church government lesson

7/27/2019 Church Government Lesson

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Government of the ChristianChurch

What is church power? Where does it comefrom? How is it exercised? What is its

structure?


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Leadership of the Church

Who is the head of the church?


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The Head of the Church

There is no other head of the Church but theLord Jesus Christ....

Westminster Confession 25:6a


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Christ as head of the church

The Church is His Body

He is the Source of its authority - Eph 1.22-23,

2.20-22, Col 1.18, 2.19 He created it & instituted the means of grace, its

constitution and officers

He is present when we worship


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How Christ Exercises Authority

Subjectively by the leading of the Spirit

Objectively by the Word of God (The Bible)

Scripture is the ONLY absolute authority

Christ has given the church power

As a whole

Especially vested in its officerschosen bythe people, but given power by Christ


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The Local Church

Church power resides primarily here

Higher courts are delegated power by the local

churches Local assemblies have a duty to unite with

others for doctrinal, judicial, and administrativefunctions


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The Local Church

Church power resides primarily here

Higher courts are delegated power by the local

churches Local assemblies have a duty to unite with

others for doctrinal, judicial, and administrativefunctions


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Not merely advisory...

Acts 16.4 - Now while they were passingthrough the cities, they were delivering thedecrees (Gk. dogmata) which had been decidedupon by the apostles and elders who were inJerusalem, for them to observe.


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Nature of Church Power

Spiritual- given by the Spirit (Acts 20:28), manifestsHis power (John 20:22, 23; I Cor. 5:4), pertains to menas believers (I Cor. 5:12), and is exercised in a moral

or spiritual way (not by force), II Cor. 10:4

Ministerial- derived from Christ and is subordinateto Him (Matt. 20:25, 26; 23:8, 10; II Cor. 10:4, 5; I Pet.5:3; Acts 4:29, 30; 20:24; Rom. 1:1; Matt. 28:18); mustbe under God's Word, directed by the Spirit, and in thename of Christ (Rom. 10:14, 15; Eph. 5:23; I Cor. 5:4)


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Kinds of Power

Dogmatic (Teaching)

Governing

Regulating

Judicial

Care for the poor


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PRESBYTERIAN


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Nature of Presbyterian

Representative

Not Democratic

Not Hierarchical Power flows from the lower levels


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Presbyter (Elder) and Bishop (Overseer) aretwo names for the same office -Acts 20:17, 28; ITim. 3:1; 5:17, 19; Titus 1:5, 7; I Pet. 5:1, 2

Carried over from the Jews

Moses in the Wilderness

Synagogue Leaders/Rulers

Multiple elders in every congregation -Acts14.23, Acts 20.17ff, James 5.14

OfficersElder/Overseer


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OfficersElder/Overseer

Duties: Oversee, Provide For, Protect theHouse of God

Teaching Elders Pastors (shepherds) and teachers are two

functions of one class of officer (Eph. 4.11)

All elders rule, some teach & preach (I Tim

5.17)

Teaching Elders rule with Ruling Elders,and also administer the Word and Sacrament


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Officers - Deacons

Diakonos = Servant

Phil. 1:1; I Tim. 3:8, 10, 12

Instituted in Acts 6 to support theapostles/elders so they could rule and teach

Duties: works of mercy and charity

Administrative: Spiritual office due to the natureof giving to the saints


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Ecclesiastical Assemblies

Session (Local)all elders of a local church

Presbytery (Regional)All TE's in the region,

at least 1 RE from each congregation (moredepending on size of congregation)

General Assembly (National)All TE's in thedenomination, at least 1 RE from each

congregation (more depending on size ofcongregation)


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The Local Church

People choose elders (Acts 11:30; 14:23;20:17; Phil. 1:1; I Tim. 3:1; Tit. 1:5, 7), butelders gain their authority from Christ

Elders rule in Christ's name and are responsibleto Him

Is the basis for Scriptural church government;

delegates its authority to higher bodies; ChurchOrder guards rights and interests of both levels


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Major Assemblies

Warranted by Scripture (Acts 15)

