Saturday, March 20, 2010

Elders - We are Servants First and Foremost

 “Servant,” and not “pastor” is the most important and prominent, biblical term for
any Christian believer in church leadership!  Surprising?  It was to me.  Like most church
people I had accepted the common belief that a lead elder in the local church is properly
called “pastor” because the idea of pastor (or shepherd) is the key to understanding the
role and title of that church office. Yet, it is not.

 In the New Testament, perhaps the most descriptive word that illustrates what it
means to be an elder as a spiritual leader in Christ’s Church is that of “shepherd” or
“pastor.”  Indeed, that is the term and the paradigm for true biblical leadership. 

However, the overarching model in Scripture for a pastor, which ties all other
roles and duties together is that of servant, just like Jesus the grand Servant.  Christ
declared that anyone who desired to be great in his kingdom must be a servant, just as he
had come not to be served but to serve, even to the point of sacrificial death (Matt. 20:26-
28).  That was God’s mission for him – the eternal Son of God came to be a man, and in a
radical reversal of human proclivities became a lowly slave in order to accomplish the
high purposes of God (Phil. 2:7; Heb. 12:1-2).  He was and is the perfect prophet, priest
and king, the wonderful shepherd, teacher, healer, and savior; but he executed all those
roles through God-ordained, God-directed service.  Jesus was and is the consummate
humble servant (Isa. 49:5; Luke 22:27; Heb. 3:1-6), the One who was self-sacrificing
(John 10:11, 15; cp. Luke 10:34, 35).

 Jesus made it clear that the manner in which his disciples were to function, rule,
lead, and shepherd the citizens of God’s kingdom was in the form of a willing servant
and a humble slave.  That was the object lesson the Master taught in Luke 22 when he
said that while he sat as the premier one at the table he really sat as servant.  Then, when
he wanted to summarily demonstrate what he had been teaching all the while about the
nature of his disciples’ role and position in the Kingdom, he dressed down and acted just
like a common slave washing his disciples’ feet (John 13:1-17).  This living parable was
punctuated by Christ’s own teaching:  “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right,
for so I am” (Jn. 13:13 ESV).  In other words, they were right to address and treat him as
dignified royalty. Yet though this King of kings and Lord of Lords had every right to
claim his place and title he does something dramatically profound, once again a reversal
to humanity’s sinful nature – he declares himself an honorable servant: “If I then, your
Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet”
(John 13:14)!  And should his disciples be as dense as many of us, he explains exactly
why he said and did what he said and did: “For I have given you an example, that you
also should do just as I have done to you.  Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not
greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.  If you
know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (John 13:15-17).  Christ’s people are
servants, and leaders in Christ’s church are servants of servants.  A major reversal from
the natural world!  That’s the nature of Christ’s kingdom and Church.

To understand how radical and also how degrading was Christ’s self-imposed
position and the place of his disciples we must understand the nature of the ancient slave.
 There were several Greek terms for servant or slave.1 The first and more common
word was doulos that identified the person as being on the opposite side of the class
spectrum of freeman or citizen master-owner.  A doulos-slave was owned either by the
government or by a personal master.  The public doulos-servant had no rights, but could
control a city’s treasury and, as such, wield considerable influence.  The doulos-slave
owned by a personal master was the more common type of servant.  As a non-person he
or she had absolutely no rights: no right to marriage, to children, or to protection as a
person, but merely protection as the master’s property.  The slave existed for the master’s
purposes.  The will and desires of the master were to be obeyed and fulfilled.  Anything
the master wanted of the slave he got – anything!2 

The Romans had over a dozen different terms that defined the nature of the
slave’s duties: a cook, farmer, footman, gardener, messenger, prostitute, steward,
storekeeper, etc.  In other words there could be specialist slaves and those might include
the role of teacher or physician.  A doulos-slave could be given the responsibility to
oversee the finances and run the household, in which case he was a household steward
who had control over the master’s other slaves (Matt. 8:9).
  
