Is the church to submit to the elders or are the elders to submit to the church? Who has the authority in the congregation? Who is in charge? These are the questions that I want to try and address today, but the answers are a bit complicated. I believe that the authority of the elders and of the congregation is both taught in Scripture as a system given to us by God for checks and balances in the church.
Scripture seems to indicate that the elders and the congregation have real authority vested to them by Jesus. So today we will see that Christ is the ultimate authority in the church and then that there is both submissions and authority delegated by him to both the church membership and the elders.
So let’s look at who has authority in the church, in descending order.
#1: Jesus, the Head of the Church
Scripture is clear that Jesus has all authority in all things.
“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’”
“For ‘God has put all thing in subjection under his feet.’”
“And he put all things under his feet and game his as head over all things to the church...”
Notice that Jesus has not only been given as head of the church, he has been given to the church as head over all things. Jesus rule over all things, including you and me, is a good gift of God.
This means that anywhere there is authority…in the workplace, home, government, and especially the church…is a delegation of that authority. The bottom line is that Jesus is in control over all things.
#2: The Word of God
The apostles knew that they were writing Scripture. The full explanation of that is probably best saved for another blog, but they knew that what they were writing was from God. Because of this obedience was expected.
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling...”
“If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed.”
Scripture is filled with such commands to obey the Word of God. I will not take the time to list every one here, but Jesus mediates his rule through his Word. It is for this reason that the church of Jesus is called to preach the word in season and out!
#3: The Congregation
I am a congregationalist. This means that I believe that the church has real authority, and even is next in line of authority, in the local church. I will explain why I believe this and include verse references, but these would be better for you to look up on your own.
Matthew 18:15-20 is the first mention of the word “church” in the Bible. Thus this is Jesus first instructions to the church. You may know that it is a passage that deals with correcting the sin in the lives of others (yes, this is a loving thing to do as sin is always destructive to the sinner). But in the case that a believer is unrepentant, the matter is to be taken to the church. Not the church leaders, apostles, elders, pastors, deacons, etc., but to the church!
1 Corinthians 5:9-13 is a case of unrepentant and willful sexual sin. Paul informs us in this chapter that the sin is not only being committed, but the one committing it is actually bragging about it. When it comes time to discipline this brother according the above passage in Matthew 18, Paul gives his instruction to the whole church. He doesn’t write a separate letter to the elders of that church, like he did to Timothy or Titus, he calls the church to act on the matter.
2 Corinthians 2:5-11 potentially deals with the same individual from 1 Corinthians 5. Whether or not it is the same individual, here Paul calls the church to welcome back and reaffirm its love for someone who was removed from fellowship but is now repentant of the sin in which they were caught.
Galatians 1 tells of false teachers who have crept into the church and taught salvation comes by faith in Jesus and obedience to the Old Covenant law. Paul reserves his harshest words for these teachers and offers the church there no encouragement for good works, the only letter Paul penned that doesn’t have any encouragement in it. Again we see a patter where the congregation is charged with having the responsibility of ensuring that false teaching stays out of the church (though this is a responsibility of an elder as well).
We can see briefly in these 4 passages that when the most sensitive and dangerous of matters are dealt with in the church, it is the congregation who has the ultimate authority to do/ensure what is right, not only the churches leaders.
#4: Pastors/Elders, Stewards of the Household of God
This is where things get a little bit tricky to understand. If the congregation’s authority exceeds that of the elders, then how can the elder have any real authority? Let me share with you a few verses and then I will explain some principles to understand how this works.
“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.”
“Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.”
“[S]hepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willing, as God would have you...”
These verses make it plainly clear that elders/pastors have real authority, exercise real oversight, are to be submitted to, and are to even be obeyed!
Principles for Putting is All Together
Here are some points to ponder as we think about understanding all of this.
The elders primary responsibility is to teach the word of God, thus their authority comes not in their calling, but in their preaching of the word.
The church affirms and appoints its elders, thus it is to submit to them in all matters. BUT, when the elders move out of alignment with the word of God, the church is to remove them.
Elders will give an account to God, and even a stricter judgment, for how they handle the word of God. So even when they get things wrong, and they do get things wrong, God will ultimately be the judge.
How does this all work? Here is the bottom line…
Appoint men as elders who character reflects the list of qualifications already listed in this series, AND who are capable handlers of the word of God in preaching and teaching. Then submit to them as they instruct you. Ephesians 4 reminds us that they are Jesus’ gift to the church. And the “aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” in order that “we may present everyone mature in Christ.”