Church leadership – Part 2/2

In part one, we saw the parallels between the priesthood under the Law to Israel, with priests and Levites, and the New Testament order of elders and deacons in local churches everywhere. (The roots of the New Testament faith are found in the Word of God in the Tenach, not in rabbinic tradition or interpretations.) They are the religious leaders of God’s people. The priests, chosen by YHVH to be from Aaron’s family and their descendants, were the whole people’s representatives before YHVH their God and Father, and the Levites were given by YHVH to help the priests in the holy work of serving the worship of God and of serving the needs of the people. The High Priest came only from Aaron, through his son, Eleazar. Yeshua/Jesus is our High Priest, of a different order. It could be said that there was a “clergy” and a “laity” under the Law of Moses, but this is not the case in the Melchizedek royal priesthood in Messiah/Christ.  Even so, there is still God’s order and levels of authority – hierarchy – within the churches, according to the NT teachings.   

YHVH God is calling out a priesthood from among all tribes, tongues, nations, and people groups to rule and reign with Yeshua the Messiah when He returns to establish forever God’s Kingdom within His own Creation, and among the people whom He has created, called, chosen, and made. We are a kingdom of priests, a royal priesthood, and will forever be a holy people unto God our Father, never to fall away again, to be fully fulfilled in the new and perfect Creation of a new heaven and Earth! Praise the LORD for such a promise and hope!

God’s thoughts and ways and wisdom are not ours, and He wants us to learn and obtain His. While priests and kings in Israel were restricted under the Law to certain tribes, families, and individuals, under the New Covenant now, there is no such restriction for “officially” serving or having authority “in the Lord” within local churches of the Body of Christ. (Heb 13:7-8, 17) While not all have “official” responsibilities, we are all responsible to submit to God’s word and order, and to influence and encourage one another in knowing and doing His will with love and thanksgiving. A huge challenge, as we all know! Praise God for such a high standard!

We saw from the Book of Acts how the Apostles gave to the multitude of disciples to choose from among themselves men suitable in character, and godly power and wisdom to serve as deacons, whom the Apostles would confirm, for helping the Apostles in the great work which God was accomplishing, helping the believers – without discrimination – especially the poor and widows and orphans, regarding their daily “material” needs. Deacons can be thought of as “first responders.” The Apostles were to be dedicated more to prayer and to the reading and teaching of the Word of God.  In our day this is the pattern that we want to follow in choosing deacons for Yeshua’s Inheritance Cong. It is all holy service! 

In Christ/Messiah, we are equal as brothers and sisters, but have different callings, giftings, ministries, positions. We are one building being fit together as living stones to be a holy dwelling place for the Spirit of God; and we are one body with each and every member having its part and function to play in building up corporately – one new man in Messiah – the believers in love and truth and the righteousness of God, so that as Christ’s body we are functioning spiritually healthily. All to the glory of our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ/Yeshua the Messiah! Scriptures speak to local assemblies, to individuals in a congregational context, and to churches in cities (the church or the saints “in Ephesus”). We are admonished to not forsake the assembling together, as many do, and especially as the Day approaches. We are called to be a collective and relational family and community of the faith, not “stand alone” individuals of faith. Each of us influences many others, often without even recognizing it – for good and for bad.

Who can be a deacon or an elder? That was the question that I left you with last week. What does the Holy Spirit have to say through the Apostles Paul and Peter about this? (1Tim 3:1-15; Tit 1:5-11; 1Pt 5:1-7)

Character and conduct are important qualities for those serving in God’s house. (I believe that this also very much applies to worship leaders and those who help to lead us in Holy Spirit-led praise and worship. Under King David’s rule, he assigned worship leaders, and they were all Levites, from the priestly tribe. (1Chron 15-16) The priestly tribe was especially separated out unto YHVH – holy to YHVH – and that is true for each and all who are born-again by the Holy Spirit, believing in Yeshua/Jesus as their Savior and Lord.) We are all priests in Messiah/Christ, who has made us kings and priests to our God. (Num 3:5-13; Rev 5:9-10) 

