The Need for Elders in a Congregation

Congregations without Elders are handicapped congregations. For the church to function at a high level a congregation needs Elders. When considering how Elders function in a church it’s important to realize that all the members can and should be doing some of these duties; building up the weak, encouraging to works of service, seeking wayward members, teaching, etc. When the time comes to select/replace/add Elders men should already be performing these necessary things so that a man’s name automatically comes to the mind of most members. For example, “that Joe Schmoe is always checking on the widows, on members who aren’t attending well, he’s hospitable, he encourages people, he knows his Bible, etc. We need him for an Elder!”. Make it easy on a congregation… do the things you’re supposed to be doing anyway.

The Progressive Nature of Two Becoming One Flesh

Ephesians 5 speaks about a husband becoming “one flesh” with his wife. Husbands and wives become “one flesh” at the point of their marital union. However, there is a progressive oneness that develops in the relationship. That is… the quality of the oneness improves.

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 in speaking against casual sexual relationships between a man and a woman (or a prostitute) argues that improper sexual relationships corrupt the relationship we have with Christ by making us “one flesh” with a prostitute.

So by definition we can become “one flesh” with a woman merely by engaging in sex with her. The quality of that kind of oneness is minimal and transitory… even destructive. Certainly the oneness of marriage cannot be compared to the oneness of a casual sexual relationship with a woman that we may barely know.

A husband and wife become one as they experience life’s trials and joys together. Trust and confidence replace doubt and suspicion so that the relationship can grow. A seed is planted and the young sapling grows into a sturdy tree that can withstand the perils of drought and wind.

The relationship is a progressive one and the two become “one flesh” as they live up to their marital responsibilities as outlined in the scriptures. Too often marital couples despair at the troubles they have and lack faith in God’s transforming promise. Ephesians 5:32 calls it a great mystery and I suppose it is because it is better experienced than explained. Have faith in God and what he can do for you.

Church = Jesus Christ

As I wrote previously, Eph.5:22-33 is a section of scripture whose primary intent is to describe how Christ and the Church become one flesh. We’ve already visited the concept of being in subjection to Christ and living sin free lives so that we can be a pure bride to him. The second thing that helps us be “one with Christ” is accomplishing the mission of the church, i.e. the church must become Jesus Christ. Eph. 4:15 states that the church must grow into him… Jesus Christ the head of the body (Church). In fact, this same section of scripture states that God gave gifts to the church to help accomplish this process; apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. So how do we become Jesus Christ? It is a growth process. We must all come to a complete knowledge Of Jesus Christ, learn true humility (bury our pride and self- will) by living lives of service to each other and create a unified body of believers. Which by the way is God’s primary evidence today for Jesus having come from God (John 17:21-23). Christ’s true bride must be pure and cleansed from sin and work to become him so that when others view the Church they see Jesus Christ. The two are one flesh.

One Flesh with Christ

Eph. 5:22-33, is a passage of scripture that compares the husband/wife relationship with the relationship between Christ and the Church. Usually these passages are used to learn about the husband wife relationship, but clearly the import of these verses is to teach about Christ and the Church.

“For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak in regard of Christ and the Church.”

So how does Christ and the Church become one flesh?

J

ust as a man desires a wife that is pure and has not been in a physical relationship with another man, Christ desires that his “wife” be pure. Certainly we are not pure when we come to Christ. We are soiled by our relationship with Satan who we follow when we sin. Christ, however, has made provision so that we can be pure and virginal, in regards to sin, when we enter into a relationship with him. His self- sacrifice, the giving of his blood, cleanses us of our sinful relationship with Satan and makes us pure… totally pure.

We enter our marital relationship with Christ when we arise out of the waters of baptism having our sins washed away. Then we are cleansed and truly a bride worthy of a relationship with Christ because he has made us pure and worthy.

A condition of our marital relationship with Christ is subjection. Christ requires that his bride live by his standards. If she does the reward is great… becoming “one flesh” with Christ. Experience the mystery. There is only one path.

Paul and Rome

The Apostle Paul, according to the book of Acts, made three missionary tours. On his third tour while staying in the city of Corinth he wrote the letter to the Romans stating that he desired to come to them to help establish them in the faith. Two to three years later he would do just that. He first, however, wanted to complete his last missionary tour and go to Jerusalem. Part of that desire was so that he could deliver the collection that had been made among the Greeks for the poor Christians who lived in Jerusalem. As he traveled to Jerusalem he was warned by his fellow Christians that when he got to Jerusalem he would be imprisoned… Paul didn’t care about that… he was not even afraid if they killed him. When Paul reached Jerusalem he ended up being imprisoned by the Romans for about two years. During that time he was able to testify about Jesus to Ananias (High Priest) and the whole Jewish council, to Felix and Porcius Festus (Roman Governors) and to King Herod Agrippa (King of the Jews). After testifying to these high officials Paul exercised his right as a Roman citizen and appealed his case to the Roman Caesar (Nero) himself. In Acts 23:11, Jesus confirms for Paul that he will go to Rome and “testify” about him. I wish we had a record of what Paul told Nero. So Paul gets to go to Rome at the expense of the Roman government. In addition, he is under Roman protection. When Paul was conducting his three missionary tours he frequently was physically abused to the point of death by the Jews who rejected Jesus. While Paul was imprisoned in Rome he stayed in a house he rented and had a Roman soldier as a guard who also protected him from the wrath of the Jews who visited him and listened to his testimony. So God manipulated the Roman government to provide for and protect Paul while he testified about Jesus. What irony. Paul got to testify about Jesus to the most important and imposing men in the world. Imagine if a Christian today were to go into the Muslim world and testify to the King of Saudi Arabia and to their religious authorities. What an incredible impact Paul had for the cause of Christ generally and for the Christians in Rome specifically.

Note from Cindy Graf

Cindy wrote this after her mom's passing.

Thank-you from Merle Mayfield

Merle was back at services today after successful Aortic Aneurysm surgery. Prayers are pretty good medicine... keep praying for her.