Concerning Elders
Much has been said and written about the elders and their work and relationship to the congregation. Since good men may differ on certain points we need to study the subject always with a degree of caution. I am sure that the Scriptures will contain the answer to all vital question on this or any other subject having to do with our salvation; and if we search diligently, we can learn all that the Lord wants us to know about elders. I have never read where elders planned work for churches, or where they decided upon matters of judgment. I know that many teach that elders have the sole authority in matters of judgment; but I have never read this from the New Testament. I have read, however, where the churches made their own decisions after being instructed by inspired men. It is clear that each church planned its own work and took care of its own affairs.
Some contend that the elders are shepherds, and the church is the flock of sheep. And since sheep never make decisions, the shepherds must decide everything.
I know that the Lord's people are called sheep, but they are also called upon to make decisions. Who selects these shepherds who are supposed to make all the decisions anyway? Christ is called a lamb, but we are supposed to follow his teaching. Some compare the church with a company or army or something of that nature, and try to prove that a few men have absolute control over all the others. Paul compares the church with the human body and says that all of the members are necessary "And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you." (1 Cor. 12:21)
It is strange indeed to see men lament the fact that many churches are drifting away from the faith and at the same time contend for the same system that is being used by those churches going into error. Those who view elders as a kind of supreme court to decide matters for the church usually fail to abide by the decision of the supreme court when the decision does not concur with their thinking. Some men fail to realize that when we cease to stand for the right of each individual to study and follow the Scriptures, we will soon lose that right ourselves. The system now in vogue in many places differs but little from that of some of the older and larger denominations. In the first century the churches did not have the complete New Testament, but were taught and ruled by inspired men. When the New Testament was completed, every person who could read could know all that the Holy Spirit saw fit to reveal unto men. Peter makes it clear that the Bible is for all men, not just a select few. (2 Peter 1:12-15; 2 Peter 3:1-2)
Men who have the qualifications that Paul gave Timothy and Titus will be an asset to any congregation of the Lord's people. By their good example, teaching the scriptures, and earnestly contending for the faith, they can do a noble work in any church. Why cannot men who have the ability to teach instruct the young and train them to be efficient teachers of God's word? The churches cannot depend upon others to do this work for them, because the people and other organizations have their own interests. This is reflected in the type of teachers that they train. Most young preachers being trained by organizations other than the church come out of these organizations, and into the work of local churches, with more zeal and enthusiasm to promote the organization from whence they came than to build up the Lord's church. Any church which follows Paul's instruction in Ephesians 5:12 will have little trouble in the management of its own affairs.
(Editor's note: Read carefully the article by brother Foy E. Wallace on the front page of this issue. Scriptural elders are under divine injunction to "rule," "tend," "feed," "exercise the oversight" of the flock. Any misrule or "lording It over the heritage" does not vitiate the scriptural function of an eldership.) — Lynn Grove, Kentucky