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The Government of God is God's way of life, the way Jesus lived his life. It is not a political administrative system, nor is it any system of governance within a church organization. OPEN through Table of Contents to View Current Article Previous Article: The Church of God at Laodicea – Who are you?
God's System of Government: The only system of physical government delivered and endorsed by God is the FAMILY. Government of God: This is the right relationship between God and an individual through the Holy Spirit. For there to be a right relationship one must be obedient to God in the spirit, as exampled by Paul in Rom 7:14-25. Church Government: Is where the people of God are acknowledging and properly using all the spiritual gifts God has given to His people. These gifts are likened to the various parts of the body which all work together for the benefit of the body (1Cor 12:12-26; Eph 4:4-7, 11-12; Eph 2:19-22 and Phil 2:1-3) under direction of the head, Christ. Preaching and other Gifts: All men who are so disposed, according to the gifts of God, are required by God to preach (see the Parable of the Pounds at Luke 19:12-26). Examples of preaching by ordinary membership (the scattered brethren) are given in Acts 8:4, Acts 11:19-20 and Apollos (Acts 18:24-28). Baptism: Baptism with the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:16) is what was pictured by physical circumcision (Col 2:11-12) and under normal circumstances it is to be performed by the man (any man) who was instrumental in bringing the person to be baptized to the truth. Saul (Paul) was baptized by ordinary member Ananias (Acts 9:10-18). Ordinations: Ordination (selection) to full-time duty such as preaching is done by a majority vote from the men of the congregation (Acts 14:23). Church Services: All services should be conducted "...decently and in order...", as commanded in 1Cor 14:40. How this is to be accomplished is detailed in the preceding verses – 1Cor 14:29-38.
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The only system of physical government delivered and endorsed by God is the FAMILY – which is spoken of by Christ himself in Mark 10:2-9: "...2 Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, 'Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?' 3 He answered them, 'What did Moses command you?' 4 They said, 'Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.' 5 But Jesus said to them, 'Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. 6 But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. 7 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.'..." [NRSV].
This is a direct quote from Genesis Chapter 2, where Adam and Eve were married from the time of Eve's creation from Adam's rib – they were created of one flesh; God had married them by virtue of this creation and after the creation God calls them "man and wife". Gen 2:22-25 "...22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, 'This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this one was taken.' 24 Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed..." [NRSV].
Gen 2:18 “…And the LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him.’…” [NLT]. Gen 3:16 “…‘Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.’…” [NKJV].
Marriage then becomes a type of the relationship and fellowship which is to exist between Christ and the Church: Eph 5:22-25 “…22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Saviour of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,…” [NKJV].
Just as instructions are given to the husband, in Eph 5:25, as to the extent of his love for his wife, so too is the wife given further instruction in Titus 2:5, “…To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed…” [KJV].
The purpose of marriage is to create a family (Gen 1:28) and so the marriage system of government is actually a family system of government. In the New Testament God elaborates and provides us with the detail as to how relationships are to operate as a governmental system within the family (Col 3:18-21) – here the husband, wife and children are included. Gen 1:28 “…Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’…” [NKJV].
Col 3:18-21 “…18 You wives must submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. 19 And you husbands must love your wives and never treat them harshly. 20 You children must always obey your parents, for this is what pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, don't aggravate your children. If you do, they will become discouraged and quit trying…” [NLT].
Accordingly, the physical family is both the foundational unit of the nation, as well as being the nation itself under the direct rule of God – we find no other system of physical government delivered and approved by God.
The Old Covenant
On a national scale we are given the example of ancient Israel and the Old Covenant. Here again we see marriage as the governmental system delivered and endorsed by God when the Old Covenant was established. The Old Covenant relationship is made clear in Jeremiah 3:14, where God said: "…‘Return, O backsliding children,’ says the LORD; ‘for I am married <01166> to you.’…” [NKJV].
