One of the things we all agreed upon was that the biblical model is for churches to have a multiplicity of elders/overseers/pastors. Although many of us had grown up in situations where the church had either one pastor or a "senior pastor," we decided early on that we would move away from that tradition toward the biblical model. We ended up having four elders. None of us were paid; at that time this was not so much a decision based on biblical convictions as it was from pragmatics. We just weren't that big of a church and could not support a pastoral salary even if we had wanted to.
After the church began, we naturally started telling people about it. We were excited about this new opportunity. We really enjoyed being together and encouraging one another.
As we told different people about the church, we kept running into a similar question. In fact, it was almost always the first question people asked. On the seminary campus, it was always the first question asked. The questions was, "Who is your pastor?"
The question assumed something important: one man would be in a position of authority (either the sole pastor or the senior pastor). We would explain that we wanted to follow the biblical model by having a multiplicity of pastors/elders, but no senior pastor. Interestingly (and sadly), most of the people responded to this with reactions of skepticism, disbelief, distrust, or a total lack of understanding.
As I think back on that situation, I've come to a conclusion. As humans, we have a tendency to want to follow a man.
As Christians, we are followers of Jesus Christ. The problem, however, occurs when we slip into following (to one degree or another) a man who happens to be the pastor.
Please hear what I'm not saying: I'm not saying that everyone who is part of a church with one pastor or a senior pastor is a follower of that man. What I am saying is that we all, regardless of our church situation, need to be careful that we don't follow anyone other than Jesus Christ. Now, we certainly should look to the advice and direction of those Christians who are more mature than we are. We should be careful, however, about focusing too much on any one person.
As I look back on my life, I've been scarily close to following men. About a decade ago I was part of a church where the pastor was a wonderful man. The problem was that I started to look too much to him. I placed him on a pedestal of sorts. I'm sure he did not want this, but I did it nonetheless.
I've also liked several authors a bit too much. I admit (sheepishly) that there was a time when I listened to practically every word spoken by John Piper. I've read about 30 of his books. The danger is if I take my eyes off Christ for any reason and place them on any other person - including Piper.
As the only pastor of a small church, I try to fight against people placing me on a pedestal. I desperately don't want any followers. I want to point them to Christ. The problem is that some people look to me as if I'm the greatest thing since sliced bread. My goal is to get out of the way so they can see Jesus more clearly.
I'm convinced that one of the primary reasons for the biblical model of multiple elders/pastors is to keep Christians from following any one man. In the church plant I was a part of, we took turns preaching/teaching. We studied through books of the bible, which kept continuity. We each preached for a few weeks, then it would be the next person's turn. This worked well in keeping peoples' eyes from focusing too much on any one of us.
This model also makes the most sense in light of I Peter 5:1-4. In this passage, we see clearly that Jesus is the only chief shepherd (senior pastor).
Please let me encourage you to avoid the trap of following any one man. We seem to have a tendency to do this when we are a part of a church that has one pastor as the main man. He may be a wonderful person, full of wisdom and insight. He may also be gracious, encouraging, kind, and selfless. He may be a servant in the biblical sense. It is because of all these positive traits that we have a tendency to follow him.
Let us instead, regardless of our church situation, follow the one true man: Jesus Christ.
8 comments:
Eric,
I agree with your assessment of the biblical model, but I struggle with the "share the preaching through a book" practice. I find that as I teach a book I need to spend the time on each section so as to maintain the context of teh book as a whole. I "lose myself" in the book in a way I could not if I was doing it "tag-team".
At our church I am the only pastor (and am full-time) but I am one of three (soon to be four) elders (rest unpaid) who have equal authority. I have primary preaching duty, but when one of the others jumps in they teach something as a "one-off" so I can then resume the book I am teaching the following week.
I think it works well. We have the biblical model of a plurality of leadership, but the teaching remains more consistent.
Interesting post. Thanks!
Pastor P,
I'm glad to see that you a multiplicity of elders with equal authority. It really does help with the problem of looking to one man.
As for the preaching through a book, couldn't you still study the sections that others are preaching (if all in the same book)? That would keep you prepared to preach again.
It's really not the same. I feel that I nest down in the book so to speak. Another factor is that you cannot develop themes and what have you in quite the same way especially if you feel that something was omitted or wrong the previous week.
Also, our church is quite a broad group. We don't divide over issues of eschatology or gifts of the Spirit. We have two dispensational and two amilennial elders! So we couldn't "tag team" Revelation, for sure!
The other issue is time. I am the only full-time elder, so it is my job to prepare these messages. The others have to fit their occasional messages around full-time jobs. That also means they have little time to read around in addition to their preparation work - that means that what they preach on a passage will never be exactly what I wanted to say. That can be a real pain when you are trying to develop themes and put together a series as a united whole.
When I do not teach the other main teacher has a series he returns to - it is a bit spread out, but it is his series, which he is constructing. I think that works better.
If we ever had another full-time teaching elder I would always urge them to teach their own series at a different service. I find "tag-team" preaching inferior in so many ways and really don't like being part of it.
Pastor P,
I suppose the main thing is that you have multiple pastor/elders with equal authority. Also, you are all preaching. These are good things (and not the norm).
Pastor P,
You said, "Also, our church is quite a broad group. We don't divide over issues of eschatology or gifts of the Spirit. We have two dispensational and two amilennial elders! So we couldn't "tag team" Revelation, for sure!"
The fact that you have a broad group is an even better reason to "tag-team" teach. Why not let the dispensational or amilennial teach?
I'd love to hear why you find "tag-team" preaching inferior.
-Alan
Alan,
We do let elders of different theologies preach. And I would be happy to do a series on Eschatology where we present our different views and reasons. But it seems pointless to tag-team teach Revelation; there would be no consistency for the congregation to follow.
This is my main problem with tag-team - a lack of consistency. If another elder wants to teach the same book a different way, that's fine. But when I bury myself in the teaching of a book for a year or more, I want to do it myself without the frustration of others taking a week out and doing it differently. I want to develop themes, refer back, plan ahead. So much is lost if it is shared out.
Pastor P,
Sounds like alot of personal preference in your reasoning.
Have you considered whether or not it would be better for others (both others teaching and those learning) to hear from different teachers instead of the same person every week?
-Alan
Alan,
Yes, of course. The consistency and development of themes is not for my benefit.
Have you considerd that one person may be better able (whether that is due to style, background, time or whatever else) to do a better job than bringing in several less able preachers?
That perhaps a congregation is better served with a single, primary teacher so that as they become more accustomed to him over time they can glean deeper riches with his familiarity. That a congregation might benefit from seeing one person's thoughts drawn out after he has been burying himself deeper in the text than they could have the time or ability to do?
I definitely think that, unless the preachers are all of similar standard and have similar time available to him, the congregation benefits from a single, primary teacher. And even if those caveats are met, it may still be better for the congregation for those preachers to teach different series at different times (morning and evening, for example).
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