[Eph 4:11-16 NKJV] 11 And He Himself gave some [to be] apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Elders and teachers are given to a particular local church as a means of grace to the members of that particular church. (The use of the term "teachers" will not be addressed in this post.) It is not the man, and his own abilities, that matters, but rather God's means of using that man in biblical ways to bless his people by his word and Spirit.
By "elders" God means the actual men raised up in a particular local church, made up of particular individual Christians, and given to the members of that particular church only. There is no such thing as a "universal" elder. Elders are called to shepherd the flock that is among them. (1 Peter 5:2) They are not called to lead members of other local churches.
The phrase "means of grace," simply refers to the biblical ways that God blesses his people spiritually. These are things found in God's word, which are given and prescribed by him for the spiritual well-being, growth, maturation and ministry of believers of a local church. God uses his means of grace to mold each believer into the image of Christ, something he planned from the beginning. (See Romans 8:28-29) Examples of means of grace would include prayer, meditation on the word, assembling with the church and so on.
Characteristics of Means of Grace
Means of grace have a few characteristics that we should know. First, they are all biblical. They are all found in and specifically prescribed in God's word. If it's not in the word of God, it's not a means of grace. Second, they are all necessary. Every believer needs all of the means of grace for his/her own maturation in Christ. Because they are given by God, they are therefore needed by all Christians. Third, we can't make up one means of grace by doing more of another means of grace. For example, meditation on God's word can't be replaced by more prayer. We need to use all of them. Fourth, they cannot be substituted out for other things not found in his word. We can't invent ways to be blessed by God to make up for the biblical ones we choose not to use. Fifth, if we don't use a particular means of grace, we lose the blessing of that particular means of grace and are in fact handicapped in our walk with Christ.
Let's see now that elders are given by God to a local church as a means of grace by applying the five characteristics mentioned above.
First, elders are biblical. They are God's design for leadership in local churches. The prescription for elders is found in 1 Timothy 3. Paul wrote about the characteristics of men God was raising up to be elders so that the church would know how to properly employ them. [1Ti 3:14-15 NKJV] 14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, [I write] so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. Establishing elders is one way a church "ought to conduct" itself properly. Elders are to be established in every church. [Act 14:23 NKJV] 23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. They are referred to as "leaders" or "rulers" by God in his word. [Heb 13:7 NKJV] 7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of [their] conduct.
Second, elders are necessary for the growth and maturation of every believer and to equip them for ministry. As we see above in Eph 4:11-12, God gave them to the church to equip the saints. The word "equip" means to complete furnishing for the work of ministry. God uses elders, in the role he gave them and according to his word, to provide to the church the tools it needs to do ministry (that ministry being the Great Commission - Matt 28:18-20). The fact that God has given them specifically to the members of a local church for their equipping makes them indispensable. (Again, not the accomplishment or ability of a particular man but rather God's grace working through particular men is what is intended in Eph 4:11-16.)
The Holy Spirit himself makes elders (by giving them the applicable gifts and calling) for every church. He admonishes all elders in this way. [Act 20:28 NKJV] 28 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
Third, as a particular means of grace, elders cannot be replaced by having more of a different means of grace. We can't make up one means of grace by having more of another. More prayer is not a substitute for meditation in God's word. Similarly, listening to sermons online is not a replacement for elders in our lives. We can't make up the grace God intends in our lives, through the elders he has given us, by our own self-study or mediation on God's word.
(Note: This is not to say that we can't or shouldn't listen to messages given by other elders. It is to say that the priority for us should be the teaching of the elders God has specifically given to us for our equipping in Christ.)
Each and every means of God is designed by God to bless the believer. The means of grace are meant to be enjoyed and employed in their entirety; they are not to be taken in cafeteria style, having some of one but none of another.And He Himself gave some [to be] apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints...