Are of Representative character (i.e., not all

church members are part of the majorassemblies)


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Major Assemblies

Jurisdiction: Ministerial & Declarative

Doctrines & Order of the Church, and Exerciseof Discipline

Belong to minor assemblies but for whateverreason cannot be settled there

OR those issues which affect the entire region

or denomination Same powers as the local session, but in

greater measure; their judgments are bindingUNLESS they contradict God's Word


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Major Assemblies

Members of the church have the right to appealdisputed matters in the congregation to their elders forresolution, and if the dispute is with those local elders,

to appeal to the regional governing body (thepresbytery) or, beyond that, to the whole generalassembly (Acts 15). The decisions of the widergoverning bodies are authoritative in all the localcongregations (Acts 15:22-23, 28, 30; 16:1-5).

Greg Bahnsen


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EPISCOPALIAN

Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, EasternOrthodox, some Lutheran


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Three Offices Christ established:

BishopSuccessor of the Apostles

Presbyter/Priest - leader/pastor of the local

congregation church Not just an "elder" but an intercessor between

God and Man

Deaconassistant to the presbyter who can

preach, lead worship, but NOT officiate atcommunion


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Importance of Episcopacy

Apostolic SuccessionBishops should be ableto trace their ordination in an unbroken chainback to the apostles themselves

"Historic Episcopate" seen as essential for theexistence of the church itself

Bishops seen as necessary to confer

ordination on all other levels of ministry


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Importance of Episcopacy

Amongst those various offices which havebeen exercised in the Church from the earliesttimes the chief place, according to the witnessof tradition, is held by the function of those who,through their appointment to the dignity andresponsibility of bishop, and in virtueconsequently of the unbroken succession goingback to the beginning, are regarded astransmitters of the apostolic line.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

D l t f th E i


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Development of the Episcopacy1st& Early 2ndCenturies

Elder-Overseers governed local congregations

Peter & John list themselves as Elders

New Testament, Didache, I Clement

D l t f th E i


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Development of the EpiscopacyEarly to Mid 2ndCentury

Overseers (Bishops) andElders (Presbyters)differentiated

Bishop = president of localcongregation

Letters of Ignatius

D l t f th E i


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Development of the EpiscopacyLate 2ndCentury

Bishops now rule overgroup of congregations

Bishops seen assuccessors of theApostles

Irenaeus,

Tertullian

D l t f th E i


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Development of the EpiscopacyMid 3rdCentury

Presbyters seen as sacrificing priests

Cyprian

Primacy of the Bishop of Rome was asserted Primacy of Honor"First Among Equals" &

Court of Last Appeal

Rome NOT considered ruler over all the

churches

Even Cyprian rebuked the Bishop of Rome


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Development of the Episcopacy



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Development of the EpiscopacyEarly 4thCentury

Bishops of metropolitanareas (Archbishops orMetropolitans) seen as

more important than"Country Bishops"

Bishop of Alexandria

called "Pope, secondhonor behind Rome



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Development of the EpiscopacyLate 4thCentury

Patriarchs - Bishops of Four Largest Cities(Rome, Constantinople,Alexandria,Antioch)plus Jerusalemgiven special honor over all

other bishops

Birth of the Papacy


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Birth of the PapacyPope Leo I of Rome

Mid Fifth CenturyPope Leo claimed firsthonor and control by Rome of the entire church

Bishop of Rome (Pope, Vicar of Christ) is theprince of the bishops, as they claim Peter wasprince of the apostles

Apostles=Bishops, Peter=Popes


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Birth of the Papacy

As the Western Empire fell,people in Rome looked to thePope for leadership

No other Patriarchs orEmperors in the West tochallenge Rome


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Eastern Churches Stabilize

Sixth-Eleventh CenturiesEastern Patriarchsdominated by Eastern Empire, Islam

Final break seen in 1054East and WestSplit

Eastern Church set up patriarchs over everynational church; Constantinople seen as FirstAmong Equals

Patriarchs general dominated by Emperors,Kings, Tsars, Sultans


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1077 - Gregory VII

Pope Gregory VII deposes Emperor Henry IVover church controversy, restores him afterrepentance at Canossa

Height of Papal Power-


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Height of Papal Power-Innocent III (r. 1198-1216)

Pope Innocent III declares all secularrulers subject to Rome

King John of England recognizes

Pope as overlord

All things on earth and in heavenand in hell are subject to the Vicarof Christ.

