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ORDINATION OF OVERSEERS |
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| INTRODUCTION
Scriptural Teaching on Ordination Important duties of the Overseers
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INTRODUCTION
I am proud that I am a member of the NEW TESTAMENT ASSEMBLY now called in India by the names like Christian Assembly, Believer’s Assembly, Gospel hall Assembly, Believers Prayer Hall’, the Brethren Assembly etc. This Assembly had to be formed as a reformative step when worldliness and mal practices were seen in the affairs of the churches of England. Priest’s autocracy over the church had robbed the freedom in the Spirit of the members in church affairs. The
movement was begun in 1825 in Dublin, the capital of Ireland by the 24
year old Edward Cronin. (His immaturity might have been rectified by his
followers I think.), Cronin and his friends met together to celebrate
the Lord’s supper for the first time in 1927 taking advantage of the
right of every believer to do it, for every believer, unlike in the Old
Testament, is promoted to the office of the priesthood in the New
Testament age as per 1Pet. 2:5,6 to praise the Blessed Lord. To offer
praises and thanks is his spiritual birthright granted as per Heb.13:15.
The system of priesthood seen in the Old Testament was put an end to
with the inception of the New Testament. There are some denominations
who have not noted it. Cronin was joined by Hutchinson, Bellet, Darby
and others who continued the priestly right of worship with the Lord’s
supper in Dublin. The
reformed church was very particular in keeping the vital apostolic
doctrines in the right way. But the church administration was
unnecessary in the newness, the joy, freedom and in the flow of mutual
love and unity lavishly available in the reformation. The people were
simply to hear, learn and follow the lessons of new teachings like:
freedom from the slavery under the man- made priests, then follow the
new reforms in line with the exact scriptural demands. All had common
food as supplied in the first century as mentioned in the 2nd
chapter of the Acts. All
felt freedom in the new happy situation; they were freed and relieved
from the priestly autocracy. Administering discipline was out of
question. We may say: it was washed away or swallowed by the sweeping
tsunami of love between the members. Today too the administration
question of the assemblies is almost nil in India. Democracy has stepped
in. Seldom is taught that dry subject of discipline. The members almost
hate the question of being disciplined to tell the truth. Today all
older people, rich people, retired people, officers, all the
white-haired whether they
have or not the gift of teaching or
shepherding are assuming that place for oversight; because the word
“Elder” is very apt to
many! The designations like pastor, teacher and overseer does not suit.
The freedom and love thus allowed to each member led to express their
opinions in many matters from the beginning. There were serious
differences among the leading people from the very beginning of this
reformation. It still pervades in our assemblies today too, leading to
arguments, divisions and indiscipline, to say the truth. Today many of
our pastors and teachers differ and write differently on even every
important matters like church administration, the scriptural legality of
using the scriptural designations like pastor, overseer, bishop;
presbyter etc in the post apostolic days. Some say: there is no need of
ordaining overseers, those who are gifted as overseers will express
their gifts and be accepted or unaccepted by the members; some say: the
assembly will ordain their overseers; others teach, No: they have to be
appointed by the assembly as a whole; some others say : no, the existing
overseers must ordain their fellow overseers. Quarrel and indiscipline
and divisions are its results. These arguments and counter arguments
twins born of the mother Brethren. These were there from the
beginning of reformation among the leaders and the groups too. It
continues to day too. I have tried to seriously search and analyze the
reasons thereof and hereby suggest a scriptural solution for
it. We as the followers of the New Testament inherit the spiritual
and scriptural advantage of the second great reformation effected by the
great leaders like John Nelson Darby (1800 to 1882) who is
considered as the greatest Christian teacher and reformer that
ever lived since the apostle
Paul and Martin Luther. We
are indeed blessed with several Scholarly veteran reformers to
follow like: Kelly, Harris,
Dr.Ironside, Charles Stanly, Mackintosh, F.W.Grant,
Prince Kongilton, Tregellus,
Robert Anderson and so on. They dug out the golden teachings like
newness in Christ, the oneness and love in Christ between the members,
the Jews and the church as two different entities, the truth about the
70th week as a singled out unit in the 70 weeks, the gap between
the 69th and the 70th week as divinely separated for the church, the
pre-tribulation rapture, and also the dispensational truth etc. But
the fact is, from among the brothers some are chosen as overseers, ie.
