What is the right approach to Church government? Some in God's Church do not want any Church government, or want very little. You can read through the book of Judges and you will see what happens when there is no real leadership and no government among God's people. That has been tried many times, with anarchy as the result. Should we all just do what is right in our own eyes (Judges 21:25)?
Other people in the Church want too much government. They do not want to think for themselves. They do not want to be responsible for their actions, or to make their own decisions. That is the other extreme. What should we think about that approach? God said to Israel, and to us: "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live" (Deuteronomy 30:19).
God has given us free moral agency. We build character and develop responsibility, understanding and knowledge— in short, we develop as Christians—when we are required to get the facts and make decisions with an understanding of their consequences, good and bad. God has set it up that way.
Too much government turns into dictatorship. Too little government turns into anarchy. What is the balance? The form of government that works, both in the Church and elsewhere, is from God as found in His word. For some, because of unpleasant experiences, when they hear "Church government," a kind of "tensing up" takes place. That reflects a misunderstanding of Church government from God's word. When we really understand God's form of government, we can appreciate it as a blessing.
What is our attitude toward any form of government, whether we are exercising the government or whether we are under the government?
It is not humanly natural to appreciate and to cooperate with even proper government. We have to overcome resentment toward it. Lucifer, along with one-third of the angels, had this problem. They were in the presence of a magnificent, perfect, all-powerful Being—God—yet they came to despise His authority. They considered His authority restrictive and oppressive. It "cramped their style." If we let our guard down, our human nature begins to kick in, and we can reach a point where we despise government and authority from any direction, and also from anybody. God does not take that kind of attitude lightly: "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities" (2 Peter 2:9–10, KJV).
How do we react to the governments of this world? Do we despise authority? Do we despise government? We all need to check our attitude toward authority and government.
Within the Church, this is also a matter that requires self-examination. Most of God's people are very respectful and appreciative of the ministry. Occasionally, though, we all can have a bad day, and some few have not grown to the point where they appreciate those who labor among the Church. We should not put ministers on a pedestal. Rather, we should appreciate their service, and the responsibility they have, and we should recognize that they do have authority. We must not dilute what it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13: "And we urge you, brethren, to recognize [to know] those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you [or instruct you], and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves."
Those in the ministry must esteem the brethren very highly as well. The brethren are to respect ministers and their office, and the ministry is also to respect the brethren, and respect the fact that we are all in God's Church. When there is respect and love, that solves many problems.
What is the premise, and the need, for government in God's Church? There must be government. How can "all things be done decently and in order" without proper Church government (1 Corinthians 14:40)? It is not possible. Decisions will not be made, or once they are made they will not be carried out. Who decides where we will have Feast sites? Who decides where to meet for Sabbath services? In order for things to be done decently and in order, God has put government in place, because He "is not the author of confusion [or disorder] but of peace, as in all churches of the saints" (v. 33).
To have fairness, justice, service and love in God's Church, there must be Church government, properly administered. Many blessings come to everyone as a result. It has been that way from the beginning. Government from the top down, for the well-being of all, is a basic principle that runs throughout the Bible. It is God's way, and it is the only way that ever really works in the long run. There is never a problem with godly government. Problems arise only when abuse and wrong use of government takes place, or when rebellion against right authority occurs.
Exodus 18 shows a wonderful example of the way Jesus Christ, the Rock, views government: "And so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening. So when Moses' father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, 'What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?'" (vv. 13–14). Moses was doing everything himself. There was no structure in place, and what was the result? He was exhausting himself and the people.
"And Moses said unto his father-in-law, 'Because the people come to me to inquire of God'" (v. 15). Moses was trying to help them, but he was being worn out—and they were being worn out—in the process. "'When they have a difficulty they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.' So Moses' father-in-law said to him, 'The thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself'" (vv. 16–18).
God inspired this, and He preserved it in His Word, so we are to learn from it. "'Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens'" (vv. 19–21).
