in the
Jesus Christ said,
"I will build my Church" (Matt.16:18).
Was that Church foretold
to always be UNITED, and of “one
accord"? Did God establish GOVERNMENT and powerful
AUTHORITY within His
Church? Is God’s church government
from the Top Down or
from the Bottom Up? How can Jesus
Jesus Christ keep His
Church UNITED if there is no structure
of government? What are “apostles,” “prophets,” “evange-
lists,” and so
forth? Let’s face it! Some of us are being “had”
by a very clever Devil
who hates God’s government! There is
more argument over
CHURCH GOVERNMENT today than
almost any other
issue! What is God’s pure and plain
TRUTH?
William
F. Dankenbring
Jesus Christ told Peter and the
apostles, "I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it" (Matt.16:18). That
church was to never die, or disappear, or peter out and vanish from sight. It would always exist, and continue to be, in
one form or another, till the end of the age, when Christ would return!
But would the Church always be
united -- singular -- in perfect oneness?
Jesus, in His final prayer for the church before His death, prayed that
the Father would "keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given
me, that they may be ONE, as we are" (John 17:11). He added, "Neither pray I for these
alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that
they ALL MAY BE ONE . . . that they may be one, even as we are one"
(verses 20-22).
But how would Christ preserve and
protect His Church unless there was government and administrative AUTHORITY in
His Church?
Did Jesus mean for His Church to
become a “democracy,” where the people rule, through voting in ministers and
deacons? Or did GOD choose His
ministers, and then verify His choice by their “fruits”?
Why did Jesus say to His twelve
apostles, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen YOU, and ordained you,
that ye should go and bring forth fruit” (John
Why did Paul the apostle write and
say: “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. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? . . . But
covet earnestly the best gifts” (I Cor.12:28-31).
If ministers are not accountable for
governing God’s Church, then why did Paul write the Ephesian Church: “And he gave some, apostles; and some,
prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting
of the saints, for the WORK of the ministry, and for the edifying of the body
of Christ” (Eph.4:11-12)?
How can a Church endure, and exist,
unless there is LEADERSHIP – some who RULE – and some with MORE authority
than others?
Paul
made it even more plain that in God’s true Church, the ministry is a DIVINE
CALLING. We know how Jesus called His
disciples, who were to become the leaders of the Church – the twelve apostles
(Matt.4; John 1). Likewise, we know how
the apostle Paul was divinely “called” and “chosen” to be a minister of Jesus
Christ (Acts 9:1-18; I Cor.4:1-9; Gal.1:12-18).
God Himself chooses and selects His true ministers!
What is important then, is that we
PROVE who are the true ministers and servangs of GOD!
Government
and Organization
Many have pointed out in the past
that the Bible is a book about “Government.”
And that is true. It reveals God
as the Almighty Creator who governs and
rules the entire Universe!
God also gave mankind authority to
rule and govern the world itself. God
told Adam and Eve, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue
it: and have DOMINION over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the
air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth” (Gen.1:28).
As the human race grew, by families,
God appointed His government in the home, making the father to be the loving
ruler and supreme authority. Parents
were to rule their children, and final decisions in the home were the province
of the father. As Paul explained: “But I would have you know, that the head of
every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of
Christ is God” (I Cor.11:3).
As familes grew, and became nations,
God’s government was the patriarchal and elder system. In ancient
Moses later was led to appoint or
“choose” men to help him lead the nation of
During the early occupation of the
Promised Land, the “elder” system served the people of Israel, combined with
the system of the priesthood, which was hereditary. At this time God raised up and appointed
“judges” to rule the people, to decide cases of law between the people, and to
“govern” the nation.
Even this system had its faults,
however, because human beings are prone to be human beings, make mistakes, and
sometimes veer off from the right path.
The book of Judges shows Israel continually resisted God’s government,
His laws, and forsook the right paths, plunging into the idolatry of
neighboring nations. Says the last
portion of the book of Judges: “In those
days there was no king in Israel: every
man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).
