Government Structure in the New Testament Church - Living Church ...

Government Structure in the New Testament Church 2
out of Egypt the issue was government. When God gave Israel the law at Mount Sinai, the issue
was government. When God cursed the nations of Israel and Judah, and sold them into captivity,
the issue was government.
The true gospel message is a message about government. It is a message about salvation. Yes.
But it's more than that. It's a message about how salvation is going to be accomplished through
the government, or the Kingdom, of God. It's a message about Christ crucified. Yes. It's a
message about forgiveness of sin. Yes. But it's much more besides. The true significance of
Christ crucifixion, the true significance of God's forgiveness of sin, can be correctly understood
only within the larger context of God's rule over mankind. The context of his Kingdom, his
government.
Jesus preached the gospel of the Kingdom of God (Mt. 4:23; Mark 1:14-15). His message was
preeminently a message about government. His teachings were focused on government. His
acts were demonstrations of authority and of the power of government for good. He was
crucified because he was seen as a threat to the government that then existed in Palestine.
Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near
Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear
immediately. Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to
receive for himself a kingdom and to return. So he called ten of his servants,
delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ But his
citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this
[man] to reign over us.’” (Luke 19:11-14).
Those who reject “one man rule” may not realize it, but they are in principle rejecting Christ.
The very name Jesus Christ reflects offices of government (the full meaning of the name Jesus
Christ is Eternal Savior, King and High Priest). (See Matthew 26:62-65; John 18:33-37; 19:1-3,
7-8, 14-16; Mark 15:9-15; Matthew 27:37). Christ is a King waiting to assume complete and
active authority over the kings of the earth (Isaiah 9:2-7; Luke 1:31-33; Daniel 7:9-14, 27;
Revelation 11:15-18; 19:11-16). The saints are to rule with him, sharing some of his authority
(Luke 19:12-17; Matthew 25:31-34; Revelation 2:26-27; 20:4). If we are to administer God's
government in the world ahead should we not be now learning by experience how to live within
that government?
A basic question in a discussion of the structure of Church government in the New Testament is
as follows: Was the government administered by individuals selected to an office of authority by
God, or was the government administered through appointed or elected councils or boards
making decisions and overruling individual leaders that God had commissioned to preach the
gospel? It will be useful to consider a number of Scriptures, which taken together will reveal a
clear answer.
Luke 22:24-30. Here Jesus taught that his ministers are to have an attitude of service, not
lording it over people in an oppressive way as Gentile rulers often do. But the proper exercise
of authority is implicit in Jesus’ words. Verse 26, “...let...he [among you] who governs [Greek: