BEN F. VICK, JR.
In Organization
A model church is one that is organized according to the New Testament pattern, or blueprint. Every congregation of the Lord’s people should strive to be scripturally organized (Titus 1:5). This is not an impossible task. However, each generation within a congregation must put forth every effort to develop overseers, deacons, preachers, and Bible class teachers. No one in the local congregation can rest on the laurels of past generations. Sometimes I think we dwell too much on what has been done in the past to the neglect of what can and must be done now and in the future. Briefly, let us look at the organization of the local church. What does the New Testament teach?
A church worthy of emulation is one that recognizes Christ as its head. “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1:22-23). In another place Paul wrote “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence” (Col. 1:18). Since Christ is the head of the church, then, as members of that one body (Col. 12:20, 27), we are obligated to submit to him. Just as the head directs the members of the physical body and those members submit willingly, so also has Christ directed us as members of his church. Whether we are shepherds, deacons, preachers, or others, we must all be in submission to Christ, the head.
The model church recognizes that the divine pattern teaches that each congregation is autonomous, i.e., self-governing. No congregation can dictate to another. No synod nor council nor group of preachers nor anyone else, for that matter, outside the local congregation can pass down edicts to the local congregation. But, though a congregation is autonomous, it is limited by the authority of Christ. It cannot go beyond that which is written (Cor. 4:6 [ASV]; II Jn. 9-11; Rev. 22:18-19). The decisions made by the elders in the local congregation are in the realm of expediency. They have no right to override God’s law.
In the model congregation there are workers called in the New Testament “pastors,” or “shepherds,” “bishops,” or “overseers,” or “elders” (Acts 14:23; 20:17, 28; I Pet. 5:1-3). The qualifications which are a prerequisite to this work are found in I Tim. 3 and Titus 1. Their primary work can be found in Acts 20:28: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” They are to: (1) take heed to themselves; (2) to take heed to the flock; and (3) to feed the flock of God.
One qualification that shepherds must have is leadership ability. Though it is not expressed in those terms, it is implied in the term “shepherd.” Remember Psalm 23:1-3? “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” From these verses, what does the good shepherd do? For one thing, he leads. He is not a follower. He considers what is best for the flock and for individual sheep and provides for them. Shepherds in Bible times did not drive the sheep, like cattle, but led them. Shepherds in the Lord’s church must be leading the flock by example in evangelism, benevolence, edification, worship, and in life.
It also needs to be stressed that the overseers of the local congregation have been delegated authority from the Lord (I Tim. 3:5; I Pet. 5:1-3). And it is not one elder who has this authority, but the eldership. Every member of the local congregation, including every preacher and each elder, is obligated to obey and submit to the decisions reached by the overseers (Heb. 13:17). Since elderships have this authority, they should be warned of the dangers of lording over God’s heritage. This is done when decisions which affect the whole congregation are arbitrarily made.
In the local congregations there are a special class of servants designated certain tasks who are called deacons. The word “deacon” simply means servant. The Greek word from which we get the English translation properly means, “raising dust by hastening.” This implies that deacons are to be diligent in their business. Not just anyone can serve as a deacon. These men must meet the qualifications found in I Timothy 3:8-13. They are under the eldership, as are all members. They may be assigned work by the overseers that would allow the overseers time to take heed to the flock and feed it properly. A deacon is not a title worn, but implies a work to be done.
Another class of workers in the church are evangelists, or preachers. Their work is described by their name. The word “evangelist” refers to one who bears glad tidings or good news. A preacher is a herald, or proclaimer. Paul told Timothy, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (II Tim. 4:1-4). This is a monumental task.
Years ago it was argued by W. Carl Ketcherside that it was sinful for a congregation to hire a preacher to preach for them. He said that such an arrangement was a “one man hireling ministry” and that the elders were given the responsibility to feed the flock, not the evangelist. G.K. Wallace and, later, Flavil L. Colley argued with Ketcherside the right of the church to hire a preacher to do local work. If a preacher can preach the gospel to the church (and he can [Rom. 1:14-17]) and it is right to support the preacher in his preaching (and it is [I Cor. 9:1-14]), then, it becomes a matter of expediency as to when, if, and how long that preacher should work with the congregation. Ketcherside was not opposed to a preacher’s going to a congregation for six weeks and holding Bible studies. This he did. Thus, he was a located preacher for six weeks.
However, the hiring of a preacher does not relieve elders from their responsibility to tend the flock, nor allow the congregation to sit back and leave the work all on the shoulders of the preacher. Each member must do his part. Shepherds must tend; deacons must serve; preachers must preach; Bible teachers must teach; and all must work together for the building up of the local congregation. And though we have a good congregation here, all of us must strive to improve (Matt. 5:48; Heb. 6:1).
[To Be Continued]