Government of the Christian Church

What is church power? Where does it come from? How is it exercised? What is its structure?

Leadership of the Church

Who is the head of the church?

The Head of the Church

There is no other head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ....

Westminster Confession 25:6a

Christ as head of the church

The Church is His Body

He is the Source of its authority - Eph 1.22-23, 2.20-22, Col 1.18, 2.19
He created it & instituted the means of grace, its constitution and officers He is present when we worship

How Christ Exercises Authority

Subjectively by the leading of the Spirit

Objectively by the Word of God (The Bible)

Scripture is the ONLY absolute authority As a whole Especially vested in its officers chosen by the people, but given power by Christ

Christ has given the church power

The Local Church

Church power resides primarily here Higher courts are delegated power by the local churches Local assemblies have a duty to unite with others for doctrinal, judicial, and administrative functions

The Local Church

Church power resides primarily here Higher courts are delegated power by the local churches Local assemblies have a duty to unite with others for doctrinal, judicial, and administrative functions

Not merely advisory...

Acts 16.4 - Now while they were passing through the cities, they were delivering the decrees (Gk. dogmata) which had been decided upon by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem, for them to observe.

Nature of Church Power

Spiritual - given by the Spirit (Acts 20:28), manifests

His power (John 20:22, 23; I Cor. 5:4), pertains to men as believers (I Cor. 5:12), and is exercised in a moral or spiritual way (not by force), II Cor. 10:4

Ministerial - derived from Christ and is subordinate

to Him (Matt. 20:25, 26; 23:8, 10; II Cor. 10:4, 5; I Pet. 5:3; Acts 4:29, 30; 20:24; Rom. 1:1; Matt. 28:18); must be under God's Word, directed by the Spirit, and in the name of Christ (Rom. 10:14, 15; Eph. 5:23; I Cor. 5:4)

Kinds of Power

Dogmatic (Teaching)

Governing

Regulating Judicial

Care for the poor

PRESBYTERIAN

Nature of Presbyterian

Representative

Not Democratic Not Hierarchical

Power flows from the lower levels

Officers Elder/Overseer

Presbyter (Elder) and Bishop (Overseer) are two names for the same office - Acts 20:17, 28; I
Tim. 3:1; 5:17, 19; Titus 1:5, 7; I Pet. 5:1, 2

Carried over from the Jews

Moses in the Wilderness Synagogue Leaders/Rulers

Multiple elders in every congregation - Acts

14.23, Acts 20.17ff, James 5.14

Officers Elder/Overseer

Duties: Oversee, Provide For, Protect the House of God Teaching Elders

Pastors (shepherds) and teachers are two functions of one class of officer (Eph. 4.11) All elders rule, some teach & preach (I Tim 5.17) Teaching Elders rule with Ruling Elders, and also administer the Word and Sacrament

Officers - Deacons

Diakonos = Servant

Phil. 1:1; I Tim. 3:8, 10, 12

Instituted in Acts 6 to support the apostles/elders so they could rule and teach

Duties: works of mercy and charity

Administrative: Spiritual office due to the nature of giving to the saints

Ecclesiastical Assemblies

Session (Local) all elders of a local church

Presbytery (Regional) All TE's in the region, at least 1 RE from each congregation (more depending on size of congregation) General Assembly (National) All TE's in the denomination, at least 1 RE from each congregation (more depending on size of congregation)

The Local Church

People choose elders (Acts 11:30; 14:23; 20:17; Phil. 1:1; I Tim. 3:1; Tit. 1:5, 7), but elders gain their authority from Christ Elders rule in Christ's name and are responsible to Him Is the basis for Scriptural church government; delegates its authority to higher bodies; Church Order guards rights and interests of both levels

Major Assemblies

Warranted by Scripture (Acts 15)

Are of Representative character (i.e., not all church members are part of the major assemblies)

Major Assemblies

Jurisdiction: Ministerial & Declarative

Doctrines & Order of the Church, and Exercise of Discipline Belong to minor assemblies but for whatever reason cannot be settled there OR those issues which affect the entire region or denomination

Same powers as the local session, but in greater measure; their judgments are binding UNLESS they contradict God's Word

Major Assemblies

Members of the church have the right to appeal disputed matters in the congregation to their elders for resolution, and if the dispute is with those local elders, to appeal to the regional governing body (the presbytery) or, beyond that, to the whole general assembly (Acts 15). The decisions of the wider governing bodies are authoritative in all the local congregations (Acts 15:22-23, 28, 30; 16:1-5).

Greg Bahnsen

EPISCOPALIAN

Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, some Lutheran

Three Offices Christ established:

Bishop Successor of the Apostles

Presbyter/Priest - leader/pastor of the local congregation church

Not just an "elder" but an intercessor between God and Man

Deacon assistant to the presbyter who can preach, lead worship, but NOT officiate at communion

Importance of Episcopacy

Apostolic Succession Bishops should be able to trace their ordination in an unbroken chain back to the apostles themselves "Historic Episcopate" seen as essential for the existence of the church itself

Bishops seen as necessary to confer ordination on all other levels of ministry

Importance of Episcopacy

Amongst those various offices which have been exercised in the Church from the earliest times the chief place, according to the witness of tradition, is held by the function of those who, through their appointment to the dignity and responsibility of bishop, and in virtue consequently of the unbroken succession going back to the beginning, are regarded as transmitters of the apostolic line.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Development of the Episcopacy st nd 1 & Early 2 Centuries

