PerryDox – BeJustAChristian

   After discussing this topic with another preacher, he wrote to me—“You have stated some things that I have never heard before from a preacher for the Lord’s church.” 

   Wow!  That’s sad!  Why?  Hopefully my conclusions are Biblically derived, and are not erroneously inferred from modern-day settings.  What I considered scriptural, he had never heard of.  As I said…sad.  He could not contemplate what I refer to in this article as the Scriptural Relationship.

   Simply speaking, the scriptures do not have a lot of specifics on what we call “local preachers.”  Therefore we must learn from what principles, commands, examples and implications do exist.  I think the reason for a lack of specificity is that, biblically speaking, the emphasis is on a preacher’s work, regardless of whether it is local and permanent, or temporary. 

   First, let’s examine two extremes on this relationship:

Evangelistic Oversight

   If there are no elders, is the preacher “in charge?”  Not according to the scriptures.  And if that is correct, then when there are elders, that same answer obviously holds true again.  The preacher is not “over” the elders, nor over the congregation.

   But what about the authority of preachers?  Is there such a thing?  Yes…and no.

1 Corinthians 16:15-16 NASB  (15)  Now I urge you, brethren (you know the household of Stephanas, that they were the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves for ministry to the saints),  (16)  that you also be in subjection to such men and to everyone who helps in the work and labors.

   The “subjection” of this verse is not to a position, but to what the preacher teaches – and by supporting the man’s work.  As a preacher, my only “authority” comes from the word.  Therefore these things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority.  Let no one disregard you (Titus 2:15).

Evangelist as Employee

   Conversely, the preacher is not an employee of the church.  The elders are not the boss of the preacher.    A preacher is in subjection to an eldership only if he is a member of the congregation where he works (1 Peter 5:2).  Therefore, when a preacher is a member, his subjection is based upon that relationship – elders to saints – and not because he is a preacher in that congregation.  This is what shocked that other preacher.

   I view my work as the preacher being quite independent of the elders and congregation.  Never have I had an eldership set my hours; organize my work, etc.  In the past, I have preached what elders have requested when they feel a need exists, but I would do that in a gospel meeting if so requested by those elders. 

   Apparently some think that if a preacher receives wages from a congregation (1 Corinthians 9), then the congregation – or its elders – are the boss.  I’ve even had someone once erroneously comment to me about the duties of my wife due to me being the preacher! 

   Think this through scripturally and logically.  If I receive wages from another congregation – and many preachers do – then do I become the employee of that other church (or other churches)?  Am I being overseen by that other eldership (or other elderships)?  That is one of the faults of the sponsoring church arrangement.  The preacher who said he was shocked at this simple description – that of a fellowship – could not fathom how it worked.  He therefore had to conclude that elders oversee preachers “as preachers” in every congregation where their church sends support to that preacher.  Therefore you can have several elderships overseeing one preacher.

    Let’s see if there is a scriptural answer to the relationship between a preacher, congregation, and the eldership.

Scriptural Relationship

   The relationship is one of fellowship, not anything else.  The scriptures do not teach that a preacher has to be under the authority of an eldership in order to preach.  Therefore the preacher-elder-congregation relationship to be extremely simple. 

   The relationship is nothing more than – and nothing less than – a spiritual association.  If we are to speak as the Bible does, then we should use both Biblical terms and scriptural concepts (1 Peter 4:11).  The Bible uses the term “fellowship” (Philippians 4:15) to describe the association of a preacher to a congregation. And therefore I will too.

   Basically, I believe and teach that the work of the preacher consists of three different works: 1) preaching the gospel and making disciples; 2) strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith; 3) appointing elders (Acts 14:21-23).  In looking at this work, being a preacher is defined without context of being a member of a local congregation.  It is also defined without being the employee of a church.

   Your support of me – through encouragement and through wages – allows me to do my work as a preacher.  It is an honor to be in fellowship with you as we work together for the Lord.

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This entry was posted by PHall on Monday, October 12th, 2009 at 12:36 pm and is filed under Acts, I Corinthians, Philippians, Titus, I Peter. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.