Are State Presbyters Biblical ?

Scott Hutchinson · #1 11-12-2012, 06:29 AM

Is it Biblical for organizations to have state presbyters ?
Wasn't a presbyter in the Bible a elder who a part of a plurality of elders in a local church ?

DaveC519 · #2 11-12-2012, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

Is it Biblical for organizations to have state presbyters ?

Personally, I've never been able to find that in Scripture.

Quote:

Wasn't a presbyter in the Bible a elder who a part of a plurality of elders in a local church ?

Yep.

CC1 · #3 11-12-2012, 08:38 PM

I think arguing about church government is pointless. I would like to think that God realized things would change a lot through the ages and give Christians flexibility in how to organize the church the best way for their time in history

strait shooter · #4 11-13-2012, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CC1

I think arguing about church government is pointless. I would like to think that God realized things would change a lot through the ages and give Christians flexibility in how to organize the church the best way for their time in history

I think you are probably very right.

Aquila · #5 11-13-2012, 01:09 PM

Before I can ask if it is biblical for organizations to have state presbyters, I have to ask if organizations are biblical to begin with.

I've also noticed something... the qualifications of an elder were rooted in his ability to be a good husband and/or father. The terms, "elder", "brother", "brethren", "sister", "sisters", "sons", "like a father", etc. all have family connotations. I'd argue that church structure isn't supposed to be "corporate"... but rather like a family... a spiritual family. Elders are spiritual mentors, spiritual older brothers, and spiritual fathers. The church should function like... a family. Each church community like a separate family.

With that said, I have to ask... do we have state level brothers or fathers??? Of course not. lol

We need to move beyond seeing the church as though it is an organization (like a non-profit corporation) and start seeing the church as an "organism", like the family.

HRea · #6 11-13-2012, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

Is it Biblical for organizations to have state presbyters ?
Wasn't a presbyter in the Bible a elder who a part of a plurality of elders in a local church ?

Yes, it is. Paul began this method of regional supervision by leaving Titus on the Isle of Crete to oversee the work, city by city.

Titus 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

Norman · #7 11-13-2012, 09:00 PM

I agree with CC1. The Bible does not specifically say that each church should have a few presbyters.

Dante · #8 11-13-2012, 10:26 PM

Organizations like the UPCI, ALJC, et al, are merely corporations, and not real church. Their sole purpose in existing is to funnel money to missions and other attempts at building organizational membership.

The Lemon · #9 11-14-2012, 06:23 AM

Once again Aquila hits a home run! It is and has ALWAYS been about family...after all God is our Father, we are the bride of Christ..etc. The problem, as I see it after some 20 years in OP church is that the local church in many cases (not all, of course) is nothing like a "family". It is more like a social club, where we see each other only when there is "service".

I remember in my old assembly we used to hand out tracks to the community, the tract said "Hope for the Home"....the issue with that is it was more like bait and switch. The leadership always had something going on...to the point where if you were not at work (secular employment), then you most definately were at the church doing something. Piont is, there was no hope for the home within the church but we loved going out in the community saying we offered it to their home.

I believe that life with Christ would be much more vibrant and personal if we would abandon our traditional "meeting places", and actually got out into the community, ministered to people where they are, teaching, loving, and helping, rather then protecting our sacred 10:00 a.m., and 6:00 p.m. must have Sunday services...my opinion.

The system tends to be circular in nature...one revival after another, this service, that service, on and on...