There was also the pais or paidos, which described someone of a child’s status
(Matt. 2:16; Luke 8:51).  When these terms referenced an adult it was to identify a
servant or slave who would most likely always remain in that status of a “boy” unless
some gracious circumstance emancipated him and brought him to the legal status of a
man.  

Another type of servant was a diakonos who rendered service, help or aid to
another, many times voluntarily.  Usually the tasks were of a necessary, but mundane or
menial nature.  The very term itself did not necessarily mean he or she was a slave; but he
or she served or ministered in some capacity.  The individual could be a waiter at a
special function or a household servant.  The diakonos-servant may or may not have been
paid.   Those godly men specially gifted and filled with the Spirit of God whom God
called to serve alongside the apostles in order for the apostles to dedicate themselves to
the tasks God had ordained for them were called deacons (diakonos) (Acts 6).  

One other Greek term the Bible uses is the huperetes-servant.  This was an
assistant or helper who was given the task of carrying out the expressed will and explicit
orders of another.  He could be a court officer (Matt. 5:25), an officer in the Jewish
Sanhedrin (Matt. 26:58), a king’s attendant (John 18:36) or an attendant in a synagogue
(Luke 4:20).

Of all those above the most contemptible, despicable position of that day was that
of a doulos-slave.  Yet, it is that very classification Jesus, Lord of the universe, took upon
himself (Phil. 2:6-8).  Jesus was God’s master servant who came to serve and not be
served (Mark 10:45; Luke 22:27).  He is the glorified paida-servant of God (Acts 3:13;
3:26; 4:27, 30).  Jesus fulfilled the model of God’s Old Testament doulos-slaves Moses
(Deut. 34:5; Ps. 105:26; Mal. 4:4; Rev. 15:3), Joshua (Josh. 24:29) and King David (2
Sam. 3:18; Ps. 78:70; Luke1:69; Acts 4:25).  Jesus came not only as God’s slave but
                                               
As the steward-slave, Jesus was and is the overseer of God’s other servants or
slaves. He told the disciples that if anyone would serve him that person must follow him,
and wherever Jesus would go his servant would also be there.  Not only that, those who
serve the Christ-Servant will be honored by the Master-Father (John 12:24-26).  Later,
Jesus identified another position his disciples have – they would also be his friends (John
15:15-27).  His point was not that they were emancipated from serving their Father-God,
or Christ, or one another, but that they were now privy to understand the will of the
Master in some ways similar to Jesus.  But the specific will they were to understand was
the inevitability of being persecuted and suffering just like their fellow doulos-servant
Jesus (John 15:20) would be.  All true disciples of Jesus Christ are doulos-slaves of their
Master.  And therefore all disciples hold that same level status with all the other doulos-
slaves of God.

Jesus, the master servant, orders his subordinate servants to minister just like him
(Matt. 20:25-28; 23:11-12; Mark 10:43, 44; Luke 22:26-27; John 13:1-20).  That means
Christ’s disciples, who would be given the Holy Spirit, would be empowered as apostles
to lay the foundation for the New Testament people of God. Being ministering servants
they had Christ’s delegated mandate and authority, and indeed were to administer their
positions first and foremost as servants to the Lord (1 Cor. 4:1-2; Tit. 1:7).  After Christ’s
death and resurrection this rag tag group of class-inferior men was elevated to a
remarkably high and lofty position in the eternal body of Christ. Nevertheless, they and
all those who immediately followed in their footsteps had the mind of Christ in them. 
That is, since Jesus set aside his rightful place as God and lived for others as the Servant
of servants (Phil. 2:3-7) they did too.  If he did, and they did, so should we.

In the New Testament the term that most frequently classifies one in the role of
oversight and administrative rule in church government, is not “pastor.”  For that noun is
used only once, in Ephesians 4:11 and the verbal form “to shepherd” is used in Acts
20:28 and 1 Peter 5:2.  The overwhelmingly most popular terms for this role are the
doulos-slave or diakonos-servant.  The person in this position is a serving minister. 