This is organization. Moses provided the overall direction, and people were put in place to serve various numbers of people in Israel. "'And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace'" (vv. 22–23).
Look how wonderfully that all turns out! Everybody benefits! What a blessing! The people could get answers to their questions and go about their responsibilities without wearing Moses out or being worn out themselves.
Government, organization, titles, and authority—you find them all there. But for what reason? To serve, to help and to enable the people to have peace. To save everybody time, and to see that everything is done decently and in order. Church government properly administered is a tremendous blessing for everyone.
How did Jesus Christ practice government? He taught with confidence, assurance and authority. He was not a bully. He did not intimidate or mistreat anyone. He did not abuse or misuse His authority. But He was a leader. People knew where He stood, "for He taught them as one having authority" (Matthew 7:29).
Did He pass that along? After praying all night, "He chose twelve whom He also named apostles" (Luke 6:12–13). What else did He do? "Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. And He sent them to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick" (Luke 9:1–2). He gave them power and authority. To misuse? Never. To abuse others with it? No. It was all for the good of others. It was all for serving, for helping. The power and authority that was passed along to the servants Jesus Christ sent out was a blessing.
If we are to think the way Christ thinks, and if we are to follow God's Word—living by every word of God—we cannot avoid the fact that He has placed government in His Church. It is from the top down for the purpose of serving the brethren, keeping things in order and making sure that the Church is taken care of and the Work is done. It is not a democracy. It is not government that exists by consensus or by polling people. We do not send around ballots, and eventually try to make a decision based on that. This is God's Church. Jesus Christ is its Head. He guides His Church through His ministry by the power of God's Holy Spirit. We do take counsel, we do take input and we do base decisions on God's Word. But we make decisions and we lead. It is for the good of everyone, and God backs that up.
The laying on of hands is exercising government. In order to receive God's Holy Spirit upon repentance and baptism, a minister lays hands on a person, and sets him apart. God then gives that person His Holy Spirit. "Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet it had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit" (Acts 8:14–17). Notice they had repented and Philip had baptized them, but they had not received the Holy Spirit until the apostles came and laid hands on them. Could just any man do that? No. It had to be a servant of God. God backs up His ministers, and works through them.
God has placed within His Church ministerial offices that have to do with serving, giving and helping, representing God and reflecting Jesus Christ. They are offices of responsibility and service, authority and leadership: "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers" (Ephesians 4:11). Why? So they could walk around in august gowns and collars, pontificate and be surrounded by an entourage? No! God did all of that "for the equipping [or perfecting] of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him, who is the Head—Christ—from whom the whole body joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love" (vv. 12–16).
The offices of the ministry are for feeding, protecting, caring for, encouraging and serving the flock. That means leading the congregation, seeing to the needs of the brethren, instructing the Church—and, if troublemakers try to come in, showing them the way out.
There are "ranks" in the ministry. That word sometimes has a bad connotation, but it need not. It just has to do with organization. 1 Corinthians 12:28 clearly shows that God has put the offices in the Church in a specific order.
What are the qualifications for these ministerial offices? Sometimes people misunderstand the verse: "This is a true saying: If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desires a good work" (1 Timothy 3:1, KJV). This does not say that the desire is good. It is a good work; there is no doubt about it. But the Bible makes clear that, for one to be in the ministry, God has to have called the individual and placed him in the ministry. That is done through government in the Church, by observing the fruits that are born and by God's guidance through the power of His Holy Spirit. "A bishop [an overseer or a minister] then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil" (1 Timothy 3:2–7).
Those are very high requirements and standards. Think of what it means when someone is placed in the ministry. A minister will have the authority to anoint the sick, to advise on what the Scripture actually says and to look after the flock. Thankfully, we have a wonderful ministry in the Living Church of God, and we are not going to "lower the bar." We have to follow what the Bible says. Because we have proper Church government in place, there is a process that is followed when someone is ordained and placed in the ministry, guided by Christ through the power of God's Holy Spirit.
Paul told Titus to "set in order the things that are lacking and appoint [ordain] elders in every city as I commanded you—if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict" (Titus 1:5–9). What a blessing it is that God develops, trains, calls and ordains servants as Paul described in this passage!
We do not want to be careless about responsibilities that are assigned only to the ministry, such as anointing. God must back up the man who does the anointing. Therefore, we call only the elders of the Church for anointing; they pray in faith, and the person being anointed looks to God in faith (James 5:13–14).
What should our attitude be toward proper government in the Church? A minister loses his effectiveness to lead when too much familiarity begins to trivialize his leadership and his authority. We are to respect, appreciate and love God's ministers (Hebrews 13:7), as they respect and love and care for us. "Obey those who rule over you [or lead you], and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you" (v. 17).
Ministers must give an account of how they take care of God's people, and how they fulfill their ministry—and that is a very sobering responsibility for any minister. Any dedicated and converted minister who is walking with God gives very sober thought to that verse. A minister knows that, somewhere down the road, he will look Jesus Christ straight in the eye, figuratively speaking, and will have to give an account of how he has carried out his assignment in the ministry. Any minister that takes that lightly is going to be in trouble. How does he take care of God's people? How does he take care of God's little ones? How does he care for those who are sick? How does he handle those who are discouraged? How does he guide the youth? How does he feed the congregation? What is his attitude and quality of service? Does he reflect Jesus Christ? Does he effectively represent God as an ambassador? Any minister will examine himself quite regularly on these points and others.
That verse instructs us to "obey" them. The word "obey" here implies an attitude of yielding and cooperating, of having confidence in the ministers and following them as they follow Christ. It is not that the ministry passes out orders and everybody marches. It has to do with cooperating with the leadership, yielding to authority, following as the ministry follows Christ, and submitting in the right attitude and in the right way.
The ministry does not live our lives for us. It does not make the brethren's choices and decisions. The brethren do not have to check with the ministry about their personal life and business. Ministers are here to teach and counsel, to set the right example in spiritual matters and Christian living and to be shepherds to the flock—to lead and guide in love, as needed.
There are a lot of instructions in the Bible that are pointed directly toward elders. The ministers had better read them regularly and follow them. "The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away" (1 Peter 5:1–4).
It is a wonderful thing to see a congregation that is healthy, stable and solid, with a minister who is really following the calling that God has given him. It will not be perfect. There will be a few glitches and mistakes here and there; we are all human. But such a congregation is warm, friendly, happy, committed, dedicated and upbeat about the Work. It is not being neglected. It is not disoriented. It is not disjointed. What a wonderful thing to see! It is beautiful when we follow what God's Word says.
John 10 contains tremendous direction regarding the interaction between shepherds and sheep, ministers and God's people. "And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers" (John 10:4–5). Verses 11–15: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know my sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so know I the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep."
What a difference there is between a shepherd and a hireling! What a difference there is between a minister whose whole life—his vocation and his avocation—is taking care of God's people, rather than just putting in the hours and getting a paycheck. That is one of the most outstanding attributes that I see in the Living Church of God—we do have shepherds. We can be better shepherds, but we do have shepherds—men who have "fire in their bellies" to finish the Work, and who really do take care of the sheep whom God has put in their care.
Acts 20:28–31 contains directions to God's ministers. "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves shall men rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears."
How are the ministers to follow Paul's instructions without a government that is respected and properly administered? It cannot happen. How are they going to keep grievous wolves out if they do not have the authority given to them by God? They cannot. So it is a tremendous blessing to have proper government in God's Church. It provides authority, backed up by God, for the service and protection of the flock. We have already seen how that authority must be used—with love, mercy, kindness, consideration and respect. Paul told the ministry to "rule well" and to rule "with diligence" (1 Timothy 5:17; Romans 12:8). But make no mistake about it; there is leadership. There is government. There is authority.