During this time, God raised up a servant to Him named Samuel – a prophet called from childhood. Samuel grew in his office, wisdom, and leadership, and taught the people the ways of God. But as he grew old, he lost control of his grown children, who began making mischief at the Sanctuary of God, seducing the young women who came, taking bribes, perverting judgment, and debauching themselves. The people of Israel grew frustrated. Rather tham blame themselves for the sad state of affairs, they blamed Samuel for poor oversight of his office and complained to him. They requested that he appoint them a KING to rule over them, like the other nations, thinking this would solve their problems!
We read in I Samuel , chapter 8,
“Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to
Samuel unto Ramah, and said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk
not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they
said, Give us a king to judge us. And
Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the
LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they
say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me,
that I should not reign over them” (I Samuel 8:4-8).
What can we learn from this short
HISTORY lesson government in the Bible?
Simply this: God appointed
government over people, and rulers, but people don’t like it! Human government sooner or later succumbs to
the flesh, becomes perverted, and corrupt!
An
old saying goes: Authority corrupts; but
absolute authority corrupts absolutely!
As long as human nature and the
lusts of the flesh enter the picture, all human forms of government tend to
degenerate and become abusive and corrupt!
This problem is true even in the Church of God!
Church
Government Today
Initially,
when Herbert Armstrong began serving God, he did not found a Church but rather
an evangelical work. As it grew, and
members were baptized, he called it the "Radio Church of God." In those days he acknowledged that the Church
of God, Seventh Day, and others, were also parts of the body of Christ.
But
after the Church grew big, and powerful, individuals began referring to the
"work" as "the Church."
By the late '50s and early '60s Herbert Armstrong himself began denying
the fact that others could also be part of the body of Christ, and began
calling virtually all other groups "counterfeits." This trend continued and grew more flagrant,
as the Church increased in power, income, and membership.
There
is a mortal danger in any organizational structure, whether ecclesiastical or
secular. As growth continues, management
systems are brought in, and faith and inspiration become overlooked and
neglected. Systems replace faith;
numbers crunching replaces inspiration.
Human logic and reason and planning take the place of looking to Christ
and expecting miracles to do the Work!
Specially designed "co-worker letters" are sent to people to
maximize the monetary returns -- taking advantage of widows, older people, and
those who are ignorant of the methods of modern evangelism!
"The Organizational
Trap"
The
organizational trap swallowed the Worldwide Church of God, and a hierarchical
structure developed, with the ministerial elite on one level and the plebeian
masses of Church members down at the bottom.
Soon ministers were expected to always be called "Mr." and
never addressed by their first name! The
examples and instruction of Christ and the early Church were completely ignored
and bypassed.
Jesus
Christ said, "The kings of the Gentiles LORD IT OVER THEM; and those who
exercise AUTHORITY over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be
like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the
table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves"
(Luke 22:25-27).
In
the world’s system of government, such as kingships, monarchies, dictatorships,
the people serve the leaders or rulers – not vice versa. But in God’s system, the greatest servant is
the one who rules – whether he be king, president, or simply “chief.”
As
human hierarchies develop, however, people have a tendency to begin looking to
the ministers not only as their spiritual guides and rulers, but even as their
masters, and virtual dictators -- and not to Christ! In warning against this tendency, Jesus
Christ declared: “But be not ye called
Rabbi: for one is your Master, even
Christ; and all ye are brethren. And
call no man your father [in a spiritual sense, such as “Pope”] upon the
earth: for one is your Father, which is
in heaven. Neither be ye called masters
[the term “Mr.” is short for the term ‘master”; usage of this term for the “ministry”
can lead to wrong attitudes of superiority and inferiority among God’s
people]: for one is your Master, even
Christ. But he that is greatest among
you shall be your servant. And whoever
shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be
exalted” (Matt.23:8-12).
When
churches disobey this simple set of instructions by Christ, the ministry
becomes an inflated, self-serving, ego trip!
Humility is swallowed up in pride and pride leads to arrogance! And arrogance leads to abusive, intrusive,
wrong-headed, dictatorial forms of “Church government”!
