I am writing in response to the Oct. 28 edition containing the article “Who’s in charge,” as well as the corresponding article by Vicki Brown. Did you notice that there is no mention of God’s Word in either of them? It’s as if God has nothing to say about who’s in charge of God’s people. Neither the writer nor the many pastors quoted mention that they adopted their leadership model in response to God’s Word regarding authority in God’s church. I assume that’s because God’s Word isn’t the standard in those churches. Their answers are entirely of the “what works” and “what’s been” type. I submit that God knows what works in spite of what’s been and has communicated it clearly in Scripture.
Let me be more clear — the church is not a democracy. The church has never been a democracy. That model of church government does not exist in the Bible — not in the Old or New Testaments. The SBC is one of the few organizations, probably in history, that says everyone’s voice should be heard and valued. That’s nonsense. In Scripture, and in almost every non-SBC organization, a person must earn the right to be heard and qualified to lead. That’s what pastors do and are (ideally). That’s why the pastoral letters of the Apostle Paul exist.
Have you ever taken the time to list all of the commands given to Pastor Timothy and Titus? I have. They form my job description, and the job description, recognized or not, of every Christian pastor. However, in our denomination, if a pastor adopted these commands, and functioned and prioritized according to them, the probability that he would be well received by his people is not high. Yet, those letters remain God’s own standard for pastors. We should call our people to trust God enough to submit to his way of governing his people.
In addition, the priesthood of all believers does not mean that every person’s opinion counts, or should count. It means that every Christian has God the Holy Spirit and is therefore, by said Spirit, able to know God’s will revealed in God’s Word. But for a church to assume that all of its members and voters know what God says on any given subject is asinine. That wasn’t true in the early church and it’s not true now. The decision-makers of any group should be those that know what they're talking about.
I want to say so much, but I digress. I finish with this: 1) God has always governed his people by his Word mediated through men. Whether it was Adam, Noah, Abram, the Prophets, the Apostles, or our Lord himself. And he has not left us without instruction on the matter for our times. The model is the same — biblically qualified elders. That’s the only model in the entire Bible. There is no other.
2) My experience teaches me that perhaps the greatest fear of many SBC churches (because of unconquerable arrogance and impenetrable ignorance) is a pastor that believes in the authority and sufficiency of Scripture, and believes he, under Christ, is in charge. God give us pastors that believe 1 Peter 5 and Hebrews 13, which teach the accountability of every pastor to God concerning the way he leads, feeds and protects his flock.
Does each church member have a say in church matters? Yes. And it is exercised when they affirm the spiritual leadership and authority of their elders. This is God’s way; and it is, then, the very best way for God’s people.
Brent Martin, Fredericksburg, Va.