Dear Brother,
He was a battle hardened pastor. The lines in his face seemed like scars from the warfare of conflict and contention. A mixture of sadness and weariness showed in his eyes as he told me that he would never pastor a large flock again. “I’ve been hurt too many times,” he said, “I’ve never yet found a trustworthy elder. From now on, I’ll pastor alone.” My heart filled with compassion, I understood his wounds; men he had believed in, later turned to undermine him and the ministry suffered.
After this pastor and I had prayed together, I opened the Scriptures to share with him about the work of the apostle. One particular verse seemed to bring revelation in his spirit. In his letter to Titus, the young apostle, just before Paul gave the criterion for selecting elders, he wrote these words: “Titus, my true son in our common faith: … The reason I left you in Crete was that you should set in order the things that are wanting, and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.” (Titus 1:4-5)
I showed this disappointed man, that God gave apostles the duty of ordaining elders; it is not the task of the local pastor. I was able to help him see the Bible words used for “pastor”, “elder”, “bishop”, “overseer” and “shepherd” were all synonymous terms. If a pastor ordains an elder, he ordains an equal to himself. Thus, if later there is contention, there is no authority to resolve or mediate the conflict. However, in God’s order, an apostle with the authority to commission an elder, can, if need be, decommission him.
The purpose of this letter, brother, is to help you see more clearly the responsibility God has given your apostolic oversight. If there is ever strife between elders, it can, as your apostle/pastor exercises his influence, be resolved in a Godly manner. This is true, not because he has such great knowledge and wisdom; it is the gift of Christ in him. Just as the gift of the evangelist functions to win the lost, the gift of the apostle functions to bring order in the local church. There is a great need for plurality of ministry, yet there is also need for authority and accountability. It is an apostle’s function to bring correction when there is dissention. (See I Corinthians 3)
Settle this deep in your own spirit, that elders should not attempt to do the work of the apostle. And that you must hold your apostle/pastor in high esteem for his work’s sake, that through the honor you give, his authority will be released to “set in order the things that are wanting”. “We beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.” (I Thessalonians 5:12-13)
Bruce
