Elders are pastors?
-rory moore
According to scripture, is the typical church to be a One Man Show? -or was there another form of oversight to "pastor"?
- Can one man really Pastor a congregation?
- Did Paul start churches and move on putting them into the hands of one pastor, priest, or bishop?
- Did any apostle establish a church board or turn a church over to a family to run it?
- Were any of the church epistles sent to one man, i.e., to Pastor XYZ?
After many churched years of functioning inside the system as an "elder", doing all the things ministers do, after leaving the institutional side of the church system, (clergy-laity-membership-hierarchy), we were called out of that and have spent years in careful study of scripture...
I was never a Pastor, or The Pastor, but was once an ordained minister and a "pillar" in our assembly.
My wife and served as a shepherds, servants, and elders with the responsibility to lead, attend to, and feed God's people much as fathers who watch and care for a family.
-We were never a sole authority Pastor, (aka .."lords"), but as one among others with various ministries, gifts, and callings in God's kingdom. I never saw myself as a pastor especially after being an "Assistant Pastor", and a longtime ministering elder.
What we realize now is All of the so-called "five-fold" gifts of ministries are elders, but not all elders are "five-fold" ministers. We were part of a typical church structure in which position and rank were of the clergy and laity. Clergy ministry had its' privileges and perks, laity were expected to follow, support, and fund the vision.
How did all this become evident?
For the past few of years, I have been reading, studying, and re-reading the book of Acts, in order to learn and understand what form of church government was observed, and what was preached, taught, and ministered, and the manner in which the disciples carried out the commands of Jesus.
We saw how the Lord gave examples from Acts 20:28 in which Paul told the elders, the "overseers" (i.e. the bishops) of the church at Ephesus, to "take heed to yourselves, and all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost has made you (plural) overseers, to feed (other versions read "tend") the flock of God which he has purchased with His own blood".
Let's notice the Holy Spirit made them overseers, not via ordination certificate, voting them in as Pastor, Bible College or Seminary, a denominational franchise, or a home missions board. (see How To Answer A Call From God)
Hold that thought please, Paul wiped out the organizational flow-chart, church hierarchy, and staff diagram with the Pastor at the top of the pyramid..
In a perfect world, the Holy Spirit calls people, scripture qualifies them, and Spirit-led elders acknowledge their gift and service as overseers WITHOUT sending them to Bible School.
How in the name of the "Nicolaitane" clergy can that be?
It came as a shock to realize the Holy Spirit does not put ONE man in charge over the rest of the ministries like the Nicolaitanes do. (If you do not know what a Nicolaitane is, please refer to the articles on this site. God knew when He put that term in the scripture and said He "hates" it.)
What about those apostles, prophets, teachers, pastors, and evangelists?
They were all there at the church at Ephesus and not one was titled, salaried, collected tithes, or in charge of a building program. No robed "Bishop", pope, Superintendent, Board, or frocked cardinal was seen in the entire church. -Quite a contrast to the local church scene, isn't it?
So we have found ourselves as functioning elders and helpers of the faith for many, feeding others from the Word itself, tending and caring for them, encouraging them, and even doing the work of an evangelist as we sow the seed of God's Word in many places.
By choice we are untitled servants of the Lord, not building own kingdom nor looking with expectation of financial gain from those we minister to.
God will see to it that our needs are met as He always has done as He told us in His Word.
1 Peter 5:1-3 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1Peter 5:1 (in the ASV)
The elders among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder (Peter), and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint (by controlling), but willingly, according to the will of God; nor yet for filthy money, but of a ready mind;
3 neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.
We are to feed, not force, tend to and not be served by; give to and not take from; serve willingly and not for the expectation of a hireling.
Maybe you should pray for God to assemble you with others according to His Will, and if you are walking in the "bond of love", seeking His righteousness in overcoming the world and sin, our prayer and desire is to help equip you to be a Holy Spirit sent minister and equipping others to do likewise.
We are not about owning a bigger church barn, taking ownership of people, or being a "lord" over God's heritage. (1Peter 5:4)
Jesus is Chief Shepherd according to 1Peter 5:4, and Psalm 23. "The Lord is my Shepherd (PASTOR) I shall not want".
Pray His love and tenderness will flow through your elders as we die to self and become vessels through which He manifests His Shepherdship.
Scripture Summary Notes: Elders are pastors:
Acts 14:23 (NLT) Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church.
Acts 15:2 ... Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.
Acts 15:4 ... they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
Acts 15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
Acts 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
Acts 15:23 ... The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting to the brethren of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.
Acts 16:4 ...they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
Acts 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
"feed the flock of God over which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers"
1 Tim 5:17 Let the elders that go before you be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.
Titus 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that you should set in order the things lacking, and ordain elders in every city, as I <also> had appointed thee:
Leadership in the Early Church
1 Peter 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness
"elder": presbeteros Strongs 4245
elder, of age,
the elder of two people
advanced in life, an elder, a senior
forefathers
a term of rank or office
among the Jews
members of the great council or Sanhedrin (because in early times the rulers of the people, judges, etc., were selected from elderly men)
of those who in separate cities managed public affairs and administered justice
among the Christians, those who presided over the assemblies (or churches) The NT uses the term bishop, elders, and presbyters interchangeably
-We were never a sole authority Pastor, (aka .."lords"), but as one among others with various ministries, gifts, and callings in God's kingdom. I never saw myself as a pastor especially after being an "Assistant Pastor", and a longtime ministering elder.
