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Confession of Faith: Article XXXI

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Confession of Faith: Article XXXI

8 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

— continued —

The terms

Office-bearers have a certain term to serve. Our fathers made a difference between those who minister in the Word and sacraments, who minister for life, and elders and deacons, who do not serve for life. It might be asked, “Why this difference? Is the ministerial office so much higher than that of elders and deacons, that ministers must or may serve for life?” No, that is not the intention.

Rome teaches that the office cleaves to the person, so that whenever a person is ordained to an office, he can never lose that office anymore; the office is inseparable from the person. Even if a person or priest is found out to have been abusive or guilty of serious crimes, he will not lose his office. He may lose his work in a certain area, maybe altogether, but he remains a priest. The office cleaves to the person. That is not what our fathers taught. The office does not cleave to the person, yet our fathers believed that God’s servants have to serve for life. They base this not on the connection of the office to the person, but they base it on Scripture, as they did with everything. They said that according to God’s Word the office of a minister requires all his love, all his time, all his willingness, all perseverance, separation from all other worldly callings, and the dedication of his whole life unto God; therefore he should serve for life.

Initially the fathers were not sure what to do with elders and deacons. The Synod of Middelburg in 1581 was asked to answer the question whether elders and deacons should serve for life or serve temporarily. Then Professor Danaeus of Leyden gave his advice. He stated that Scripture does not say that those officeJanuary bearers always remained in their offices, but it is silent about it. His advice therefore was that because Scripture does not state clearly that it has to be for life, change is not only permitted, but is also preferable in order to avoid ecclesiastical tyranny. In order to avoid tyranny and lording, that Synod decided to make the regulation that elders and deacons should serve for set terms, and not for life.

The terms varied; some preferred one or two years, while Voetius was very much in favor of three to five years. They also stated that whenever the circumstances and the need required it, those office-bearers might continue. This means that they may be renominated and be reelected again, although the members have the right to vote for someone other than the incumbent. Our fathers wanted to avoid the hierarchy of serving for life. Thus they made a clear difference between the office of elders and deacons and the office of minister, on the basis of the task of the ministers, a task which requires all their love, all their time, and all their dedication. For this reason the ministers should be dedicated to the Lord with all that they are, and all that they have, and all their life.

Chosen by the members

When office-bearers are chosen by the membership, they are asked whether they will accept this calling. Our fathers have stated that in the election by the congregation God shows whom He has chosen for the office. I know that a sincere person would like to have an indication from above that it is in God’s favor and not just in His providence. I also believe that the Lord may speak once — although He will not always do that. The Lord is not obliged to give a special testimony. Do not expect that any time you are reelected you will have another text or another message. That is not what our fathers believed. God speaks through the election of the office-bearer by the congregation. That has to weigh heavily upon those who have been chosen. I would rather say that they need freedom to decline instead of saying they need an indication to accept. Yet we know that many things happen in God’s providence, and not everything happens in His favor. A true child of God wishes to serve in God’s favor, and he wants to know that the Lord has placed him in that office. Our fathers stated, “No man may intrude himself by indecent means.” They meant that an office may not be bought with money or by soliciting for it. Those elected should feel in their heart that they are called by God. This is according to Hebrews 5:4, “And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.” Therefore, they said, he is “bound to wait till it shall please God to call him.”

I believe if the Lord calls to a certain office, He will Himself also open the way to fulfill His Word Himself. Then we do not have to explore all kinds of opportunities and do not have to try to help the Lord a little bit. The mark of the work of God is that man is placed outside of it, that we may feel and know that the Lord has done it Himself, and that we did not bring ourselves into the office.

All churches are equal

Another point which our fathers emphasized here is that there should be no hierarchy. This means that ministers of God’s Word “have equally the same power and authority wheresoever they are.” So a large church may not rule over a small church, or a poor church with many poor people may not be governed by a rich church, and one office-bearer may not rule over another. Not the Pope, but Christ, is the only Head of the church. We read in Colossians 1:18, “And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.”

The Head of the church

The Lutherans had what we call superintendents. They were supervisors who were placed or appointed by the government to supervise the churches and also the ministers in a certain area. But when this was proposed in the Netherlands, the Synod of Middelburg in 1581 deemed this to be both unnecessary and dangerous. They desired no superintendents in the Reformed churches in the Netherlands, for fear of the reintroduction of the Roman Catholic hierarchy. The office is the same in all. One of our fathers said, “God’s servants are equal, for they are all called by God, and they all preach the same gospel.” They are all unfit and unable of themselves, and they all have the same promise, which we read in Daniel 12:3, “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”

Christ is the only Head of the church, and He reigns:

a. Through His inspired Word;

b. Through the apostolic instructions transmitted to us, as also the ministry; “And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11);

c. Through His own spiritual presence; and that presence extends to all His members, for we read in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them.” That spiritual presence will be there till the end of the world. “And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20).

Respect for the offices

Then our fathers conclude with a warning that we should respect “this holy ordinance of God.” If respect for God and His Word disappears, then also the respect disappears for those who may bring that Word. Therefore they warn: “We say that everyone ought to esteem the ministers of God’s Word and the elders of the church very highly for their work’s sake, and be at peace with them without murmuring, strife, or contention, as much as possible.”

This instruction is based on what the Lord Himself says in Hebrews 13:17, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account.” I hope we often realize that they must give an account to God, “that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”

God’s servants, the elders, those who labor in God’s vineyard, need your prayers, that they might be made watchful, honest, and faithful. May the Lord give them the wisdom, love, and courage to continue, in spite of the many disappointments which they experience.

“If you pray them full, they will preach you full,” is a saying which the older ones may remember, and there is much truth in it. Blessed, happy congregations, which are served by ministers and elders who often sit, with Mary, at Jesus’ feet, and who, as empty vessels, come to Him to be ministered by “Christ, the universal Bishop, and the only Head of the Church,” office-bearers with broken legs, who need to be carried and cannot help themselves. But also those are blessed churches where there are needy, hungry people who need that great Office-bearer, Christ, as much as their ministers need Him.

Oh, that there might be much work for Him, by the emptying ministry of the Spirit in our hearts! Then we would also highly esteem the means of grace and those who may minister among us. Then their labors might be a blessing for us and our children.

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Bekijk de hele uitgave van donderdag 1 januari 1998

The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's

Confession of Faith: Article XXXI

Bekijk de hele uitgave van donderdag 1 januari 1998

The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's