1.
1.
Can any Christian ordained elders In the Lord’s
church?
We first read about
Elders in the church in Acts. 11: 30. From this passage and Acts 15: 4 we know
that the church at Jerusalem had elders. In
Acts. 14:23, we read that the apostles appointed Elders in every
Church. How these elders were appointed
we do not know. But in Acts.6:3, we read about the appointment of the first
deacons in the Church, although they were not called deacons in these place but
from the word used to describe their work, Greek diakoneo in verse, we know
they were deacons. How were they appointed? 1. Certain qualifications were
stipulated. 2. The church was to select men who meet these qualifications. 3.
The apostle appointed them. From this example, we can now know how the apostles
appointed Elders in every church. Men were qualified, the church selected those
they choose to rule over them, and then the apostle appointed them. From these,
we can see that Elders of the Church cannot be appointed by just any Christian.
Since the apostles are not with us today, who is to appoint Elders and how are
they to be appointed? To appoint Elders today, these three steps must be
followed and in order. (1). Qualifications of Elders must be taken into
consideration. These qualifications are found in 1Tim 3: 1-7 and Tit.1 5-7. (2).
The church is to select those whom they want to rule over them as Elders, among
those who met these qualifications. Act. 6: 3-6. (3). The evangelist also known
as preacher or minster is to ordain those who have been selected by the church.
Paul wrote to Titus
For this cause left I thee
in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and
ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee. Therefore it appertain
not to any and every Christian to ordain elders in the church, but to preacher.
2.Is
everybody an evangelist when the bible said “some”?
The word evangelist is from Greek word EUANGELISTES,
which means a proclaimer of good news. In Acts. 8:4-5, all those who were
scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word, Philip inclusive. We read
about the labour of Philip from verses 6 to the end of these chapter. In Acts.
21:8, He was referred to as Philip the evangelist, separating him from others.
What distinct him from others who went everywhere preaching the word?
Evangelism is his career i.e. his work.
In 2nd Timothy 4:5, Paul charged Timothy to do the work of an
evangelist. just as the word Diakonos means to do service, men in the church do
service in various ways, but not all are deacons except those appointed to the
work of deacons. We all should proclaim the word of God, but we are not all an
evangelist in the technical use of the word Evangelist in New Testament.
3.
When elders are installed, can we do away with
the preacher?
There is no scriptures that says there
is no work for preachers again after the installation of Elders. Although a
preacher has no authority to rule a congregation his ultimate authority is in
the preaching and teaching of the word. The preacher is commanded to teach and
rebuke with all authority (Titus 2: 15). One of the duties of a preacher after
Elders have been installed is that he is to rebuke Elders who sin. Paul wrote
to Timothy in 1Tim 5:17-22 about elders in the church at Ephesus. In verses
17&18 he said elders who both rule and preached are to be paid for their
work. In verse 19-22 he instructed Timothy on how his to elders who sin. a) he
should not receive accusations against but at mouth of two or three witnesses. b)
Elders who sin he should rebuke without partiality. NB. Timothy was to appoint
Elders in Ephesus; having appointed the Elders, just as he is to rebuke members
of the church who sinned so also is he to rebuke Elders who sinned. Just as it
is the duty of a preacher to lead the church in selecting and appointing
qualified men into the position of Elders, so also it is his duty to lead the
church in the removal of Elders who are no longer qualified for that work.
Unfortunately today, some preachers have bastardized these duties, they just
appoint unqualified men as Elders everywhere and that is why we are having
problems. In conclusion, there are three steps to be followed in the ordaining
of elders and in order. 1. Qualifications of Elders must first be met by some
members of the local congregation. 2. The church is to do the selection of
those they desire to rule over them. 3. An evangelist is to ordain them. The
work of the preacher continues after the installation of elders.