Elder-Overseers governed local congregations

Peter & John list themselves as Elders New Testament, Didache, I Clement

Development of the Episcopacy nd Early to Mid 2 Century

Overseers (Bishops) and Elders (Presbyters) differentiated Bishop = president of local congregation

Letters of Ignatius

Development of the Episcopacy nd Late 2 Century

Bishops now rule over group of congregations Bishops seen as successors of the Apostles

Irenaeus, Tertullian

Development of the Episcopacy rd Mid 3 Century

Presbyters seen as sacrificing priests

Cyprian Primacy of Honor "First Among Equals" & Court of Last Appeal Rome NOT considered ruler over all the churches

Primacy of the Bishop of Rome was asserted

Even Cyprian rebuked the Bishop of Rome

Development of the Episcopacy

Development of the Episcopacy th Early 4 Century

Bishops of metropolitan areas (Archbishops or Metropolitans) seen as more important than "Country Bishops" Bishop of Alexandria called "Pope, second honor behind Rome

Development of the Episcopacy th Late 4 Century

Patriarchs - Bishops of Four Largest Cities (Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch) plus Jerusalem given special honor over all other bishops

Birth of the Papacy Pope Leo I of Rome

Mid Fifth Century Pope Leo claimed first honor and control by Rome of the entire church

Bishop of Rome (Pope, Vicar of Christ) is the prince of the bishops, as they claim Peter was prince of the apostles

Apostles=Bishops, Peter=Popes

Birth of the Papacy

As the Western Empire fell, people in Rome looked to the Pope for leadership No other Patriarchs or Emperors in the West to challenge Rome

Eastern Churches Stabilize

Sixth-Eleventh Centuries Eastern Patriarchs dominated by Eastern Empire, Islam

Final break seen in 1054 East and West Split Eastern Church set up patriarchs over every national church; Constantinople seen as First Among Equals Patriarchs general dominated by Emperors, Kings, Tsars, Sultans

1077 - Gregory VII

Pope Gregory VII deposes Emperor Henry IV over church controversy, restores him after repentance at Canossa

Height of Papal PowerInnocent III (r. 1198-1216)

Pope Innocent III declares all secular rulers subject to Rome

King John of England recognizes Pope as overlord

All things on earth and in heaven and in hell are subject to the Vicar of Christ.

The pope can never in any way depart from the Catholic faith.

1302 - Unam Sanctam

1302 Pope Boniface VIII -

Furthermore, we declare, we proclaim, we define that it is absolutely necessary for salvation that every human creature be subject to the Roman Pontiff.

Pope Pius IX

1854 Proclaimed the Immaculate Conception as dogma without resorting to a council 1870 First Vatican Council Papal Infallibility declared an unalterable dogma of the church

Papal Infallibility

"The Roman Pontiff, when he speaks... in discharge of the office of pastor and teacher of all Christians, by virtue of his supreme apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine regarding faith or morals to be held by the universal Church... is possessed of that infallibility... in defining doctrine regarding faith or morals; and therefore such definitions are irreformable of themselves, and not in virtue of consent of the Church"

Westminster Confession 25.6

There is no other head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ: nor can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof; but is that Antichrist, that man of sin and son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the Church against Christ, and all that is called God.

Problems with Episcopalianism

Though "things can get done", "power tends to corrupt" - one bad TE/RE can be opposed & disciplined; a bad bishop/patriarch/pope can ruin a church Presbyters and Deacons become second-class officers

Problems with Episcopalianism

Many Roman/Eastern theologians admit that in the NT bishop=presbyter "Bishop: represents a Greek word meaning 'overseer,' and 'presbyter' another Greek word meaning 'elder.' In St. Paul 'bishop' and 'presbyter' seem to be used convertibly, and probably priests are here included under the term 'bishops.'

Douay-Confraternity Bible note on 1 Timothy 3

Presbyter = Bishop!

CONGREGATIONAL/ INDEPENDENT

Congregationalism

Congregationalists, Baptists, Church of Christ, Pentecostal/Charismatic

No governing church structure or court above the local congregation

Single-Elder Congregationalism

Pastor=Elder=TE, no ruling elders

Deacons=Deacon/RE, but Pastor runs the show

Examples: Most Arminian Baptist Churches, some Lutherans, Pentecostals

Multi-Elder Congregationalism

Form 1 - All Elders preach and teach may have a "presiding" elder, but all are supposed to be equals (Reformed Baptists) Form 2 - May hire a pastor under local ruling elders (Churches of Christ) Form 3 - Independent Presbyterians - TE's, RE's, Deacons, no presbytery (Congregationalists, some Reformed Baptists)

Multi-Elder Congregationalism

Problems with Congregationalism

Power in too many hands leads to mob rule, then often to rule by one strong man in each individual church No court of appeal or discipline if local church leadership is acting in an unbiblical manner

Problems with Congregationalism

No accountability - Preachers with no church associations can get away with anything they wish. If caught in sin, there is no discipline
The Lord told me it's flat none of your business!

Jimmy Swaggart after being caught with a prostitute the second time

Problems with Congregationalism

No ability to ensure doctrinal, moral, or disciplinary conformity

If Congregationalism were the norm throughout history, Arian churches could have rejected the divinity of Christ after the Council of Nicea and no one would have been able to question it. (There would have been no council.) Independent churches could have rejected the Jerusalem council in Acts 15, since one church is not bound to another

Problems with Congregationalism

Jerusalem Council & the Judaizers

Council of Nicea & the Arians