18. Trying to Claim Apostolic Authority (Witherow's 1st Principle)
Jan 9, 2024
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Jacob Gerber, pastor of Harvest PCA Church, joins to unravel the complexities of church governance. They dive into Thomas Witherow's principle that church leaders should be chosen by the community. The hosts debate the biblical practice of casting lots for appointments versus modern selection methods. Engaging anecdotes highlight the importance of congregational input and explore the roles of apostles, bishops, and deacons. With humor and theological insight, they tackle the ongoing challenges in navigating church authority and the governance landscape.
The podcast highlights the biblical principle that church office bearers should be chosen by the congregation, reflecting the community's needs.
It emphasizes the distinction between temporary apostles and perpetual bishops and deacons, underscoring their ongoing relevance in church governance.
Deep dives
The Importance of Church Polity
The podcast emphasizes the significance of understanding church polity, particularly as outlined in Thomas Witherow's work, 'The Apostolic Church.' It discusses the necessity for Christians to choose a form of church government that aligns with biblical principles rather than contemporary practices. Witherow argues that church polity should not be seen merely as administrative details, but as foundational aspects of church life that affect the community's spiritual health. The group acknowledges the value of this study, positioning it as a means for church leaders and members to engage in meaningful discussions about governance and structure.
Temporary vs. Perpetual Church Offices
Witherow categorizes church offices into temporary and perpetual roles, distinguishing between apostles and evangelists as temporary, and bishops and deacons as perpetual offices. Apostles, as eyewitnesses of Jesus' resurrection, served a unique purpose in establishing the church's foundation, whereas evangelists were tasked with spreading the gospel and nurturing fledgling churches. The discussion highlights the lack of successors for these temporary roles, suggesting their necessity ended with the apostolic age, while the roles of bishops and deacons persist in the church today. This distinction underlines the importance of recognizing specific biblical offices and their ongoing relevance in contemporary church structures.
Selection of Office Bearers
A central principle discussed in the episode is that office bearers should be chosen by the people, drawing from various scriptural instances, particularly in the Book of Acts. The group points to examples where the early church engaged in congregational decision-making to appoint elders and deacons, emphasizing the necessity for collective input in selecting leaders. They note that this principle reflects the authority vested in the congregation by Christ, ensuring leaders are representative of the church body’s needs and desires. By grounding this principle in scripture, the podcast underscores the communal aspect of church governance as crucial to maintaining accountability and integrity.
Challenging Church Governance Structures
The discussion also touches on the challenges posed by different church governance structures, such as rotating sessions and the implications for accountability and continuity of leadership. The conversation raises questions about how these structures can align with or deviate from Witherow's principle of congregational choice in selecting officers. The hosts reflect on the implications of appointing elders without a formal nomination process, highlighting potential conflicts with established principles of polity. This dialogue encourages listeners to critically evaluate their church governance systems and ensure they adhere to biblical teachings on leadership and community involvement.
The polity bros are joined by kindred spirit Jacob Gerber to discuss Witherow’s first principle of the apostolic church: the Office-Bearers are Chosen by the People.