Question: Will you please comment some on the different parts of the ministry and other officers in the Church; the methods of their selection, the method of certification or ordination and procedure for this and their duties, etc.
Answer: This is a very big subject and I am certain I will not be able to cover it in the space allotted to me in this column, but perhaps I can produce a few important points that might be helpful to the questioner. Though it is a very large topic, it is a very beautiful one and I am glad for the opportunity to present a few points on it for the consideration of the readers.
First, let us realize that the human body which is used as a model of the Body of Christ, the Church, throughout the 12th chapter of I Corinthians and in many other scriptures of the New Testament is the most complete, synchronized and most completely harmonious in the functioning of all its parts of any organism that there is. The reader may read the entire chapter of I Corinthians 12; Romans 12:5; Ephesians 1:22-23 and Galatians 1:24 as they are all related to this point. God fashioned, built and organized His Church on this model. But to build a Church after this fashion (Matthew 16:18; Hebrews 8:2; Colossians 1:18) is to assemble the members of the Church together to join them together by joints and bands (Colossians 2:19) and furnish it with organs and necessary facilities to function as a unified body. To form the body of Christ, He has brought together, in order, a number of persons, saved men and women who have been saved and cleansed from sin by the blood of Jesus, and put them together in an orderly, functional, structured whole so they can function as a unit.
Then within this body He has provided a special, distinct group of individuals called ministers with various gifts and callings to meet the health needs of the body, and among other things, to function as a kind of built-in, self-healing facility so that the body may maintain a good, healthy condition and function efficiently for its intended purpose a soul-saving and a soul-nurturing institution. There is in the human body a specified quantity of blood and in that blood are numerous minute particles called corpuscles. The particular function of certain of these corpuscles is to fight infection and promote the healing process in any part where the body has been hurt or has sustained a severe wound, bruise or injury. The procedure is this: when such a thing happens in any part of the body, the blood immediately rushes to that part conveying these corpuscles to that area. These corpuscles just come swarming into that particular trouble spot and immediately set up a fight against the wound, bruise or injury. The ministry that God has set in the Church serves the body of Christ in a similar capacity. I saw this very beautifully demonstrated at a time when an infectious situation had developed in a certain area. An SOS call for help was sent out. Ministers heard the call in far distant places and in several states.
Those ministers were consecrated, dedicated men to God and His cause and the body had been severely injured and was in danger. When they received the call they immediately dropped what they were doing and immediately arranged plans to travel. Some came from a distance of 2500 miles and from several different states and converged on the infectious area ready to do battle with the infection and take steps to set up a healing process of the condition. Not only did the ministers respond in this case but the saints throughout this far-flung area rallied to the emergency and on very short notice raised sufficient money to cover the traveling expenses of all those ministers traveling by plane from great distances. But a severe emergency was existing, the body of Christ had received a severe injury and was in danger and the situation immediately set in motion the in-built self-healing agency that God has set up in the body of Christ when He built it. Actually nothing else mattered right then but to get there and get the infection stopped and set up a healing process for the condition.
In Acts 20:28 we read, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” This verse is contained in Paul’s last farewell message to the elders of the Ephesian Church beginning in verse 17 and continuing through verse 35. We see in this verse how the elders obtained their position and from whom they received their office by the Holy Ghost. We see also what their duty is to feed the Church of God. The next two or three verses carry the thought that their feeding of the flock needs to contain an ingredient of teaching and warning concerning those who might come in among them or even some who were among them then, who would arise speaking perverse things to draw away some from the congregation to follow them. The elders or overseers are charged with the responsibility of watching for any signs of approaching danger for the flock and to sound out an admonition to the saints concerning it. Hebrews 13:17 says that “…They watch for your souls, as they that must give account,….” In Acts 20:28, Paul charges the elders of the Ephesian Church to “Take heed unto yourselves,…” This was the first charge to them; then to take heed to the souls committed tot heir charge. From verse 13 through 19 he has been reminding them of his work among them; he had faithfully taught them publicly and privately from house to house by day and by night and had kept back nothing that was profitable to them and therefore he was free from the blood of all men. Then he said “Take heed THEREFORE unto yourselves,…” That word THEREFORE is important here. In other words, you have my example of my work among you to go by. Use that as a pattern for your work with the souls committed to your charge and go forth and be faithful to your post.
