1. Elders
2. Evangelists
3. Teaching
4. Preaching
5. Outreach
There is considerable room to question the practice of appointing elders by ballot or voting them into this position. Many of the congregation young in the faith are quite unqualified to determine the qualifications of those who should take this position. Often the person best qualified to be an elder will not put himself forward because it may be suggested he is doing so for his own personal motives. You don't train a person to be an elder, this gift is conferred on him by the Chief Shepherd and should be recognised and acknowledged by the congregation. A person is able to offer himself for the position of elder but he would have to measure up to the requirements of an elder. Originally elders were appointed by the evangelists, for example, Paul Titus or Timothy, and this is one that should be followed.
What is lacking in all the Australian churches are true pastors giving spiritual food and oversight. It is right that many people should be converted to Christ, but nurture is the means of growth and continuance with him. Therefore we need elders who have a natural aptitude to each and who have a wide experience in t he church in order to know how to exercise discipline and encouragement . But there are not men in many of our churches in the position to be appointed because they do not qualify - they lack maturity and discernment.
A church should not appoint an elder just because they do not have one. There should always be a plurality of elders because it is wrong to appoint one elder to be superior over the whole congregation.
What are the tests for bishops or elders? For example, they are to gladly extend hospitality, and to rule one's house well, but the criteria mostly used in these times is his ability in the pulpit: An elder is to be a teacher and preaching are not synonymous for certain men can have eloquence of speech yet teach nothing.
The one who is to be elder over the church should have the qualities of a father who lovingly cares for his family. There is such a wonderful power in kindness. That man who is a hard, churlish, exacting, close-fisted man is a very unfit person to be a bishop; and if he is raised to a position of such prominence, to be an example to the flock, the fruit must be bitter and bad. I would, then, have brethren consider well and wisely before they set anyone over them to be their rulers in whose judgment and wisdom they do not have full confidence.
The work of an evangelist is to proclaim and to defend the truth in the world, and in the church too; to endeavour to extend t he boundaries of the church; to plant new churches and to feed and care for new converts . It is apparent, then, that the province of evangelists has mainly to do with the outside world: their work is to build, but the work of the elders is to repair and strengthen the walls of the house, and by proper division of labour the churches of the saints may eventually become a glorious church . This is their goal and when they have reached it in one field of work they must go on to new fields, planting new churches. I am afraid our evangelists may be remiss in not keeping this ulterior issue in view, but have settled in one church. The goal of our evangelists must be carefully borne in mind lest it appear they are only clergymen come out under another name or that we revive the old obsolete system of clergy in a new dress. This is a further reason why I am against our evangelists settling in one church.
Another reason is the setting apart of a special class of men as ministers of the Gospel, as though they are the only ones specially called and fitted for this work. This kind of thinking has devastating results and it provides those who think they have no special calling with an excuse to be quiet. All who have come to a saving knowledge of Christ have a responsibility to share the Gospel. This invention of dividing the professed followers of Christ into two classes of clergy and laity has been a master stroke of policy by the serpent, and has gone far to obliterate the divinely-taught idea of a common salvation among the people.
It is then, a rule in God's church that the gifts of all the members be used for edification of the brethren. It is the duty of pastors, and requiring much wisdom and courage, and impartiality, to discern and encourage the exercise of the varied gifts to be found among the brethren, and to guard against abuses resulting from the forwardness of some, and the diffidence of others. While I am against a class called clergy it is essential that we have efficient and ordered teaching in our churches. If I had to choose between two evils - pastors not after God's pattern, but self-willed, conceited and incompetent men, having few traits of fathers in the church, and the clergyman - I would prefer the latter, as most likely he would be a gentleman, or have the manner of one, and his influence might have some power to civilize and humanize his people.
There has arisen strong opposition in Victoria against the American brethren asserting that elders or pastors should be paid. The argument is, if evangelists are paid to bring in people, so should those who look after them. Much of this attitude comes from past association with the Scotch Baptists who strongly oppose any form of paid ministry. I would simply say of those brethren who accept the gratuitous services of a faithful elder, at the cost of making it difficult for a tender and affectionate wife, and of denuding his family of the comforts they are entitled to, as well as limiting their education - let not my honour be united with them. It does appear preposterous, that under such circumstances any brother whom God has endowed with peculiar and excellent gifts, and whose mind has become, by such research, reading and study, a store of good things, should be called upon to devote that time, for which his wife and family have a prior and superior claim, gratuitously to the service of the church. This is partiality, inequality and is very unlike fellowship or partnership in the work of the Lord. Churches must be prepared to pay wages to those who are called to devote much time to labour in the word and teaching. Wages must fully compensate these brethren but should not be such as a temptation to anyone seeking office merely for money. Wages are paid out in ordinary business for work done and wages paid to one worthy of his labour to the Lord is a good thing. Let us not refrain from doing so because we are scared we would be afflicted with the support of an order of clergy.