In this verse, a number of translations and commentaries have adopted “your master” in favour of “married”, but Strong observes the subtle difference between the two Hebrew words as follows: Strong’s 01166 bâ ‘al (baw-al’) – means marry, husband, wife; whereas Strong’s 01167 ba ‘al (bah-al) – means master, owner, lord, man.
This same word, bâ ‘al, is used in Gen 20:3 where God describes Sarah as Abraham’s wife: “…But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, ‘Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man's wife.’…” [NKJV].
Previous passages in Jeremiah (3:1 and 3:8), where God refers to whoredom, harlotry and eventually divorce, make it very clear that although a more dominant type of relationship is implied, God is indeed referring to the state of marriage between Himself and Israel in Jer 3:14 and not one of master/servant.
So, even as nations, the sole example of governmental system we have been given by God, as His system of government from the beginning, is that of the FAMILY. In this system no person shall have authority over any other person, except as He has decreed through the family unit. The physical example of the original ancient nation of Israel is the type for the New Testament Church (spiritual Israel) and the type for the ultimate government reality in the Kingdom of God (Heb 8:1 – 9:28).
The New Covenant
The Old Covenant was the physical type of the New Covenant (which is spiritual – Heb 9:8-9): “…the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. It was symbolic for the present time…” [NKJV].
And like the Old Covenant it too is a marriage covenant. However, the principal difference between the two is that while the Old Covenant was entered into fully, the New Covenant exists only partially at present – God’s people (spiritual Israel) only being betrothed at this time. The marriage (covenant relationship) is to be between the risen Christ and the ascended members of the Church of God at his return. At present we are now under the principles of the New Covenant (Heb 8:1 – 9:28), only being the betrothed of Christ and making ourselves ready for the wedding, Rev 19:7 “…Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready;…” [NRSV].
Many do not realize that this spiritual covenant will not be sealed until the spiritual marriage and therefore look to some physical fulfilment of promises made under the New Covenant. However, it should be clear that this is a spiritual covenant which applies to literal spirit beings and therefore the promises made under the covenant will not and indeed cannot be fulfilled until all parties are spirit beings. We do not yet see the promises being performed to anywhere near what is written, because fulfilment of the covenant is possible only when the marriage takes place between Christ and the risen Church (all parties then being spirit beings) – the physical cannot take part in this arrangement. 1Cor 15:50 “…What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable…” [NRSV].
Man has invented many systems of government, but God’s system of government is the FAMILY – this we have seen from the beginning through Adam and Eve, then through the original nation of ancient Israel, currently through betrothal of the Church to Christ and in the future through the marriage of the Church to Christ.
Other forms of government seen in the Bible
God’s system of government is a one-on-one relationship with each individual and He demonstrated this approach at Sinai. However, the people of Israel said that they preferred a human intermediary rather than a one-on-one relationship with God (Ex 20:18-22): “…18 When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the ram’s horn, and when they saw the flashes of lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear. 19 And they said to Moses, ‘You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!’ 20 ‘Don’t be afraid,’ Moses answered them, ‘for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!’ 21 As the people stood in the distance, Moses approached the dark cloud where God was. 22 And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Say this to the people of Israel: You saw for yourselves that I spoke to you from heaven.’…” [NLT].
The fundamental aspect of a one-on-one relationship with God will be covered in detail shortly, when the New Testament Church is discussed, but for now it is important simply to understand that this relationship is a basic tenet of all Godly government and was set forth as an underpinning principle with the ancient nation of Israel even before it entered into the Old Covenant with God. It was for the purpose of keeping the people from sinning; it was to be the means by which God would keep them a pure people; it was to be the method by which God could ensure blessings upon the people, not death. Understanding this fact is crucial to understanding the difference between what God has endorsed and what He has tolerated concerning governmental systems. Nevertheless, sin and death would come, because the people chose to distance themselves from God.
