Biblical Eldership Church Leadership

The Acts of the Apostles

on a dissentient minority of its members. Cyprian [died AD. 258], in whose days these conferences first became important, and who was at the same time the most vigorous of early preachers of catholic unity—both of which circumstances would have made him a supporter of their authoritative character if such authoritative character had existed—claims in emphatic and explicit terms an absolute independence for each community. Within the limits of his own community a bishop has no superior but God. But no sooner had Christianity been recognized by the State than such conferences tended to multiply, to become not occasional but ordinary, and to pass resolutions which were regarded as binding upon the Churches within the district from which representatives had come, and the acceptance of which was regarded as a condition of other provinces. . .. It was by these gradual steps that the Christian Churches moved from their original state of independence into a great confederation.7 In the face of overwhelming historical evidence for the “original completeness and autonomy”8 of each local church, Acts 15 cannot be made to justify interchurch organizations or courts with authority over the local church. Although each local church originally was a separate and complete entity that was dependent on no higher court or person, there were varied and important links between the first Christian churches. Churches were to seek to conform to universal church prac tices as taught by the apostles (1 Cor. 7:17; 4:17; 14:33,36). Churches sacrificially shared their finances with poorer churches. Churches sent greetings and letters to one another. Teachers traveled freely among the congregations, and all believers had the responsibility to offer hos pitality to traveling Christians and preachers. Believers from all churches were to pray for one another and love one another; they were to view themselves as a worldwide brotherhood that transcended all cultural and racial boundaries. We can learn from Acts 15 important information about the elders’ responsibilities and position, however. Church elders hear and judge doctrinal issues. They help resolve conflict. They protect the church from false teachers. They bear responsibility for the doctrines taught by the members of their flock. Elders, therefore, must be men who know God’s Word. In a hostile world filled with satanic lies and false

129