Truth: The Local Church should be
governed by Pastor/Elders/Deacons
vs.
Tradition: The Local Church should be
governed by Pastor/Deacons
Although the Truth in this matter should be obvious to the casual
observer, if the New Testament is used as the source of observation, the
independent Baptist/Bible church movement of today has chosen to continue
utilizing the Traditional method of local church government. This is in large
part due to the tradition set by the historic Baptist tradition established throughout
the past three centuries, but, unfortunately it is not what is taught and was
practiced in the New Testament.
In spite of the fact that we are Baptists here at Bible Truth Ministry,
and I have been ordained a Minister of the Gospel in an independent Baptist
church these many years, it has become increasingly clear to me that either
form of local church government, whether utilizing the Biblically taught and
practiced Pastor/Elders/Deacons or Pastor/Deacons, is totally dependent on the
character of the men holding the offices, for all successful organizations,
whether secular or sacred, rise and fall upon the character and abilities of
the man/men that lead them.
However, if the Bible teaches that the local church should be led and
governed by a Pastor who is an Elder, and additional Elders and Deacons, then
so should it be! Amen? Yes, Luke in Acts 20:17 recorded the fact that there
were Elders (plural) in the church at Ephesus, and Paul did the same when he
commanded Titus to ordain Elders (plural) in Titus 1:5. Likewise James when
instructing the believers to call for the Elders (plural) in James 5:14, and
Peter too, counted himself an Elder among the Elders (plural) to whom he was
speaking (I Peter 5:1), then it would follow that the Biblical practice of the
New Testament churches and the doctrine written to support their practice is
clear!
Then why, if the word Pastor is only mentioned once concerning local
church government, in Ephesians 4:12 where it is mentioned in conjunction with
the word teacher, do the majority of the independent Baptist and Bible churches
of today opt for the Traditional Pastor/deacon church government? Well, the answer to that question is manifold,
but the main answer that is put forth is 'that is just the way it's done' in
good churches. When I was ordained the residing Pastor told me after I
questioned him on this subject, in so many words, just let it go and don't
discuss if you want to get ordained!!
Well, to my dismay and mistake, I did let it go that day, it did not
seem important or an issue to push it and cause division, but in these years
since the Lord has taken us in and out of various and sundry churches, with
most of them utilizing the Traditional Pastor/Deacon government, their success
in fulfilling God's plan for the local church did not seem, on the surface, to
really matter whether they used the Traditional Pastor/Deacon or the Truth
based Pastor/Elders/Deacon.
But, if the Word teaches it...do not ignore it...for the Biblical Local
Church government provides a superior way of governing the local church for:
1. Multiple Elders should utilize all the
qualified men God has sent to that local church
2.
Multiple Elders should safeguard the flock from the 'dictator-Pastor' types
3. Multiple Elders should help to car the
Pastor's ministry load
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