The Responsibility and Authority of the Elders of the Church
From Eric, a servant of Jesus Christ, to all them that have received the love of the truth, that they might be sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ. Grace be unto you from the Lord Jesus Christ.
In a time like these when many are getting more concerned about the issue of authority among the people of God it is good to consult His word, because we find life and assurance in it.
Our text of study in this matter is: Act 20:28-32:
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.
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
This scripture is better grasped when it is begun from the 17th verse through the 38th and last verse, and by the help of the Spirit of God. The operating words in this holy thought here is "to take heed". It is defined figuratively as "to hold the mind towards", that is, pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to something. It can also mean to adhere to or to give attendance at, to or unto something. Another way to expand it is "to beware of", "to be given to", " to give or to have regard to or for" something.
Now, the first and foremost thing the elders are to give attention to is themselves. This is a very important responsibility. If we fail at this task we cannot succeed at the next one. As much as many desire to rule over cities and other men, ruling over our own tempers and desires is our greatest conquest in life.
"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." (Proverbs 16:32)
It is only when elders take heed to themselves that they can take heed to the flock or Church of God, whom the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ has made them to oversee and to feed. One reason given why there is great need for the elders to take heed to themselves and to the Church is that it is the Church, which the Lord has purchased with His own blood. This is a great matter because the blood is not a common thing to be taken lightly. Every blood washed soul is precious to His heart. He wants them to be fed, nursed and kept from evil and weaned to maturity in the things that last forever.
Another reason given in the 29th verse of Acts 20 for ministers of the Gospel to take heed to themselves and to the souls whom they have the responsibility to watch over is in the following words:
"For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock."
This was not a guesswork, but it was something that the apostle was very sure about, because it must have been revealed to him by God. It is shocking to the minds of those who follow the history of the church how these simple words of the apostle have taken shape and become a part of our existence through the years. What an omniscient God we serve! Of a truth, grievous wolves who do not spare the flock entered in among the elders of the church. Wolves are wicked hunters of the flock. The first mighty hunter before the Lord was Nimrod, and the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, AKA "confusion" (Genesis 10:8-10). The delicacies of the wolf is normally the flesh of the flock. Since no sane sheep would feel comfortable around a wolf, the wolf has to employ a decoy of disguise and appear as a harmless sheep.
Now, what is alarming is that these wolves were to come from among the elders of the church. These are supposed to be the ones entrusted with the care of the blood washed souls. This is more grievous when we consider what our Master suffered in the hands of evil men because of this flock! (1Peter 5:1) This is another reason to be watchful, as the apostle mentioned in the 30th verse:
"Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."
These grievous wolves do not arise from another religion otherwise the flock would pay them no heed. But they arise among trusted servants of the church. When they have gained the trust of the feeble sheep, they begin to speak perverse things aimed at drawing disciples after themselves, instead of drawing disciples after the Lord Jesus Christ. This is where the wary flock are to watch out! Whenever you perceive that a minister starts to speak perverse things about his authority over you and drawing you to himself, you should take heed to yourself because you are very near a wolf. Please, elders and flock, hear ye the Word of Christ, Himself:
"He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him." (John 7:18)
No true servant of Christ will turn the focus on himself and authority over you. The authority, which the Lord has given the ministers is for the edification of the flock, and not for their destruction (2Cor. 10:8). How dare you a mortal think to have dominion or authority over the faith of others?
"Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand." (2Cor. 1:24)
Meekness is to acknowledge your strength and yet restrain your self from asserting it on others. Even though some are quick to quote the words of Paul to support their teaching of authority in the church, he denied himself from using the authority of his apostleship to burden the church. (See 1Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 6). This is how to take heed to yourself.
Peter even gave more light to this matter in his address to the elders, placing himself in the same rank as they are.
