THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH.


Not only do we see that the name of the church is important, you cannot be the Lord’s
church if you do not wear the Lord’s name, but in the church the Lord has set forth the
proper organization. Actually the church is a living organism (cf. Eph. 1:22—we the
body). But within this organism is great organization.
There are to be a plurality of elders and deacons in each congregation. “And when they had
ordained them elders in every church” (Acts 14:23a); “Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus
Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons” (Phi.
1:1).
Elders are described for us in the Scriptures as elders or presbyters which sets forth the age and
maturity of the men who hold this office. They are to be older men, thus a young man would not
qualify. Bishops or overseers are used in describing the work that these men do. The men who
hold this office are to oversee, to make sure that the work to be done is done correctly, they are
to direct, govern, or rule (see Heb. 13:17; 1 Tim. 5:17; 3:5; 1 The. 5:12). They make the
decisions in the area of expediency, carrying out the laws God made which affect the
congregation. And they are referred to as shepherds or pastors which set forth how the elders are
to do their work (see 1 Pet. 5:1-3—especially verse 3).
Then there are to be deacons in every congregation. Deacons are special servants to serve in
temporal matters.
With elders and deacons in every congregation that makes each one autonomous or selfgoverned.
This leaves no room for ecclesiastical systems such as synods, councils, papal
systems, or preacher rule. While there may be some congregations that have not reached a proper
stage of maturity, if your religion is not organized like unto this, then it is not the Lord’s church.
Michael Hatcher
Pensacola, FL

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