In I Peter 5:2-3, we read Peter’s exhortation to elders, “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” We see here Peter is giving the same instruction to the elders that Paul gave in Acts 20:28, “…Feed the church of God,….” It is clear and evident that God wants the saints well-fed and instructed in the ways of truth and righteousness and well-warned and admonished concerning things that would affect them wrongfully and to avoid all such things. Let all of us to whom God has committed to our trust (Paul said “…He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry. I Timothy 1:12.) be faithful at our post and serve Him in humility and fear so long as He places us in this responsibility.
I wish to return now to Hebrews 13:17 and note a few points in regard to the ruler, overseer, pastor or guide (by whatever name you desire to call them all are scriptural). This verse says, “…They watch for your souls, as they that must give account,…” This identifies them with the watchmen referred to in Ezekiel 33:1-9. The first six verses refer to the nation at war and how they select a man for their watchman and what his duties are. If he sees the sword coming and blows the trumpet and sounds the warning, whether the people respond to it and prepare themselves for battle or not, the watchman has cleared himself no matter what happens to the people. But if he fails to blow the trumpet and sound the warning and the people are destroyed, their blood will be required at the watchman’s hand. Then verse 7 says, “So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.” The first word of the verse, “So,” means “in like manner.” This had reference to literal Israel but it is also a type of spiritual Israel, the saints under the new covenant. God has appointed watchmen, overseers, rulers, pastors or guides over His people in this “new” age of time for the specific purpose to keep them warned, advised, admonished and instructed concerning things God reveals to them. If people will give heed to their pastor’s admonitions and he faithfully warns them of impending danger it will be well with both them and their watchman. If they fail to heed the warnings given, and the enemy comes in and gains advantage over them, deceives and overthrows them, it will still be well with the faithful pastor but not for them. If the watchman fails to see what is happening and fails to give warning and evil comes upon the people, then their blood will be required at the watchman’s hand.
So the watchman stands in a very responsible place and must be very sincere, diligent and faithful if he is to save his own soul. Also the congregation whom he serves must be very diligent and sincere to obey and submit themselves if they would save their souls. All things considered, it is easy to see why these instructions are given to obey and submit. God has placed them there for that specific purpose and people are helping on their own destruction and total ruin who take an independent stand on anything they have been admonished by God’s man and fail to obey and submit themselves. Some have said, “If God tells me, I will accept it, but I will not accept it from man.” But the advice from here is that if you take an attitude to discredit and discount the worth of God’s man and say you are just going to get your direction from God Himself, I will almost guarantee you will come up with a grand deception and just go shouting your way right on to your own destruction and ruin. In Luke 10:16 Jesus said, “He that heareth you heareth me;…” He speaks through His men.
In I Peter 5:2 and Acts 20:28 we read that it is the duty and responsibility of the elders to feed the flock, the Church of God. It is the elders duty to always have something from God to feed, nourish, edify, strengthen, build up and inspire the souls of the people; also to admonish, instruct and enlighten them.
In Hebrews 13:17 where it says, “Obey them that have the rule over you,…” the margin says “Guide.” The true man of God rules his flock or congregation by guiding and leading them and showing them how to fulfill the Word and will of God in their lives by performing it right before their eyes. In Philippians 3:17 Paul said, “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.” Again in Philippians 4:9 Paul said, “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and SEEN in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” Peter writing to the elders in I Peter 5:3 said, “Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” And Paul wrote to Timothy, the pastor or overseer at Ephesus, in I Timothy 4:12, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” Oh, how beautiful this is when a pastor can bring a message from God’s Word on any line and when he has finished can say: “Now that is the message from God’s Holy Word. You just watch me now and I will show you how to do it.” I promise you that you can guide, lead and govern your congregations more successfully by this method than by being a lord over God’s heritage and governing by dogmatic commands.
Then we see in Matthew 18:15-20 Jesus giving instructions and directions to His ministry for maintaining order and discipline in the Church. Clearly this is one of their major responsibilities. The instruction here is if a brother offends, go to him and tell him his fault between the two of you alone. If he refuses to hear you, take one or two more with you and go again. If he refuses to hear them, take it to the Church. And at this point the pastor and elders come into it and it is their responsibility to settle the matter equitably and right even if it comes to expelling the offending party from the fellowship of the Church. Jesus said He would put His seal and sanction on any judgment rendered by His spirit-filled men according to His Word. In verse 18 He said, “…Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” But the conclusion of the whole matter is in verse 20 where He said, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” It is Jesus executing judgment through His God-called, spirit-filled, Holy Spirit appointed men performing the work of God in their place.