What we realize now is All of the so-called "five-fold" gifts of ministries are elders, but not all elders are "five-fold" ministers. We were part of a typical church structure in which position and rank were of the clergy and laity. Clergy ministry had its' privileges and perks, laity were expected to follow, support, and fund the vision.
How did all this become evident?
For the past few of years, I have been reading, studying, and re-reading the book of Acts, in order to learn and understand what form of church government was observed, and what was preached, taught, and ministered, and the manner in which the disciples carried out the commands of Jesus.
We saw how the Lord gave examples from Acts 20:28 in which Paul told the elders, the "overseers" (i.e. the bishops) of the church at Ephesus, to "take heed to yourselves, and all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost has made you (plural) overseers, to feed (other versions read "tend") the flock of God which he has purchased with His own blood".
Let's notice the Holy Spirit made them overseers, not via ordination certificate, voting them in as Pastor, Bible College or Seminary, a denominational franchise, or a home missions board. (see How To Answer A Call From God)
Hold that thought please, Paul wiped out the organizational flow-chart, church hierarchy, and staff diagram with the Pastor at the top of the pyramid..
In a perfect world, the Holy Spirit calls people, scripture qualifies them, and Spirit-led elders acknowledge their gift and service as overseers WITHOUT sending them to Bible School.
How in the name of the "Nicolaitane" clergy can that be?
It came as a shock to realize the Holy Spirit does not put ONE man in charge over the rest of the ministries like the Nicolaitanes do. (If you do not know what a Nicolaitane is, please refer to the articles on this site. God knew when He put that term in the scripture and said He "hates" it.)
What about those apostles, prophets, teachers, pastors, and evangelists?
They were all there at the church at Ephesus and not one was titled, salaried, collected tithes, or in charge of a building program. No robed "Bishop", pope, Superintendent, Board, or frocked cardinal was seen in the entire church. -Quite a contrast to the local church scene, isn't it?
So we have found ourselves as functioning elders and helpers of the faith for many, feeding others from the Word itself, tending and caring for them, encouraging them, and even doing the work of an evangelist as we sow the seed of God's Word in many places.
By choice we are untitled servants of the Lord, not building own kingdom nor looking with expectation of financial gain from those we minister to.
God will see to it that our needs are met as He always has done as He told us in His Word.
1 Peter 5:1-3 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 Elders who [are] among you, I exhort, who [am] a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of the Christ, and of the glory about to be revealed a partaker,2 feed the flock of God that [is] among you, overseeing not by force, but willingly, neither for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind,
3 neither as exercising lordship over (God's) heritages, but examples for the flock,
3 neither as exercising lordship over (God's) heritages, but examples for the flock,
The elders among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder (Peter), and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint (by controlling), but willingly, according to the will of God; nor yet for filthy money, but of a ready mind;
3 neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.
We are to feed, not force, tend to and not be served by; give to and not take from; serve willingly and not for the expectation of a hireling.
Maybe you should pray for God to assemble you with others according to His Will, and if you are walking in the "bond of love", seeking His righteousness in overcoming the world and sin, our prayer and desire is to help equip you to be a Holy Spirit sent minister and equipping others to do likewise.
We are not about owning a bigger church barn, taking ownership of people, or being a "lord" over God's heritage. (1Peter 5:4)
Jesus is Chief Shepherd according to 1Peter 5:4, and Psalm 23. "The Lord is my Shepherd (PASTOR) I shall not want".
Pray His love and tenderness will flow through your elders as we die to self and become vessels through which He manifests His Shepherdship.
Scripture Summary Notes: Elders are pastors:
Acts 14:23 (NLT) Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church.
23 And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord (ASV)
Acts 15:2 ... Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.
Acts 15:4 ... they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
Acts 15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
Acts 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
Acts 15:23 ... The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting to the brethren of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.
Acts 16:4 ...they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
Acts 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
"feed the flock of God over which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers"
1 Tim 5:17 Let the elders that go before you be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.
Titus 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that you should set in order the things lacking, and ordain elders in every city, as I <also> had appointed thee:
Leadership in the Early Church
1 Peter 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness
"elder": presbeteros Strongs 4245
elder, of age,
the elder of two people
advanced in life, an elder, a senior
forefathers
a term of rank or office
among the Jews
members of the great council or Sanhedrin (because in early times the rulers of the people, judges, etc., were selected from elderly men)
of those who in separate cities managed public affairs and administered justice
among the Christians, those who presided over the assemblies (or churches) The NT uses the term bishop, elders, and presbyters interchangeably
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