1Pe 5:1-4
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:
2 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;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
It's a fearful thing to assume lordship or authority over the Lord's heritage. Men who do so are not wise. When the Chief Shepherd (Arch Bishop) of our souls shall appear with the rewards that doesn't fed away, some shall be filled with everlasting shame and others with everlasting joy.
To conclude this piece, it is needful to address the misconception some have given to some holy verses about authority in the church. Below are some verses they use:
"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." (Heb 13:7)
"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." (Heb 13:17)
The phrase "have the rule over" is the strong point of these teachers who are known for their perverse speeches aimed at drawing disciples after themselves. It can mean "to have authority over", if we were to speak in terms of Gentile government that the Lord Jesus Christ condemned. Thank God the translators of the King James recognized this difficulty and rendered the marginal reading as "them that are guides over you" or "them that guide you". The faith of Jesus Christ is different from that of the world. In the world, the rulers of men exercise authority and dominion over them. But the Lord said it shall not be so in the church.
Mat 20:25-28:
25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
If He said it shall not be so, it means it shall not be so; no matter what perverse things any wolf speaks, it shall not be so. Hebrews 13:7 and 17 does not contradict the words of Christ for those who are learned in the things of God. Ruling in the church is all about caring and feeding the flock, and not lording over the heritage of God. You don't present yourself to the church, you preach Christ. He alone is the message!
"For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake." (2Cor. 4:5)
It's only a perversion for you to change the theme of the Gospel and esteem yourself over and above the house of God. True servants of God esteem others better than themselves (Phil. 2:3). It's only the man of sin "who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2Thes. 2:4)
In the true Church, the Lord has said, "...all ye are brethren" (Matt. 23:8) marking no differences among us. But in Mystery Babylon, ranks and authority is emphasized over and above the uprightness of the doctrines of God, so that the structures of the organization of man can be sustained at all costs. Leadership and authority is strictly tied to ranks established by men, instead on the authority of the word of God.
For those who love to have their ranks recognized in the body of Christ, we may have to show you some scripture that will show you your rank:
1Cor. 3:22-23:
22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
The above hierarchy will satisfy every true heart in the way of the Lord. Paul shows us the order taught by Christ in Matthew 23:8-13, where the ministers are at the bottom of the table. Whoever would be great must become the servant of all. Now the table is such that Christ is at the head, followed by the new born babes in His faith (He does not joke with the things that affect them at all); after the little ones, we have the matured ones who are to watch over them, like their servants. These ones are the least among the brethren. It is a glorious place to occupy in the body, if you know the things of the Lord.
While Paul was telling the elders to take heed to (or to watch or beware of) themselves and the church, he reminded them that for three years he did not cease to warn every one night and day with tears about this very matter of grievous wolves. It's a very grave one that should not be taken lightly for one moment. Imagine the souls that are at stake if care is not taken!
Finally, we have to close this matter by looking at the solution provided by the Lord for this problem of usurpation of the authority in the church. Even before He became flesh in the land of Palestine it was foreseen by the prophet, Isaiah that the government shall be upon His shoulder. He alone (who is called "The Word of God") is the head of the church. Those who liken themselves to Moses or Aaron, as leaders of the people, ought to know that that position is not vacant at all. It's for the Lord Jesus Christ. By sitting on His seat in the temple, they proclaim themselves God, just like it was in Babylon of those days! O, man, you are not God!
"And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." (Act 20:32)
Here is the conclusion of the matter. The church and Elders are commended to God and His Word of Grace. We follow leaders who follow God. We submit to them by obeying the Word of God that they feed us with. In truth, it is the Word of God and God Himself that our submission is to, because we do not submit because of the person or rank of the minister, but because of God and His Word of grace that they bring to us. Therefore the authority is with God and the word of His grace, not the servant who preaches it to us. The moment they abandon their walk with God and start to speak perverse things, we are to take our flight from them for the sake of our souls. God alone has the authority in the church, not some men. In Him alone, the flock is safe.
I pray this piece will be a blessing to some man that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at God's word. Amen.
