Introduction:

The real question is not, "Are Elders Optional in the Church", but does man have the authority to scrutinize the ordinance of God on this particular subject? If this is the case, this ordinance like any other statute can be modified to satisfy the whims of those who deem themselves equal with God in the matter of divine instruction. But, how can we say that this approved aspect of church government is indeed an ordinance of God?

• Romans 13:1-4 "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God......Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation......For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:.....For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil."

It is agreed that these verses apply to all civil governments regardless of the variation(s) of heads of state whereas, God has decreed how man must rule himself. However, on the other hand, the spiritual edict handed down by God serves as the basis for rule and authority by appointment in the kingdom of his Christ. "For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." It would be ludicrous to think that God in his infinite wisdom chose the right method for how man must rule himself throughout his creation, yet fail to see the need for the same in his spiritual creation of a world wide kingdom of whom Christ is the Monarch.

None would disagree that there must be leadership and authority in all aspects of social organizations such as foundations, clubs, societies, etc. The same ordinance of God for self rule filters down into all areas outside of civil law. Except, there are a great many in the Lord's church who have believed for decades that the law of the jungle should prevail and each one doing that which he believes is right in his own eyes.

• Proverbs 12:15 "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise."

Any church who can scriptural have elders and does not, may be compared to what God said of Ahab and those subject to him in his kingdom:

• 1 Kings 22:15-18 "So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king......And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD?.....And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace......And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?"

As we shall see later in this discussion that Jesus Christ is the chief Shepherd and elders are shepherds over the flock on earth under his authority. But, here we have seen how that king Ahab failed to provide the leadership of his people and they were as sheep scattered about in the hills of every direction. The same is true in the Lord's church where there is no leadership. A good preacher friend of mine accurately states it like this where the church has no elders and business is conducted at regular meetings:

"All who are in this business meeting are acting as "defacto elders", meaning, there is no authority from Christ. A business meeting without elders is no different than having only one elder."

Elders of a Nation:

• Genesis 50:7 "And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,"

Elders had been a long established form of leadership of nations in those days.

The Elders of the Jewish nation:

• Exodus 3:16 "Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:"

• Numbers 11:25 "And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease."

Moses was the lawgiver and leader of his people. God took of the Spirit which was upon Moses and placed it upon the elders (leaders) who were subordinate and thereby, assisted Moses in leading the people.

The Setting of Governments in the Church:

• 1 Corinthians 12:28 "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues."

This was the infrastructure of the church of which it could not survive without. It cannot be determined as to the exact time when God installed these except the apostles on the day of Pentecost.

Thayer's rendering for the Greek word for governments; "[Lat. gubernare, to govern], a governing, government: 1 Cor.xii: 28 [al. would take it tropically here, and render it wise counsels."

• Ephesians 4:11 "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;"

The Greek New Testament gives the word "shepherds" instead of "pastors" which are the same as leaders or elders.

Thayer's definition; "a herdsman, esp. a shepherd; of the overseers of Christian assemblies [A.V. pastors], Eph.4:11."

Thus far in these two companion verses we have seen different descriptions of elders; of governments or wise counsels and overseers. As we progress through this discussion we will observe other descriptive terms.

Elder(s):

• Acts 11:30 "Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul."

Thayer's definition; "among Christians, those who presided over the assemblies (or churches): Acts xi.30; That they did not differ at all from the bishops or overseers."

This is the first time that we read about elders of the Lord's church.

• Acts 14:23 "And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed."

In keeping with the outline for the government of the church, Paul and Barnabas ordained elders in every church.

• Acts 15:2 "When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question."

• Acts 15:4 "And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them."

• Acts 15:6 "And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter."

• Acts 15:22 "Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:"

• Acts 15:23 "And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:"

• Acts 16:4 "And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem."

• Acts 20:17 "And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church."

• Acts 21:18 "And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present."

• 1 Timothy 5:17-18 "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine......For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward."

There are many who are bitterly opposed to elders being compensated for their service.

By and large elderships are not paid, but the scripture cannot be broken in the event an elder wants to be compensated. However, the scripture is ruptured in most churches in that the members overturn the statute of God and make these decisions for themselves. The condition for compensation hinges on whether or not an elder rules well.

• Titus 1:5 "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:"

This is a second time we see where elders were ordained in every church or city by preachers of the gospel. Are two passages not enough to convince us that the procedure for appointment is performed by ministers of the word? Rules and regulations are passed by the membership to nullify the ordinance of God as an added form of control.

• James 5:14 "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:"

For decades the practice has been to call the preacher instead of the elders. I suppose this departure from the scripture is the result of churches refusal to have an eldership. Do what God commands and he will send his blessings; refuse to do the commands of God and will he bless? NO!

• 1 Peter 5:1 "The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:"

Peter was one of the great apostles of our Lord, but was also an elder in the Lord's church.

• 1 Timothy 5:19 "Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses."

There are so many of the Lord's commandments maligned that they are all hard to mention. But, this one stands among the very top of the list. Under no circumstance can a member listen to a complaint against an elder unless there are two or three witnesses present. The member who is being brainwashed has the responsibility to tell the complainer to keep his mouth shut unless the guidelines are followed. Herein lies a certain amount of security afforded to the elder by the chief elder, Jesus Christ.

• 2 John 1:1 "The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;"

• 3 John 1:1 "The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth."

Presbytery:

• 1 Timothy 4:14 "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery (elderhood-Greek text.)"

Thayer's definition; "body of elders, presbytery, senate, council: of Jewish elders; of the elders of any body (church) of Christians, 1 Tim.4:14."

This clearly states that in addition to the apostles, the elders also had the power to lay their hands on another and impart a spiritual gift.

Overseers:

• Acts 20:28 "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."

Thayer's definition; "the superintendent, head or overseer of any Christian church."

Account must be taken that the outline for elders in the church are always in the plural and not in any case singular. The Lord knew this would eliminate dictatorial rule.

Bishop(s):

• Philippians 1:1 "Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:"

Thayer's definition; the same as Acts 20:28.

• 1 Timothy 3:1 "This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work."

• 1 Timothy 3:2 "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;"

• Titus 1:7 "For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;"

Shepherd and Bishop:

• 1 Peter 5:4 "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."

• Hebrews 13:20 "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,"

• 1 Peter 2:25 "For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."

Jesus the Christ is the chief shepherd, bishop, elder, overseer, ruler and presbyter of our souls. All elders are subordinate to Christ and to do his will only.

Rule:

• Hebrews 13:7 "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation."

• Hebrews 13:17 "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you."

• Hebrews 13:24 "Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you."

Thayer's definition; "leading as respects influence, controlling in counsel, among any, Acts 15:22; with gen. of the pers. over whom one rules, so of the overseers or leaders of the Christian churches, Heb.13:7, 17, 24."

As noted in the three readings above, the responsibility of members to the ordinance of God to elders who rule are threefold; "remember, obey and salute." There has never been a successful military regime without ranking authority and leadership. In the bible the word captain appears 139 times; general one time; centurion 20 times.

The kingdom of Christ engages in spiritual warfare whereas, Christ is the captain of our salvation

• Hebrews 2:10 "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings."