Who leads congregations of the Lord’s church?
Posted on April 14, 2007
Filed Under Matt Clifton, The Church
by Matt Clifton
If you were to call or stop by a local denominational church in your town, you would probably be inclined to ask for “the pastor.” Having a “pastor” over a local church has become the standard among many evangelical denominations.
However, having a single “pastor” who is over a congregation is not the way church leadership is described in the Bible. Instead, the Bible shows that a group of elders led each cognregation.
But what is a “pastor?” The word itself is found only once in the English translations of the New Testament, and that is in Ephesians 4:11-12:
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
The Greek word translated “pastor” is poimen, which means “shepherd” (literally or figuratively). In its literal meaning, this word is used in passages such as Luke 2:8-20. It is used metaphorically in John 10:11, Heb. 13:20 and 1 Pet. 2:25:
It would seem clear that Paul’s use of poimen in Ephesians 4:11 is a metaphorical use, not meaning literal shepherds. But if Paul does not have taking care of livestock in mind, what does he mean?
In Acts 20:17, we read that Paul was in Miletus, and he calls for the elders at Ephesus (the same location to which he wrote and mentioned “pastors”) to come to him. Later on in Acts 20:28, he charges these Ephesian elders to:
Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
Here this same word is used to describe an action (shepherd) the elders of the church in Ephesus should perform, that of shepherding (or pastoring). He also tells them that they were made overseers (Greek episkopos, also translated “bishop” in some text) by the Holy Spirit.
We can see from this passage that “elder” is the same role as an “overseer.” The elders or overseers are charged to shepherd (pastor) the flock.
In one of Paul’s letters, he tells Titus that the reason he left him in Crete was so that he could “set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you” (Tit. 1:5). Notice that he was to appoint “elders” (plural) in every town. A fully organized church has members, overseers (elders) and deacons.
It is interesting to note that “pastors” (and all the equivalent terms, or course) are never found working alone. There is always a plurality of “pastors” in any one location. Paul called the Ephesian “elders” to Miletus, not the “elder.” Timothy was told to appoint “elders in every city,” not “an” elder in every city (Tit. 1:5). We never read of a sole “pastor” or “elder” over a church, contrary to the practice of appointing a “pastor” (who is really the evangelist or preacher) in some denominations.
In order to be worthy to fill the role of “elder,” one must have certain qualities. According to the third chapter of 1 Timothy, a man must first actually desire the work (1 Tim. 3:1). He must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, and able to teach (1 Tim. 3:2). He should not be addicted to wine or be pugnacious, but instead be gentle, peaceable, and free from the love of money (1 Tim. 3:3). He has to also manage his own household well and keep his own children under control (1 Tim. 3:4-5). He also should not be a recent convert (1 Tim. 3:6) and he must have a good reputation outside the church (1 Tim. 3:7). Generally these same qualities with some slight variation are repeated in Titus 1:5-9.
From this brief study we can see that the scriptures never speak of a single pastor leading a church, but rather a group of elders meeting biblical qualifications shepherd (pastor) the flock together as a unit.
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It seems these Biblical truths have been forgotten and/or never taught to many of the so-called preachers in todays “Restoration” churches. Just read some of their weekly printings. I.E. the “Chistian (un)Standard”. You would almost think you were reading the denominational worlds “best” offerings. But then again, maybe that’s intended.
Almost everything else the world churches propagate is echoed by many that used to be Bible believing, scripturally faithful forces for the increase of God’s kingdom here on earth. We now have split again (or in the middle of a separation from the Pentecost dated church) into the Disciples, non and instrumental churches of Christ-Christian churches and the fourth that can generally be recognized by given names such as “Crossroads, Community, Oak Hill on the Hill or under the hill, Whispering something” or the other and what have you. These latter seeker sensitive churches are generally “mega or wanna bee megas” that advertise that they “Have recently shifted from being destination churches to becoming churches with multiple destinations”.
Rick Warren, church growth gurus and their ilk I’m sure are proud of themselves in the unbiblical influence that they have wreaked among us!
Now instead of “One as You and I Father are One”, we have become four and counting.