History of Government in the
Church
Herbert
Armstrong incorporated the Radio Church of God in 1948. One 19 year time cycle, later, Loma D. Armstrong died -- in 1967. One 19 time cycle later, Herbert W. Armstrong
died -- in January, 1986! These numbers
illustrate the fact that God was working with the Church of God, during this
time, even though mistakes were made by the human leaders. As the Church grew, he felt the need to
establish lines of authority, and began ordaining various "levels" of
ministers thinking he was following God's way, not realizing that ministerial
"gifts" are NOT appointed "ranks," but divinely distributed
GIFTS of the Spirit of God (I Cor.12:1-11).
GOD is the one who appoints spiritual offices -- not men! (I Cor.12:27-31;
Eph.4:9-13). These offices are REAL
enough, and they have AUTHORITY – but they are not based on human
appointments!
In other words, in the book of Acts we read that the
apostles ordained Philip and Steven as “deacons.” This was a special ministerial office of
serving the widows and taking care of phsical needs in the Church (Acts
6:1-6). But because these men were close
to God, and leaders, HE chose them to become evangelists – a much higher
office in the Church (Acts 6:8; 8:5; 21:8).
These men were not “raised in rank” by additional “ordination,” as
practiced in the Worldwide Church of God and others. These additional “offices” were given by God
and were revealed by the men’s WORKS!
Thus
God’s true Church was never like the army, navy, or military, where men are
increased in rank by their superior officers or the “brass.” Rather, tbese higher offices are given by GOD
and are revealed in the persons life by his spiritual works and gifts!
By
establishing a human-appointed ministerial hierarchy, Herbert Armstrong
was falling into the trap of Satan the devil, and setting up a GENTILE form of
Church Government, the very thing Jesus Christ warned against and condemned
(Matt.20:24-28; 23:8-12). He thereby
created and injected the seeds of the Church's eventual destruction and
take-over by Satan the devil! What
seemed to work for him to keep the Church united and under one management and
control, preserving church doctrines from apostate tendencies, worked for his
successor to CHANGE doctrines subtly, and cleverly – to use the same form of
Church “government” to lead the church off into apostasy and heresy!
The plain truth is, after the death of Herbert Armstrong in 1986,
the Worldwide Church of God which he founded, forsook its moorings, his
teachings, and veered off the tracks -- and the rest is history. Church government, taught so strongly by
Herbert Armstrong, turned out to be the DOWNFALL of his Church. When he died his appointed successor seized
control of the Church, using the same arguments of “Church authority” to assist
him in his takeover!
Throughout
history, beginning in the first century of the Church, Satan influenced evil
men to infiltrate God's Church, and rise up to positions of leadership. The early apostles had to wrestle with them
constantly and wrote of their nefarious workings (Acts 20:28-31; II Pet.2:1-3;
Jude 3-4). Such men, no doubt, looked
"good" on the outside, and dressed snappily, and acted like loyal,
obedient servants -- yet sooner or later, began to teach error, and began to go
astray and apostatize.
Even
so, Paul, Peter and Jude foretold the same sort of apostasy would occur in the
last generation, before the coming of Christ! (II Tim.3:1-11, 4:1-5; II Peter,
and Jude). Paul wrote, "Let no man
deceive you by any means: for that day
[the return of Christ] shall not come, except there come a FALLING AWAY FIRST,
and that man of sin be revealed . . ." (II Thess.2:3). The "mystery of iniquity" was
already at work in Paul's day, he said (v.7), but it would rise to a
consummation of deceitfulness and pinnacle of powerful delusion, in the last
days (v.8-12), so that those who do not have a "love of the truth"
will be deceived, led astray, and ultimately destroyed -- judged and punished
with the wicked.
A Church
Divided Up into Remnants?
Jesus Christ foretold that His
Church would always exist – the gates of hell would never conquer it
(Matt.16:18).
Does this mean, however, that the
church would never be "divided"?
That it would never be "split" into various branches, or
divisions, or various groups independent of each other, each answering solely
to Christ?