the pastors and teachers. In
fact we all are saints and some among the saints are appointed as
overseers; all are children of God; from among them a few are selected
and named as overseers; by new birth right all are priests ; but
a few from among the priests are named
as supervisors. (Overseers), Adhyaksh or episcopers are the same
in function. Why this fact is ignored? Brotherhood and love between
members are emphasized. The Brethren have now no overseers and pastors
as such except evangelists in our assemblies and writings in Kerala;
it is not so in the foreign countries. Now
in some of our present day gatherings, there is none to act as
Overseer, Pastor, or Adhyaksh among them to take the lead. Once I was in
a gathering in Gujarat. The leader there was sitting among the audience
looking towards the wall in front like all others. He was exhorting
turning around to the members. He was a pure brethren exactly like one
like the members, not at all pretending as a pastor or teacher! He acted
as a pure Brethren!. It is to be condemned as a disorder, a ridiculous
act! In assembly gatherings several persons do speak for a few minutes
and present some thoughts for meditation and all such are gradually
assumed as overseers. Now leaders are therefore many; and they all are
to be taken as overseers . Today
the thinking is: if any is called as pastor among us that will be
tabooed as heresy. So we have only evangelists or brothers. Even the
best teacher or pastor is to be called only as Evangelist.
The results of all these are many who assume as pastors and
overseers and called by the popular designation “elder” resulting in
differing and disagreeable opinions, divisions, and
sub-divisions. Thus the church
grow; grow and divide; again sub divide! Many defect to other
groups, or sit at homes not knowing what to do and where to go. Some
other groups whose teachings and practices were nauseant for them are
now preferred to the quarrels. There they simply sit obediently subject
to the one Pastor there; here they were quarrelling for not
allowing them to break bread and give to the members. Breaking of bread
was taken as a qualification for eldership; here they were quarrelling
for the glorious post of Elder, not Pastor!; there they sit quiet,
subject to the one ruler, the pastor in the church.. I have seen it and
am seeing. In one place two men were quarrelling for the post of
eldership. They left our believers group and joined the Marthomites and
there they sat quietly as a humble sheep; some defect to the
Pentecostals and there they boast as brethren among the Pentecostals!
Wonderful! Is it not?. Some I see withdrawing to sit at home. The
Brethren groups today are only mere brothers, none to oversee, none to
be called Teacher or Pastor; all are mere brothers, or EVGT! That is how
the name “Brethren was evolved. It simply means we all are mere
brothers; none else is there, only brothers; no pastor , no teacher. If
one calls himself as a teacher or pastor, it is done at his risk, the
risk of being called as apostolic!!! In
the Brethren there is one advantage! Many can rise up as apostles. Start
a periodical and become an editor; then go on writing, exhorting,
rebuking, and teaching through it, and send the publication to all the
assemblies, through out the world even. Then he shines out as a teacher,
common to the world over; he will not be responsible to any particular
assembly and is free from all troubles and the burden of the assembly
care too. If he is a “Dr.”, what he writes or says will be
swallowed, almost all. He can teach, rebuke, correct, and so on. These
apostles are a must to us because we don’t have any pastor and teacher
in the assembly set up! Once
an evangelist was sent to a senior brother who had been an overseer of
an assembly for several years. The overseer asked: who sent you to me?
Answer: “So and so Pastor.” Then reply: “that is good; but don’t
call him a pastor; simply call’m”uncle”.
Then the evangelist began to wonder: “I thought that servant of
God who had been in the Lord’s vineyard establishing assemblies,
teaching and feeding for several years; he cannot be called as a
“pastor! Why?” What is my readers’ answer? Some
gathering are fit to be named the Laodicean
where rule of the people or anarchy prevails. Let us go back
to the N.T. system to be overseen and maintained / administered by God-chosen
overseers, recognized / appointed by the existing overseers, thus
ordained and or clearly made known and accepted as overseers. Please get
up to reform our assemblies and bring it back to the N.T. principle and
glory. If we had ordained overseers in each of our local groups, as was
done in the apostolic days, ours would have been the best Christian
groups in the world. The only remedy for the present plague is to
have only gifted ordained overseers to supervise and maintain the
welfare of the members. This lacking has to be wisely and courageously tackled and rectified. LET US GO BACK TO THE NEW TESTAMENT AGE AND BRING WHAT IS LEFT OUT AND REPLACE THE PRESENT PEOPLE’S RULE RESULTING IN ANARCHY introducing the apostolic system of ordaining Elders in every church. SCRIPTURAL
TEACHING ON ORDINATION In
order to understand the meaning of ordination we need only to learn what
is meant by “ordain”.
i)
Eph.4:11
"..the Lord gave some as evangelists, some as pastors
and teachers ' ii)
Ph.