Some of the other systems of government seen in the Bible are, · Mosaic autocratic theocracy; · Judges/Military Leader system; and · Monarchy
Having established God’s position on the matter of government, it may now be seen that the Mosaic system of autocratic theocracy was merely tolerated by God, it was never endorsed by God as His system – God's system was DIRECT rule by Himself.
The main point to observe here is that the Jethro system is not a primary system – it is a sub-system of the Mosaic system; it is a bureaucracy to assist with the Mosaic system. The other two points to be noted are, firstly, it is not a system of control over people, it is a system to ease the burden put on Moses by the people (Ex 18:18-19). "...18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him..." [NIV].
Secondly, as an extension of the existing Mosaic system that put a third party between God and man, it served to perpetuate an unapproved system and therefore it too was wrong. Looking at the above verses, God was nowhere consulted on the matter – this was advice from a man to his son-in-law. Had God's way been followed, with God being directly in charge, then Moses and the people would not be worn out. There would have been no need to create a bureaucracy which institutionalized a third party being between God and man! This system was and is wrong – it is a man-made solution to a man-made problem!
Between the time of Moses and the institution of a monarchical system there was a time known as the Age of the Judges. The time is commonly recognized by certain people being temporarily used to lead various tribes against outside enemies. However, the realities of this age were more far-reaching than a few people being appointed as temporary leaders. The predominant aspects of the age were as follows:
Such functions as mentioned in item (4) may be the province of God Himself (Gen 16:5), a leader (Ex 18:16) or individuals (Num 35:24). Although this is what the Judges of renown did during the Age of the Judges, more importantly this is what the people did individually: Judges 17:6 and Judges 21:25 “…In those days there was no king in Israel; all the people did what was right in their own eyes…” [NRSV].
This is the true reason why the period is known as the Age of the Judges – ALL the people did (judged) what was right in their own eyes! As judgment by individuals is actually commanded by God (Num 35:24) this is not what is being condemned – the thing being condemned is that the overwhelming majority of the people actually formulated their own morality and did not consult God, who was still their Ruler, their King. They did not diligently seek out the will of God. This situation is alluded to in Rom 1:28, “…When they refused to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done…” [NLT]. Prophets of God were available to the people, but in view of the above two Scriptures it is obvious that they, as sources of Godly knowledge, were not very well utilized by the Israelites.
The other principal failing here is that the people still relied on a visible individual leader for deliverance, rather than directly on God – the people were still insisting on an intermediary and resisting direct government by God, which insistence resulted in sin, oppression and death. For this reason the Judges system was wrong and merely tolerated by God, not endorsed. Also, while the system was tolerated, the unacceptable behaviour of the people was not – God withdrew the blessing of physical protection from enemies (Judges 2:7-15).
The people demanded a physical ruler over the whole nation just as the gentiles had physical rulers – they demanded to be governed in accordance with a pagan system; 1Sam 8:5, “…and said to him, ‘You are old and your sons do not follow in your ways; appoint for us, then, a king to govern us, like other nations.’..." [NRSV].
Instituting a monarchy "like other nations", a physical head over Israel, was directly rejecting God as their Ruler (King) and God is very clear on the matter in 1Sam 8:7-8 “…7 and the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. 8 Just as they have done to me, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so also they are doing to you’…” [NRSV].
The monarchical system was a system with far less freedom for the people and was a system rooted in dominion and oppression of people by other people – it was the very antithesis of God’s system. In opting for this pagan system, the people were rejecting any semblance of what remained of God's system of physical governing and were instituting a Satanic system. God's reaction, in verses 7 & 8 above, shows that this was the worst of any of the systems chosen by the ancient Israelites, nevertheless it was still tolerated by God. The Biblical meaning of “king” is, one who has absolute rule over his subjects. While he may be answerable to a higher or stronger "king", he can still do as he pleases with his people. Only under God is such power properly exercised; under man the system is impersonal, despotic and oppressive. Nimrod, a Cushite, was the first king (Gen 10:8-10; further comments by Barnes, Adam Clarke and Kiel and Delitzsch) and he was responsible for instituting the Statist system that opposed God's family system of physical government . The family is the only system ordained of God; any other system is an invention of man in opposition to God's system. In the family system no man has authority over any other man, whereas the Statist system is actually based on men controlling other men – there could be no two systems that qualify more as being diametrically opposite.
