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7/27/2019 Church Government Lesson
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Government of the ChristianChurch
What is church power? Where does it comefrom? How is it exercised? What is its
structure?
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Leadership of the Church
Who is the head of the church?
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The Head of the Church
There is no other head of the Church but theLord Jesus Christ....
Westminster Confession 25:6a
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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
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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
Christ has given the church power
As a whole
Especially vested in its officerschosen bythe people, but given power by Christ
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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 administrativefunctions
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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 administrativefunctions
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Not merely advisory...
Acts 16.4 - Now while they were passingthrough the cities, they were delivering thedecrees (Gk. dogmata) which had been decidedupon by the apostles and elders who were inJerusalem, for them to observe.
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Nature of Church Power
Spiritual- given by the Spirit (Acts 20:28), manifestsHis power (John 20:22, 23; I Cor. 5:4), pertains to menas 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 subordinateto 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); mustbe under God's Word, directed by the Spirit, and in thename of Christ (Rom. 10:14, 15; Eph. 5:23; I Cor. 5:4)
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Kinds of Power
Dogmatic (Teaching)
Governing
Regulating
Judicial
Care for the poor
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PRESBYTERIAN
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Nature of Presbyterian
Representative
Not Democratic
Not Hierarchical Power flows from the lower levels
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Presbyter (Elder) and Bishop (Overseer) aretwo names for the same office -Acts 20:17, 28; ITim. 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 -Acts14.23, Acts 20.17ff, James 5.14
OfficersElder/Overseer
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OfficersElder/Overseer
Duties: Oversee, Provide For, Protect theHouse 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
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Officers - Deacons
Diakonos = Servant
Phil. 1:1; I Tim. 3:8, 10, 12
Instituted in Acts 6 to support theapostles/elders so they could rule and teach
Duties: works of mercy and charity
Administrative: Spiritual office due to the natureof giving to the saints
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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 (moredepending on size of congregation)
General Assembly (National)All TE's in thedenomination, at least 1 RE from each
congregation (more depending on size ofcongregation)
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The Local Church
People choose elders (Acts 11:30; 14:23;20:17; Phil. 1:1; I Tim. 3:1; Tit. 1:5, 7), butelders gain their authority from Christ
Elders rule in Christ's name and are responsibleto Him
Is the basis for Scriptural church government;
delegates its authority to higher bodies; ChurchOrder guards rights and interests of both levels
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Major Assemblies
Warranted by Scripture (Acts 15)
Are of Representative character (i.e., not all
church members are part of the majorassemblies)
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Major Assemblies
Jurisdiction: Ministerial & Declarative
Doctrines & Order of the Church, and Exerciseof Discipline
Belong to minor assemblies but for whateverreason 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 bindingUNLESS they contradict God's Word
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Major Assemblies
Members of the church have the right to appealdisputed matters in the congregation to their elders forresolution, and if the dispute is with those local elders,
to appeal to the regional governing body (thepresbytery) or, beyond that, to the whole generalassembly (Acts 15). The decisions of the widergoverning bodies are authoritative in all the localcongregations (Acts 15:22-23, 28, 30; 16:1-5).
Greg Bahnsen
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EPISCOPALIAN
Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, EasternOrthodox, some Lutheran
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Three Offices Christ established:
BishopSuccessor of the Apostles
Presbyter/Priest - leader/pastor of the local
congregation church Not just an "elder" but an intercessor between
God and Man
Deaconassistant to the presbyter who can
preach, lead worship, but NOT officiate atcommunion
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Importance of Episcopacy
Apostolic SuccessionBishops should be ableto trace their ordination in an unbroken chainback to the apostles themselves
"Historic Episcopate" seen as essential for theexistence of the church itself
Bishops seen as necessary to confer
ordination on all other levels of ministry
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Importance of Episcopacy
Amongst those various offices which havebeen exercised in the Church from the earliesttimes the chief place, according to the witnessof tradition, is held by the function of those who,through their appointment to the dignity andresponsibility of bishop, and in virtueconsequently of the unbroken succession goingback to the beginning, are regarded astransmitters of the apostolic line.
