Organization and structure

When a builder begins construction of a house, there are certain things that "come first." It's best to have a plan, to know the terms and definitions, and to have trusted co-workers.

It's the same way in the church. The body of Christ (our Savior is the head) should have structure and organization. The plan and the trusted co-workers are two parts of the equation, but the terms and defnitions? Wow!

There are so many different terms! In every denomination, one can find people doing similar jobs, but their job title is different! 

Humans can really add unnecessary layers to simple things, right?

Go figure.

In Titus, Paul uses a couple of terms, and we should study them. Let's look back at verse five, where he gives Titus his "mission statement."

The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.  (Titus 1:5)

What's an elder? 

Some of us may be in churches where that term is used, and some of us may not be. I think the next few verses (which we will study in detail soon) give us some clues.

An elder is:

•         a spiritually mature man
•         knowledgeable in the Scriptures
•         recognized by the local church to work with other elders
•         tasked with oversight and shepherding God's children

Again, we will study this more deeply very soon, but that is a passable definition for now. (Grin)

Now, here is where we muddy the waters a little. There are actually several terms in the New Testament which refer to church organization. We see elders, overseers, pastors, and leaders. Let's try to use scripture in order to understand scripture, ok? In verse five, the word used is "elder." It seems that they were a clearly defined and recognized group of men. (We have studied before, and I've shared my belief here and here that the teaching of the New Testament is this office is restricted to men. You can click on those two links and read two posts based on God's Word and my understanding of it, guided by His Spirit.)

In the New Testament, the churches were always described by the city they were in: the church in Corinth, in Ephesus, etc.  And there were multiple elders in each city (look back at verse five). The church in one city may have been large and still growing - they might have needed to meet in several locations, which were usually believers' homes. So there would have been an elder for each small group, and the church as a whole was viewed as a unit in that city.

It seems that the word "elder" was borrowed from the commonly used Jewish term for leadership. It referred to mature men. By virtue of their experience, possibly their gray hair (grin), and wisdom, they provided leadership in the remote and rural communities of the nation of Israel. So, an elder was expected to be a man of good character: consistent, godly character.

But wait! The Bible does NOT give an age requirement! (Notice, I said possibly gray hair.....not mandatory!) The scholars say that when Paul told Timothy not to let anyone look down on him for his youthfulness, Timothy was probably in his mid-thirties.

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. (I Timothy 4:12)

There are several references in Acts to the church in Jerusalem having elders, and Paul and Barnabas appointed elders quickly in the churches they founded on their first journey together (Acts 14). The Philippian church had elders, but they referred to them as overseers.

Maybe we better look at that, next.

I studied this, and it looks like "elder" and "overseer" are used interchangeably. The word translated overseer comes from secular culture. It referred to those whom the emperor appointed to lead city-states. In that role, they were to superintend, to watch over, and to guard those cities, in much the same way that an elder is to watch over the local church. (Later in church history, the term referred to the bishop or overseer of a city, who was higher in the chain of command than the other pastors in that city. Like I said, we humans tend to make things more complicated.....)

The word "pastor," which means shepherd when we use it as a noun, actually only is seen once in the New Testament! (Ephesians 4:11) The other times that we see it, it is used as a word of action - a verb. Like this:

Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. (Acts 20:28) 

So, elders are interchangeable with overseers and they are to "shepherd" the church. Here's another passage where all three titles are used:

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. (I Peter 5:1-3)

The elders are to shepherd the flock by exercising oversight. They are not to lord it over the people, but instead, shepherd them and provide a good example to them.

This may be the most important thing about being a church leader....one's motivation. The writer of Hebrews sums it up this way:

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. (Hebrews 13:17)

No matter what the leaders in a church congregation are called, they are tasked with being good shepherds. To emulate our Good Shepherd. That's a tall order! We'll study more about how the elders are supposed to act, and how they are qualified, next week.