Topic(s): Bible Authority, Church
Todd Clippard

Perhaps the easiest way to compare most of today's religious bodies against the church revealed in Scripture is by the way they are organized, both at the world-wide and local level. First, the church revealed in the New Testament has no earthly headquarters or ruling body<. Jesus is the only head of the church (Col 1:18), and He is now reigning in heaven at the Father's right hand (Acts 2:29-36; 1 Cor 15:23-28). Therefore, any religious body that possesses an earthly headquarters or organization that directs its affairs and doctrines cannot be the church revealed in the New Testament. This eliminates practically every major religious organization in the world from being the church established by Jesus and revealed in the Bible.

Second, at the local level, the church revealed in the New Testament is autonomous (self-governed) and overseen by a plurality of elders, also known as bishops, shepherds, pastors, overseers, or presbyters (Acts 20:17, 28; 1 Tim 3:1; Titus 1:5, 7; Eph 4:11; 1 Pet 5:1-2).

The Lord intended for every congregation to have an eldership (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5). Not once in the Scriptures will one find a congregation ruled by one man identified as the "pastor." The word "pastor" is found only once in the KJV (Eph 4:11), and is translated from the Greek poimane. This same Greek word is elsewhere translated "feed" (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet 5:2). In these contexts, it describes a function of theeldership. In Acts 20:17, Paul called for the elders of the Ephesian church to meet him in Miletus. In verse 28, he referred to them as "overseers" and charged them to "feed the flock." "Feed" is translated from the same Greek word translated "pastors" in Ephesians 4:11 (cf 1 Pet 5:2).

One would also do well to note the qualifications given before one may serve as an elder (pastor, cf 1 Tim 3; Titus 1). One of these is to be "the husband of one wife" (1 Tim 3:2). This eliminates women from serving as elders (pastors). According to 1 Timothy 3:4, an elder (pastor) must also have children. Yet we see many religious groups with unmarried, childless (and sometimes female) "pastors." (Of note are the Mormons with their multitude of unmarried, childless "elders.") From our above observation of the Scriptures, we can know that any religious body having one man (or woman) serving as "the pastor" cannot be the church established by Jesus and revealed in the New Testament.

One can be saved only in the body of Christ (Eph 5:23), which is the church(Acts 2:47). Our prayer and purpose is to help others be a part of this essential blood-bought body.

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