What does a local church need to function as
her Lord desires? Well that could be a
question with many answers but if we stick to our passage we do see some very
important answers. She needs …
·
Order.
Don’t associate “disorder” or “spontaneity” or “going without a plan” as
the work of the Spirit. Of course God will regularly surprise us; His
ways are mysteriously above our ways.
But in the New Testament the normal way a church operates is with order.
Consider …
o
1 Cor 14:33: God is not the author of confusion
but of peace.
o
James 3:16: confusion in a church is evidence of
envy & strife.
o
1 Cor 14:40: do all things decently & in
order.
o
Col 2:4: Paul rejoiced to see their “order”.
o
1 Cor 11:34: there was a particular order at the
Lord’s Table.
o
1 Cor 16:1: there was to be order in financial
matters.
So the fact that Paul left Titus on Crete to
set some things in order makes sense. Perhaps
there were things that had not been finished by Paul when he was there and
Titus was asked to complete what was lacking, particularly the appointment of
elders in every city as Paul directed.
Which leads to another essential for a local church. They need …
·
Leadership.
In both the Old and New Testaments godly leadership was a priority for
God’s people. The selection of judges
and teachers in Israel was only properly done when attention was paid to the
character of the individuals (e.g. Exodus 18:13-27; 2 Chron. 19:4-11). Christ gave the Church certain men as gifts
(Eph. 4:11) whom He authorized to serve in leading or shepherding the
flock. This included these elders whom Paul had authorized Titus to
select. This was the practice in local
churches from the beginning (cf. Acts 6:3; 14:23, etc.).
These men were elders (v5) because they were required to have a spiritual maturity
both in character and in the knowledge and use of God’s Word. They were also called bishop or overseer (v7)
because they were accountable to Christ in overseeing that particular church (Heb.
13:17). They were called pastor or shepherd (e.g. Eph. 4:11) because that is how they lead the church. Unlike leadership in the world, which is more
based on the ability to complete a task successfully, these men were chosen on
the basis of their proven character along with their ability to use God’s
word. Like a shepherd who walks out in
front of his flock, so these men were to be a visible picture of Christ, examples to the flock (1 Peter 5:3;
Titus 2:7; 1 Tim. 4:12).
A church needs order. A church needs godly leadership. A church needs examples of the life of
Christ. Are you participating in a local
church as Christ intended? Does that
church have what it needs? Through
prayer and obedience be a part of what Christ is doing in your local fellowship.
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