The monarchical system is a Statist system and therefore in direct opposition to God. In rejecting God as being their King, the Israelites were rejecting God's way and demanding Satan's way.
The Government of God is God's way of life, the way Jesus lived his life. It is not a political administrative system, nor is it any system of governance within a church organization. It is totally voluntary, or government by consent – it is not a system of management or control over others.
The Government of God describes the right relationship between God and an individual by using the Holy Spirit to diligently seek after God’s way of life. This right relationship is given by the two great commands in Matt 22:37-40, 1. Love God (Respect, honour and care for God); and 2. Love your neighbour as yourself (Respect, honour and care for your neighbour as yourself). It is well to remember that when we do wrong to another person, we are actually sinning against God (Psa 51:4), because it is God's Law that we are transgressing – God defines sin as the transgression of the His Law (1John 3:4).
These are the commands which form the basis of the Government of God, but HOW these commands translate into government is the substance of most concern to individuals. In order to accomplish the intended righteous outcome of His Government, God knew we would need help and so He instituted the “New” Covenant: – Heb 8:8-12 “…8 But God found fault with the people and said: ‘The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 9 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. 10 This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11 No longer will a man teach his neighbour, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.’…” [NIV].
Here God is describing the new relationship with His spiritual nation of Israel – His law will be in the minds and hearts of His people. God tells us He will accomplish this by placing His Holy Spirit within us – Ezek 36:26 “…‘And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart.’…” [NLT].
At this point it is important to remember that the Government of God involves the direct relationship between TWO individuals only – God and you, The Government of God is the right relationship between God and you; it is not the Church, it is not any church organization, it is the right relationship between God and you.
The Holy Spirit is the power of God (Micah 3:8) – it strengthens us in time of trouble; unclouds our minds to be able to recognize the truth of God; inspires us in speech, actions and thoughts; and reveals the truth of God to us on an individual level in accordance with God’s personal plan for us. John 14:26 ”…‘and the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom [which] the Father will send in my name, he [it] will teach you all things, and remind you of all things that I said to you’…” [YLT].
Different translations variously render the Greek word parakletos as Helper, Comforter or Counsellor – all are acceptable interpretations. The most important point to remember is that the Holy Spirit is NOT an entity as God, or we are entities; it is a divine power sent from God to assist the saints in various ways throughout the days of our conversion here on Earth. Both in Micah 3:8 and later in Luke 24:49 it is made clear that the Holy Spirit is a power for use by the receiver. In Micah, being filled with the Holy Spirit is shown to be synonymous with being filled with power and in Luke when Christ promised that the disciples were to be imbued with power, they in fact received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost 31AD. This is God’s part in His perfect Government – granting us His Holy Spirit in order that we may understand and grow in His way.
As for our part, God makes it clear that we will never be able to obey Him perfectly while still physical human beings – we can only strive to do our best. This is shown through God’s instruction for us to “grow” in His way of life. Conversion (converting to God’s way of life) is a growing process and takes place over the entire lifetime of a Christian. Conversion does not happen overnight, or immediately upon receipt of the Holy Spirit; the Holy Spirit is the power of God that helps us to grow in the way of God. Matt 5:48 “…‘Ye are therefore to be [become] complete even as your heavenly Father is complete.’…” [JFB Commentary]. 1Pet 2:2 “…Like newborn babes, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation;…” [RSV]. 2Pet 3:18 “…But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ…” [RSV].
