by Jeremy Sprouse ~ April 17th, 2008
The second bait and switch we will look at in this series of articles is the switch made in God’s leadership of the church. It seems many religious groups today give no thought to examining the Bible’s pattern when they organize their body of believers. Instead, they follow what they think is best and logical.
The New Testament Church has a very simple organization. Christ is the head of every local church (Colossians 1:18). There are no earthly headquarters or human head (like the Pope). Each congregation is autonomous and self-governing. There is no organizational tie between congregations. The Bible uses the terms Elder, Presbyter, Overseer, Bishop, Shepherd, Pastor interchangeably to refer to a single office in the church (cf. Acts 20:17, 19; 1 Peter 5:1-3). Local churches appoint their own plurality of elders using 1 Timothy 3:1-7, and Titus 1:5-9 as guidelines for the qualifications (cf. Titus 1:5). Elders have authority only over the members of the local church, not members from outside congregations (1 Peter 5:2).
Most denominations today have a complex organization like a national government. They have a central church or headquarters, regional headquarters, and other various degrees of organization until finally you come to the local congregation. The Pope is the head of the Catholic church—under him, cardinals, bishops, etc. supervise the work of many local churches. Protestant denominations have centralized headquarters, councils, societies, and officers that supervise the work of the local churches. All such arrangements violate local church independence and oversight. None of these arrangements are mentioned or authorized by the Bible—they are the product of man’s thinking and reasoning.
Even in the local congregation, the organization of most denominations is skewed from the Bible’s teachings. Often, the preacher will be the head of a local congregation and will be called a “Pastor.” He will be in charge of that church and reign supreme unless members go above his head to one of the organizations above their congregation. Many times these men will not meet the qualifications for being Pastors (cf. 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9). In addition, the Bible never approves of one man being in charge local congregation. Instructions regarding appointing elders requires more than one elder to be appointed (cf. Acts 14:23, Titus 1:5).
The bait offered by denominations is Godly leadership, but it is switched with man’s leadership. In Isaiah 55:9, God says: “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Who are we to say we know better than God? We need to heed God’s plan, not man’s.