Some have thought so -- and have
therefore made the boastful claim that they are the ONE AND ONLY "TRUTH
CHURCH OF GOD"! Herbert Armstrong
used to make this seemingly proud boast continually -- and as
"proof," he would point out that nobody taught the same thing as he
did, and that all one had to do to prove that he was God's true messenger was
just to compare the messages of everyone else, including himself, with the
Scriptures. If he was right, then all
the rest had to be wrong!
But is it really as simple as
that? What if he himself was wrong on
certain points? Would that
"prove" that his church wasn't the true church, either?
Of course it would! The truth is, there is NO PERFECT CHURCH
group on the face of the earth, today!
How then can we recognize God’s TRUE church, and His TRUE form of Church
government? Where can we look? How can we identify the TRUTH?
“Wolves
in Sheep’s Clothing”
In
the last few years, I have seen and experienced "wolves in sheep's
clothing," trying to "join" with me in this Work of God, who
since proved to be virulent predators who led a few people off into the
netherworld of religious apostasy.
Unfortunately, those few who followed such were ripe for the picking or
plucking -- their own attitudes were wrong, in some crucial way, and so God
allowed them to be led off into the religious "boondocks" and
"wilderness."
God allows such things to
happen. We know that these things must
happen -- why? "For there must be also heresies among
you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you"
(I Cor.11:19). These "tests"
which come upon God's people separate the "sheep from the goats," as
it were. They prove to be a sort of
"litmus test" of the reality of the faith and obedience of those who
profess to follow Christ!
When we look at church history, it
becomes very apparent that fractures, divisions, and schisms, often occurred to
the Church of God. Most of the resultant
groups went into varying forms of religious apostasy, and departed from the
truth, and could no longer be called correctly, "the church of God." They had been infiltrated, conned, and taken
over by Satan the seductive devil and his devious minions.
However, history and Biblical
prophecy also prove that there have been and can be "divisions" of
various degrees WITHIN the spiritual "body of Christ," as well! As I see it, there is no doubt that
"divisions" and "differences" have occurred in the true
church of God, throughout its history, due to human nature, human imperfection,
and weakness -- as well as human sins, and "goats" among the
sheep! Jesus Himself said that the
"wheat and tares" would dwell IN the church, side by side, TILL THE
HARVEST (second coming), which itself leads to a certain amount of division and
contention within the visible "church" (see Matt.13:36-43). Jesus warned FIRST for us to beware of false
prophets and teachers because they would be the church's MAJOR DANGER --
further evidence of strife, division, and "splits" occurring within
the true church (Matt.24:11).
"Divisions" in Paul's Day
Paul warned expressly of this
danger, saying to the Ephesus church leaders, "TAKE HEED therefore unto
YOURSELVES, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit hath made you
overseers, to feed the church of God . . . For I know this, that after my
departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. ALSO, of your own selves shall men arise,
speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them" (Acts
20:28-30).
Paul beseeched the Corinthians not
to allow "divisions" to crop up among them (I Cor.1:10). It was reported to Paul that there were
"contentions among you," as he wrote to them, admonishing them to
watch out for such things (v.11). These
were serious contentions, so Paul asked them, "Is Christ divided?"
(v.13). No -- of course not! Christ is ONE. But apostasy set in within the first century church,
and communication was not easy from church to church, so local congregations
began to become more and more independent.
DIVISION set in! Those with the
Spirit of God guiding them, remained loyal to the truth, but more and more
"differences of opinion" crept in, after the departure of the
original apostles. Paul called the
Corinthians "CARNAL" (I Cor.3:1-3).
He warned them, "For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and
STRIFE, and DIVISIONS, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" (v.3).
Some of these churches were still
God's Church, even though various "differences" had crept in. They had not yet made a major change in
doctrine which militated against their being considered "Christian"
in God's sight! They had various
"problems" -- but they were not yet sick "unto death" --
spiritual death!
This was the CHURCH OF GOD, with all
of its "spots and wrinkles."
Clearly, it had carnal-minded ministers and leaders, in some cases, and
there were arguments, debates, and strife.
