************ Sermon on Belgic Confession Article 31 ************
Doctrine: Church Office
By: Rev. Adrian Dieleman
This sermon was preached on July 4, 1999
B.C. 31
Acts 6:1-7
"Those in Church Office"
Introduction
Topic: Church
Subtopic: Growth of
Index: 733
Date: 6/1991.2
Title:
Don Bennett is a Seattle businessman who decided he wanted to climb Washington's Mount Ranier. It's a stiff climb to the peak of the 14,410-foot summit, but so many individuals have made the climb that it no longer merits getting your name in the newspaper.
For Don Bennett, however, the climb was a remarkable achievement, and papers nationwide carried the news because he is the first amputee ever to reach Mount Ranier's summit.
Afterwards, Bennett was asked to share the most important lesson he learned from his celebrated achievement. Speaking of the team of individuals who helped him attain his dream, Bennett said, "You can't do it alone."
The same can be said about the church. Within the church no one can do it alone. No pastor can afford to be a Lone Ranger type. Rather, there needs to be a host of leaders who team with the pastor to do the work of the Lord.
This evening we continue our study of the church. Last time, if you remember, we said that those in church office are to be chosen "according to the rule that Paul gave to Timothy" (Art 30). This time we want to take another look at those who are leaders in the church.
I Election to Church Office
A In speaking about those who are in church office, the Confession of Faith says,
We believe that
ministers of the Word of God, elders, and deacons
ought to be chosen to their offices
by a legitimate election of the church.
Why does it say this? What is the reason? What is the background? The Confession is reacting against two kinds of abuse that existed at the time it was written.
First, at the time the Confession was written there was widespread abuse of offices in the Roman Catholic Church. Instead of being elected to office or even appointed to office, the offices of the church were up for sale to the highest bidder. Since only the oldest son of a noble family could inherit the title, the name, and the estate, many noble families bought church offices for their other sons. And, in numerous cases the same person held two or three different offices at the same time. These sons would then use the authority and prestige of their office and the offerings of the members to gain wealth for themselves. As for the congregations, they had no say in who held office in their local church. All they could do was endure those who purchased the offices.
Second, the Confession is also reacting to the practice of some extreme Anabaptists. At the time the Confession was written, the position of these extreme Anabaptists was that anyone who felt called to preach go could and do so. So self-appointed preachers would wander from town to town, village to village. They invaded Christian congregations, sowed seeds of dissension, and then went wandering on their way to some other community. We need not question the sincerity of these self-styled preachers. Their work, however, did not come under the authority or supervision of any body of believers. And, as with the Roman Catholics, they too were not elected or even appointed to their office. They were but self-starters blindly followed by the unsuspecting believers they gathered around them.
B In the medieval Roman Catholic Church and among extreme Anabaptists at the time the Confession was written, men forced themselves or were forced upon the churches apart from any input or say on the part of the congregation. In contrast to this, Article 31 says ministers, elders, and deacons "ought to be chosen to their offices by a legitimate election of the church." No one may force himself and his teachings upon Christ's church. Nor may any individual (regardless of how rich or important he or she may be) or government or hierarchy claim for itself the right to choose those who are in church office.
According to the Confession, then, those in church office are to be chosen or elected by the church. We see this in our Scripture reading from Acts 6. It was the congregation of believers, and not the apostles, who chose the seven deacons.
Does this mean that those in church office serve at the discretion of the congregation? If they elect can they also unelect? Not at all! The Confession says,
We believe that
ministers of the Word of God, elders, and deacons
ought to be chosen to their offices
by a legitimate election of the church,
with prayer in the name of the Lord ...
Election is done with prayer. Election is done with prayer because what the congregation does is confirm the call which comes from Christ Himself. In the London, England church served by the Reformer, John à Lasco, a day of prayer and fasting was proclaimed as a fitting preparation for electing those in church office.
C When a Church Council announces the names of those who are nominated for church office, there is often much kidding about campaign speeches and managers. We only kid about that because it is improper for anyone to "run" for church office.
When I was little we used to play church. We'd get the chairs into rows, fight over who'd be preacher, vigorously lead the hymn singing, and generally have a great time.
The aggressive kids naturally wanted to be up front, directing or preaching or taking up the offering or sitting in the elders' bench. The quieter ones were content to sit-back and listen.
Children can be this way in deciding who is in "church office" but the Confession of Faith warns us against local power plays, election campaigns, or favoritism. Says the Belgic Confession,
So everyone must be careful
not to push himself forward improperly,
but he must wait for God's call,
so that he may be assured of his calling
and be certain that he is
chosen by the Lord.
"Hold it!" someone may say, "What about the words of Paul to Timothy or the words of Peter to the church of the dispersion?"
(1 Tim 3:1) Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.
(1 Pet 5:2) Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;
How can someone be praised for wanting to serve in church office and yet is told not to "run" for that office? Isn't there a contradiction here? And what about those many men who want to serve, who are qualified to serve, yet are never nominated or elected to serve? Are these men wrong in wanting to serve? Or is the consistory or congregation in error in not nominating or electing them?
