This article is correct, and the change from having a plurality of elders govern to one man leadership is easily explained.
It is simply a natural result of the spiritual declension of churches/the church.
For a plurality of men to lead together in oneness requires a miracle: Men in complete submission to God/the Holy Spirit, truly allowing the Lord Jesus to be Head of His church in a practical/functional way. Oneness among men is impossible - apart from God. Hey! Oneness between just two (marriage) is impossible apart from God!
In every matter, they would get on their faces before God to seek His will and His face, and would not move until they heard from Him together. They had to submit to one another, have an ear to hear from one another. Only men full of the Holy Spirit, wholly submitted to God can do this.
The testimony of the early church is that God was in their midst (I Corin. 14:25), because the Holy Spirit who was invisible led the gatherings - and unbelievers knew this was impossible to men. Today, the testimony of churches in never, “God is in your midst!”, but sadly, “Wasn’t that a great sermon?!?” or “What a great pastor!” A man is central and most important - not God.
That the churches declined spiritually in the first century is confirmed by Paul in scripture itself.
No human organization/institution can function without someone in charge - a man as head. Neither can any church nor any church leadership that is not practically, functionally under the headship of Christ. It will falter and fail.
The most natural thing to happen is for one man to take control - there is always someone who wants power, authority, and position who will step into any vacuum of leadership. It is also most natural for people to WANT a single leader to follow, to tell them what to do and what not to do - so they don’t have to be responsible before God themselves to hear from Him and follow Him.
So, as the spirituality of the churches declined, there were always men ready to jump into the role of “pastor” or “bishop”, and there were always people who wanted them to do so.
One man as the single leader of a local church is only a testimony to the fallen/unspiritual state of God’s people, is NOT God’s design - but is the universal pattern because only spiritual men can work together in oneness under Christ’s headship.
As a result, believers end up following men more than knowing how to walk with God, hear from Him, and men are given power, position and authority (”PP&A”) that God never meant any man to have.
Another result is that this unnatural power, position and authority goes to mens heads, they become proud.......and fall. And the higher they are in PP&A, the bigger they fall.
A third result is that often hundreds, if not thousands, are led astray by men’s false teachings - e.g., Jim Jones.
Often when there is a true spiritual recovery, churches find their way back to coming under Christ’s headship and a plurality of leaders - such as the Brethren did in England in the 1800’s - but here again - it never lasts long.
Spiritual declension always comes with time.
Always.
Love your tagline.....
Ping to those interested.
Thanks for you post. It has always been so. The Israelites wanted a king. Even a plurality of leaders can fall under the overpowering force of one man who claims ‘God’s will’. But elder led congregations are in line with NT.
Excellent reply.
There can only be one Head of the Body - Jesus. Whether its a husband and wife, or a group of Believers, always seek God’s Will individually, and collectively. There is no priesthood or religious monarchy in the Body of Christ. God has provided something far better - His Word and the Holy Spirit. Believers, children of God, are led by the Spirit of God, not the flesh. (see Romans 8) Believers are complete IN CHRIST, and seek those things which are above where Christ sits. (see Colossians 2 & 3) In comparison to what we have IN CHRIST, religion looks silly.
When the religious place people in charge apart from God’s will, things go catawampus. Let the Head do the calling and placement in the Body, then Believers will not be tossed to and fro like children by the reasoning of men and their religious traditions.
Ephesians 4:11-16 (KJV) - (see also 1 Corinthians 12)
11 And he [Jesus] gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
**This article is correct**
According to the authors at ...... Fodder!
Brilliant post. Fascinating that God allows decline, when so many preachers are always “Success! Success! Success!” As you noted, Paul testified to declension in his time. Really, the letters all testify to it. It is reality, though vexing.
Thanks for solid truth to mull over!
Thank you both for bringing this consideration to the fore. Brethren assemblies are still meeting across the globe. It is still the New Testament way for the local Body to yield itself to its Head, Jesus, Lord and Messiah. (Rom. 12:1, 1 Cor. 11:26)