One of the major issues of that day was whether a Gentile needed to be
"circumcised" and become a Jew in order to be saved. This controversy led to a major doctrinal
meeting in Jerusalem over the issue (Acts 15).
So even the New Testament Church, as
we see, was NOT "united."
There were "DIVISIONS" in the church. Yet Christ is NOT divided. But experience proves that human beings, even
those who STRIVE to follow Him, can be divided, and have differences of
opinions about many things -- policies, judgments, prophecies, even some
doctrines. Of course, the BASIC truths
they should all adhere to. Paul and
Barnabas had a major disagreement at one point, which caused them to go their
separate ways, and to conduct separate ministries, in effect -- although they
still regarded each other as "brothers" (Acts 15:36-39).
The Seven Churches of Revelation
In describing the Church of God
during the last days, the time of the end, in the book of Revelation, Jesus
Christ describes it in letters to SEVEN churches -- not just ONE. Each church is independent, locally governed,
with its own administration, having originally been planted by true servants of
God. But each one has DIFFERENT
PROBLEMS, differences in many ways, and each is given particularly pointed
correction (Rev.2-3).
Notice that to the first church,
Ephesus, Christ says, "Remember therefore from whence thou art FALLEN, and
do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy
candlestick out of his place, except thou REPENT" (Rev.2:5). Here is a church, in the end time, just
before the "Day of the Lord" (Rev.1:10), which needs to REPENT!
The third church, in Pergamos, also
is told, "REPENT; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight
against them with the sword of my mouth" (Rev.2:16). This also seems to be a clear indication of
the existence of this church just before the second coming of Christ -- it will
be in existence "when he comes" and He will fight against it, when He
returns, if it doesn't REPENT of its sins!
Yet it also has faithful saints, typified by the martyr Antipas, whom
Christ refers to as "my faithful martyr" (v.13).
The fourth church, Thyatira, is
told, "But that which ye have already hold fast TILL I COME" (Rev.2:25). It also is obviously in existence when Christ
returns, as it is commanded to "hold fast" TILL He returns!
The fifth church, Sardis, is also
warned: "Remember therefore how
thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will
come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon
thee" (Rev.3:3).
Similarly, the sixth church,
Philadelphia is told: "Behold, I
come quickly: hold that fast which thou
hast, that no man take thy crown" (Rev.3:11).
Finally, the seventh church, the
church of Laodicea, is told: "I
counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich: and
white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness
do not appear" (Rev.3:18). Here is
reference to the end-time Great Tribulation just ahead of us, which this
"division" or "segment" or "remnant" of the
Church of God must go through, in order to be made white and worthy!
These seven "churches" of
Revelation stand for and represent SEVEN MAJOR DIVISIONS OR INDEPENDENT GROUPS
which worship God and "keep His commandments," and believe in Christ
as the Messiah, to the extent that God still considers them HIS Church! But they obviously have many, many major
problems, which earn most of them the wrath and anger of God, if they don't
"repent"!
This indicates that during these
last days, the "true church of God" has over the centuries divided up
into SEVEN major or minor "branches" -- each different, yet each
enough alike to be part of the SAME TREE.
Each has the SAME Spirit, but each has unique differences. Pergamos has a problem with paganism creeping
in (Rev.2:14). Smyrna doesn't have much
knowledge, apparently, but is rich in love -- and gives its life in persecution
and martyrdom (Rev.2:9-10). Thyatira has
a problem with the teachings of "Jezebel" -- a type of the great
false church (Rev.2:18-21).
The most degenerate of all the
churches, of course, is the LAODICEAN church (Rev.3:13-22). Its seems to describe not the Worldwide
Church of God, which is very rapidly becoming "Protestant," but now
its major offshoot Churches!
Why is God’s Church so divided up,
today? Why seven different major
divisions?
The answer involves the problem of
church government! Division occurs where
leadership that would be truly obedient to God is lacking! It occurs when people cease to look to the
Word of God and begin to look to human leaders instead!
To preserve and protect the Church
is why God placed GOVERNMENTAL OFFICES in His Church!
