God's Elders and the Ecclesia
By Charles A. Holt
Article copied exactly as printed from source:
http://www.theexaminer.org/volume8/number1/elders.htm
COMMENTARY FOLLOWING THE ARTICLE IS BY DAVID YEUBANKS
1) What kind of elders did they have in the first century ecclesia? The same kind that they had in the Jewish system as we read in the OT Scriptures. They were elders of or among the people, NOT rulers of a religious organization. They had no organization or "church" in the days of the apostles. Elders were not, therefore, Church officials.
2) They were elders by virtue of their age, experience, knowledge of God’s word, ability, and leadership. Because of these qualities they were sought out by the people for leadership and teaching. They did not have any official office or position to which they were appointed; but they did have a vital responsibility as shepherds of the sheep.
3) We can’t appoint men TO BE elders by some ritual, ceremony, or rite. A man either is or he is not an elder and the people will know the difference. God’s elders are not position-fillers in some organization, such as the institutional church like those so numerous today. They were not corporate managers; there was no corporate institution for them to manage.
4) The elders of Israel were not elected or appointed to some office known as Elder. They were elders by virtue of who and what they were – teachers, shepherds, and pastors. There was nothing like the ritual and rites used today in selecting and "making elders" out of men. Elders were not church officials or managers of a man-devised corporation, such as churches are today.
5) In Acts 14:23 we are told that Paul and Barnabas "appointed elders for them in every ecclesia." Paul instructed Titus (1:5) to "appoint elders in every city as I directed you". There was one and only one ecclesia in each city. I defy anyone to prove that there was ever a plurality of ecclesias in any city in the days of the apostles. Look at the letters that Paul wrote to "the ecclesia" in the various cities. Not once does he indicate that there was more than one ecclesia in any city. The totality of the saints in each city made up or constituted the one ecclesia in the city, without regard to their number, whether a hundred or 50,000!
In the time of the apostles they did not have institutions, organizations, or corporate structures known as "churches" such as abound in our day. The saints did not "belong to a church" for no such thing existed in that day. They belonged only to Jesus Christ who redeemed and "purchased" them with His own blood. MEN, in their wisdom, build churches and everyone of them, regardless of the brand or kind, are the creations of men! If YOU are a member of some church, whatever the brand or kind, you are a member of something in which Jesus has no part nor lot.
WEBMASTER'S NOTE: In applause of the previous text, I would just like to offer a few additional comments that were stirred by my own reading of brother Holt's excellent article. The following comments are my own and are added merely in affirmation of my brother in Christ's words.
When the Scripture records in the above mentioned passages that elders were "appointed", it is also important to recognize the meaning of the word "appointed" as it is rendered in the Greek. In fact, there are different Greek terms used whereas in English there is generally the one. In Acts 14:23 the term signifies a gesture of agreement and choice (as by the raising of the hand). In other words the believers congregated together in that locality and expressed their approval and selection of those whom they recognized as elders. In Titus 1:5 "appoint" (or "ordain" as the KJV renders it) means to declare, show, exhibit, or make known. It also bears connotation of setting something or someone in place or in view (not "in office"). John Wesley (in his commentary on this passage) indicates that Paul intended to appoint the most faithful, zealous men in the community to watch over the rest. Men of character that had living faith, a pure conscience, and a blameless life. These were "set" (or "recognized" rather) as trustworthy examples to the rest; Men who would not place themselves in view (becoming obstacles), but who would encourage the saints in one profound devotion - to pursue Christ alone (devoting all, obeying and submitting their lives to Him only). When we think of elders, we must always think in the context of family and brotherly love, not organized official ministry and hierarchy because nothing of the sort is in view here.
This word "appoint" or "ordain" is the same word used of Jesus who "appointed" Himself twelve disciples. We ought to consider how Jesus appointed his 12 to get a clear understanding of how this term would have been used among the apostles in the early Church; Would we say that Jesus was ordaining official ministers into some church organization? Was his "ordination" with ceremony? Was it with public honors and fanciful titles? Was it by promising them a salary or investing them with special authority over other people and organizations? Did they require a diploma in theology? Did He select them because they had amazing credentials, past ministerial experience, or had gone through some prior ministry apprenticeship program? No, you say? No, is correct! Sounds rather ridiculous doesn't it when we think of Jesus and His followers in these terms doesn't it?
Not only does it sound ridiculous, but we might also mention the fact that Jesus warned them never to take such positions over His body and clothe themselves with hierarchical authority and religious titles! In the following passage, the terms "lord it over" and "exercise authority over" are precise hierarchical terms of rulership. Jesus is specifically describing the world's governmental system (hierarchy) and forbidding them to pattern themselves after any such notion! Their lot is to "wash feet"; to humbly serve in the lowliest place, to love, even give their lives for the sake of others.
