CHURCH ORDER by J. B. Frisbie

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 3, 1856

CHURCH ORDER

By J. B. Frisbie

BY J. B. FRISBIE

(Continued.)

7. RULE OF THE ELDERS.—When the apostles were about to transact any important business, they would call together the elders and church in a multitude: Acts vi, 2; iv, 29; xv, 6, 22, 30; xx, 17; xxi, 18. All dissensions on any points of difference were transacted in the presence of the church, as the fifteenth chapter of Acts shows. The rule that elders have over the church is very different from that Gentile kingly rule by which one man lords it over the people. Luke xxii, 24-27. And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve; for whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. But it is a kind of mutual government, they being subject one to another in love. Or it is of the nature of a kind father over his children to have them obey him in love for their own best good. As the father is at the head of his family, when he occupies his proper place, so should the elder be at the head of the church, to lead, to teach, and to see that there be order in all business meetings. To superintend or oversee, and judge or decide, all matters of differences according to the Bible. And unless he understands this part of his duty, he is not qualified for the office of an overseer in this respect. The Bible is the rule. The elders are the judges. But the church has the power to execute the penalty according to the word. So at last the Bible is the great constitution by which all must be governed.

This will appear most evident when we give you the abundant Bible testimony.

Matt. xxiii, 1-3. Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses seat: all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do: but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

Deut. xvii, 2-13. If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee, man or woman that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord thy God, in transgressing his covenant, and hath gone and served other gods, and worshiped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded; and it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and inquired diligently, and behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel: then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones; till they die. At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. The hands of the witness shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.

If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the Lord thy God shall choose; and thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and inquire: and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment: and thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which the Lord shall choose, shall shew thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee: according to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, to the right hand, nor to the left. And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken

unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the Lord thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel. And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.

Num. xv, 32-36. And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the Sabbath-day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. And the Lord said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died: as the Lord commanded Moses.

Heb. x, 28-30. He that despised Moses' law, died without mercy under two or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

When any matter came up that was "too hard" for the people to judge or know what was the right, they were required to call upon the priest or judge in Israel, and they should know what the sentence of the law should be in the case, and the people were to abide the decision. The people in all cases executed the punishment. As it was in the Old Testament times so we find it in the New Testament. It is for the church to enforce discipline in all cases. Paul says, "I have delivered unto Satan." 1 Tim. i, 20. (Or caused it, or ordered it.) He tells the church "to deliver—unto Satan." 1 Cor. v, 5.

8. DUTY OF THE CHURCH.

Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God; whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief. Heb. xiii, 7, 17. "And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake." 1 Thess. v, 12, 13. "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine." 1 Tim. v, 17.

There were some elders that did not labor in word and doctrine. These were elder men and women in the church, not in office, but in age: as in 1 John ii, 13, 14. "Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity." 1 Tim. v, 1, 2.

Titus ii, 1-8. But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: that the aged men may be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience; the aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness; not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

This is clear testimony that the elders have a rule in the church. But what this rule is we are not here informed. Whatever that rule is, it must be in connection with, and in harmony with, the church. The younger members of the church should look to, and esteem the experience and age of the older members of the church in all rule or judgment bearing on the peace and prosperity of the church.

The younger members of the church should esteem and call each other brother and sister, while the elders should be regarded as fathers and mothers. And would it not be well for the churches abroad to appoint at least one of their number, whose duty it shall be to have an earnest care for the little flock around them where they live, who may generally see that the meetings are appointed and led. One in whom the brethren have confidence, who may exhort, admonish, and watch for the best interest of the cause; who may have judgment, wisdom and piety, having their children in subjection.

There used to be a number of elders and teachers in one church. Acts xi, 30; xiv, 23; xv, 2, 4, 6, 22, 23; xvi, 4; xx, 17; xxi, 18; James v, 14; 1 Pet. v, 1; Titus i, 5. From the best light we can gain, many of these teachers and elders were only voted in, as such, by the lifting of hands by the church or appointed by the directions of a traveling elder, as in Acts xiv, 23; Titus i, 5. These might not travel out and devote their time to the work as those who were set apart wholly to the work. The priests and pastors minister knowledge, and this should be one part of their duty. Jer. iii, 15. And I will give you pastors according to my heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. Mal. ii, 7. For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

Now we come to the New Testament testimony. Matt. xviii, 15-18. Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. Verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven.

This scripture must be followed in all cases of personal offenses. Whatsoever is bound on earth is bound in heaven. When any brother is really guilty, and found so by two or three believing witnesses, and will not hear them, when this band of union is severed on earth between brethren, it will be between God in heaven and that offender.

The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to pulling down of strong holds, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought of the obedience of Christ. And having a readiness to revenge all disobedience. 2 Cor. x, 4, 5, 6.

(Concluded next week.)