understanding that the coming of the Holy Spirit yields spirit empowerment not
previously known among all believers. This is the same type of empowerment as
seen in Numbers 11, when all the Elders were given a portion of the Spirit. The
difference between Spirit empowerment of an elder and Spirit empowerment of a
believer is that the Elder’s empowerment is one of an office; the believer’s is
one of confirmation that the Savior is working within their life.
Each believer is given grace for service to God. “We
have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” (Rom. 12). “Now to each
one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (1 Cor.
12:7). “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it”
(Eph. 4:7). “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others,
faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Pet. 4:10).
The ministry of the church is not a one-man ministry.
Everyone must serve God the High priest. The Elders are gifted with the burden
of being “sub-pastors.” The call to be a holy priesthood is one of cooperation.
Sadly, many people who yell for voting rights won’t help in ministerial
responsibility. In most evangelical churches there is confusion and believers
are not encouraged to exercise their spiritual gifts for the building up of the
church. This is the fault of the Elders, if they were fulfilling their role as
the earthly pastors, teaching the Gospel correctly, then all will cooperate in
a healthy understanding of a Biblical ministry.
Let us not get so hyped up on 1 Peter 2:5, that we forget
Hebrews 13:17, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping
watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do
this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”
I personally know when the congregation is in tune to their role, an Elder will
joyfully minister.