WHY
Church Government?
Paul
wrote to the Ephesians, "And he gave some, apostles, and some, prophets;
and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers [WHY?]: For the perfecting of the saints [i.e., they
are not yet perfect!], for the work of the ministry, for the edifying
[BUILDING, strengthening] of the body of Christ [the church]: TILL WE ALL COME IN THE UNITY OF THE
FAITH" -- ah hah! Did you catch
that? "TILL we all come in [or,
INTO] the UNITY of the faith." In
other words, WE DO NOT YET HAVE TRUE OR PERFECT UNITY in faith, beliefs,
doctrines, etc.!
The Greek word translated
"church," ekklesia, merely means "called out ones." In the Old Testament, the "church in the
wilderness" (Acts 7:38) was generally called the "congregation of
Israel." The proper name of God's
Church, therefore, could be interpreted in English as "Assembly of
God," "Congregation of God," "Church of God," or the
"Group of God," or anything similar.
There is nothing particularly "holy" about the word
"church" itself. It is,
properly speaking, merely a term used to describe a religious
"group."
Just what is the "church of
God," or "God's Church," which Jesus Christ founded? Is it a human organization of men, with a
corporate charter approved by a state or government of this world? Many people seem to think so. However, that is NOT what the Scriptures
teach us!
Rather, the church of God is the
"body of Christ" -- that is, all those who truly belong to Christ
Jesus, who have His Holy Spirit -- whether or not they belong to any other
"organization" or "group."
As Paul wrote, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into ONE BODY,
whether we are Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bone or free; and have been all
made to drink into one Spirit. For the
body is not one member but many” (I Cor.12:13-14). This is a SPIRITUAL BODY! It consists of all TRUE believers – those
whom God has called and chosen! It is
defined as all those people who have the Holy Spirit of God within them. As Paul also explained, “Now if any man have
not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Rom.8:9).
Paul also wrote the Ephesians,
“There is ONE BODY, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your
calling” (Eph.4:3).
These true believers could even be
scattered throughout many different Christ-professing groups, each with varying
degrees of error in their teaching. Some
of these true members of the spiritual "body of Christ" may not have
contact with any organization of group.
They could be all alone, serving God in their area! They may not even know of another true
Christian, who believes like they do, for hundreds of miles!
This may seem incredible to some,
but even Elijah at one point in his life thought that he was the only remaining
true believer in God in all Israel! He
said to God, when the wicked queen Jezebel was seeking to slay him, "I
have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. l The Israelites have
rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death
with the sword. I am the only one
left, and now they are trying to kill me too" (I Kings 19:10). When
God once again asked him what he was doing in the desert, Elijah gave the same
answer again (verse 14). He thought he
was ALL ALONE serving God! He was
depressed, discouraged, and fearful of his life!
But Elijah was not alone. God told him, "Yet I reserve seven
thousand in Israel -- all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose
mouths have not kissed him" (verse 18).
The point I am making, here, is that
you do not need to have a "local congregation," or a "church of
God" in your area, in order to be a true servant of God -- even a powerful
servant, as Elijah was! Not at all! Let's grasp once and for all the plain TRUTH
about just what GOD'S "church" or "ekklesia" really IS!
The Ekklesia of God
The apostle Paul wrote, ". . .
Christ is the head of the Church, his body,
of which he is the Saviour" (Eph.5:23). As Christians, "we are members of his
body" (verse 30). Jesus is
"the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation . . . And
he is the head of the body, the church" (Col.1:15-18). God appoints "some to be apostles, some
to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to
prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be
built up UNTIL we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son
of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of
Christ" (Eph.4:11-13).
This Scripture shows, among other
things, that God has put spiritual "offices" in His Church, or the
body of Christ, according to the various talents and gifts that He gives to
men. Not all have the same abilities. As Paul wrote to the Romans, "Just as
each of us has one body with many members [hands, feet, toes, fingers, ears,
eyes, nose, mouth, lips, tongue, heart, legs, arms, etc., etc.], and these
members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form
one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts according to the
grace given us. If a man's gift is
prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is
teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is
contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is
leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it
cheerfully" (Rom.12:4-8).
