May elders make decisions the church must follow? Should members follow if elders lead into unauthorized activities? Should elders emphasize spiritual or physical work? May they oversee individual activities?
Introduction:
The gospel teaches that each local church should develop and appoint qualified men to serve as elders or bishops to oversee the local congregation (Acts 14:23). The purpose of this study is to consider the work these men should do and what work they should not do.
Ruling vs. Advising
Some people say elders have no authority to make decisions that the congregation must follow. Some say elders only teach God’s word and set examples. Others say the congregation (including the women) must approve elders’ decisions before they can take effect. Consider:
Bible Descriptions of Elders
Consider words that show elders oversee and supervise the local church:
Shepherd (pastor)
This word emphasizes guidance, protection, and nourishment. Examples include:
Acts 20:28 – Elders should shepherd the church of God (NKJV, NASB, MEV, LSB).
1 Peter 5:1-3 – “Shepherd” the flock (NKJV, NASB, ESV, MEV) or “tend” the flock (ASV).
Shepherds have authority over sheep. Dictionaries say this means (among other things):
Overseer (bishop)
Acts 20:28 – Holy Spirit made you overseers (NKJV, NASB, ESV, MEV) or “bishops” (ASV).
1 Peter 5:2 – “Serving as overseers” (NKJV) or “exercising oversight” (ASV, NASB, ESV, LEB).
(Compare Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1; Titus 1:7.)
Rule (obey, submit)
1 Timothy 5:17 – Elders “rule” well (NKJV, ASV, NASB, ESV), “lead well” (LSB), or “govern well” (MLB).
Hebrews 13:7 – Those who have the rule over you (NKJV, ASV, KJV, MEV) or “leaders” (ESV, NASB, LSB, MLB).
Hebrews 13:17 – Those who have the rule over you (NKJV, KJV, ASV) or “leaders” (NASB, ESV, MEV, LSB, MLB). This is the same word as in Hebrews 13:7.
“Obey” (NKJV, KJV, ASV, NASB, ESV, MEV, LSB)
“Submit” to them (NKJV, ASV, NASB, ESV, MEV, LSB). T
The Bible teaches that elders do have power to make decisions in harmony with Bible authority, and members must submit. This includes the right to initiate and supervise programs to organize and coordinate the members in accomplishing the work of the church.
(Compare 1 Timothy 3:4,5; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Thessalonians 5:12; Hebrews 13:24; Romans 12:8; 1 Peter 5:5.)
Limits on Leadership Authority
Not lording over the flock – 1 Peter 5:3
“Lording” is a strengthened form of the word for lord or master. It always refers to those who rule for their own benefit or to accomplish their own purposes. Matthew 20:25-28 uses it to refer to rulers who dominate others but do not serve them.
Ezekiel 34:1-6 rebukes shepherds in Israel who did not care for the needs of the sheep, but ruled “with force and cruelty.” This illustrates the meaning of “lording it over the flock.”
3 John 9,10 – Diotrophes loved to have preeminence and put out of the church those who received faithful teachers.
Elders “lord it” over the flock if they lead the church to do things Jesus never authorized it to do or if they use their authority to get their own way or seek their own honor or advantage instead of pursuing what is best for the flock.
Stewards – Titus 1:7
Elders are stewards of God. A steward is a servant responsible to care for affairs or property belonging to someone else.
Luke 12:42 – Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?
As stewards, elders do have authority, but not as dictators or overlords who do as they please. Their authority is delegated to them by their Master who is over them. They must use the authority only as directed by the Master.
Hebrews 13:17 – Elders will give account to God. Jesus has entrusted elders to lead the members, but elders in turn are subject to Jesus. They can lead only as Jesus authorized for the good of the flock.
(For other uses of the word, see 1 Corinthians 4:2; Galatians 4:2; Luke 16:1,3,8; etc.)
Authorized Works vs. Unauthorized Works
The Church May Practice Only What the Lord Authorized.
Practices not authorized in Scripture are unacceptable.
Matthew 15:9,13,14 – Worship is vain when based on precepts of human origin.
Jeremiah 10:23; Proverbs 14:12; 2 Corinthians 10:18 – The way of man is not in himself. It is not in man who walks to direct his steps. There is a way that seems right to man, but the end is death. Not he who commends himself is approved, but he whom the Lord approves.
Proverbs 3:5,6 – Trust in the Lord and do not lean on your own understanding.