However, the challenge we have today is the word minister tends to pack baggage that
escapes the lowly, humble service role of a slave.  Perhaps the pastor should be labeled
slave or steward-slave?  Yet again, he is a slave to Christ and of God, who sacrificially
serves others (John 10:11, 15; cp. Luke 10:34, 35).  Other slave-disciples are not masters,
even over the specially called and ordained minister, the supervisory servant of God’s
household. 

The identities given to the apostles, elders and pastors in the New Testament fully
illustrate this.  They are all classified as doulos-slaves or diakonos-servants that do
specific ministries (Acts 6:4; 2 Cor. 3:3).  Peter, James, John, and Jude are doulos-slaves
of God and the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:1; James 1:1; Rev. 1:1; Jude 1:1).  Paul uses
doulos-slave and diakonos-servant at least as often as the title apostle.  This is because
more than anything else he is called to serve God, the saints (Rom. 15:25; 2 Cor. 8:19),
and even Gentile unbelievers.   He is a doulos-slave  (Rom. 1:1; Gal. 1:10, Phil. 1:1; Ti.
1:1) and a diakonos-servant (Eph. 3:7; Col. 1:23, 25).  At his conversion, God abruptly
called and appointed Paul to be God’s huperete-servant (attendant, assistant who carries
out the explicit orders of his master) of the Gospel of Christ to the Gentiles (Acts 26:16-
18).   Paul identifies what he does service or ministry (Acts 20:24, Rom. 11:13, 2 Cor.
3:1-6; 4:1-2, and 1 Tim. 1:12).  Luke later says that he received his information for the
Gospel record he wrote from the eyewitnesses and huperete-servants of God’s Word
(Luke 1:1-2).

These apostles were not the only slaves or servants.  Paul’s young protégé and
fellow servant Mark, author of the Gospel, was useful for diakonos-service (2 Tim. 4:11),
as was Paul’s son in the faith, Timothy (1 Tim. 4:6; 2 Tim. 4:5).  Phoebe, a godly woman
and friend of Paul’s was a kind of servant (Rom. 16:1-2).  Other men, often recognized as
church planters or pastors were diakonos-servants, commonly translated ministers:
Archippus (Col. 4:17), Epaphras (Col. 1:7), and Tychicus (Eph. 6:21; Col. 4:7).

The ways in which God’s slaves or servants minister vary.  They are to serve as
slaves to God (2 Cor. 6:4; Tit. 1:1, 7) and of Christ (Phil. 1:1; 2 Tim. 2:24).  These
ministers must understand along with others that their lives and ministries are living
sacrifices to God (2 Sam. 24:24; Acts 20:24; 21:13; Phil 2:7; 3;7-8; 2 Tim. 4:6).  Through
love they serve one another like a doulos-slave (Gal. 5:13), using whatever gift(s) God
gives in order to doulos-serve one another (1 Pet. 4:10).  The Corinthian church, fellow-
saints and servants with Paul, did this when they ministered to the saints in Jerusalem
through their financial gifts (2 Cor. 9:1, 2, 11, 12).   

All believers in Christ are equal as humble slaves (Acts 2:18; 1 Cor. 7:22; Eph. 6:6;
Col. 4:12; 2 Tim. 2:24).  They are called to do God’s bidding, serve Christ, and minister
to one another.  Yet, as we have seen, some of these slaves have been called, gifted,
trained and ordained to be steward-slaves in a special office ordained by Christ (2 Cor.
3:9; 4:6; Eph. 4:11ff).  These stewards administrate and oversee God’s household by
means of God’s Word through love (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 6:34; Acts 20:20; 1 Cor.
12:28, 31; Col. 1:28; 1 Tim. 1:3; 3:2, 16; 4:11-12; 6:2-5; Jas. 3:1 Rev. 7:17).
Additionally, they serve in the mysteries of God (1 Cor. 4:1).  Performing service in
Christ for God’s people (2 Cor. 4:5) ministers are to do so with diligence (Rom. 12:8; 1
Thess. 5:12; 1 Tim. 5:17; 2 Tim. 2:15).