Matthew 20:25-28 (NIV) - Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave-- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Interestingly enough, we might also note that this kind of humble service is what our English translations of the Bible have turned from a description of functional ministry into to an official title, called a "deacon." When Jesus says to his disciples that He did not come to BE served but TO serve and give his life, this word "serve" is the same Greek word that is translated "deacon" elsewhere in the New Testament. This is what I mean by organized religion turning function into office. How funny would it sound if we inserted here the phrase "Jesus used the office of a deacon"? No, Jesus was calling them to lay down their lives in humble service of love, just as He had modeled for them with His own life. This is the character of a true elder brother in Christ. Any shred of competition or lofty ideal of official ministry rule, rank and authority is shot to the ground by the Lord in this passage. He so clearly says, "IT SHALL NOT BE SO AMONG YOU!" How sad it is when men ignore and distort the Lord's own words to build and maintain their religious kingdoms and rule.
Jesus also directly instructed His disciples not to bear titles. I will repeat this statement again: JESUS DIRECTLY INSTRUCTED HIS DISCIPLES NOT TO BEAR TITLES! Again, it is the world's system that operates this way. Jesus points out to his own, "you are all brothers, on the same level with each other." It is interesting to note that when Jesus instructed them not to be called "Rabbi" or "Teacher", many commentaries equate this title with "Doctorate of Divinity" and early century history confirms that this was a religious title of honor that religious leaders took to themselves (though none of the patriarchs of the faith ever took such a title to themselves). Isn't it interesting how the whole institutional religious education system today centers upon its attendants striving after such titles and degrees of recognition and human approval, laden with all of their royal ceremonial pomp and circumstance? Jesus forbid even His own to behave this way and yet Christendom today thrives upon it - even requiring its patrons to bear and bow to these inventions of humanistic piety.
Matthew 23:8-12 (NLT) - "Don't ever let anyone call you 'rabbi,' for you have only one Teacher, and all of you are on the same level as brothers and sisters. And don't address anyone here on earth as 'Father,' for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father. And don't let anyone call you 'Master,' for there is only one master, the Messiah. The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
It is utter foolishness to think that by "appointing elders" the Scripture means to convey a placing into organizational religious office (for not only did nothing of the sort exist then - and this is verified over and over again by numerous historical accounts - but Jesus forbid such concepts continually and warned of the conflict that would arise when true Christianity is met with organized religion. He told them they would be thrown out of the religious meeting places when they made a firm stand for his truth. Organized religion will only tolerate passionate followers of Christ for so long. For even Christ himself was rejected by his own (John 1:11). Those who were the religious leaders of his day thought Him to be under the influence of Satan. Jesus said, "they hated Me, so will they hate you if you follow Me." (John 15:18)
John 16:1-4 (MSG) - "I've told you these things to prepare you for rough times ahead. They are going to throw you out of the meeting places. There will even come a time when anyone who kills you will think he's doing God a favor. They will do these things because they never really understood the Father. I've told you these things so that when the time comes and they start in on you, you'll be well-warned and ready for them..."
The apostles merely recognized trustworthy elders (older, wiser, spiritually mature brothers) among the people and exhorted them to care for God's people. This was not an instruction to lord over others or to organize official church meetings and set up programs and seminars, and neither did this appointing invest in them some kind of unquestionable official authority or position of mediation between the saints and their Lord. When Christians today leave behind the biblical emphasis on family, on brothers and sisters, and on community - they will inevitably confuse these kinds of passages and interpret them in light of organizational institutional context, which is absolutely foreign to the heart of the message that Scripture literally, simply and powerfully conveys. - David Yeubanks.
The above article was copied exactly as printed from http://www.theexaminer.org/volume8/number1/organize.htm. In case the article at the previously mentioned location ever moves to a new location or is removed from the Web, it has been archived here to avoid the potential of a "dead link" transpiring. Many authors represented on the TruthForFree.com/Prayer Shack website have no current affiliation with TruthForFree.com or the Prayer Shack. Articles are provided for personal, non-commercial use only.
Inclusion of articles like the above does not necessarily mean TruthForFree.com endorses every perspective view that may be conveyed on the source website, book or other publication. As with all things, the reader is encouraged to search the Scriptures and make his/her own conclusion based on prayer, conscience and study of the Word of God.
The comments following the article above were composed by David Yeubanks completely separate from the creation of the article by Charles Holt and may not necessarily express the views and opinios of the author (Holt).