Colossians 3:17 – All we do, in word or deed, should be done in Jesus’ name.
Galatians 1:6-9 – A man is accursed if he preaches a different gospel.
2 John 9 – Whoever does not abide in Jesus’ teaching, does not have God.
(Isaiah 55:8,9; Luke 16:15; Revelation 22:18,19; Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32)
Elders must not lead the flock to practice unauthorized activities.
Titus 1:9 – Elders must hold fast the faithful word and sound doctrine.
Acts 20:28-30 – Paul warned that some elders would lead disciples astray into error.
Matthew 15:14 – If the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.
Acts 5:29 – We must obey God rather than man.
Unauthorized practices are error regardless of who initiates or supervises them.
But Carrying Out Authorized Activities Involves Making Specific Decisions.
These decisions may include such matters as:
What preachers to support, when, where, and how much (Philippians 4:14-16)
What needy members to care for, when, where, and how (Acts 6)
When, where, and how often the church should meet (Hebrews 10:25)
As God’s appointed overseers, the elders are responsible to see that these and other such decisions are made wisely. As long as these decisions are within the realm of authorized activities, the members must cooperate and submit to the decisions. Where the church is authorized to act, the elders may make specific decisions.
Spiritual Work and/or Physical Work
Elders Are Spiritual Leaders of a Spiritual Church.
* The church is a spiritual house, a kingdom not of this world.
1 Peter 2:5 – We are a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, a holy nation. So we offer spiritual sacrifices. The work we do is spiritual, because the nature of the church is spiritual.
John 18:36 – Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world.
Acts 20:28 – The elders oversee the church Jesus shed His blood to purchase. Membership in the church is essential to salvation – Ephesians 5:22-25.
The church is fundamentally spiritual in nature. It is the only institution God established for the primary purpose of meeting man’s spiritual needs. None of man’s spiritual needs can be met without Jesus’ death or outside the church He purchased.
(Romans 14:17; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Luke 17:20,21)
The work of the highest leaders in the church is spiritual.
Acts 6:1-4 – Apostles gave themselves to prayer and ministry of the word.
As the highest church leaders, the apostles focused on spiritual work, pertaining to the salvation of souls. When physical needs distracted them from spiritual work they delegated it to others. (Elders did not exist at this time but were appointed later.)
Hebrews 13:17 – Elders watch on behalf of members’ souls.
Elders should care for each member to see they receive spiritual encouragement and guidance. They should make sure that new and weak members are taught. They should lead in the discipline of sinners who will not repent. The result will be spiritually strong congregations.
Ezekiel 34:1-6 – God rebuked Old Testament shepherds who did not strengthen the weak, bring back what was driven away, or seek what was lost. Far too often, members wander into sin, miss services, or even quit serving God, but no one bothers to try to help them.
Acts 20:28-31; Titus 1:9-14
Shepherds especially “watch” for wolves or false teachers. This means elders must “convict the gainsayer”: prove by God’s word when a man is wrong and rebuke him.
Elders Also Lead in Physical Church Activities.
Some have claimed that elders lead only in spiritual matters but have no right to make decisions regarding physical matters. Some even say elders lead only in matters of faith (required or forbidden by Scripture), not in matters of judgment.
Acts 11:30 – Funds to relieve physically needy members were sent to the elders. So elders do have responsibility to make sure physical matters are done properly. Proper distribution also involves judgment.
It is a mistake to claim that elders oversee only spiritual matters or matters of faith. However, elders should not be so involved in physical matters that it distracts from their spiritual work.
Too many elders think their job consists primarily of supervising the care of the grounds and building, spending the money, and other material matters. While elders should oversee this work, many such specifics may be delegated to deacons or other members. Elders should be involved in the lives of the members, especially their spiritual needs.
Overseeing Church Work and Teaching Personal Choices
Elders Teach God’s Word and Make Decisions Regarding Church Work.
Acts 20:28-31; Titus 1:9-14 – Elders teach God’s word and rebuke error.
1 Peter 5:2; Acts 20:28 – Elders oversee or shepherd (exercise oversight) of the “flock” local church) among them. (Acts 6:1-6; 11:30)
Scripture authorizes elders to supervise only the local church but nothing beyond that. They have no right as elders to supervise individual works.
Hebrews 13:17 – Elders watch on behalf of souls.
Elders have the authority to oversee affairs that pertain to church activities. This includes initiating and supervising programs to organize and coordinate authorized church works. Elders have no authority to try to tell members how to conduct personal affairs that do not involve the church or the destiny of members’ souls.