It is helpful to distinguish here between an internal and external call. The internal call is that prompting from the Spirit giving certain men a desire to serve in church office; they seek office not from pride or the desire for prestige and power but rather for the honor of God and the advancement of His cause. The external call is that guidance from the Spirit, after prayer, that leads a church to elect certain men to office; these church elections, being conducted in the fear of the Lord, make known those whom God Himself has called to office and confirm the validity of the internal call.
Consider me as pastor for a moment. To enter the ministry I had to have two calls. First, an inner prompting of the Spirit making me want to serve as pastor. Second, an outer call from a church confirming that the inner call is indeed from the Lord.
Those in church office need an inner call and an outer call. If you have either one without the other, you are not being called to church office by the Lord.
Topic: Ministers
Subtopic: Calling
Index: 2083-2099
Date: 4/1992.101
Title: Did God send you here?
A young minister was being interviewed by a church board for the position of pastor. One old hard-working Irishman who was on the board looked at the young man sternly and asked, "Young man, did God send you here?"
He replied, "Probably."
The board member replied, "Young man, did God send you here?"
The young minister was somewhat at a loss for words and came back again, "I hope so ..."
The board member interrupted again and said, "Young man, did God send you here?"
Finally he screwed up his courage and said, "I don't know. I want to be a pastor. But I won't know for sure until you call me."
The old member leaned back in his seat and said, "That's good. The last four said that God sent them, and we have had nothing but trouble with all four of them!"
This story illustrates that those who want to serve in church office need both an inner and an outer call.
II The Equality of the Clergy
A In its next point the Confession wants to make clear that all pastors are equal. Let me start off with a humorous illustration.
Topic: Ministers
Subtopic: Rank in the clergy
Index: 2083-2099
Date: 4/1992.101
Title:
It was summer and the pastor was on vacation. On this particular day the associate pastor also happened to be away. The youth pastor was the only pastor on duty. A phone call came into the office from a nonmember asking to speak to the pastor. The secretary informed the lady that the pastor was not available. She then asked for the associate pastor. The secretary explained that he wasn't there either, and trying to be helpful, she asked, "Would the youth pastor do?" The caller paused very briefly and replied, "No, I don't want to go that low," and hung up.
However, as the Belgic Confession takes pains to point out, there is no ranking among the clergy. They are equal to each other. None are before or after, above or below, another.
As for the ministers of the Word,
they all have the same power and authority,
no matter where they may be,
since they are all servants of Jesus Christ,
the only universal bishop,
and the only head of the church.
To this we can add that there is no ranking among any office-bearers either. Ministers are not higher than elders or deacons. All the offices are equal in dignity and honor; they differ only in mandate and task.
There are several benefits to this kind of arrangement. First, this keeps the church from being a minister-run church. Second, it means that young and old alike have equal say. I have noticed over the years that the young are men of action; they want to do or react or respond right away. The older officer-bearers, on the other hand, want to think and reflect and contemplate. This creates a healthy balance.
B The equality of the offices is a reaction to the Church of Rome. As you all know, the Church of Rome has a hierarchy of priests, bishops, archbishops, cardinals, and – at the top – the pope. The Confession cannot accept this hierarchy or ranking of the clergy. There are two reasons for this: a theological and a practical.
From a theological point-of-view, the Confession knows that Christ alone is the head of the church (Eph 1:22; 4:15; 5:23; Col 1:18; 2:10; etc.). The primacy of the pope is but an attack on the kingship of Christ over His church. The pope takes power and authority to himself that belongs to Christ alone.
From a practical point-of-view, the Reformers saw many instances of abuse on account of the hierarchy in Rome. Because the pope, the cardinals, and the bishops were the head of the church they did not have to answer to nor were they held in check by the office bearers of local congregations. The result: such unbiblical doctrine as the immaculate conception and bodily assumption of Mary, outrageous assessments or church taxes, and immoral lifestyles of sex, drunkenness and adultery.
III The Responsibilities of the Members
A In its final paragraph the Confession talks about the responsibilities of church members as it pertains to those in church office. Members are to esteem those in church office and to cooperate or be at peace with them.
For some reason known only to himself, Guido de Brès neglects the office of deacon. He mentions ministers of the Word and elders of the church. We know that esteem and peaceful cooperation is to be extended to all those in church office. We have three proof texts to support this:
(1Th 5:12-13) Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. (13) Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.
(1Tim 5:17) The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
(Heb 13:17) Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
B Why? Why are we to esteem and cooperate with all those in church office? Not because they stand higher in God's sight than other believers – for they don't! Not because they are holier, more valuable, or more gifted than other believers – for they aren't! And ministers are not to be respected because they are in "fulltime Christian service" while every other member is in part-time service. Nor are ministers to be respected because they are in a "higher calling"; for all of us have a high calling from God to serve Him in all of life.
We are to esteem and cooperate with all those in church office "because of the work they do." That work is to be prized. That work advances the Gospel, strengthens the church, and expands the kingdom.
Conlcusion
In conclusion, let me remind you of what Article 30 says about the purpose of elders, deacons, and pastors:
By this means
true religion is preserved;
true doctrine is able to take its course;
and evil men are corrected spiritually and held in check,
so that also the poor
and all the afflicted
may be helped and comforted
according to their need.