The only disadvantage being paid a wage is that the pastor is compelled to meet the demands of those appointing him and may not say what he should, but what people like to hear. The threat of the church cutting off the preachers' wage restricts the effectiveness of his preaching.
(In his earlier days John was sceptical of higher learning, but his statements became tempered by his friendship with T.J.Gore, a college educated minister.)
A good teacher is the Holy Spirit and the compulsion from within to adhere to the great commission. The book of learning is the Bible.
Common sense would give more understanding for some than all their book learning. Instead of going to the university to learn, we must mingle with the world of mankind and become keen and critical in our observations, and by accurate estimation we may become expert in using the Word of God skilfully so as to make it relevant to men in all their moods and prejudices. Let us not get trapped in modern innovations. I think Satan is very busy in our day in the invention of many newfangled notions never dreamed of by our fathers and grandfathers, Even in the current reformation Alexander Campbell and other leading men did nothing more than collate what had already been known to the ancient fathers. Their work lay in clearing away the rubbish of traditions, in which the gems of truth lay embedded. They were neither inventors nor innovators. In religious questions, I think we ought to be conservatives and hold to the good old paths.
Our churches need good teaching from the Word. As to the fear of a one man system, I would prefer to have one efficient and acceptable teacher than a great number whose services to the church were unprofitable. We need to be wise in the use of the time of the church meeting, using only capable speakers. Unless the public teaching is efficient and attractive, no church will prosper.
It is quite clear that public speaking in t he churches should keep pace with the advancement of the age we live in, and in its general character it should be such as to command respect from t he outside world. Also, if Christians are to meet on the first day of the week, to show forth the Lord's death, it is very important that some of the world be there to see what we are showing forth.
We need in our services good public readers of the Word and good teachers who can explain the Word that has been read. Teachers need training in order to develop skills and abilities such as the art of reasoning and of communicating ideas in a forceful and impressive manner; but for all knowledge of spiritual and divine things the teacher must depend on the store of knowledge to be found in the Bible.
The teacher also needs to learn the art of being precise and concise. This can be accomplished though care and preparation beforehand.
It must be borne in mind that however talented or learned our preachers may be it will avail nothing unless they have wisdom and graces of character that no schools or learning can supply.
Most brethren will acknowledge that the Lord's Day is a seasonable time for preaching, but to confine our evangelism to one day of the week would be wrong. We are also called upon to preach the Gospel out of season.
I think the true reason many feel it difficult to preach the Gospel of Christ, is that they have no clear understanding of their own faith. But if they felt compelled to always be ready to give a reason for the hope that lies within them they would seek a better understanding and not be content with their superficial belief.
Some get discouraged because their labour is not productive. Men become hardened in unbelief and sin, and many efforts fail to change their ways, but we are told we must be gentle and show meekness to all men. We should have great confidence in the might of the truth and always hope that the long-suffering God to the disobedient will bring salvation to them in the end.
Many good, well-meaning people who attend chapel on Sunday are quite delighted to hear a clever sermon but if asked about it next morning they cannot remember, it is all gone from them like Nebuchadnezzar's dream. Too many preachers seek popularity, but popularity may mean the disciplining word is not being spoken. I am against a popular Gospel just to fill the pews of the church.
Others who attend Sunday meetings don't want to hear anything that will prick their own consciences, but delight to hear the preachers firing away over their heads at some other kind of sinners than those to which they belong.
All who desire to preach and make an impression on the world by the power of speech must understand that what is needed first of all is the word of Christ dwelling in us richly, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. A man may commit the whole Bible to memory but have little understanding of its contents The word is not just to be remembered, but to be in us in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Some brethren get hold of a new idea and they will read about it and search the Scriptures for proof of it and they will talk about it to everybody all the time. I advise all brethren that a great many of these ideas are as barren as the Sahara. The truth of the Scriptures speak for themselves. Falsehood generally stands on one leg and requires a great many proofs to keep it up, while truth stands on two legs.
I am of the mind that unless young men who have had the advantage of a good common education have given proof that they possess an aptitude to teach and preach, and that their work has had a measure of success, it will not matter greatly how much training they receive they will not be suitable if they have not the required aptitude, even if they are zealous and devoted to God. Inattention to this matter has had disastrous results.
Preachers today are turning to modern methods of delivery in :preaching to gain popularity. It is required that they should be masters in the art of enlightening their sermons with rhetoric, metaphors and striking illustrations and thus receive popular acclaim. It is love that builds up but knowledge puffs up and to seek popularity at the expense of the doctrine of Christ is like a rushing wind. If an abundance of good wholesome food is given t o any person, he will have little need for stimulants.
Let me say, though, preachers ought to be well prepared, educated and trained for the office of preaching. He who would be a successful preacher must be studious and enquiring all the days of his life. Were he to think that he had gained all knowledge and preparation he needed and cease to read and study, he would soon become like a fountain that is always giving out and taking nothing in - full of emptiness; his speaking would become stale and unprofitable.
