Australian churches of Christ face various obstacles and challenges that sometimes prevent them from having elders. In the following few articles, I plan to address some of these in the hope that more churches can move beyond them and reach a stage of appointing elders.
One obstacle that often keeps churches from progressing toward elders is the belief that everyone has an equal right to take on various roles within a congregation and be involved in final decisions.
Although some churches may acknowledge that the Bible teaches that there are different types of roles within congregations, they often fail to discern who is gifted for specific roles and hesitate to oppose unsuitable appointments. For more congregations to function with elders, we must understand at a practical level that mutual ministry does not mean everyone is entitled to serve in whatever capacity they want.
Unfortunately, when congregations allow members to think they have a right to take on any role within a congregation or have equal say in decisions, the waters become muddied, making it hard for churches to see which person is most suited and qualified for varying tasks and responsibilities. In terms of leadership, it might cause congregations to promote unqualified and immature Christians to positions they are ill-suited to fulfil. That also means that qualified leaders go unrecognised and therefore provided no opportunity to utilise their abilities. The result is that churches often fail to move potential elders in a direction that sets them up to take on the role of an elder. Of course, in saying that not everyone has equal abilities or roles could be offensive to some, especially in an Australian context that still struggles at times with what is known as a tall poppy syndrome. However, the Bible has never taught that everyone is equally gifted and able to take on any role. Yes, we are to serve each other and build up the body of Christ, but we are to help each other using the talents and position that best suit who God has made us to be. So, there is mutual ministry but not equal giftings.
In Romans 12:3-8, the apostle Paul writes, “For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one. Now, as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the standard of faith; if service, in service; if teaching, in teaching; if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading with diligence; showing mercy with cheerfulness”. Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Paul explains that all Christians, though they are united and work together, do not all have the same roles. In Ephesians 4:11-12 Paul writes, “And He (Jesus) gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teacher for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ….” Notice Paul says “some”, and not everyone has these roles.
Even for organising and handing out the daily distribution of bread to widows, which we read about in Acts 6:1-6, the people chosen for this task needed to possess certain qualities and attributes. The apostles didn’t just appoint anyone to fulfil this role. Instead, they appointed the most suitable people. So, suppose we learn from this passage; what could we conclude about selecting people for roles within the Church? Perhaps we would realise that not everyone is well suited to lead singing, preach, teach children’s classes, handle church correspondence, manage the finances of the church, organise church activities or lead and make decisions. Regarding leadership, we can accept that some people are more gifted at it than others, and as long as they do it with a godly attitude and according to the will of God, we should let them lead (1 Corinthians 1:16 & 16:15).
Of course, in small churches, members often have to step into roles that they usually wouldn’t. However, they should be willing to relinquish or minimize their involvement in positions they are less gifted for if these churches grow or other mature Christians join them.
So, who gets to decide who is most suited to what? Well again, suppose we use Acts 6:1-6 as a model. In that case, we see that the church in Jerusalem was involved in the selection process (Acts 6:3). I glean from this that appointment to roles should not be an individual decision but a community decision. When churches form the habit of selecting members for various roles, it also prepares them to choose elders when the time comes.
So, one of the obstacles congregations need to remove to progress toward the appointment of elders is the belief that everyone is equally gifted and therefore has the right to serve in any role they want or have equal say in the running of church affairs. Unfortunately, such an understanding has no Biblical basis and can significantly hinder the church from growing in a healthy way that pleases God.
Rather than this approach, we need to understand that mutual ministry does not mean equal gifting. Therefore, when we see people who are gifted at leadership, it would greatly assist the body of Christ if we recognise them, grant them the opportunity to use their gifts, and if they are suited to be elders, then let them be appointed.
