Biblical Eldership Church Leadership

Bible-Based Leadership Structure

Still other scholars draw from the Old Testament and teach that churches should follow what is called the “Moses Model.” It is not uncommon to hear them say, “Wasn’t Moses the sole leader of Is rael and the elders his assistants?” “Isn’t the local pastor like Moses, and aren’t the elders his assistants?” Yet the pastor of the local church certainly doesn’t represent Moses. If anyone today is Moses, it is the Lord Jesus Christ. He leads us in all that we do and is always present with us (Matt. 18:20; 28220). Christ is our Moses, our great Deliverer! We must remember that Moses was a unique, one-time deliverer for the nation of Israel. He was not a permanent institution. He is an ex ample to all godly leaders, yet it is hard even to describe his position and role (Deut. 34:10-12; Num. 1226-8; Ex. 33:11). After the people of Israel settled in their cities, they were no longer to be led by Moses or his successor Joshua. They were to be led primarily by their local elders and the priestly family, with God as their King and Shepherd. Unfortunately, Israel never appreciated this blessed truth (1 Sam. 8). To argue for pastoral oversight by a plurality of qualified elders is not to deny that God raises up extraordinarily gifted men to teach and lead His people. Certainly there are great evangelists, missionaries, teachers, preachers, and church planters whom God raises up to plant churches, recover truth, write, and correct His people. But this is a different matter from the governmental or organizational structure of the church. The organizational and pastoral oversight of the local church is to be in the hands of a plurality of qualified, pastor elders, not one person. The multi-gifted servants of God described above may or may not be local elders; in many cases they are not. Local elders need to call upon these gifted men for help in evangelism, teaching, and set ting the vision for the church.

INSTRUCTION ABOUT ELDERS GIVEN TO THE CHURCHES

Not only does the New Testament provide examples of elder-led churches, it includes explicit instructions to churches about how to care for, protect, discipline, select, restore, obey, and call the elders. The apostles intended these instructions to be obeyed, and they should be regarded as normative teaching for all churches at all times.

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