Catechism of the Catholic Church
D l t f th E i
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Development of the Episcopacy1st& Early 2ndCenturies
Elder-Overseers governed local congregations
Peter & John list themselves as Elders
New Testament, Didache, I Clement
D l t f th E i
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Development of the EpiscopacyEarly to Mid 2ndCentury
Overseers (Bishops) andElders (Presbyters)differentiated
Bishop = president of localcongregation
Letters of Ignatius
D l t f th E i
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Development of the EpiscopacyLate 2ndCentury
Bishops now rule overgroup of congregations
Bishops seen assuccessors of theApostles
Irenaeus,
Tertullian
D l t f th E i
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Development of the EpiscopacyMid 3rdCentury
Presbyters seen as sacrificing priests
Cyprian
Primacy of the Bishop of Rome was asserted Primacy of Honor"First Among Equals" &
Court of Last Appeal
Rome NOT considered ruler over all the
churches
Even Cyprian rebuked the Bishop of Rome
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Development of the Episcopacy
Development of the Episcopacy
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Development of the EpiscopacyEarly 4thCentury
Bishops of metropolitanareas (Archbishops orMetropolitans) seen as
more important than"Country Bishops"
Bishop of Alexandria
called "Pope, secondhonor behind Rome
Development of the Episcopacy
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Development of the EpiscopacyLate 4thCentury
Patriarchs - Bishops of Four Largest Cities(Rome, Constantinople,Alexandria,Antioch)plus Jerusalemgiven special honor over all
other bishops
Birth of the Papacy
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Birth of the PapacyPope Leo I of Rome
Mid Fifth CenturyPope Leo claimed firsthonor and control by Rome of the entire church
Bishop of Rome (Pope, Vicar of Christ) is theprince of the bishops, as they claim Peter wasprince of the apostles
Apostles=Bishops, Peter=Popes
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Birth of the Papacy
As the Western Empire fell,people in Rome looked to thePope for leadership
No other Patriarchs orEmperors in the West tochallenge Rome
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Eastern Churches Stabilize
Sixth-Eleventh CenturiesEastern Patriarchsdominated by Eastern Empire, Islam
Final break seen in 1054East and WestSplit
Eastern Church set up patriarchs over everynational church; Constantinople seen as FirstAmong Equals
Patriarchs general dominated by Emperors,Kings, Tsars, Sultans
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1077 - Gregory VII
Pope Gregory VII deposes Emperor Henry IVover church controversy, restores him afterrepentance at Canossa
Height of Papal Power-
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Height of Papal Power-Innocent III (r. 1198-1216)
Pope Innocent III declares all secularrulers subject to Rome
King John of England recognizes
Pope as overlord
All things on earth and in heavenand in hell are subject to the Vicarof Christ.
The pope can never in any waydepart from the Catholic faith.
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1302 - Unam Sanc tam
1302Pope Boniface VIII -
Furthermore, we declare, we
proclaim, we define that it isabsolutely necessary forsalvation that every humancreature be subject to the Roman
Pontiff.
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Pope Pius IX
1854Proclaimed the Immaculate Conceptionas dogma without resorting to a council
1870First Vatican CouncilPapalInfallibility declared an unalterable dogma of thechurch
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Papal Infallibility
"The Roman Pontiff, when he speaks... indischarge of the office of pastor andteacher of all Christians, by virtue of hissupreme apostolic authority, he defines a
doctrine regarding faith or morals to beheld by the universal Church... ispossessed of that infallibility... in definingdoctrine regarding faith or morals; andtherefore such definitions are
irreformable of themselves, and not invirtue of consent of the Church"
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Westminster Confession 25.6
There is no other head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ: nor can thePope of Rome in any sense be head thereof; but is that Antichrist, that man ofsin and son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the Church against Christ, andall that is called God.
P bl ith E i li i
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Problems with Episcopalianism
Though "things can get done","power tends to corrupt"- onebad TE/RE can be opposed &
disciplined; a badbishop/patriarch/pope can ruina church
Presbyters and Deaconsbecome second-class officers
P bl ith E i li i
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Problems with Episcopalianism
Many Roman/Eastern theologians admit that inthe NT bishop=presbyter
"Bishop: represents a Greek word meaning'overseer,' and 'presbyter' another Greekword meaning 'elder.' In St. Paul 'bishop'and 'presbyter' seem to be used convertibly,and probably priests are here includedunder the term 'bishops.'
Douay-Confraternity Bible note on 1 Timothy 3
P b t Bi h !
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Presbyter = Bishop!
CONGREGATIONAL/
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CONGREGATIONAL/INDEPENDENT
C ti li
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Congregationalism
Congregationalists, Baptists, Church of Christ,Pentecostal/Charismatic
No governing church structure or court abovethe local congregation
Single Elder Congregationalism
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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
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Multi-Elder Congregationalism
Form 1 - All Elders preach and teachmayhave a "presiding" elder, but all are supposed tobe equals (Reformed Baptists)
Form 2 - May hire a pastor under local rulingelders (Churches of Christ)
Form 3 - Independent Presbyterians - TE's,
RE's, Deacons, no presbytery(Congregationalists, some Reformed Baptists)
Multi Elder Congregationalism
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Multi-Elder Congregationalism
Problems with Congregationalism
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Problems with Congregationalism
Power in too many handsleads to mob rule,then often to rule by one strong man in eachindividual church
No court of appeal or discipline if local churchleadership is acting in an unbiblical manner
Problems with Congregationalism
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Problems with Congregationalism
No accountability - Preachers with no churchassociations can get away with anything theywish. If caught in sin, there is no discipline
The Lord told me it's flat none ofyour business!
Jimmy Swaggart after
being caught with aprostitute the secondtime
Problems with Congregationalism
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Problems with Congregationalism
No ability to ensure doctrinal, moral, ordisciplinary conformity
If Congregationalism were the norm
throughout history, Arian churches could haverejected the divinity of Christ after the Councilof Nicea and no one would have been able toquestion it. (There would have been no
council.) Independent churches could have rejected the
Jerusalem council in Acts 15, since onechurch is not bound to another
Problems with Congregationalism
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Problems with Congregationalism
Jerusalem Council & the Judaizers
Council of Nicea & the Arians