 | If someone we know is caught 'trying to do it all' -- even an elder or a pastor -- ask them to merely select one or two from the known Bible administrations, and to calibrate their efforts accordingly.
The role of elders/pastor-shepherds is to feed the flock and live godly example. The saints give attention to, are persuaded by, and follow the biblical teaching and godly example of their leaders. [Ephesians 4:11-13; I Peter 5:3; Hebrews 13:7,17] Discipleship, not ruling and being governed. In this, the King James Version of the Bible has contributed to a corrupted view of church leadership. It speaks of ruling when the Greek speaks of leading. It speaks of obeying, when the Greek reflects, be persuaded by [Hebrews 13:17]. The NIV's, Obey your leaders and submit to their authority goes further outside by adding authority. The Greek word peithesthe in the New Testament is overwhelmingly translated by some form of the word persuade. The Greek word for obey, hupakouo, (as in children obey parents, servants obey your masters) is never used of believers in relationship to elders, bishops or pastors. It should be no surprise that biblical leadership is explicitly not to function as the leadership of the world, where men exercise authority by virtue of their position. [Luke 22:25-26]
The work of the men becoming overseers does not just happen (as the product of aimless conduct), but as part of a broader lifestyle of careful obedience. There is great need for assemblies to practice corporately, as families, and as individual members of Christ's body, separated lives -- lives of reverent submission to the word of God in all things. [II Corinthians 2:9; Ephesians 5:24; Matthew 28:20; John 15:14] Thus it is in the context of the ekklesia's men leading their families in continual spiritual training (Ephesians 6:4), exhorting one another daily [Hebrews 3:13] -- all as preparation for, and with a view to, powerful and obedient Spirit-led participation, contribution, and interaction in times of gathering together. [I Corinthians 14:26]
We have constructed a lot of notions about office that rest on human tradition, and are not found in the New Testament. The King James has office in Romans ll:13, 12:4 and I Timothy 3:l. In Romans 11:13 the Greek word is diakonia or service. In Romans 12:4, the Greek word is praxis, or action/function. In I Timothy 3:l, office is not in the text. The verse simply says, if any one aspires to oversight (episkope).
For tentmakers to survive three full-time jobs (work, family and ministry), they must also adopt a sacrificial lifestyle. Tentmakers must live a pruned life and literally find leisure and rest in the rhythm of serving Christ (Matthew 11:28). They must be willing to forego a measure of career achievement and private leisure for the privilege of gaining the prize (Philippians 3:14). Many would like to be tentmakers if they could be wealthy and live a leisurely and cultured lifestyle. But the truth is that a significant ministry in the church and the community can only come by sacrifice.
|