1:1 " to all saints in Christ who are with the
bishops and deacons" iii)
Acts 14:23:
Paul and Barnabas returned again to Lystra, Iconeum and Antioch...and
they had ordained elders in every church, prayed and commended
them to the Lord." iv)
Tit.1:5"I
left thee in Crete that you should put in order the things that are
wanting and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee".
That wanting is there today among the Brethren. v)
Acts.
15:2:There were elders in the Jerusalem church. vi)
Acts
20:28: The elders in Ephesus were called. vii)
Acts
6: six deacons were ordained. The
ordination and its
different aspects can be understood according to scripture as follows: I.
WHAT
IS MEANT BY ORDINATION? To
understand what is meant by ordaining simply learn the meaning of the
word ordain. In this connection what our veteran teacher W. E .Vine
points out is enough. APPOINT is related to point out. Its Greek word is
:
i)
HISTEEMI :make
stand or appoint Acts 17:31;Acts1:23.
ii)
KATHISTEEMI
: a strengthened form of the above; appoint a person in
a
position or to make or set to a place of
position by appointing out. eg. ·
a
servant over a household…MK.24 :45. ·
a judge.....
LK. 12:14 ·
a governor....
Acts7:10 This
is for the recognition of those who have already
been raised up and qualified by the Holy Spirit and given evidence in
their service and life .."
iii)
CHEROTONEO:
cheir=hand;
teino =to stretch (ie to stretch forth hand
to point out.). This is the guidance given to us by the Veteren scholar W.E.Vine. Mere Malayalam or English Bible readers don’t understand these things and so good majority of the Malayalee population have failed to understand what is meant by the word. So they have failed to ordain too; they have miserably failed to practice the apostolic pattern in assemblies. My esteemed readers of this article with the burden of seeing our assemblies well functioning may find it their duty to teach these things in all their assemblies. In
every 10 to 15 years old assembly there will surely be an Evangelist
well commended and prayed for by his original assembly. As a result of
his continuous labours a group is made to meet together. After ten or
fifteen years’ teaching and practice one or two more are found to be
able to teach, care for and offer tender feeding to the
members. They may be pointed out by that experienced
Evangelist/pastor and requested to stand up and come forward to
the pulpit side to be noted and prayed for before the assembly. When they come
they ought to be introduced to the assembly as God-chosen
new overseers with reference to their past beneficial
service, love and care towards that assembly. Both the
overseer and the assembly must pray for the new overseers thus co-opted
and accepted as pastors/ teachers. This is what we learn from
Acts 14:23: “They ordained elders in every church and had prayed with
fasting, they commended them to the Lord.” WHY
PAUL AND BERNABAS ORDAINED, AND NOT THAT LOCAL ASSEMBLY? It may be a
question by a few critics among us. There is enough reason for the
ordination. The general assembly including youngsters, visitors,
guests, women etc is not so
keen and enlightened to recognize and appreciate the higher spiritual
gifts. It requires a higher level of talents for recognizing the
deeper things of the Spirit. A
few may recognize the gifts, but in an imperfect level only. There is no
question of ordaining the Elders by the general assembly whose
individual interests for a new overseer may be debased on some selfish
interests too. The vision of the pastor who laboured so far
will be more apt. Then
they may be prayed for before the assembly by the Evangelist- pastor for
God’s added grace and
gifts upon the new group of overseers. There
is no harm if hands are laid on them as the senior overseer pray for
them. When prayer is made
we believe as in every prayer the gracious God will hear it and grant
blessing upon them. Don’t we pray for our loving children with our
hands on them? I do it. It is so simple a practice and a great thing to
be honoured. Nothing more than that. It is respected. The practice of
the elders or fathers of families praying for their children is an ages
old custom. It
is only a befitting and honoured thing that the newly elected
overseers too make a solemn vow before the assembly that they would,
trusting in the Lord, endeavour to serve the church to the best of their
ability and gifts. As the newly elected overseers and the existing
one labour together for the assembly all members should respect
and obey them in all matters they bring together for the welfare of that
Christ's church.