Potentially any man (sometimes women as deacons) can be a deacon or an elder: God has His order, and will keep it; it is for us also to strive to keep it. (Of course, there may be exceptions to the rule, but the rule remains; the exception is just that, and the person who may be an exception must also recognize that, and not advocate for the exception to become equal with the rule.) As we see in the two passages from Paul, he is mostly describing the character attributes of a mature believer, and the same for his wife. He is describing those old and mature enough to have a family whose children are also old enough to know if they respect their father and mother. They are to be faithful in their marriage, and sober in their habits and conduct. It is important that they have a good name ‘outside’ – by unbelievers, by other godly believers not in the particular local congregation. Our name ‘outside’ reflects on the name of the Lord, whom we represent, and also on the “quality” of our particular congregation. Peter speaks of elders being willing servants, and leading by godly example.

It seems clear from these Scriptures that deacons need to be as “holy” as the elders, but they may be younger in the faith; apart from this, there is not much difference in the requirement for godly character and testimony, and sound doctrine regarding the mystery of the faith, which I believe is the truth of the one, triune YHVH God. Obviously, those who would be deacons and elders in a local congregation need to first be faithful to the name of our Father in Heaven, and of the name of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah/Jesus Christ; secondly, faithful to his family; thirdly, faithful to the well-being of the congregation which they serve. (Jn 15:9-11; Rev 2-3) Going to a Bible school or seminary does not in and of itself qualify a person to become a “spiritual leader” within a church. The churches belong to Yeshua/Jesus! The pastor and others are stewards of HIS congregation.

Not all who fit the description will become officially “titled” a deacon or an elder or pastor within a local congregation. How good to have many with such godly attributes and testimonies serving God together to shepherd the flock of God (it is the Lord’s church! [Rev 1:12-20]) within this congregation, and among other churches in our city?! It also prepares for the time when the congregation may become two, or three; or for when we will not be able to meet any longer here, but must gather together in homes in small groups only, and will need godly and mature leadership, maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. The description should be a ‘goal’ of every believer, not only those who do, or will, ‘officially’ serve, lead, rule. Paul, by the Holy Spirit, is describing a man of God. To be a leader in God’s Kingdom and order, he must be a servant of all. Yeshua – Lord at His birth; the King of the Jews; the Son of God; the Messiah – came to serve, and not to be served. We all fall short of the glory of God; but praise to Him for His amazing grace and plentiful mercies as we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, even with blessed assurance for those who endure in the faith till the end! 

We can see in our congregation that there is a generation and age gap between those who are now officially leading, and between those that we are looking for to carry the congregation onward to full maturity. We are few who are in their 40s and 50s who are committing themselves to the active life of the congregation, and in relationship with others not of their own family or small circle of friends. As we read in Ephesians, the spiritual leadership of the church is to disciple and equip the saints unto full maturity so that you are strong in your knowledge and faith in the Great and Chief Shepherd, so that should a lesser shepherd be “removed” for any normal or abnormal reason, the sheep are not scattered, but rather mature enough to carry on the Master’s good work, with the heart of our heavenly Father. (2Tim 3:16-17) Sound doctrine is essential, and must be learned and understood according to the whole counsel of God; in other words, according to all of the Bible, the living written Word of God. For one hoping to become an elder or a pastor or a teacher one day, you certainly need to be a reader and a student of the Tanach and of the New Testament.

I would not say that it is necessarily a “calling” to be a deacon or and elder, but it is desirable to want to serve the Lord by nurturing these attributes. It is a privilege and an honor to be seen by your brothers and sisters as “worthy” to be a deacon, or to be seen as suitable by the elders to be an elder. Again, it may not always seem logical, but the thoughts and the ways of our God are way above ours, and not like ours. The Jewish builders of society in Israel were supposed to recognize the cornerstone for it, but rejected the cornerstone whom YHVH had chosen, and so the foundation was not sound. Samuel the prophet and priest, and also Jesse, David’s father, thought that one of the older brothers of David was the one to be chosen of God to become the King after Saul; but YHVH directed Samuel to call for David, who was out following the sheep, and also protecting them from enemy predators. He had the heart that the LORD was looking for. There are many examples in the Bible of God not choosing the firstborn son to become the recipient of His sovereign grace.

