Becoming “lords over people’s faith,” is a position that not even the apostle Paul exercised (2 Cor. 1:24, cf. 2 Cor. 10:8). Even though the apostles could speak on behalf of Christ as ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20), they, still, were not lords. Our Lord, Jesus Christ, was clear about his disapproval of this kind of rule, yet it reigns among church organizations, today. Leaders in the kingdom of Christ are men who take the role of servants. They do not speak with authority, because no authority was granted by the Lord.
One counter-proposal is that Jesus approves of this rank of being lords, but not the abusive use of it. 2 Peter 5:3 is used to illustrate it. The problem with this argument is that there is no good use of “lording.” If there’s no good use of the word, there can be no value to speak of its abuse. The word used for “lord” (kurieuo) has nothing to do with an abuse of power. Therefore, they could not be charged with “lording it over” if they are only doing what they were told to do?
First, the word translated, “rule” is a legitimate kind of power that is commonly exercised in government that control or rule over a non-ruling class. This rule is not condemned as inherently wrong. Political kings had this power and Jesus is most recognized by Christians as being Lord. But, disciples of Christ should not have such control over others, whether matters of judgment or not. When we depart from God’s plan and establish a humanly devised organization through which Christians may work under the oversight of an “eldership”, we open the floodgates of other problems. The truth is that (1) the nature of “rule” is not an authoritative rule, (2) there is no organization over which to exercise an authoritative rule and (3) the pattern of the Scriptures for elders teach that their leadership is in the realm of faith, not in the realm of judgment and opinion. For, if they watch in behalf of souls, it is faith rather than human judgment that is his greatest concern. He has no more authority in opinion than anyone else. Hebrews 13 explains that they speak the word of God and leave an example to follow. Repeatedly, the pattern of leadership is in their teaching and their example.
Another abused phrase is Peter’s use of the phrase, “among you.” Consider some examples.
| “AMONG YOU”
1. Num. 12:6 …if there be a prophet among you, I Jehovah will make myself known unto him… 2. Josh. 23:7 that ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you…(cf. v.12) 3. 2 Chron. 36:23…. Whosoever there is among you of all his people, Jehovah his God be with him, and let him go up. 4. Ezra 1:3 Whosoever there is among you of all his people, his God be with him, and let him go” 5. Matthew 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 6. Mark 10:43-44 ..whosoever would become great among you, shall be your minister; and whosoever would be first among you, shall be the servant of all. 7. Acts 7:37 … A prophet shall God raise up unto you from among your brethren … 8. Acts 20:29 I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock 9. Rom. 12:3 “…every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think” 10. 1 Cor. 5:2 … that he that had done this deed might be taken away from among you. 11. 1 Corinthians 11:30 For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep. 12. 1 Thessalonians 5:12 … know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13. 2 Peter 2:1 But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers None of these establish the existence of an organization. |
Considering the phrase, “among you,” there are some examples where “among you” means a particular physical camp. This is because the Israelites when first formed included only one camp much like the early Christians in Jerusalem (Lev. 26:11, 18:2) The phrase “among you” may refer to the brethren or the people of God. [See chart] There were prophets, false prophets and grievous wolves, foreigners/strangers, and the nations who were said to be “among you.” Jehovah God was among them as were those early Christians, whose shepherds were described as those who “labor among you.” Once again, if one understands God’s people to be the class of called out, why must we conclude that the phrase necessarily infers the existence of a local church organization? Must we assume a local church organization is implied if it is said that people are among God? Would it be necessarily implied that people must form themselves into an organization for saints to be among false teachers or prophets? If not, then why assume that God’s people among a spiritual shepherd means anything different? This phrase is found in 1 Peter 5:2 that speaks to shepherds. Peter writes, “feed the flock of God among you.” It is believed that each local church organization has its own set of elders who are given a flock to oversee. This interpretation makes the flock the particular membership of a local congregation. That this gives proof for an autonomous local church is totally unfounded. However, living in the same village, town, or city would certainly fit the description of Christians “among you.” The “among you” that establishes the souls under one’s charge is where you live and labor among God’s people and therefore, where you have the opportunity to teach. He is among them to be seen before them, taking the initiative, leading by example, and exercising the oversight of souls.
It is further explained that this passage prevents a set of elders supervising all the churches in a particular city, noting that it resembles the diocesan concept of Catholicism with its citywide bishop. Again, such a conclusion makes perfect sense when thinking “church” means a particular local church membership or denominational organization. Once again, if you remove the membership to the organization, you have resolved the problem of our own making.
Further, the reference to elders (plural) of the ekklesia (singular) in James 5:15 may also support the truth that there is just one class of called out people of God and there is a class called “elders” in that one ekklesia. This same application is made in Ephesians 4:8,11. God gave gifts unto men … and he gave some to be pastors. Did he give apostles, prophets, and evangelists to local church organizations like it is claimed he did the pastors? The structure of the sentence is speaking of the gifts that God gave His people. In this sense, all of the gifts would be among the called out.
To conclude, we must first affirm that when Peter wrote of himself being a “fellow elder,” we must not conclude that this means he is one among other elders in the same local church organization? Why is it so impossible that he simply meant that he is one among many of that class that, like the rest, shepherd God’s people who are among them wherever they may be located at the time? Second, in as much as the passage condemns “lording over” the flock, it would exclude both a one-man rule, three-man rule, or any other amount of rule. Without a chain of command in a local church organization, the rule that could lift one above others has been eliminated. His rule and God-given task are to shepherd souls and for that reason, the sheep must submit to him. It’s not permission to rule the church institution as there is no rule and no institution. Instead, he is the God-given steward charged to keep a vigilant watch over souls. What a wonderful gift to have such an overseer chosen by the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 20:28) to offer spiritual guidance, wisdom, and protection!