Each congregation
of the Lord’s church is to be overseen by a group of elders.
In Acts 14:23 we read, "So when they had appointed elders
in every church." Notice there is to be a plurality of elders
in every church or congregation. This is the way the Lord set
up His church.
But what does the Lord intend for the elders to do in His
church? In Acts 20:28 the apostle Paul was talking to the elders
from the church at Ephesus and told them, "Therefore take
heed to yourselves, and to all the flock, among which the Holy
Spirit has made you overseers." The church of Christ which
the Lord built is to be overseen by a plurality of elders.
The qualifications of elders who are to oversee each congregation
of the Lord's church are given in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and in Titus
1:3-9. There are some small congregations of the Lord's church
that do not have a plurality of men who meet these qualifications
and thus cannot have elders until men become qualified. Is
each congregation of the church you belong to overseen by a
plurality of elders? If not, why not? If it is to be the Lord’s
church and has men who qualify, each congregation is to be
overseen by a plurality of elders.
If we really accept the Bible as our only authority, we will
want to worship God only as He has specified. We must reject
human traditions and doctrines that members are required to
follow such as creed books, catechisms, manuals, articles of
faith, the book of Mormon, the Koran, constitutions, disciplines
and other guidelines of men, all of which produce different
and new religious doctrines. If a creed contains less than
the Bible, it contains too little. If it contains more than
the Bible, it contains too much. If it contains just the Bible,
then why have it? The purpose of creeds, which are formulated
by men, is to express beliefs that are different from what
is taught in the Bible.
We are warned in Colossians 2:8, "Beware lest anyone
cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to
the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of
the world, and not according to Christ." It would be a
tragedy to find out on Judgment Day we have been cheated of
our eternal reward in heaven because we followed the doctrines
of men; but it will be too late then.
II Thessalonians 1:12 tells us "That the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him,
according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." Jesus
Christ is to be glorified and honored in us. Besides doing
all that he tells us to do, we glorify the name of Christ by
wearing the name "Christian". I Peter 4:16 says, "Yet
if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but
let him glorify God in this matter." It is an honor to
wear the name "Christian." In wearing this name we
are glorifying God and Christ.
We should not be ashamed to wear the name "Christian",
yet many seem to be. Men want to wear other names that give
honor and glory to someone or something other than Christ.
For example honor and glory are given to Martin Luther, the
day of Pentecost, the apostles, the methodical way of doing
things, the town of Nazareth, John the Baptist, John Wesley,
the hill of Calvary, the city of Rome, the city of Antioch,
the names of the different "saints", and the list
goes on and on. None of these names give any glory or honor
whatsoever to God or Christ to whom honor is due. How do you
think God feels about this situation? Do you actually think
that He is pleased with it? Do you wear only the name Christian?
By referring to one as a Christian, does not make him a Christian.
If one is not a Christian according to the New Testament, then
he is not a Christian at all. The bible makes it clear that
being baptized (immersed) in water is part of becoming a Christian,
not something to be done afterward.
God tells us in Jeremiah 10:23, "It is not in man who
walks to direct his own steps." Man has tried but has
always made a miserable failure of it. In Colossians 3:17 we
read, "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in
the name of the Lord Jesus." We are to do all in the name
of or by the authority of the Lord Jesus. Can it be said that
Jesus has authorized any of these different names?