Spiritual Leaders in the Local Church - Chapter 11
Membership Responsibilities
or
What are the duties of the membership?
by Fred G. Zaspel
Published by Word of Life Baptist Church, Pottsville, PA
copyright © 1987; revised, 1998. All rights reserved
Copying or other reproductions permitted for non-commercial use only.
Chapter 11
Membership Responsibilities
or
What are the duties of the membership?We have surveyed the nature and function of the office of elder. To complete the discussion, we must also see the corresponding responsibilities of the congregation as a whole.
As we have already seen, the New Testament gives several specific commands to the church with regards to their spiritual rulers: favor, esteem, love (I Thessalonians 5:12-13), honor (I Timothy 5:17), support financially (I Timothy 5:17; I Corinthians 9:4-14), remember, follow, obey, and submit (Hebrews 13:7 and 17). While these commands have already been surveyed earlier in order to demonstrate the authority of elders, they merit repeating in this chapter in order to view them from the standpoint of the church as a whole. These commands are directed not to the elders but to those under the elders' rule, and they require certain things of these people.
In our day and society of rebellious "rugged individualism" we tend to feel that these commands are somehow out-dated, somewhat less binding, if not a bit less inspired. But, of course, God still does require his people to willingly place themselves under the leadership and authority and accountability of Biblical elders and that with an attitude of great love and gratitude and honor for them. Of course this places great responsibility upon the elders as well: they must lead responsibly and only within the framework of their God-given rule. And of course all this assumes that the pastors-elders are themselves living, leading, and teaching in obedience to the Scriptures. But within this framework, Christians are given certain obligations with regards to their pastors. They are to place themselves willingly under the Biblical and godly leadership of faithful overseers. We are all too familiar with church problems of so many kinds, but they all could be completely avoided if the elders-pastors were faithful and responsible in their leadership, and if those under their oversight were faithful to follow their lead. There are obligations given to both, and both are responsible to be faithful in their God-given roles for their own good, for the health of the church generally, and to the glory of God.
This deserves some thinking and application. Are your elders-pastors faithful in their oversight, providing Scriptural counsel and responsible leadership? Well then, did you ever consider that God expects you to submit to them? Or did you think, "If I don't like it I can go somewhere else!" Now of course, if your elders are not living and leading according to the Scriptures and faithfully teaching the Scriptures, then by all means go somewhere else! But under the oversight of such Biblical leaders you are not to maintain a renegade spirit. Decisions of moral or spiritual consequence deserve their counsel, and you should not feel that you can just "take or leave" the counsel of duly qualified and functioning pastors-elders. To be sure, you must weigh it against the Scriptures, for they alone reign over your conscience. But God's commands with regards to your submission to elders do mean something. The commands require an attitude of submission to their leadership under God. Their counsel must be given due weight. They must be allowed to influence your life and your decisions.
The church is further responsible to be taught by elders and that in order to "follow their faith" (Hebrews 13:17). This implies a diligence in learning and a faithfulness in attendance under their teaching. If it is wrong for a pastor to fail to faithfully teach in private and at the stated meetings of the church (and it surely is), then it is equally wrong for his people to be unfaithful in their attendance, listening and learning. It is the elders' duty to teach; it is the congregation's duty to be taught. Moreover, while again your conscience is captive only to the Scriptures, you must never maintain that renegade spirit of independence from their teaching. Many have gone off into error just this way. No. "Follow their faith." "Esteem them highly in love for their work's sake." Elders-pastors-bishops are God's gifts to you, the church, for this purpose.
The commands of Hebrews 13:17 are of special significance in that the author gives two brief explanations for them. Obedience and submission to spiritual rulers is necessary because these rulers are accountable for the spiritual welfare of their people; they "are watchful for your souls, as they that must give account." Submission to them is necessary because this is their God-given responsibility, a responsibility for which they will be called into question. This should keep all elders on their knees, but it should give their people a greater sense of responsibility as well. Submission is also commanded so that the elders may fulfill their duties "with joy and not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you." Unsubmissive people produce grieving rulers who, then, cannot minister to their people so effectively. Submission is commanded and is necessary for the sake of everyone involved.
The rulership of the elders is not optional but mandatory. It is required that elders rule, and it is required that their people obey and honor.
It is also significant that in I Thessalonians 5:13 Christians are commanded to especially "love" their elders. One evidence of this love is found in fulfilling the requirement of I Timothy 5:19, which commands, "Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses." In other words, while the slander is inevitable, it is to be rejected unless established. Elders-pastors are to enjoy your protection and be given the benefit of doubt; love will think the best of them until it is able to do so no longer.
Perhaps it would be helpful here to stop and consider the value of pastors-elders. Scripture commands love, respect, admiration, "double honor," as well as submission. All of these commands assume that these men are not only faithful in their service but also uniquely valuable. Think: where would you be if it were not for the teaching and preaching you have heard from these men? Would you be Christian at all? Would you have the spiritual joy and confidence that comes from the deeper knowledge of God's grace through Jesus Christ which they have taught you? Would you have a peaceful outlook on life without their instruction concerning God's faithful care and provision? Would you have the same happiness in your home if it were not for their faithful instruction to you from the Creator of the home? Just how valuable are these things? How valuable is that counsel which was given when you were in that deep struggle or time grief? How can we value their intercessory prayers on our behalf? How can we attach appropriate value to these blessings? God has given us these men for these purposes, and when we consider them we understand better their value and find the commands to love and respect and submission to be happy ones. To be sure, these men make mistakes, sometimes big ones! But these good gifts of God to His church are worthy of our respect, love, and submission. And for them we should daily give God thanks and praise for providing for us in this way.
Finally, all this about support and appreciation in light of their great value should drive you to pray for your elders-pastors (cf. 1Thessalonians 5:25; 2Thessalonians 3:1). Their work is important, and they deal often with very personal life issues. They need as well as deserve your help in intercessory prayer. Pray for them. Pray often. Pray fervently. For their sakes, for your sake, and for the sake of all those whom they will influence. Pray that God will keep them faithful in this valuable service and use them to His glory alone.
Summary and Conclusion
The New Testament lays down a simple pattern for church government. God has entrusted authority to a plurality of men (elders-bishops-pastors) who are responsible to bring the saints to maturity through their public and private and prayerful and selfless teaching and ruling. The church is responsible, in turn, to render to these and their teaching submission, obedience, and respect.
That this is God's pattern is clear. That this is the practice of today's church is not so clear! When a church does not follow the blueprint given by its Head, it cannot wonder why things go awry. When it follows His guidelines, He will bless. As we find at every juncture of the Christian life, indidually and corporately God's way is not only right; it works.
May God give today's spiritual rulers a new determination to teach, preach, pray, and rule with more dedication and vigor and love. May God grant that they give themselves wholly to their ministry, making full proof of it (II Timothy 4:5), and so receive great reward (I Corinthians 3:10-15, I Peter 5:4).
May God also grant that His people will follow their spiritual leaders, denying self and putting away pride and feelings of self-sufficiency, readily acknowledging, rather, their need of gifted men to watch over them, bring them to maturity, and equip them for the ministry.
This is God's plan for His church. May He give us grace to follow that to the living God may be "glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."
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