Again, look around when you are here for the services, and also by what you also see and hear during the week, for those whom you think are ones to help serve as deacons in Yeshua’s Inheritance Cong. Being a deacon is not only serving or being responsible for a weekly service, but to be on-call to respond to the needs of the brothers and sisters, and for the property, with love to help, and to assist the elders in the too-big-work required to be a functioning and spiritually healthy family and community, loving our Father in Heaven, loving Yeshua our Lord and Savior, loving one another, and caring also for those outside who need to “see” His love for them, too, for whom Yeshua died, and rose again! If you see a man or woman for this, ask him/her if they would be willing to be considered, and then tell the elders whom you think. The elders will make the final decision. Deacons serve under the authority of the elders. It is not for one “deacon” or for one “elder,” but for several of each, working together with diligence, understanding and wisdom for the household of faith. They can recruit others, who are not “official”, as a team, to help with the need, and do what is necessary to provide the help and service. Deacons ought to keep the eldership informed, and sometimes ask first before “responding” immediately, if they are not sure. (Mt 17:24-27)

Authority is given; it is received from those with recognized authority, not taken by self-will or from outside authorities. The elders in our congregation have spiritual authority over the life of this congregation, including doctrinal issues that influence our conduct and life-style, and its impact on others. The elders also have the authority to discipline, even to removing, members of the congregation because of sinful and/or divisive conduct. Elders, including the pastor, are not above “the law”, but are also governed by the commandments of the Messiah and of those who have written the NT by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is much to be preferred that the elders and the pastor are “home-grown” within the congregation, than by others outside having governance, or coming in without local knowledge and an already existing personal relationship and fellowship with the members of the church. As said earlier, the NT does not recognize a “clergy class”, based only on “credentials” recognized by a denomination; but we are all governed by the Word of God, and are “cross”-governed and related: deny ourself, pick up our personal cross daily, and follow Jesus/Yeshua.

It is my understanding that the Pastor is one of the elders, but does have a responsibility and authority weightier than the other elders. It is for him and them to cast vision for the congregation, and to encourage the members to use their callings, giftings, skills, knowledge to serve God in this world of bringing others to know the truth of the gospel and of Jesus Christ, all of us sanctifying and purifying ourselves in the hope of His return, when we shall see Him as He is. (1Jn 3:2-3)  

We are being trained to rule and reign with Messiah in His 1000-year Kingdom on this Earth. Yet, the lives that we live now will impact our part in that kingdom: the works that we do as believers will affect our rewards in the Kingdom to come. Our unmerited salvation by grace is assured if we “keep the faith”, but our role in it is partly merit-based. We are not all equal in abilities, skills, knowledge, and God will not give us more than He knows we can manage. The Lord spoke about those servants who used their money and talents, which He gave them, whether they were “good and faithful” to Him, or whether they were “wicked and lazy”. To the ”good and faithful” He promised them to be rewarded to rule over 10 cities, others five cities; to the “wicked and lazy” He took away what He had given him, and sent him away from the kingdom. It is not for us, or our mother, to pre-determine our kingdom position; but how we live and what we do now for the Lord will affect our “rewards” in the coming Kingdom.  Our lives now matter! What choices are we making; what are we investing our lives in, whatever our vocation or lot in life? (Lk 19:11-27; Mt 25:13-30; Mt 20:20-28)

We will need mature and godly men and women to not only lead this congregation now, but also into the future when the time comes to meet in smaller groups, or in another local congregation, whether of ours or not. With our gifts and attributes let us work together as one body, and not only if we have a “title,” but every member of the body providing his/her part. Thanks to you all who are already doing that!