Overseers are expected to meet together often for prayers for the
assembly's welfare and for taking decision on any important program
or any need of the church. This is possible only when the fellow
overseers cooperate and make them available. No elders’ meeting should
be held in the midst of the assembly members; else various differing
opinions put forward by various members would result in division.
Overseers should be very careful in this.
They may announce their decisions in
the assembly for their prayerful co-operation in carrying out the
program.
Any alteration or suggestion
if felt to be made by any member on the Elders’ decision it may
be made by the member to any member of the elders body by meeting
him conveniently. It is to avoid any open discussion and
dispute in the assembly spoiling its spiritual atmosphere. The
Overseers will consider its efficacy; the result may be told to the one
who raised it for full acceptance. In
case of any difference of opinion on any matter among major
numbers of the overseers the decision may be postponed for
reconsideration; or the majority opinion may be honoured and carried out
and the differing overseer ought to be silent or calmly
agreeable to the others for the glory of the Lord. III. WHO IS TO ORDAIN?If
each local assembly is told as independent, the local Evangelist-overseer or the existing overseers are the sole
authority to decide that assembly's entire matters. The excuse some put
forward is that in the first century there were apostles to
oversee all groups and appoint elders, now who will do it? That
excuse is baseless. Barnabas and Titus were not apostles, yet they
ordained elders. The solution therefore is simple: the person(s)
responsible for winning, feeding
and maintaining the group so far are the fit person(s). They
had so far run here and there, met people, talked to them, led them to
the Lord, maintained them together for some years. He/they are the
Evangelist cum Overseers fit to ordain as overseers for the group. Or,
that Evangelist or the persons who were exercised and were gifted
to bring them up, teach and maintain them for a period of past say 10 or
15 years time, those Evangelist-pastors are the proper persons
qualified to ordain more overseers from among those members who
were found fit for holding the responsibility of the "office"
of overseers (1 Tim. 3:1 mentions the word "office" of
bishop; it calls for greater respect
to the overseer). In
an old assembly with Overseers already, the body of overseer
there can easily co-opt more overseers with them as detailed above
and the administration can be performed amicably and peacefully
understanding their mutual responsibility in the fear of the
Arch Bishop above.
There should be frequent
meetings of the Overseers for prayer and taking decisions on matters of
common interest or welfare of all. But difficulty may arise if the
opted persons are busy in secular jobs in different offices and are not
available .To be an ideal overseer one ought to be full time
overseer as the Evangelist is in the Lord's service and not
employees. This is not the case among the Brethren and is a serious
drawback, a serious defect in our system. One who is expected to be
an overseer if not available for visiting the members of the assembly
frequently to enquire of their physical and spiritual welfare and
to build them up in fellowship is unfit to hold the office. IV.
