The God of Order in the Church

Intro.

Yesterday, I was looking to the sky as I was walking, and I saw above me a flock of a thousand or more geese on their natural migration. As I looked and saw a train of geese many miles long, all of them were in perfect, natural flight formation. It’s fascinating enough how an average flock will always fly in the distinct V shape, but seeing several V shapes amidst thousands of birds is another thing altogether!

This got me thinking about, and appreciating the created order of nature. Our God is not a God of confusion, but of peace as Paul told the Corinthians — and it fascinates me how God has made creation to work so harmoniously that even the most violent actions in the universe will serve a purpose! That is harmony, that is peace!

Have you ever just looked around and marveled at the glory of this creation and the order with which God has designed it?

I think most Christians can quickly take a look around and appreciate the forethought and wisdom of God in Creation to make it so orderly. But, many Christians, and many of our brotherhood in this nation, do not take the same appreciation toward the Church and how God has designed her to function.

Elders — Shepherd the Flock

1 Peter 5:1–3 LSB

1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, overseeing not under compulsion, but willingly, according to God; and not for dishonest gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to you, but being examples to the flock.

Christ’s design for the Church includes men who are wise and mature enough to function as spiritual leaders and protectors of the flock of God, who together work under their common Chief Shepherd Who is Christ the Lord.

Titus 1:5–9 LSB

5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, 6 namely, if any man is beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, who are not accused of dissipation, or rebellious. 7 For the overseer must be beyond reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of dishonest gain, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to reprove those who contradict.

It could also be noted, before moving forward, that each and every one of these virtues is something that can and should describe all Christians

Husband of one wife in the Greek meaning “a one woman man” — in other words, not adulterous

Beyond reproach is to say that none can rightly speak ill of him — we’ve already covered how all slander against us should put the speaker to shame!

Faithful Children — if you are raising children or have adult children, the Christian parent should always be shepherding their children in the Lord

Not self-willed, not quick tempered, sensible, righteous, holy, hospitable, not pugnacious, not fond of dishonest gain… These are not characteristics and virtues which are to only define a select few, extra holy men among the Church of the Lord! All of us should strive for these virtues, loved ones.

One of the common reasons I hear for churches not having elders is that there are no qualified men to step up and lead in that role. I want to challenge us, that we must pursue these virtues because we need elders if we are to fulfill all the Christ has designed for His Church! And I really believe that there are men here who are capable of being the examples and leaders needed if we as the Church will work collectively together to spur one another on to these things. I am not here to condemn us for not having elders, but push and encourage us to recognize how important they are for us if we would be the mature and discipling church Christ desires.

As long as a congregation has no elders and no deacons, or if they have people in those roles who are unfit, that congregation is operating outside of Christ’s design for His own Bride. That does not mean that the Christians within such churches are unfaithful or unsaved! But it does mean that the operation is contrary to God’s will.

Yet, it is true that elders are supposed to want to lead in this capacity. Peter says that no one is to do so out of compulsion, but out of a genuine desire to lead, as according to the will of God.

Neither are elders to be egotists! Elders are not to be “lording it over those allotted to you, but being examples to the flock.” Jesus Himself clarified this among the Twelve when in the Gospels He states that the lording authority over others is for the Gentiles, but among the people of God the greatest among us is the servant of all! Sometimes, especially serving as an elder, there are moments of great discomfort — but the man of God must see that these moments are worth it!

We have spoken much about endurance lately, and the necessity that Christians be an enduring people. The same goes almost especially for elders in the Church — their job is one that is worthy of great honor! Because it isn’t easy, and having seen my dad be an elder for a number of years I can, secondhand, testify that it has very challenging moments. However, see how Peter says faithful elders will be honored by the Chief Shepherd: 1 Pet. 5.4

1 Peter 5:4 LSB

4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Be Subject, Be Humble

Following Peter’s exhortation to fellow elders that they lead the flock well and by example, he turns his attention first to the younger men.

