God’s specific spiritual “leaders” for the church
What are the specific spirtual leadership Roles, God has put in place as part of His plan for His church?
As I mentioned previously, I do not like the word leader because it is not found in the bible. Modern influence has shaped leadership from the secular and not spirtual point of view. I prefer the word steward. (Read Stewards Vs Leaders esp Part 2)
Let’s first distinguish between roles and talents/gifts/skills. Just because I can cook does not make me a cook(role). Just because I can apply First Aid does not make me a nurse(role). Some of us have taken care of young children. Maids babysit our children but they are not the mother(role).
God has in place specific spiritual roles to develop the church. They are God’s stewards. Generic role of a minister/servant and priests apply to all christians. We are members and brethren as well.
Who has He put in place in Ephesians 4:12 for the purpose of “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” ?
There are only 4 roles. There are 4 “somes” in Ephesians 4:11 And he gave SOME, apostles; and SOME, prophets; and SOME, evangelists; and SOME, pastors and teachers;
1. Some apostles
2. Some prophets
3. Some evangelists
4. Some pastors and teachers
Notice the last one is ” some pastors and teachers” and not ” some pastors (and) SOME teachers” . Shepherds/Elders/Pastors must know how to teach ( 1 Tim.3:2) . (Note: Not all teachers are pastors) Elders must be able to teach otherwise how then can you spiritually ‘feed’ the flock?
(Some thing about grammar: There is a difference between a) A farmer and A carpenter ARE here vs b) A farmer and carpenter IS here. In b) without an article in the second person,the farmer and carpenter is the same person.)
What is interesting is one key role whom we are familiar with in the churches of Christ is missing here. No mention of DEACONS!!!
Deacons’ role is more operational or logistics as in Acts 6. Here is what I mention about roles and talents come in. Of course a deacon can teach if he is capable but an elder for sure must be ” apt to teach”. A deacon cannot replace an elder even if he is talented in teaching.
The word deacon is diakonos which means minister. Sometimes in the English bible, a servant is used but the actual Greek word may be diakonos or doulos. READ http://www.bishanchurch.com/2008/02/06/stewards-vs-leaders-part-2/
So is there such thing as a full time minister permanently station in one congregation for SPIRITUAL purpose as per Eph 4:12?
Let’s first see what each “leadership” role plays.
The prophets spoke on God’s behalf, ” Someone is coming” .
The apostles were ambassadors and witness, ” Someone has come and He is Jesus”
Both prophets and apostles have played their roles. None exists today because ther role have been fulfilled. So the work is now for all of us to spread the good news Salvation has come. He is Jesus. Why we? Because we are all ministers and priests and let’s not forget the Great Commission.
Evangelists are spiritual “entreprenuers” for God. They go into new work , new fields to start congregations. From the biblical examples, he is itinerant. He does not stay permanently in one place. God’s plan is very clever. This helps the word to spread fast. It also helps the local congregation to mature so that they do not have a dependency mentality. An evangelist work and message should instill in the congregation that he is not staying around for long, thus they better learn to grow up and help themselves. In ministering to one another, there will surface men of God who love the flock of Jesus. It is these men in ministering to others, with or without endorsement, are potential elders to ensure the continuation of the congregation as a church of Christ.
So where do full time minister come in?
Firstly there is no such thing as specific biblical role as minister. We are all ministers. If we choose to pay someone to be a minister then I would view him like a church building or building supervisor. That is for expediency with our eyes wide open that it is not scripturally endorsed. The danger is with time, the congregation grows dependant because a seed of an unbiblical pattern has been planted.
As this plant grows, every seed produces its own kind. Fruits will manifest. Even with so called elders appointed, the minister has a strong say. A terrible situation may arise when the elders/pastors/elders submit to an unbiblical role of a full time minister.
The elders may not discipline the Minister “out of respect” and endorse this unbiblical role that grew out of expendiency because the Minister ” has more experience”. In such a situations,the appointed elders were really put in place as the Minister’s ” program managers”.
If we wish to have the minister as a leader, just do it with your eyes wide open. Just as Israel asked for a king which was not God’s plan, they got what they wanted and many spiritual challenges that came as a package deal. If we want a minister as an operational person, just like a secretary or building supervisor, then it reduces the tension wih God’s plan. Even then, do it with your eyes wide open!
A church does not exist merely to do social work or increase numbers. It is a vehicle through which God’s salvation flows to the carnal world. We are not called to solve world’s problem or to teach effectiveness in relationship etc. We are called to be holy. The church is a womb to give birth to disciples.The world has sufficient wisdom on what it takes to be good. Unless revealed, the world does not know what it takes to be Holy, set apart dedicated solely for God’s glory. Unless revelaed those from afar do not know how to come home to their Maker. We are not called to perpetuate a local congregation. We are called to ensure God’s commission is realised. In ensuring this do not be surprise if the local congregation has to die so that the Word does not return void. (Acts 8:1-4) If God did not spare the 7 churches of Asia started with the apostles’ involvement, what makes you so sure your local congregation should perpetuate simply because a Minister has fond memories and traditions with past glory? God has His plan for His Body. He has put in place the need for certain roles to play their part. The evangelist plays a critical role of ensuring continuity in a congregation without elders, to nurture and disciple and wean away any dependency on him except on God and His word. Once faihful men have been entrusted and develop a love for the flock, there will arise men worthy to be shepherds simply because of their love for the flock and not merely desiring the “office”. A true shepherd will love the flock regardless of whether he is appointed as an elder or not.
It is ridiculous to know of hierachy in the churches of Christ eg Senior Minister, Senior Evangelist or Senior Elder. Was Peter a senior apostle compared to junior apostle Paul simply because he came in later?
Why does this idea come from O Senior Slave?
Every seed produces its own kind.
To ensure a full-time Minister, knows his place, we can take a leaf from the apostles who were very conscious that they were doulos(bondslaves). A suggestion is to name the job title as Servant. Senior Servant sounds ridiculous, isn’t it?
Q.What do you work as? Ans. A Servant.
http://www.bishanchurch.com/2008/02/06/stewards-vs-leaders-part-2/
Add comment August 28th, 2008