In Matthew 16:19 Jesus said to Peter, “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven:…” This was not just to Peter, but it was said in a direct conversation between Jesus and Peter so it has been taken that way by some. However, this applied to all the Apostles and all of their successors, (ministers of the Church of God) throughout this gospel age of time. Every God-called, God-qualified minister has those keys. They are God’s Word and God’s Holy Spirit. And all the work done through these agents has the seal and sanction of God and heaven upon the back of it.
We read in Ephesians 4:11-13, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” We see here several classifications of ministry, all of whose work and place in the ministry are necessary in bringing the members of the body of Christ into the unity of faith and bringing them to full maturity and development in Christ and in their Christian experience.
The “apostle” is defined as a “planter.” Paul, who was an apostle, said of himself and his work in I Corinthians 3:6, “I have planted,…” As we follow the work and ministry of Paul we see that he was perpetually and constantly reaching out into new, virgin territory planting the truth and establishing new churches. He said of his work in Romans 15:20, “Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation.” We conclude, then, that the work of an apostle is to go into new territory and plant the gospel and gain converts to the Christian faith and establish churches. We may think of apostles as only the twelve apostles of Jesus. Truly they were a hand-picked special group selected by Jesus to be with Him during His ministry and death, resurrection and ascension; to plant the truth and establish the first Christian Church in Jerusalem. They were also to pilot it through its early stages and then after that in other outlying areas.
The second thing mentioned in Ephesians 4:11-13 is “prophets.” This is another phase of God’s ministry for the Church. We do not want to confuse the “prophets” in the New Testament Church nor endeavor to identify them with the “prophets” of Israel in Old Testament times. The New Testament prophet speaketh unto men to edification, exhortation and comfort. (I Corinthians 14:3.) This identifies him as a proclaimer of the gospel truth the same as all other ministers of the New Testament Church. Yet there is a difference in his ministry and the other classifications of ministers. He is different from the apostle, pastor or teacher, etc. But he is a man whom God can use in special purposes wherever they are. Sometimes they foretell future events also as in the case of Agabus. (Acts 11:27-30; 21:11.)
The third classification in Ephesians 4:11 is “evangelists.” They are principally traveling ministers who go about to different established churches and sometimes where there are no churches. The main burden of their ministry is the saving of sinners and also to support the pastors and undergird them in their teaching and managing of their congregations.
The fourth classification is “pastors and teachers,” which we have already considered extensively.
The important thing in this respect is for everyone who is called of God to the ministry to abide in the same calling wherein he is called. (I Corinthians 7:20.) It has sometimes been very detrimental and troublesome when one called and qualified in one phase of the ministry crosses over the line of his ministry and tries to exercise himself in another phase of ministry for which he has not been called and qualified. This can upset a lot of things. This kind of thing happens more often in evangelists crossing over their line of ministry and endeavoring to take the place of the pastor in his preaching. An evangelist can very well leave a pastor more problems and troubles than he had before he came if he does not behave himself wisely in the congregation. I would especially caution all evangelists not to dabble with problems in the congregation or counsel anyone involved in a problem with his pastor without bringing the pastor in on the counseling or you can very seriously deepen the problem and complicate matters more than they are.
Now let us consider some of the ordination of ministers, the method of ordination and what it means. I do understand it to have some definite, important meaning beyond a mere recognition of the call of God upon them. In Acts 13:2-3 we read, “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabus and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” This was a sacred, solemn charge to them and they fasted and prayed before they did it, even after the Holy Ghost had spoken to them. They wanted to be certain they were not mistaken. Ah, brethren, could we be a little admonished at this point and consider our ordination services as a more serious and solemn responsibility than we sometimes do. I feel deeply that I myself can.
I am sure that a token of recognition is a big support from the ministers with whom and among whom he is going to be working, but I feel the ordination service goes deeper than that and the laying on of hands by Holy Spirit filled men actually imports something to the one on whom their hands are laid. In I Timothy 4:14 we read, “Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.” Again in II Timothy 1:6 Paul said, “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.” Paul confirms in these two texts that there was actually something imparted to them by the laying on of hands by Holy Spirit filled men. I feel we should teach this to our people and especially to the candidates for ordination and prepare them to expect to receive something special from God when the hands of Holy Ghost filled ministers are laid on them.
