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 Twice
this week we had phone calls asking for help in studying
"authority" of elders. "Happenstance?" Maybe
so, but there have been other conversations of the past year and
frequent mention of articles which are supposed to advocate
arbitrary elder rule. I haven’t seen such articles, but if we
are headed for another of those "rounds" let’s keep
it cool.
I
strongly recommend a rereading of an aborted debate between
Harry Pickup, Jr. and the Roman Catholic priest, George H.
Dunne; which began in the Gospel Guardian, Vol. 5, No. 28, (Nov.
19, ‘53), but had to be dropped after three articles each,
because Catholic censors would not approve further material from
Dunne. Mr. Dunne, a highly respected scholar, began by calling
attention to an article which James R. Cope had written in
PRECEPTOR (Sept. 52) on "Majorities and Manners." Bro.
Cope sought to show the Bible place of scriptural overseers,
rather than "majority rule" of churches; but Mr. Dunne
based his arguments for the Pope and College of Bishops, on what
he claimed were the logical ends of Cope’s arguments.
As
Harry said, Cope can take care of himself; but our point is that
often we teach the truth on a subject, but say it in such a way
as to open the door for complete misunderstanding. We may speak
of the "authority" of the bishops, meaning only the
scriptural right of certain men to function in a certain
capacity. But we may leave the impression that the decisions
reached by such men are mandates from heaven. This is not the
case. There is no more reason to believe elders are infallible
in their
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judgments, than to believe each member of the
Lord’s church is infallible in judgments he must make in
carrying out his appointed functions.
Bro.
Pickup put it well in reply to Dunne’s use of MAT.16:19, etc.
"Christ did not say: ‘You apostles will bind on earth and
then I will bind in heaven;’...What he said was: ‘You will
bind and loose on earth what has been bound in heaven.'" He
cites Robertson’s Grammar etc. then tries to show the passages
are periphrastic perfect tense. "May be translated ‘shall
have been (permanently) bound, etc.’ The ‘permanently’
from the fact that Greek perfect contains the idea of completed
action that remains completed". Divinity has never
abdicated the throne to any man: apostle, elder, or even
evangelist.
The
work of oversight, leadership etc., is necessary, and is
divinely appointed. Someone must have the role of quarterback,
calling the plays and defining a "common mind" in
order to collective action, and the Lord gave the qualifications
to be looked for as we appoint such men (1TI.3:1-f; TIT.1:5-f).
He ordered a plurality of overseers in each church (ACT.14:23;
1PE.5:1-4). But no scriptures indicate that their leading
(judgments) become a part of "the faith". Saints
should submit to their rule ("esteem them very highly in
love for their work’s sake" 1TH.5:13, emph - r.t.). All
saints are priests (1PE.2:5); "One is your Master, even
Christ, and all ye are brethren" (MAT. 23:8). Elders have
an authorized function, but "all authority" remains in
Christ.
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