This article is the thirty-first installment in our series "Christian, What Do You Believe: The Belgic Confession of Faith." Find the whole series here.
The topic of church government might seem uninteresting and irrelevant. Leadership scandals, bureaucracy, and overreach can make us wary of church oversight. But leadership is important to God. Throughout Scripture, he establishes structures of spiritual authority for his people, urges proper submission, and promises rewards for those who respect his plan (e.g. Heb. 13:17). And leadership is inescapable. Even the loosest organizations practice some form of government. So churches should insist that their government harmonizes with Scripture’s mandate.
More personally, we should examine our hearts to see if we are embracing God’s vision for church leadership. How we interact with God’s government reveals how we submit to God (Rom. 13:1). God’s purpose in establishing leadership in the church is good.
The Purpose of Church Leadership
The overarching purpose of church leadership is the implementation of God’s “spiritual order” (BC 30). “God is not the author of confusion but of peace” (1 Cor. 14:33). Therefore, the church must see that everything is done “decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14:40). How can church government execute God’s insistence on spiritual order?
Church Government Should Preserve True Religion
In the sixteenth century, many people reacted to the established church’s authoritarianism by embracing anarchy. But the opposite of law is lawlessness, not freedom. Without godly spiritual leadership, people more easily do what is right in their own eyes (cf. Judges 17:6). Church leaders are stewards of an organization governed by a clear charter to preserve and deliver to the next generation the sound words of the faith (1 Cor. 4:1–2, 15:3; 2 Tim. 1:13).
Church Government Should Propagate the Faith
By the means of God’s “spiritual order … true doctrine is able to take its course.” So “There should be ministers or pastors to preach the Word of God and administer the sacraments.” As the old hymn puts it, “We’ve a story to tell to the nations, that shall turn their hearts to the right, a story of truth and mercy, a story of peace and light.” The elders of the church stand in the place of the apostles to lead the church in obedience to Jesus’ Great Commission (Matt. 28:19–20).
Church Government Should Protect the Vulnerable
Church leaders must ensure that “evil men are corrected spiritually and held in check so that also the poor and all the afflicted may be helped and comforted according to their need.” As a loving father protects his children from bullies and tenderly ministers to his children’s needs, so elders practice church discipline and deacons provide for the poor.
The Nature of Church Leadership
These are desirable goals. But what kind of leadership can accomplish them? The church must “be governed according to the spiritual order that our Lord has taught us in his Word.” In other words, church policy must be spiritual and scriptural.
Church Leadership Must Be Spiritual
Worldly leaders lead according to the flesh. They seek personal advancement and use ungodly means to achieve desired ends. They rule, “lord it over,” and “exercise authority” as tyrants, not shepherds (Mark 10: 42). But the “gentle and lowly” Jesus requires his disciples to follow his example of servant leadership (Matt. 11:29; Mark 10:42–45). True spiritual leaders recognize their inadequacy and rely on Christ’s Spirit, praying for his help. They know that they cannot promote spiritual growth in the church without practicing genuine spirituality, demonstrating “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness” and “self-control” (Gal. 5:22–23). As in the home, government in the church must be saturated with grace. To this kind of leadership, godly people can happily submit.
Church Government Must Be Scriptural
The precise form of church government advocated by Scripture is a point of disagreement among Christians. But Scripture clearly calls elders to oversee the spiritual health of the church and deacons to minister to her material needs (Titus 1:5; Phil. 1:1). And while all elders rule, some, called ministers or pastors also “labor in preaching and teaching” (1 Tim. 5:17), and administer the gospel signs and seals of the sacraments. The New Testament envisions a council of pastors, deacons, and elders echoing Christ’s threefold office of prophet, priest, and king. The church is governed neither by democracy nor by an autocratic hierarchy but by Christ administering through his local officers.
The Qualifications for Church Leadership
We might wonder, “Who is sufficient for these things?” (2 Cor. 2:16). In his word, God has provided the church with a “spiritual order” for the church. But for this policy to be a true blessing, the positions must be filled by worthy men. The apostle Paul provides a rule for the selection of church officers which we ignore to our peril (1 Tim. 3:1–13).
The lead requirement for both elders and deacons indicates a generally godly character. “An overseer must be above reproach … Deacons likewise must be dignified,” or venerated for their character (1 Tim. 3:2, 8). Leaders in God’s house are imperfect; they know their “sufficiency is from God” (2 Cor. 3:5). But they also have a proven record of godliness in the family and the world. The specific traits of church officers can be summed up by Jesus’ basic call to discipleship: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matt. 16:24). God’s people need to see cross-bearing in action. We need to witness the good news of Jesus leading believers “to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age” (Titus 2:12). God’s children trust that qualified leaders will help them follow Jesus and protect them from harm, even at personal loss. Church officers reflect the character of Christ and set for the congregation an example of well-rounded godliness (1 Cor. 11:1). And they are glad to do it; they desire this “noble task” (1 Tim. 3:1). They serve “not under compulsion, but willingly… not for shameful gain, but eagerly” (1 Pet. 5:2).
What can you do to help promote this biblical vision of government? Pray that your leaders would have the courage and compassion to lead the congregation like the Good Shepherd leads. Encourage them in their task; do not be that person who wears down God’s leaders through constant criticism. Test yourself with the qualifications for office, striving for this high standard—even if you might never be an officer—and praying for growth in all areas. And thank the Lord that he is a God of order and not of chaos. God gave us his Son to rescue us from Satan’s tyrannical grasp. Jesus has led the way to glory, and he has given us under-shepherds to help bring us all the way home.