The apostle Peter explains, along
the same lines, "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to
serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one
speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength
God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus
Christ" (I Pet.4:10-11).
All of us then, who serve God
honestly and humbling, sincerely and to the best of our knowledge according to
the truth of His Word, who have received the Spirit of Christ and of God as a
begettal, BELONG TO CHRIST! We are
members of His spiritual BODY! That body
is not in any way a "human" church or "human" corporation,
although there are many who may claim that they are the "only true Church
of God." Such claims border on
blasphemy against the Spirit of God!
According
to God’s Word, the purpose of the ministry is to ENCOURAGE growth, not to stop
it in its tracks. It is to encourage
spiritual development study, research, questioning, investigation of knowledge. God wants us to grow in grace, and in the
knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (II Pet.3:18).
The
original, intended purpose of the ministry, in the eyes of God, is revealed in
the book of Ephesians. God inspired Paul
to write, "And he gave some apostles; and some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the PERFECTING of the saints,
for the work of the ministry, for the EDIFYING of the body of Christ: Till we
all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
UNTO A PERFECT (MATURE) MAN, unto the measure of the stature of the FULNESS OF
CHRIST: That we henceforth be NO MORE CHILDREN (mere babes, infants), tossed to
and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men,
and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the
truth in love, may GROW UP INTO HIM IN ALL THINGS, which is the head, even
Christ" (Eph.4:11-15).
The
purpose of the ministers is to be helpers, to help us grow in faith and
knowledge of Christ -- not barbarian overlords.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "Not for that we have dominion over
your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand" (II
Cor.1:24).
Faith
is between you and God -- not you and the local minister. There is only one Intermediary between you
and God -- Jesus Christ (I Tim.2:5). You have only one Saviour -- Jesus Christ
(Acts 4:12).
There
are probably a good many sincere ministers in the Church of God, men who are
doing a good work of helping the brethren to grow, as best they can. We should love them and highly respect them
for their work and sacrifice. As Paul
wrote, "And we beseech you, brethren, to KNOW them which labour among you,
and are OVER you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to ESTEEM them very highly
IN LOVE for their work's sake" (I Thessalonians 5:12-13).
“Binding and Loosing”
Many
have read the Scripture in Matthew 16:19 where Jesus Christ said to Peter,
"And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and
whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever
thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.' Some have thought that
this Scripture gives Church ministers virtually carte blanche authority to make
decisions on earth, and whatever they decide will be automatically bound in
heaven!
For
example, if a minister made a wrong decision, totally contrary to the law of
God, do you believe that God would bind it anyway?
If
a minister decided a couple were living in adultery, when the law of God said
they were not, would God the minister's decision and force the couple to break
up in order to enter the Kingdom of God?
Is
God such a cruel, unjust, harsh monster?
Nonsense!
If
a minister or apostle or evangelist told a person who was already married in
the sight of God that it would be all right for him or her to marry another,
while their mate still lived, would God Almighty that decision, contrary to His
own law?
God
cannot contradict Himself, or bind any decision that is made contrary to His
own inexorable, eternal, immutable, spiritual LAW! THE LAW OF GOD IS ALWAYS BINDING and cannot
be nullified by the whim or error of any minister on the earth! The Law of God reveals the very picture of
the eternal CHARACTER of God! It shows
what He IS! Jesus Himself said,
"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one
tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled"
(MatL5:18).
The
apostle Paul pointed out, "Wherefore the law is HOLY, and the commandment
HOLY, and just, and good" (Rom.7: 12).
He added: "For we know that the LAW IS SPIRITUAL" (verse 14)
-- and that which is spiritual is of necessity ETERNAL! As Paul also wrote, "but the things
which are NOT SEEN are eternal" (II Cor.4:18). David wrote in the Psalms,
"All his commandments are sure.
They stand fast FOR EVER AND EVER, and are done in truth and
uprightness" (Psalm 111:7-8).