So it is not the oratory or impression that is important in preaching but that the message is conveyed and understood. It is the duty of all to search out acceptable words and methods for communicating God's truth to the souls of men. God has sent each preacher on a mission of love. He should be careful to present the message as one who has compassion. Care is to be taken on the length of preaching, condensing ideas and words into an acceptable listening time. Tedious discourses are generally the result of careless preparation.
Take the Word in context. Text preaching decimates the original meaning of the writer Know the Scriptures . Give a timely warning as God's watchman. It is not only needful that the sinner receive the love of the truth for salvation, but that he should remain in that truth all his days. It is plain that a man erring from the truth while he is a member of Christ's church will lose his soul as surely as if he had never joined the church.
The preacher's efforts may produce convictions that show a theoretical knowledge of God's truth, but unless people see its power shown practically, all the powerful appeals to reason and conscience will be as the morning mists and the early dew, it will be evanescent and unenduring. What then of our Christian commitment ? It is unmistakably so, that if we profess to have been immersed in Christ's name for the remission of our sins, then others expect that our life and general behaviour will conform to such a profession. If our lives are inconsistent they will conclude our confession was not real, that it is only a pretence and it will be almost impossible to convince them that what we say is the truth of Christ's Gospel.
We are to be peacemakers. If any of our brethren are addicted to contention, to fault-finding and quarrelling, the world around may say of us; what is the good of your religion, you differ in nothing from other people who make no pretensions to be religious?
I would have you always prepared to plead the Master's cause wherever you may live. If you do this discreetly and perseveringly you will find the Gospel has not lost its power to win people to Christ. We must shine forth as lights to the world by living a godly life and holding forth the Word of Life. John the Baptist came to prepare the way for the Messiah. There are those who have in our day prepared the way for people to accept the Gospel. What's needed now are those who will go and reap.
All around us there are those like helpless sheep, gone astray like a scattered flock of sheep. Sinners live in unbelief and disobedience, lost and helpless and disciples of Christ will be indeed apathetic if they do not have compassion like Christ. Our purpose is not that of Christ's if our concern is not for them. Not many are being gathered in, yet in the world's fields there are myriads of precious souls who need salvation. In view of the enormity of this work we may say with Christ "The labourers are few;" but God knows this and we are invited to pray to him to send labourers to bring in the harvest.
Revival meetings for many have been the only means of their evangelism. These preaching sessions have limited value, they raise the emotions but not the understanding. It would be more profitable to study and understand God's word. The work of the church at Alma has grown without special revivals or sensational preaching or singing. The leavening has gone on quietly yet effectively. Paul tells of a more excellent way of doing Christ's work than by miracles and prophecy - by love. The effects of love may not be as quick but if shown with integrity, will last longer and be more far-reaching. If there is no on-going leavening in the family and the community the fault lies with those who will not help with prayers and individual efforts.
There seems to be more lasting results through one's personal witness. Take for example the Samaritan woman. It was the effects of this ordinary woman's words that brought a crowd to hear Jesus. Jesus has left us the commission to make disciples of all people. There is an obligation on all of us to preach Christ. All have a measure of gifts or grace or proportion of faith, and our business is to find out what we can do.
Christ has given us a joyful hope. If you are fired with t he joy of this hope, always reproving the unfruitful works of darkness, you will without fail, awaken enquiry even in the most careless person so you will be put on your defence, and be compelled to give a reason for the hope that lies within you; or be a coward.
The reason for our hope is something unique or distinct in our lives. We are to give our answer, though, in meekness, because people must be convinced that we are friendly to them or they won't listen to us favourably or patiently. If we cherish sympathy for men, we shall feel for their ignorance and for their prejudices, and deal tenderly with them, giving them no offence if we can possibly avoid it.
We should be courteous and acquire gentleness of manner and not be always hurling censures upon them for those things in which they are in error.
I do think every Christian, who is desirous of doing good to his fellows, should devote much study to searching out acceptable words to explain our hope. There is far more depending on the truth of what we say than the force of our arguments.
Paul in Galatians 2:2 gives the impression that he was forced to meet with the respectable people separately from those who were in the crowds. The situation today is much as it was in Paul's day - the respectable people or upper classes because of social stigma will not come together like the common people out of a feeling of curiosity to hear a public speaker. It is important then that we search out opportunities to present the Gospel in a personal way to the respectable people. We must not despise the rich more than the poor as it is the will of Christ that his Gospel be preached to all people. This work is difficult, but a way can be found even if it needs to be a subtle one.
Going from house to house is a sure way of meeting these people in a private manner. To be certain, this kind of evangelism requires gifts and abilities of a superior order and would require that the preacher be pleasant and courteous and have the marks of a true gentleman.
Evangelism is not a work to be wholly delegated to those showing special gifts for it; all should preach the Gospel. Our every day life should be an epistle for Christ and anyone should be ashamed if they have not a word to offer to promote the cause of Christ.