The Church, Decisions by consensus

I'll start with this one seeing as you asked!!

First of all Jesus told His disciples not to, "lord it over" the people:

"42Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."" Mark 10:42-45

Notice that He didn't just use the expression "lord it over" He also clarifies with an example, "Their high officials exercise authority over them." So we would hope to see a difference in the role of a pastor and the role of someone in authority in the world.

In Luke 22:25 Jesus says, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors." There is a note of sarcasm here. Jesus is saying that a person who exercises authority sees himself as being generous to the people. He goes on to say in verse 26, "26But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves."

We often hear pastors refer to themselves as servant leaders. That is exactly how He describes the kings of the gentiles, benefactor authorities. Jesus is saying pastors are not about authority over people, they are about serving people.

Peter says:

"1To 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: 2Be 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; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." 1 Peter 5:1-3

Peter is saying that being an elder is about serving and being an example. Again it isn't about authority and position. To talk in terms of serving in that time would not have given the impression of high status. A servant was someone who served his master, he wasn't the master. Likewise, in the church those who serve are not there to tell the people to come and go.

OK, that lays some ground work. I like to think of bible teaching in two ways. In order to establish a teaching from scripture we should see two witnesses, one may be instruction given as we have just had, then we need to see that matching up to some examples. Some of the narrative of what took place needs to match what was taught. That way we can be more sure that we have cracked it. If we draw on the teaching and ignore the example then we can imply what we want from the teaching. If we can find a good match then we are doing well. If we find two then all the better.

When the church was first getting going the apostles did everything. However, it came to a point where they were too busy to do everything, they prayed about it and told the people to choose some deacons. OK, that's how I was told it, by a would be elder!! Let's have a look at what really happened:

"1In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."
5This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them." Acts 6:1-6

What the apostles did was not tell the group but make a proposal. This is something akin to the committees in churches today, where the pastor has to make a proposal. But notice it pleased the whole group and not just a select few. And it is the whole group who decide.

There came a point in the early church when they realised gentiles were part of the deal (Acts 15). They held a meeting in Jerusalem to discuss what needs to happen. In that meeting because it was such an important meeting it was the key players who spoke, James the brother of Jesus and Paul, for example. Once the discussion had finished a vote needed to be taken, who voted?

"22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas." Acts 15:22.

OK, that's general voting, what about church discipline? In 1 Corinthians 5 Paul is dealing with the issue of a man who was sleeping with his father's wife. Instead of telling him off the Corinthian church were boasting about how loving they were in keeping him even though the gentiles themselves were horrified by it! Paul tells them off and tells them what they should have done. Notice that he doesn't say that the pastor should have dealt with it:

"2And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?" 1 Corinthians 5:2

"13God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."" 1 Corinthians 5:13

Paul doesn't do it himself says he says that they should do it. Today, an important matter would be dealt with by the important people! Those in denominational leadership would deal with these kinds of issues. They would take such a one apart and deal with it in a private office or by letter!!

So we can see that the early church made decisions by consensus. Pastors were not "in charge." Even in matters of discipline it is the church and not a hierarchy that is instructed to deal with it.