Isn't
that clear? Then no decision by any
minister at any time can nullify or do away with or abrogate or rescind or
erase the eternal, spiritual law of GOD!
If a minister makes a decision contrary to the law of God, his DECISION
itself in God's sight is null and void, cancelled out by the Law of God, and is
nullified and abrogated and rescinded by the higher law of GOD!
In
Matthew 16:19 Jesus Christ was not giving His ministry, or His apostles, any
authority to bind or loose or make decisions contrary to the eternal, immutable
law of God. This verse was never
intended to be used as carte blanche authority to support the abuse or misuse
of authority in the Church of God.
Rather, when those in authority read this verse, they should FEAR AND
TREMBLE -- for they will be held accountable before God for how they use their
ministerial authority!
Rulership
in God’s Church!
We read in Hebrews 13:17 a very important
Bible principle. Paul wrote, "Obey
them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for
your souls, as they that must give ACCOUNT.”
We also read in verse 7, “Remember them that have the RULE
over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of
their conversation [conduct].”
The word for “rule” in these verses in the
Greek language is hegeomai and means “TO LEAD” or “GUIDE.” It derives from the word hegemon which
means “a leader, a governor of a province, ruler.” Our English word “hegemony” comes from this
word.
Thus those in God’s Church who are in the
ministry are indeed “leaders,” “GUIDES,” rulers, and must GOVERN the Church –
they are spiritual “governors”!
Those
in the ministry will have to give ACCOUNT -- they will have to answer to Jesus
Christ -- for how they have conducted their ministry! They will be held RESPONSIBLE! Any who foolishly abuse their authority, or use
it like a club, or pervert it to contradict the laws of God, will be held
supremely accountable, and will suffer CONDEMNATION!
God never intended His ministry to rule the
flock or the Church with cruelty, harshness, or totalitarian despotism. His ministers were never intended to become
despots or tyrants over the flock. God
never intended His ministers to be suspicious “overlords," who would shoot
first, and ask questions of the body.
He never intended for His people to live
their lives in fear of the authorities, fearful of questioning, fearful of
harassment. He never intended His Church
to become an authoritarian-driven cult, with ministers prying into every nook
and comer of people's private lives. He
never intended the ministry to be a kind of Secret Police, KGB, or Nazi
Gestapo, encouraging members to spy on one another and to become
"informers."
According to the way of God, if any brother
in the Church sees another commit a sin, he is NOT to go straight to the
ministry, as a tattle-tale. Rather, he
is to go direct to his brother who sinned, and confront him IN LOVE with what
he saw.
As Paul wrote, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one IN THE SPIRIT OF MEEKNESS, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted" (Gal.6:1).
The apostle Peter said of God’s true ministry, “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: FEED the flock of God which is among you, taking the OVERSIGHT thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock” (I Peter 5:1-3).
Thus God’s true ministers will not be harsh, overbearing “over-lords.” They will be like loving shepherds, who feed the flock willingly, out of love. They indeed have “oversight” and responsibility for the flock entrusted by God to their care. They therefore have RULERSHIP over them, spiritually. But as true ministers, they will not abuse this authority, knowing that they must one day give a complete account of their actions and activities and rulership!
Authority
and Disfellowshipping
God’s people must realize and
recognize that Almighty God and Jesus Christ DID place “government” in His true
Church body! Let’s be sure we really
understand this matter! Don’t allow ANY
BODY – no matter how seemingly sincere – deceive you on this vital point of
Biblical truth!
God DOES give His true,
Spirit-begotten and Spirit-led MINISTERS authority to govern and RULE in the
Church of God!
The apostle Paul explains that
sometimes God’s ministers DO have to “DISFELLOWSHIP” certain brethren, or even
ministers, for the sake of protecting the flock, God’s people! It is God's principle and His way, ordained
in Scripture, that at times true ministers of God must disfellowship certain
people When brethren go astray, and
begin attacking God's servants, we must take action to defend the
flock. Paul says, in inspired Scripture:
"For though
absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present
I
have already pronounced judgment in the name of the Lord Jesus