Fourth, as a particular means of grace, elders cannot be replaced by other methods or tools not found in his word. Every Christian needs biblical elders, who are actual men who lead them in a local church. The calling of believers is to submit to and imitate their behavior in the church. [Heb 13:7, 17 NKJV] 7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of [their] conduct. ... 17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. (Note: This article does not address the issue of elders going beyond their biblical calling by lording over the church members. This is sin and should not occur - 1 Peter 5:3)
Further, an elder is not an elder is not an elder. The elders that are the means of grace in our lives are the ones he has given to our local church. These (hopefully) are the men who know us best, who pray for us, who watch and labor over us (Heb 10:17), and who know the condition of the individual church members and church as a whole. ([Pro 27:23 NKJV] 23 Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, [And] attend to your herds;)
While very far from perfect, they are to be examples to us that we are to imitate in behavior. [1Pe 5:2-3 NKJV] 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; Another elder, from another church, no matter how faithful or sound in doctrine, cannot be and is not called to be a substitute for the elders God gave us in particular. Consequently, the teaching and example of the elders in our own church must take priority over another elder from another church.
To try to correct problems in the church, some have established "churches" without elders/pastors. This is an un-biblical practice not found in the word of God. A problem in the church is not the opportunity to find a solution outside of God's word. While any honest elder will tell you that he is only a sinner saved by grace, unworthy of such a role, and flawed beyond measure personally, he is nevertheless God's prescribed method of leading a particular local church. It is God and not the elder himself who works grace in every believer. [Jas 4:5-6 NKJV] 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"? 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
Each and every elder, of every local church, will have to answer directly to Jesus Christ for his doctrine and direction in that particular church. [2Ti 4:1-2 NKJV] 1 I charge [you] therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season [and] out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. Although faulty, elders cannot be replaced by the invention and imagination of men.
Fifth, to not have elders in our lives as members of a local church, is to lose the gracious blessing intended by God for our lives. God gave them for our equipping. They are not the only means of our equipping but a necessary one. God uses them by grace, in particular ways, for our good in Christ. To not have elders, as a member of a local church, is to not be equipped by them. It is to lose this particular way in which God wants to bless us in Christ. To not be equipped by them is to be handicapped in our walk with Christ.
To suggest that elders are not necessary in my life for my equipping is to take the name of the Lord in vain. [Exo 20:7 NKJV] 7 "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold [him] guiltless who takes His name in vain. To take the name of the Lord in vain is to make nothing out of something. It is to believe that something stated in God's word is vain or useless for my life. In this case the "something" is that God has given elders to the local church (and to me as a member of a local church) for our equipping for ministry. The "nothing" is to say that I don't need them! It is to say that God gave elders in vain.
Without elders, I am missing an essential part of my equipping to do the work of ministry. I am in effect, handicapped in my walk with Christ. I am lacking something that God intended for my good in Christ. I am missing out on one of the ways by which God furnishes me with the tools I need to do ministry - and do it biblically! Many in the church culture believe that they can do ministry outside of the local church, and without elders in their lives - but the Lord would disagree. If we did not need them, he would not have given them to us (Eph 4:11-12). Am I to suppose that he gave them to the local church, but not to me?
Before we close out this post, let's survey from Ephesians 4:11-16 why elders are needed as one of many necessary means of grace in our lives. One, they are given for our equipping (Eph 4:11-12). Two, they are given for our edification (building up - verse 12). Three, they are given for our unity with other members of our local church (verse 13). Four, they are given for our knowledge of Christ (verse 13). Five, they are given for our maturity in Christ (verse 13). Six, they are given that we would no longer be children (verse 14). Seven, they are given that we would grow up in every way unto Christ (verse 15). And eight, they are given that we become properly working parts of our local church (verse 16). None of these can or will occur without the use of elders as a means of grace in our lives.
Elders are one biblical means of grace, employed and given by God for our growth, maturity and equipping for ministry. Let us be serious about the gracious gift of elders, whoever they may be, and employ them in biblical ways as a means of grace in our lives for our equipping, for the work of ministry.
In the next post we will examine how to employ our elders as a means of grace.
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