These special types of servants, placed in their respective roles and particular office,
are answerable to God.  They are to live for Christ, never to be ashamed of him (2 Tim.
1:8-11; 2:11-13), always to be focused on Christ (Gal. 2:20; Phil. 1:21; 2 Tim. 2:8-13)
and always ready to suffer for Christ (Luke 21:19; 2 Tim. 2:3-7; 3:10-12).

Therefore, the ministering elders are called to train and discipline their lives for
godliness (1 Tim. 4:7-11) so as to become and serve more and more like Jesus Christ the
perfect servant (Matt. 20:25-28; 23:11-12; Mark 10:43, 44; Luke 22:26-27; John 13:1-20;
2 Cor. 3:10; 1 Tim. 4:14-15; 6:11; Tit. 2:12; 2 Pet. 1:4).  After all, the pastor or elder is to 
model Christ (2 Cor. 12:18; 1 Thess. 2:10-12; 1 Tim. 4:12; 1 Pet. 5:3).  The ministering
elders are also to put to use the good gift(s) the Lord has placed upon them.  What’s
more, they are called upon to fan the flame or rekindle the gift(s) of God in their lives (1
Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6). 

Further, these ministers are to serve God’s people as Christ’s stewards, meaning their
priority is to serve the Lord before serving others (Acts 20:19; Gal. 1:10; 1 Thess. 2:4;
Eph. 6:6-7; Col. 3:22-24), and to serve the Lord by serving others. Biblically, ministers
are not cater to, aim to please, or fear people (Gal. 1:10; Deut. 10:12; Eccl. 12:13; Ps.
118:6; Isa. 12:2; 2 Tim. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:17; 2:17).  No judgment is to be leveled against
them by fellow servants of Christ based upon the personal preferences or desires they
might have (Matt. 20:20-28; Rom. 14:1-4).  As Bob Schaper, a seminary professor, often
told his students, “I am your servant, but you are not my master.”

While the slave or steward is the all-encompassing paradigm for those who have been
gifted, called, tested and ordained to the office of ruling or teaching elder they minister
primarily through God’s Word (Mk. 6:34b; Jn. 21:15ff; Col. 1:28; 1 Thess. 5:12; 1 Tim.
5:17; 1 Pet. 5:1ff; Jas. 3:1) and through the various roles identified by God in his Word. 
The roles include serving as a shepherd (Jer. 3:15; John 21:15ff; Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:12),
a professor-teacher, a preacher, parent, a peacemaker, a mentor and model, and as an
evangelist.  The servant-minister is also described in roles as an athlete (1 Cor. 9:24-25;
Phil. 3:14; 2 Tim. 2:5; 4:7-8; Heb. 12:1), a craftsman-worker (2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Tim. 5:18),
a farmer (2 Tim. 2:6), messenger (2 Cor. 8:23), a soldier (Phil. 2:25; 2 Tim. 2:3-4), a
steward (1 Tim. 4:12; Ti. 2), and a good worker (2 Cor. 6:1; Phil. 2:25).

Since “servant,” and not “pastor” is the most important and prominent, biblical term
for a Christian believer in church leadership it would do all of us well to take that to
heart.  How should those of us who are ruling and teaching elders think about our roles? 
Like servants of Christ. How should those of us who are ruling and teaching elders
function in our roles?  Like servants of Christ.  


1 Bauer, 1979; BibleWorks 5, 2002; Brown, 1979
 
2 BibleWorks, 2002; Cowell, 1980, pp. 95-107; Davis, 1912, pp. 90-97; Frame, 2006;
Gill, 2006; Glancy, 2006; Stark, 2003, pp. 295-300.
came to be a diakonos-servant to Israel (Rom. 15:8).  Like a perfect slave, Jesus put his
life subordinate to the cause of the Father’s will.  

Dr. D. Thomas Owsley
(Adapted from Chapter 8 of my book, The Perfect Pastor? FL: Xulon Press, pp. 131-
135.)
 Also blogging at http://imperfectpastor.wordpress.com/