The Government of God in action is shown to us in Paul’s personal example – Rom 7:14-25. "...14 We know that the Law is spiritual; but I am a mortal man, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do; for I don't do what I would like to do, but instead I do what I hate. 16 Since what I do is what I don't want to do, this shows that I agree that the Law is right. 17 So I am not really the one who does this thing; rather it is the sin that lives in me. 18 I know that good does not live in me — that is, in my human nature. For even though the desire to do good is in me, I am not able to do it. 19 I don't do the good I want to do; instead, I do the evil that I do not want to do. 20 If I do what I don't want to do, this means that I am no longer the one who does it; instead, it is the sin that lives in me. 21 So I find that this law is at work: when I want to do what is good, what is evil is the only choice I have. 22 My inner being delights in the law of God. 23 But I see a different law at work in my body — a law that fights against the law which my mind approves of. It makes me a prisoner to the law of sin which is at work in my body. 24 What an unhappy man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is taking me to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who does this through our Lord Jesus Christ!..." [TEV].
Paul, an Apostle of God, shows us here that life as a Christian is a continual struggle with our carnal nature and that struggle will continue for as long as we are physical human beings under the Government of God. The right relationship with God is not being perfect, for while we are physical that can never be; the right relationship with God (which is the Government of God) is seeking God's way and striving to live that way because we believe it is the right way to live.
Church Government, like the Government of God, is not a man-made political or administrative system. Also, it is not complying with the rules of governance of any corporate church entity, which is to say it is not a system of management or control by men over others.
Church government is a system of voluntary obligation among the ekklesia (people of God’s Church); it is service to others using the gifts God has given each of us, through the holy spirit, for the benefit of the whole Church. Eph 4:12 “…Why is it that He gives us these special abilities to do certain things best? It is that God's people will be equipped to do better work for him, building up the Church, the body of Christ, to a position of strength and maturity;…” [TLB].
Although the previous verse, verse 11, only refers to a few gifts the principle is the same for all the gifts of God – He does not change (Mal 3:6). These gifts are not man-made or magically received upon appointment to positions in church organizations. Spiritual gifts in individuals are from God for the purpose of benefiting the whole Church.
In the recognized church organizations people who have been promoted to positions of authority have often been appointed due to their allegiance to the organization and without regard for God-given gifts or the lack thereof. Such men are not to be regarded as ministers of God – rather, they are merely over-rated liaison officers (men with the ability to speak) appointed to manage and control people. A change in thinking is needed so we may discern what God says is Church government – it is God, not man, who does the organizing of His Church and He does this by providing us with spiritual gifts. People thinking that they were to do the organizing was an issue in the early church and was something that had to be clarified by God in order that His people would no longer confuse His ways, His government, with the ways of the world; in the context of Church organization this is alluded to in Rom 12:2, "...Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect..." [NRSV].
“…25 But he said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves…” [NRSV].
Church government is where the people of God are acknowledging and properly using all the spiritual gifts God has given to His people. These gifts are likened to the various parts of the body which all work together for the benefit of the body (Rom 12:4-8; 1Cor 12:12-26; Eph 4:4-7, 11-12; Eph 2:18-22 and Phil 2:1-3). The human body is used by God to reveal the type of government to be in operation in the Church of God, Rom 12:3-6 “…3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them:…” [NKJV].
Also, in 1Cor 12:4-27 “…4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free — and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. 15 If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’; nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honourable, on these we bestow greater honour; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honour to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually…” [NKJV].
This is how Church government is supposed to work – all individuals helping and contributing, of their own volition, in order to benefit the congregation as a whole. Using the body as an example, the arm does NOT tell the hand what to do – the arm does its part to assist the hand do its part, with each part being individually instructed by the head. So, too does Christ (the Head) instruct us (individual parts of the body) through the Holy Spirit.
