Here is what happens in many churches to short-circuit the biblical flow of authority. We concern ourselves more with democracy than with fulfilling our Christian purpose. Even though we know the Scripture says the government shall be upon His shoulders, we insist it belongs on the shoulders of the people.
Democracy is the best governing system in the world for nations but not for the local church. If the people have the authority, and that is how democracy works, then the people have the voice and the vote to decide what the church will be and do. The majority, not necessarily God, rules.
The people typically exercise control through their representatives. By contrast, God dispensed His authority in the New Testament through His appointed and called representatives. This is the theocracy discussed in upcoming chapters.
Since they elect representatives to rule in their behalf, it is easy for church people to extend the process. They think, “We’ve got all this church work that has to be done. Let’s hire somebody.” So, they employ, or elect, a pastor to do the work. Basically, they contract with someone and pay him to fill the position, which means he works for them. Jesus used the term “hireling” as a negative contrast to Himself as the true Shepherd. Hiring and firing preachers calls to mind His expression.
In this system, the authority Christ intended to flow through His ordained offices is transferred to the people. The majority elects deacons to govern and the pastor is left doing the majority of the ministry.
This takes the limitless ministry potential of Christ’s church and bottlenecks it to one person, or to a pastoral staff. We funnel it to an individual and he has to make the hospital calls and visits to everyone who needs him to pray for them. The pastor is expected to go to each class, department, and individual member’s party. He also should drop in on the wedding and baby showers. Then he has to return all the calls and messages that come in while he runs everywhere to pray and encourage people.
The pastor must spend his day and much of his night scurrying about in his duties. He wears himself out for the church and still has to show up at every community function. He represents the church. (If we all are the “church,” it has representation everywhere, pastor or not!).
This scenario makes “the ministry” all about what the pastor does. He is worn out before Sunday comes. He feels down because he has no time to spend with the Lord in prayer and study. Oh, he has a little time by staying up late and getting up early, but he is so tired in the pulpit that even he has trouble staying awake.
Then somebody has the nerve to complain, “He just doesn’t feed me anymore.” Americans have a tragically me-focused snapshot of being a Christian when it is not about “me” at all. What would happen if we put it back into proper order? What would happen if we understood that the church never was meant to be a democracy and that the authority never was given to the people?
All authority belongs to Christ and He chooses whom He wills. It has to be His choice. In our way of doing business, we hire the pastor, he does what we want, and he has two years to prove himself. During the probation, if he preaches the way we want, sings the songs we like, lets us out when we want, and shows up and prays for us when we are in the hospital, then we may vote for him again. We just may keep him.
The truth is when the man of God is in the house, he is there because God sent him. He does not work for you. He works for God. When he speaks, it may not be what you want to hear but it is what God wants said. When he leads worship, he leads so Jesus can be glorified, not so everyone gets to sing his or her favorite.
The Old Testament prophet Isaiah promised the Kingdom of God would be governed by the Messiah, the Anointed One and Savior, God was sending. Ultimate fulfillment awaits Christ’s Second Coming, but all power in Heaven and in earth belongs to Jesus even now.²³ His Kingdom exists wherever He is enthroned and nowhere should that be true more than in His Church.