Chapter 2 - Elders.
Seeing elders established in every place.
Titus 1: 5
The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.
Recently, I had something in my heart to share with our eldership team here in Swansea Valley. It was a statement that was unusual. “The Land is crying out for elders!’ It certainly shocked me, not knowing at the time what the Spirit was truly saying. Normally, we emphasise prayer, worship and truth as vital to our nation being restored to God, but I felt the cry for elders was also paramount as a key to restoration in the Church, and here is why.
In the above verses Paul gives three insights. One about the need of elders, another about the quantity of elders, and then another about the quality of elders.
Firstly, the need of elders. Elders are spiritually appointed for the Church to be strong in its locale.
“Put in order” or “set in order” is a medical term meaning to “make straight”. Biblical and spiritual eldership makes something right when it is out of kilter. Its presence straightens the spine of the spiritual scoliosis of the Body so it can once again be strong to perform its God-given task.
Secondly, the quantity of elders. Elders in plurality bring God’s government to our regions. “Appoint elders in every town or city”.
Note: not just one or two places! This is interesting because in ancient Crete there were 147 cities, including possibly 20 main ones. It was known as the Island of a ‘100 cities’. In today’s modern thinking we think that a large church with leaders caring for an entire region is the answer, but God doesn’t think that way. Today we would have certainly made one mega church in Crete, and by projection or some link shown the main pastor’s message to all its smaller places via satellite; but not so with Paul. Crete is only 160 miles long (east to west) and between 7.5 to 37 miles (narrowest to widest) north to south. Therefore it is evident that the ‘cities’ were sometimes more like towns or even large villages.
Mark 1: 38 captures the heart of Christ in this regard when He says:
"Jesus replied, 'Let us go somewhere else--to the nearby villages--so I can preach there also. That is why I have come’… (or ‘sent’ in Luke)
Jesus’ mission was not to gather the masses to one central point. His mission was to fill each locale, no matter how big or small with the grace and authority of His Kingdom, and thus build His spiritual family, the Church. He did this through permeating each place with ambassadors of His authority and then finding a place of peace from which to work with. Likewise for Crete, there were to be elders in every place that there were people — even the smaller places. And the task was that the whole island was covered by churches with elders!
In our generation we have to come to a startling realisation that small is often the new big. Not small minded, nor small vision, but many small units with elders in every place. Behind every Divine strategy is a ‘why’. God needs His authority in every place in order to establish that which has been won. This will also ensure that the spiritual legacy is not only maintained for the future but grow in new ways going forward for another generation. True spiritual elders with a right meek spirit are jealous for this to come about. The flock must go on into new pastures. Five-fold shepherds together make known the counsel and direction of the Lord, and in wisdom bring the Body into God’s purpose. Only a plurality of elders can reveal the full mind of Christ. There is something about a plurality of elders that brings a rounded vision, teaching and pastoral care for the people and does so without dependency upon one person. People feel safely led when they see a team of fathers.
Ephesians 4:11 makes it clear that a five-fold eldership matures the Body for service and brings it to unity. How? By ordaining such elders in every place, and not just one pastor but a team of shepherds.
Thirdly, the quality of elders. A City eldership of spiritual and humble fathers must be established in every place.
To see quality regional elders — we need fathers. This is not a chauvinistic statement, nor does it negate women in ministry. We have women in ministry in our home churches. Women have to be on the front line of leadership and ministry with men - it is God’s desire. However, fathers in scripture are vital to the family (home and church). The lack of fathers is why the spiritual family unit is hurting and divided.
In the natural, fathers protect the family, provide for the family and they lead the family into promise. In like manner, a restoration of spiritual fathers will protect the flock of a region, provide for that flock, and also lead that flock into the promises of God. As we do so, the true mothers in the land will also be restored in Godly leadership.
To be a father one does not have to be of older age, but one has to be mature in God. It is said of Titus that he was:
- A “true son in our common faith” (Titus 1:4). He carried the apostolic DNA like Paul for the people.
- A genuine brother to the apostle Paul (2 Cor 2:13). He was seen as a family relation.
- A “Partner and fellow worker” with Paul (2 Cor 8:23). He was seen as a peer not just a child or apprentice, but a co-apostle.
- He walked in the same spirit as Paul and lived the same manner of life (2 Cor 12:18). Together, they behaved meekly with God’s people, whilst carrying authority.
- A pattern for other believers (Titus 2:7). He was a proven example to the Church.
Similarly, Paul instructs in 2 Tim 2: 2: “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”
The kind of elders God is looking for are the ones with the hearts of shepherds and sons, secure in the Fatherhood of God and His call on their lives and reflecting the image of the Great Shepherd, Jesus. They will become the best fathers to a region and a nation. As Paul was, so was Titus and Timothy, and so were those they raised. When the enemy comes to the sheep they will not flee as the hireling, but they will remain and fight the wolves in the Spirit of Jesus the Great Shepherd. True fathering begets true elders who father well and care for the city church.
We need to restore the act of ordaining elders. Without publicly setting-in and commissioning elders before God’s people, (including the laying on of hands from fellow elders), we run the risk of placing people into authority without the accountability of Scripture. With a serious responsibility comes a charge to a lifestyle. Both the congregation of God’s people and other leaders must hold elders to this standard, in as much as the incoming elder is charged to hold the Body to account. Without this act of ‘setting in’ or ordaining, we will not breed maturity in eldership, but irresponsibility. We need mature elders.
We need regional or city elderships established in the highest purpose. Many have spoken of a vision for a city eldership, but not many have seen it fleshed out. Many who have wondered about the idea have become nervous about their other affiliations or allegiances. Yet I believe that in a spirit of humility none of those things need be affected, unless they are a god to us! A city -eldership will mean we no longer see with systemised eyes from our church backgrounds, but rather with the Kingdom eyes of Jesus for a city. A city - eldership whilst embracing true unity among elders does not compromise the truth or purpose, rather it builds on the revelation of what God is restoring. Whilst it is not about uniformity of everyone involved, it is conformed to a revelation of purpose given by the Lord.
We must restore the old warhorses. Part of the process of seeing a regional eldership not only involves ordaining new elders, as crucial that is, but also restoring wounded, fallen or forgotten ones. Many generals and soldiers of the Cross have been wounded in battle. Many have been direct targets of the enemy. Some have just felt forgotten. There are some with heavy hearts, who need restoration. There are some carrying offences that need to release forgiveness to others in order for them to be released back into ministry effectiveness. They all need someone to go and get them out of the harmful place they find themselves, if they are willing. A key to city eldership is the restoration of the old warhorses, healing them and putting them back on the front lines to serve alongside the new generation of leaders.
Conclusion.
God-given elders in every village, town and city must be our goal for Wales, the UK, and nations, even if it means losing regular large gatherings under our umbrella or brand name. The Church is not called to be a franchise in its region, but rather a geographic spiritual body of people under Christ. Multiplication must be the goal not just addition. Such a strategy will bring a plurality of ministry and safety to the regions of our land rather than a one size fits all super-ministry; it will bring a straightening out of the things which are wayward in each place, and it will bring a rediscovery of the apostolic purpose for the Church in a given region.
For the larger scale aspect of the work, we need to see the establishing of city or regional elderships in every place, each carrying the apostolic heart for its place not just an organisation. It will require real humility, vulnerability and yet a definite purpose without compromise to achieve God’s goal for its region. But by His grace we can see it.