Each local congregation forms a miniature body (ekklesia), with that body being instructed by Christ through the Holy Spirit. All matters of governance are local, for local congregations – there is no Scriptural authority for the existence of any super-organization. All ekklesiai together form the total body of Christ which again is directed by the one Head, Christ himself. There is no division, there is no confusion. Those who support the existence of a super-organization claim it is necessary in order to prevent confusion and ensure uniformity of doctrine. However, such a view is without faith – it presupposes that Christ is not the Head of his Church and thereby calls God a liar; it is in effect stating that Christ is not the one directing spiritual matters through the Holy Spirit. God says that the one who has authority over all local congregations is Christ, himself. Col 1:18 “…And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence…” [KJV]. Eph 1:22 “…And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,..” [KJV].
There is no confusion, as all of God’s people have the same spirit – the Spirit of God – which is not divided.
All men who are so disposed, according to the gifts of God, are required by God to preach. Rom 12:6 “…Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them:…” [NKJV].
This requirement simply comes from a more detailed look at Church government, which is a system of voluntary obligation among the ekklesia (people of God’s Church); it is service to others using the gifts God has given each of us through the holy spirit for the benefit of the whole Church. Eph 4:12 “…12 Why is it that He gives us these special abilities to do certain things best? It is that God's people will be equipped to do better work for him, building up the Church, the body of Christ, to a position of strength and maturity;…” [TLB].
These gifts come from God for the purpose of benefiting the Church overall – they do not come from sitting in a certain seat or being “ordained” to a position by men. They are from God for His Church and those in His Church were predestined from before the foundation of the world. Being predestined means that we were chosen in advance to be used for a particular purpose (Rom 8:29-30 and Eph 1:11). In other words, what we are now was chosen for us by God before His Church began. We are God's building materials and materials in particular by virtue of our gifts from God when He foreknew us. Rom 8:28-30 “…29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified;…” [NKJV]. Eph 1:11 “…In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,…” [NKJV].
God likens this situation (of predestination and raising up different ones at certain times) to constructing a building. In 1Cor 3:9 we are told that we are God’s building, which is to say something that He built. “…For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building…” [NKJV].
In Eph 2:21 we are told that we are “fitly framed together” to form an even greater building. This is the master builder at work – the builder of the universe. In chapters 38 and 39 of the Book of Job God challenges Job to understand the greatness and detail of His work in building the universe and the earth. God is indeed the master builder and any builder of basic skills selects his materials before commencing to build. God would hardly do less. Accordingly, any predestination (selection of material for His building) would have been done no later than the creation of mankind.
Also, as the master builder, He expects a brick to behave like a brick, not a piece of plaster-board – He expects results, the right results, from entrusting His gifts within us – this is shown in the parables as we look at Luke 19:15-23; “…15 "And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then came the first, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned ten minas.' 17 And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.' 18 And the second came, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned five minas.' 19 Likewise he said to him, 'You also be over five cities.' 20 "Then another came, saying, 'Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. 21 For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.' 22 And he said to him, 'Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?'…” [NKJV].
Let us just clarify one part of this parable for future reference – God is very fair. If He gives the gift of teaching to one He does not expect something different as a result of that gift, BUT He does expect that person to use the gift and to use it for the benefit of the body, the Church. The unprofitable servant was NOT using his gift at all, even though he was well aware he possessed the gift – He claimed God was unfair, but it was he who was neglecting his obligations to the Church.
Looking more closely now at the gift of preaching, or teaching, we have been give examples of preaching by the ordinary membership (the scattered brethren) in Acts 8:4, Acts 11:19-20 and Apollos (Acts 18:24-28). Acts 8:4 “…4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word…” [NKJV]. Acts 11:19-20
"...19 Now
those who were scattered
after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia,
Cyprus, and Antioch,
preaching the word
to no one but the Jews only. 20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and
Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists,
preaching the Lord Jesus..."
[NKJV]. Regarding those who were scattered abroad, we are told in Acts 8:1 that they were definitely NOT the apostles, who stayed at Jerusalem: “…And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles…” [KJV]. |