The pope can never in any waydepart from the Catholic faith.


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1302 - Unam Sanc tam

1302Pope Boniface VIII -

Furthermore, we declare, we

proclaim, we define that it isabsolutely necessary forsalvation that every humancreature be subject to the Roman

Pontiff.


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Pope Pius IX

1854Proclaimed the Immaculate Conceptionas dogma without resorting to a council

1870First Vatican CouncilPapalInfallibility declared an unalterable dogma of thechurch


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Papal Infallibility

"The Roman Pontiff, when he speaks... indischarge of the office of pastor andteacher of all Christians, by virtue of hissupreme apostolic authority, he defines a

doctrine regarding faith or morals to beheld by the universal Church... ispossessed of that infallibility... in definingdoctrine regarding faith or morals; andtherefore such definitions are

irreformable of themselves, and not invirtue of consent of the Church"


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Westminster Confession 25.6

There is no other head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ: nor can thePope of Rome in any sense be head thereof; but is that Antichrist, that man ofsin and son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the Church against Christ, andall that is called God.

P bl ith E i li i


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Problems with Episcopalianism

Though "things can get done","power tends to corrupt"- onebad TE/RE can be opposed &

disciplined; a badbishop/patriarch/pope can ruina church

Presbyters and Deaconsbecome second-class officers

P bl ith E i li i


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Problems with Episcopalianism

Many Roman/Eastern theologians admit that inthe NT bishop=presbyter

"Bishop: represents a Greek word meaning'overseer,' and 'presbyter' another Greekword meaning 'elder.' In St. Paul 'bishop'and 'presbyter' seem to be used convertibly,and probably priests are here includedunder the term 'bishops.'

Douay-Confraternity Bible note on 1 Timothy 3

P b t Bi h !


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Presbyter = Bishop!

CONGREGATIONAL/


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CONGREGATIONAL/INDEPENDENT

C ti li


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Congregationalism

Congregationalists, Baptists, Church of Christ,Pentecostal/Charismatic

No governing church structure or court abovethe local congregation

Single Elder Congregationalism


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Single-Elder Congregationalism

Pastor=Elder=TE, no ruling elders

Deacons=Deacon/RE, but Pastor runs the show

Examples: Most Arminian Baptist Churches,some Lutherans, Pentecostals

Multi Elder Congregationalism


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Multi-Elder Congregationalism

Form 1 - All Elders preach and teachmayhave a "presiding" elder, but all are supposed tobe equals (Reformed Baptists)

Form 2 - May hire a pastor under local rulingelders (Churches of Christ)

Form 3 - Independent Presbyterians - TE's,

RE's, Deacons, no presbytery(Congregationalists, some Reformed Baptists)

Multi Elder Congregationalism


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Multi-Elder Congregationalism

Problems with Congregationalism


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Power in too many handsleads to mob rule,then often to rule by one strong man in eachindividual church

No court of appeal or discipline if local churchleadership is acting in an unbiblical manner



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No accountability - Preachers with no churchassociations can get away with anything theywish. If caught in sin, there is no discipline

The Lord told me it's flat none ofyour business!

Jimmy Swaggart after

being caught with aprostitute the secondtime



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No ability to ensure doctrinal, moral, ordisciplinary conformity

If Congregationalism were the norm

throughout history, Arian churches could haverejected the divinity of Christ after the Councilof Nicea and no one would have been able toquestion it. (There would have been no

council.) Independent churches could have rejected the

Jerusalem council in Acts 15, since onechurch is not bound to another



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Jerusalem Council & the Judaizers

Council of Nicea & the Arians

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