I was talking with a Jehovah’s Witness this week about the subject of leadership, elders in particular. His view was that elders “rule” the congregation, and I can see why he believed that. Jehovah’s Witness tend to be an oppressive group. Elders are the law in the local congregation and see their job as bosses of all. This is not the Biblical view, though, and I’d like to look at the Biblical Christian view of leadership in general, and eldership specifically, to see how God has laid out the church as His bride. I think concentrating on eldership will give us a clear guide to how all types of leadership should be exercised in the church.
First let me say the terms Elder, Pastor, Overseer, and Bishop are all interchangeable when applied to the office in the local church. The office of Christian elder is probably a carryover from the Jewish form of government. The elders were judges who sat at the gates of the city and decided legal matters as in the cities of refuge:
Josh 20:4 (ESV) [The man slayer] shall flee to one of these cities and shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city and explain his case to the elders of that city. Then they shall take him into the city and give him a place, and he shall remain with them.
In the New Testament, the role is a bit different. Remember the Old Testament was based on the Law of Moses, 633 separate laws. The New Testament is based on the grace of God, the law of the spirit of Christ Jesus:
Rom. 8:2 (NASB) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death [the Law of Moses].
“But what about the Apostle Paul Timothy that elders should rule well?”
1 Tim. 5:17 (NKJV) Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
Even the word rule here expresses care and concern for the flock, not for personal gain or pride. Elders are not to rule as the world does but as Christ’s example demonstrates:
Mark 10:42-45 (CSB) Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. 43 But it is not so among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
All leadership in the church is to be approached in this manner. As leaders we are not to be the bosses but caretakers: shepherds who watch over the flock with care and love as servants to the flock.
Leaders in cults like Jehovah’s Witnesses can get away with this behavior because they have convinced their followers to leave the organization means severe punishment. They face shunning by all their friends and family within the organization. It’s suffer under the oppression of often prideful elders or suffer the solitude and loneliness of the outcast.
Why is this important?
God has given instruction for leaders in general and elders in particular.
1 Peter 5:1-4 (NIV) To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
Elders are to be mature Christians, not necessarily older members of the congregation but men who know the faith and can defend it against all comers.
Acts 20:28-29 (ESV) Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
If we’re in a leadership role today or will be used by God in such a position in the future, we need to remember leaders are to be servants to those we lead just as Christ is the example for us. Worldly leaders are positioned at the top of the pyramid ruling over all below them. Godly leaders are at the bottom of an inverted pyramid serving all those above them.
Mark 9:35 (NKJV) And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
Believers Armed and Dangerous 