The Kingdom of Christ is different
In this blog I want to explore and explain why in the Scriptures there is only one Head of the Church and why we must reject the idea of "single human leadership," such as popes, archbishops or bishops - or any other equivalent.
One of the triumphs of the 1500s reformation was supposed to be the exposure and eradication of unscriptural human offices such as the pope. And yet the shallowist dip into even that era of church history provides us with examples of corrupt church leaders.
In "The Reformers and their Stepchildren" Leonard Verduin describes the persecution of the godly Anabaptist Christians by the powerful Luthers and Calvins and Zwinglis. Although they stood against the doctrine of the pope, these great Reformers were unable to shrug off the spirit of popery. Even the very best of Christian men fall prey to the corruption of power and fame.
But let's start here: craving for human rule seems to be built into human nature; expressed either in the desire to rule or the desire to follow - to have a visible king, "like all the other nations."
But central to the Christian Gospel are truths which undermine any kind of single or overarching human rule among God's people.
First of all, the kingdom we serve is the Kingdom of God, which has become the kingdom of Christ. We acknowledge only one Man as King.
Second, our glorious divine King is in heaven, presently invisible to us, but dwelling among his people by his Spirit and ruling through his Spirit and Word applied by godly local leaders.
In the third place, the prescribed leadership pattern in the New Testament Church is local elders in local churches. The Apostles, capital "A," were a unique and passing band of men who possessed an overarching measure of authority across more than one local church. But that variety of authority, vital for the foundational stage of the church, has disappeared now that we have the full Scriptures.
Except for that Apostolic band, we find in the New Testament, no hierarchal inter-church para-church organisations or structures (apart from the intangible voluntary bonds of truth and love that might "bind" one local church to another, and which unite all of God's people everywhere.)
No human hierarchies in the Church, not one.
Individual churches (always small in the New Testament) have their own leaders. No bishops presiding over a dozen churches, or up the mythical pyramid, archbishops, or top of the pile Popes.
All human ranks or structures, except for local elders, are wholly unknown to the Scriptures.
The Corruption of All human Authority
There is a good divine reason why the church is ruled from heaven: all human authority is inherently corrupt - no matter how many "safeguards" we might try to put place.
Let's explore that fact together.
Corruption of power comes in a myriad of guises. Some intentional, some unintentional, and perhaps even unknown to us.
Corruption can come about by human ambition. The world is filled with examples - and tragically so is the church. Men wanting more influence and greater power.
Corruption can occur by the mother of ambition which is pride. No human being is capable of humbly handling a position of authority beyond the local church.
Corruption can be disguised by class. It is impossible for any human to be broad-as-the-true-church in our associations, affections or appointments. Birds of a feather naturally hang out together; middle-class leaders beget middle-class institutions with middle-class priorities. And before long you may have a religious organisation in the image of its leader(s). (And hence potentially incomprehensible to true believers of any other social class.)
Corruption can occur by personality type. Issues and styles that have nothing to do with truth and everything to do with human personality can become so confused, resulting in the inclusion of some (often of the same personality) and the exclusion of others.
Corruption can occur by perspective. We don't need to be postmoderns to know that all of us are perspectival by virtue of the possession of our finitude. The issues we think are important may actually not be. In which case any movement we lead will intrinsically be imbalanced.
Corruption happens by tribal instinct & bias. Out in the world this is called the "old boy network." In recent days we've seen big-shot "reformed" pastors slagging off charismatic pastors (perhaps visa versa?). One tribe slagging off another. What, I wonder, does the Father of all his children think of this intra-family squabbling?
Corruption also - indeed always - occurs given enough time. If per chance the first leader of some new Christian movement was godly and relatively balanced, within time, less and less godly men will be appointed, until lines are crossed and apostasy sets in. We have seen this with numerous Christian book publishers and a multitude of denominations. It can happen in decades; for sure it will happen over generations. John Wesley and Charles Spurgeon must be turning in their graves. And one day, we have to be frank about these things, those who start Gospel Partnerships or Coalitions will also turn in their graves.
Every human institution with no exceptions, goes down hill given enough time. It must because it is human.
The Glory Divine Leadership & the Wisdom of local leadership
For all these reasons and no doubt more, leadership in the Church of Jesus Christ is always by local elders in one local area who know those particular sheep. What divine wisdom! In turn, those leaders must seek to be accountable to their only invisible and glorious Head by applying His Word to their local church.
And how wonderful to know that in heaven, at the Father's right hand, sits the One and Only Chief, Good, Great Shepherd of the Sheep. He knows each one of his sheep and calls them by name. His global love for them knows no distortions of class, personality, culture or perspective.
Only Jesus loves all his sheep.
Only Jesus is totally just.
Only Jesus is class-less.
Only Jesus is without any prejudice towards his true flock.
All the rest of us - no matter what checks and balances we may try to put into place - are profoundly parochial, one-sided, biased and therefore unjust.
And so in an age of celebrity Christianity we ought to do everything in our power to stand against the tide and divest ourselves of power and influence, because none of us are immune to its corruptions. What can we do in practical terms to reduce fame and power?
Local leaders must seek to associate with other local true churches, and strive to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. But they must - at all costs - avoid the tyranny of singular human leadership, wherever it rears its ugly head.
No popes, please.
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