The word translated “elder” really means exactly that — not just a leadership position but specifying being older! Whether that is older in physical age or spiritual perhaps can be debated, but Peter turns to the younger men and commands them to be subject to their elders.

They are equals among us, walking in unity and oneness with all of us, but they bear responsibility over the flock they lead and therefore are to be honored and obeyed inasmuch as they obey God, their Chief Shepherd.

Then, as the younger are to be in subjection to their elders in the Church, 1 Pet. 5.5

1 Peter 5:5 LSB

5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Notice Peter says “all of you,” and I believe this includes the elders as well.

Peter says to the whole church that each of them have a responsibility to each other humility. Just like in 3.8 Peter says that all are to be humble in spirit. No one is supposed to be infighting about who is more important than another, and no one is to be puffed up against his brother! We remember in the Gospels how Peter became well familiar with this kind of bickering among the Twelve and he learned from Christ as he thus teaches: Humility is a command for everyone, a virtue that everyone is supposed to put on!

This humility is part of the togetherness which the Church is to be living out together — if a congregation is not humble among one another, it cannot really be said that they love one another! To love is to put another first, and true humility is to think less of the self; they go hand in hand. If I am puffed up all the time against my brothers, I would be condescending toward them, belittling, seeing myself as higher than others — you get the picture. Pride breeds within us an unloving attitude toward one another, and that is across the board. It doesn’t matter if you’re a spiritual newborn or if one has been an elder for 30 years, all of us are to “be diligent to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,” as Paul says. This only can happen when we walk together hand in hand as one, humbly.

It takes great humility to be a good leader, regardless of the setting; and it takes great humility to be a good supporter to those leaders. Look what the Hebrew Author has to say: Heb. 13.17

Hebrews 13:17 LSB

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them—for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account—so that they will do this with joy and not with groaning, for this would be unprofitable for you.

Here we see the responsibility of the Elder and the flock: Elders are protectors and guides who keep watch over the congregation, shepherding them in Christ; the flock are to make their leading as joyful as it can be, so that you are not a cause of groaning to them, which is unprofitable. Both sides of this coin take humility towards one another as members of one another in the Body of Christ together!

For Grace

Peter doesn’t stop with a simple command, however. He shows them that this command has always been from God by quoting Proverbs 3.34

Proverbs 3:34 LSB

34 Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the humble.

This coming from the man who once tried to stop Jesus from going to the cross and argued with eleven other men about being the most important disciple, as well as who at one point disregarded Gentiles (to whom he now writes) on the basis of race and fitting in with the Jews! What a repentance we see in our brother Peter here!

He reminds the Church that those who would walk in arrogance and pride can only expect God to be against them, because grace is the blessing for the humble.

Conclusion

This morning, I have done my best to lay before us what Peter is saying to elders, while also stirring in us the knowledge that Christ designed them, as well as how Peter instructs all of us to be among one another!

I repeat that nothing I have said is meant as condemnatory, but is to encourage and instruct us according to the Word of Christ — all I have set forward is what I can see Christ having given to us.

Let us as God’s holy children take shelter and comfort in what He commands, for as Proverbs 30.5-6

Proverbs 30:5–6 LSB

5 Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. 6 Do not add to His words Lest He reprove you, and you be proved a liar.

God has blessed His Church with His word, and I have been given the grace to present it as a steward and minister to the Body. In the Word, He instructs His Church — and in my deep love for the Lord and for you, I am obligated in that love to show us even things which may step on our toes pretty hard. I understand if this morning has done so, but only in love and in feeling convicted that I could not skip over this part of the Scripture and serve well. We have said that we want to talk about elders, and this is the first step this year in doing so — we will look in depth at a later time at the virtues themselves and what they mean more deeply. For now, I offer in love this lesson for us meditate on. I truly do believe that we are capable of having great leadership here in the form of elders, and if there is anything which I can do help prepare us to that end, please let me know and we will see what God does as we seek to follow His will.