Then we have the place that love, charity, has in Christian ministry (1 Cor. 13). May it have its place in every line of this paper!
The principle then before us is plainly this, that the Holy Spirit is in the church, using the different gifts severally as He will. All of God, but on earth the order of the Holy Spirit. There was confusion: alas, what will man not spoil? (See 1 Cor. 14:26.) But still the same order of God by the Holy Spirit is enforced. God did not say, My order has failed, now set one man to be the minister. No; but, “Let the prophets speak, two or three, and let the others judge. If anything be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the other hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted,” etc. And these are the commandments of the Lord (1 Cor. 14:37).
Now this is God’s only order of ministry, and He is not the author of confusion; compare this with Ephesians 4:7-16. Here the ascended Christ, far above all heavens, “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.” And these were to continue. These are the gifts of Christ, and the Holy Spirit divideth severally to every man as He will. Do not forget the personal presence of the Holy Spirit.
But do we read in the Acts that Paul and Barnabas ordained elders in every city? (Acts 14:23). And that Titus was to do the same; was in fact delegated to do so (Titus 1:5).
I have read all this, but I have never read of Paul, Barnabas, or Titus, ordaining a pastor, or an evangelist, or a teacher. These are the gifts of the ascended Christ. And even when the apostles were here, we have not the slightest hint of the ordination of any of these. The only thing at all like it was when Paul and Barnabas themselves, who had long been most eminent gifts of Christ, were commended to a special evangelical tour, separated and sent by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:2).
But do you mean that there is no authority in the scriptures for the ordination of a pastor over a church?
Most certainly. There is not such a thought in scripture. It is entirely human invention. Elders, or bishops, were ordained. For an elder and a bishop is the same thing, that is clear from Titus 1:5-7. The same person is an elder in verse 5 and bishop in verse 7.
Eldership was an office; pastors, and teachers, evangelists, are gifts. I speak of scripture – I know nothing else. Again, in scripture an elder is never the same as teacher, pastor, or evangelist. The elders of the church at Ephesus were bishops, and as such, overseers, and were to feed the church of God.
But does not the word “feed” imply that they were teachers?
This word, translated feed, is used by the Spirit eleven times in the New Testament: Matt. 2:6; Luke 17:7; John 21:16; Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 9; 1 Peter 5:2; Jude 12; Rev. 2:27; 7:17; 12:5; 19:15. A careful examination of these and their contexts will skew that it is not the imparting of spiritual food so much, if at all, that is meant, but shepherding, more in the sense of ruling.
Elders, then, were brethren gifted with wisdom to shepherd or rule the church of God. An elder thus gifted and qualified to rule, must rule well his own house. And one thing they were needed for, was to stop the mouths of vain talkers. This being the sense of the word, then in Jude 12 “feeding themselves” would rather be ruling themselves – democracy. One of the dark signs of the last days. The very opposite of knowing or discerning them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you. In short, the “unruly” are to be rebuked.
And might not the same person be an elder and also a teacher?
Certainly, just as the same person may be a draper and a grocer. But that does not prove, that a grocer is a draper? Peter was both elder and teacher (1 Peter 5:1). Thus whilst qualified persons were ordained or appointed to shepherd or rule the assembly in every city by the apostles or their delegates (and it is true that such persons might or might not be also gifted of Christ to evangelize or teach) yet in scripture we never find the shadow of an interference either to ordain or to hinder any such gifts of the ascended Christ; as teachers, evangelists, pastors, etc.
Is there such an instance to be found?
Not one. To do so, two things must be interfered with; the administration of the Lord in glory, and the presence of the Holy Spirit in the assembly.
Well, this is very solemn; are you quite sure there is no scripture authority for the modern ordination of a priest, clergyman, or minister?
Not a single text.
Does not Acts 6 give such authority?
No, not the least. These men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, were simply appointed to serve tables, or take care of the poor. Not a thought of ordaining them as modern pastors over churches. As with the elders, these servants of the assembly might be also gifted of Christ to preach the word. Some were so, but these were never ordained to preach; not such a thought. The thing is monstrous; if we see a teacher, pastor or evangelist gifted of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit to preach and teach Christ, for the church or any man to ordain or appoint such a person, would be to set aside as insufficient the act of Christ. Surely to recognize, becomes the whole church of God. For recognition of Christ’s gifts to His church is obedience to Him. And not to recognize a gift of Christ is disobedience to Christ.
(To be continued.)