What is the role of Church government in correction? Paul wrote to Timothy: "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His Kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry" (2 Timothy 4:1–5).
Paul wrote that one of Timothy's duties was to "rebuke." Many people do not want correction. Some have had experiences with correction that has been overdone, or has been done in an unchristian manner. But does this mean that there should be no correction at all? When you get on an airplane to fly from point A to point B, from the time you take off to the time you land, there are constant course corrections in the cockpit. When you get behind your steering wheel to go home, you are constantly correcting the direction of your vehicle. We need course corrections from time to time. Sometimes a correction has to be direct and strong, so we can pull ourselves up and repent and make a change. Such correction is a blessing. But it must be done in love.
Nobody likes to work one's way through ugly and troublesome situations to render a decision, leaving one person happy with the outcome and the other unhappy. Sometimes this must happen, though, and it must be based on God's Word. Paul had to do that. Notice what he wrote: "Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?" (Galatians 4:16). In God's Church, there is no room for adversarial relationships. We should have no adversarial relationships between brethren, between ministers or between ministers and brethren. If we do, we should work to fix them. We are not enemies. We are all on the same team. When a decision does not go our way, we should just say, "Okay, not my will but Your will be done," and move on. Christ is in charge.
We are God's people—God's Church, God's disciples. We are to love and respect and serve one another. Mr. Meredith has encouraged an atmosphere in the Church that is not intimidating—whether it is in the Council of Elders, or Spokesman Club or the congregations. Ask questions. Make suggestions. Give ideas. Bring to the ministry those concerns that bother and trouble you. Do not just gullibly say, "Oh, well, the minister's in charge." Respect that, but if you have questions or ideas, or if something is bothering you—come. Talk about it, and do what it takes to resolve it biblically. Of course, when we approach someone with questions, ideas or concerns, we should be sure to check our attitude. We do not want to sow discord and discontent. That does not help anything or anyone. Rather, we should go get help. And we can! Church government exists, to a good degree, for that very reason.
Part of a minister's job description is to be "helpers" of the brethren's joy (2 Corinthians 1:24, KJV). We all look forward to Sabbath services. They are times of happiness and joy. They are times of fellowship and singing. They are times of being strengthened and renewed and refreshed. They are times of learning more and more about God's Word. They are times when we all—ministers and brethren—have an opportunity to be helpers of one another's joy.
We are to use authority only when we have to, and only to the extent it is needed to solve a problem. We must never be harsh, intimidating or abusive. Never! We must always be firm and strong and unbending on what is right. Always! God never bends on what is right. But, while being firm and strong and unbending on what is right, we must always use mercy and patience, and we must always have hope and concern for those with whom we are dealing.
There is a right balance to God's government. It is, fundamentally, love in action. It is like His Law, which is love in action. God's government is based on His great commandments. There is power and authority to be used for the good and protection of all. It is to be applied in love, compassion and wisdom—and firmness, when required.
There is a key to having the right attitude toward Church government. It is that we look to Christ in faith, knowing that He is in charge. Those who have the proper attitude toward Church government, and consider it a blessing, are those who always look to Jesus Christ, and remember that He is in charge. To the extent that we do this, we will come to recognize, more and more, what a blessing proper Church government is.
We must not carelessly reject proper Church government, as we see from the example of Samuel: "Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, 'Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.' But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, 'Give us a king to judge us.' So Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, 'Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them'" (1 Samuel 8:4–7). By rejecting Samuel as their leader, they were rejecting God, who put Samuel in his position of leadership.
Do we see God in the picture? Do we realize that Christ is the Head of the Church? Do we understand that He has instituted government in His Church, from the top down, to be properly administered with love and in mercy? It is there throughout the Bible. I hope that we all can come to appreciate more fully that God's government, properly applied, is truly a tremendous blessing for everyone.