So if an activity is an individual work, not an authorized church work, elders have no right to arrange, organize, coordinate, or supervise it, nor may they appoint others under their supervision to supervise it. To do so violates the distinction between church activities and individual acts.
Elders Teach but Do Not Supervise Individual Works.
Individuals decide to meet conditions of forgiveness and become followers of Jesus.
Mark 16:15,16 – The gospel should be preached to every creature in the world. “He who” believes and is baptized will be saved. (Hebrews 11:6; Romans 10:9-11; John 3:16,36)
Acts 2:38 – “Every one of you” should repent and be baptized for remission of sins.
Faith, repentance, and baptism are individual choices. No one can believe, repent, or be baptized for someone else. Elders should teach what decisions individuals should make to please God, but they have no authority to decide for the individuals, nor may they set up programs to organize or coordinate the decisions individuals make in such matters.
Individuals make decisions about their use of funds.
Acts 5:4 – The Christian has funds that are his “own” and under his “control.” The elders control only the funds donated by the members to the church (Acts 11:30).
2 Corinthians 9:6,7; 1 Corinthians 16:1,2 – Individuals “purpose” how much to give to church.
Elders may teach Bible principles regarding use of material possessions, but they have no authority to decide how the individuals will use their funds, nor may they set up programs to organize or coordinate individual financial decisions.
Individuals have responsibilities in personal relationships.
Ephesians 5:22-6:4; 1 Corinthians 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4 – Men and women marry and bear children. Husbands should love their wives, wives should submit to husbands, parents should train children, and children should obey parents.
Ephesians 6:5-9; 1 Peter 2:18; Titus 2:9,10 – Servants should submit to their masters, and masters should treat servants with respect.
Romans 13:1-7; Matthew 22:17-21 – Citizens should submit to the rulers and pay their taxes.
Elders should teach husbands, wives, parents, servants, and citizens their responsibilities. But what right do they have to set up programs to organize or coordinate husbands in loving their wives or wives in submitting to their husbands, business or government affairs, etc.?
Individuals have broad benevolent responsibilities, but churches are more limited.
Acts 2:44,45; 4:32-5:11; 6:1-6; 11:27-30; Romans 15:25-27; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8:4; 9:1,12 – Local churches are limited to caring for physical needs of members.
1 Timothy 5:4,8,16 – Individuals should provide for their families and needy relatives so the church is not charged.
Matthew 25:31-46 – Individuals should care for needy people, whether Christians are not.
As overseers of the local church, elders supervise the church’s work of caring for physically destitute members who have no relatives to care for them. They should teach members to care for the physical needs of those for whom they are responsible. But elders they have no authority to set up programs to organize or coordinate the benevolent responsibilities of individuals. To do so would violate the distinction between individual work and church work.
Individuals provide social, entertainment, and recreational activities.
1 Timothy 4:8 – Bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness has promise of this life and that which is to come. Individuals may provide recreation for themselves, their families, and others.
1 Corinthians 11:22,34; Acts 27:33-36 – Common meals and other social events are authorized activities for individuals but not for churches.
Elders may teach individuals Bible principles about providing morally upright social, entertainment, and recreational activities. But they must not set up programs to organize or coordinate the social, entertainment, or recreational activities of individuals.
(Mark 6:31; 1 Timothy 5:8; 1 Corinthians 9:25; 2 Timothy 2:5; Luke 15:23)
Individuals practice hospitality toward people in general.
Hospitality toward people in general is individual, not local church activity.
Hebrews 13:2; Genesis 18:1-8; 19:1-3; Matthew 25:34-36,40 – Individuals practice hospitality towards people in general.
1 Timothy 5:9,10 – A widow indeed should have lodged strangers (hospitality).
The church is limited in hospitality just as it is in physical benevolence. Hospitality towards people in general is individual. Elders may teach Bible principles about hospitality, but they have no authority to set up programs to organize or coordinate hospitality activities of individuals.
When elders supervise individual activities, they fail to distinguish individual work from church work. The result involves the church in activities authorized only for individuals.
Conclusion
Hebrews 13:17 – Elders will give account to God for their service as leaders of the local church. Members are responsible to cooperate and follow the leaders. When elders and members do their jobs properly, the result is a local congregation working effectively for the Lord.
(c) Copyright David E. Pratte, 2025; gospelway.com
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