In Matthew 16:18 Jesus told us that He would build His church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. God knew what He was doing when He designed His church. His wisdom is profoundly obvious, especially when we witness a congregation that does not respect His design.
God’s design for the church places Jesus at the head (Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:18). Jesus is the head of the church, His body. Every Christian is a part of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). It is important to note that every member is a part of the body and there is only one head.
Jesus is the leader of the Lord’s church. He died for the church. He purchased the church with His blood. It is His church. With Jesus as the head of the body, Christians are to work together, as His body, to fulfill His will. In order to fulfill His will on this earth God established leadership roles within the body of Christ so that things could be done in order and peace.
Think about the church’s leadership. God decided that each congregation should be led by elders (Acts 14:23; 20:17; Titus 1:5-16; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Hebrews 13:17). Elders (presbyters, overseers, bishops, shepherds, or pastors) are always mentioned in the Bible as a plurality. As Jesus’ representatives, elders are to lead the spiritual and physical affairs of the church. This means that elders, as overseers, are to watch over and protect the church. Elders, as shepherds, are to spiritually guide and feed the church. It is God’s plan that every congregation have elders to lead His church.
We also know that deacons (servants or ministers) are a part of the leadership in His church (1 Timothy 3:8-13). These men are called to specific tasks within the body of Christ. Like all parts of the body the deacons fall under the leadership of the elders. While all of the body falls under the headship of Christ.
When a congregation doesn’t have elders or there are problems in the eldership, then that congregation tends to become a democracy. When that happens, the church is no longer following God’s design for His church. When the church no longer follows God’s design for His church then problems, more often than not, arise.
A democracy is a system “where all powers are invested in all the people equally; the self-rule of the people.” The church is not a democracy self-ruled by the people. The church is a monarchy ruled by the One King, Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18; Acts 2:36). And our King, Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, provided instructions on the way His church should be governed.
While it is true that not every congregation of the Lord’s church can function as the Lord designed, that congregation is still the Lord’s church. Every Christian is a part of the body of Christ – His church. The challenges that a congregation faces without an eldership are more complex than those congregations with an eldership.
As we look ahead to the future of the church in Golden, we must consider the importance of maintaining an eldership. May God bless us as we do our best to fulfill God’s design for His church.