IMPORTANT DUTIES OF THE
OVERSEERS i) If your brother trespasses against you rebuke him .If he repents, forgive him.”Lk.17:3 ii) Them that sin rebuke before all.1 Tim. 5:20 iii) Rebuke exhort with long suffering 2 Tim. 4:2 iv) The Cretans are Always liars. Rebuke them sharply. Tit. 1:13; 2:15. v) Have no fellowship with workers of darkness of iniquity; reprove them.Eph.5:11 vi) Deliver the blasphemers to satan.1 Tim. 1:20;1 Cor.5:5 vii) Purge out the old leven.1 Cor.5:7 viii) Perfect the saints and edify. Eph. 4:12 ix) Receive him who is weak in faith. Rom 14:1 x) Warn then that are unruly; encourage that are faint hearted; support that are weak, be patient toward all.1Thes. 5:14-16. xi) Ordain elders in all churches. 1 Tim. 1:5 etc. xii) No buisiness meeting should be held in the assembly. But only separately by overseers. Differing arguments in the whole assembly will create friction and division. xiii)
When any younger youth are found
to have gained gifts to oversee they may be coopted to eldership
and accepted; or if they
move aside and
labour for another gathering with prayerful
cooperation it is better. xiv)
Five times the word rebuke
is repeated in the duty ,
purge out, and rule well shows
the overseers are entrusted with the duty of unpleasant ruling. To deny
is not from the Spirit that made to allow it. There may come occasion to
do so xv)
Acts 20:28 Take heed unto
themselves, and to all the flock, also feed the church of God. Watch
Against perverse teachers; warn everyone. Note the following verses. i. “If a man desires the OFFICE of bishop.” 1 Timothy 3:1 ii. “Obey them that have the rule over you.” Heb. 13:17 iii. ordinary believers do not rule over others. ie not episcopers (overseers_ Epi=over Scope= to see). iv. “The Holy Spirit has made you overseers to feed the church. Acts 2o: 28. v. “You should set in order the things.’ vi. Ordain elders in every city (or your working area.) Tit. 1:52 Note that ordinary believers are not ordained to become members.. vii. Today ordinary believers are overseeing the overseers. viii. Overseer means one who sees over others to regulate and guide them. ix. Overseers have therefore a higher and a heavier duty. x. Today all have a say in everything over overseers. xi. Today all have equal say; hence the disagreement xii. I am the apostle of the Gentiles, Paul says- xiii. I magnify my office, says the apostle Paul. Rom. 11:13 xiv. All overseers ought to have the same feeling of their office. xv. “Know them who labour among you and are over you in the lord and admonish you’ 1 Thes. 5:12 (the believers duty) xvi. “Esteem them very highly in love for their works sake” 1Thes. 5:13. xvii. It is the overseer’s duty to set things in order. Tit. 1:5 xviii. Ordinary believers are not ordained. xix. The overseers have their own reward-1 Pt. 5:4 a crown of glory differing from the members’ crown. xx. The youngsters have to submit them to overseers. 1 pt.5:5 xxi. Against an overseer receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. 1Tim.5:19. xxii. All these point out the need of greater consideration and respect towards the overseers. These are because of the greater and heavier responsible duties they have to shoulder. It must be considered by all members .sometimes the persons holding responsibility will have to shed tears day and night .I who have laboured for more than 48 years for more than two groups had to shed tears along with my wife day and night for several days when the burden became heavier. The converts who have come out from different groups and the inexperienced our own Brethren families had to be taught and disciplined in the conception that all are equally brother and no overseers!. xxiii. St. Paul called himself as an apostle Rm.1:1; 1Cor. 1:1; 1 Tim. 1:1; 2 T. 1:1; Tit:1:1; Gal 1:1;EPH1:1;COL:1:1; 1Tim.1:1; 2 Tim.1:1; tit:1:1; xxiv. St. Pt. Called himself as apostle. 1Pt:5:5; 2 Pt;1:1; not as a mere co-brother. xxv. St. John called himself as an Elder and an apostle (not as mere brother; 2Jn 1:1; 3 Jn 1:1. (while all are basically children of God, all are brothers. Some co-believers are gifted with higher gifts/duty) xxvi. It is very important that those who oversee must sit in a place from where they can oversee all, address and guide the members while all can see and hear him.. The best place is the pulpit side. It is there from where the adhyaksh or other responsible persons of even a committee govern its affairs. The ecclesia’s overseer also is an adhyaksh or president.
xxvii.
Paul mentions deaconship is also an office.1 Tim 3:13.different
from a member. UP
[VI]. CONCLUSIONWe all are brethren, saints, Church, children of God, citizens of Heaven, strangers on the earth, Foreigners on the earth, New Born people, or our name can be united to any of these. Each name indicating only partial truths. To Say Apostolic church, Episcopical Church, overseers Church, Saints Church, Church of God’s Children, Heavenly Citizens Church etc are only partially correct. We are “Believers in Christ” or “New Testament Church”, “Christian Pilgrims” etc. The expression, the Apostle Paul used in Philippians 1:1 is cent percent accurate: the Church “Saints in Christ Jesus with the Bishops and Deacons.” *******
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bro.K.M.Mathai, M.A,B-230, Minal Residency, J.K.Road Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, INDIA |
