House Church Talk - Alexander Strauch on Biblical Eldership

[Glenn Schreiber]

Dan G.--
Very hurriedly I'll seek to answer some things from your post this
morning.  First of all, the Lord has used Alex Strauch to benefit our
family in various ways over the past ten years.  He was very gracious in
helping us connect with a small gathering of saints in our area early on
in our relationship.  I would say he is not at all your typical "Plymouth
Brethren."  He has promoted Spirit-led brotherly interaction in the face
of a movement which is fast moving towards more clerical sensibilities
(despite its roots emphasizing the co-equality and "priesthood of
believers").  [He has also defended the doctrines of grace while others
have been taken in by pragmatism and antinomianism.]

As for the prospect of a "cessation theory of elders" (;-9), I would
propose that the New Testament presents co-equal plurality of exemplary
older men in oversight as an apostolic tradition to be followed
throughout the age.  Many today are denying the complementary truths of
the "church" in two senses--"the church" as the one body of Christ (Eph.
4:5), and "the churches" (I Cor. 11:16, 14:34) plural, in which the
saints are gathered together.  It may be that an aversion to any
leadership at all is an overreaction to the prevalent lordliness and
clerical-mindedness which we see in the denominations which we have fled.
 [To put all this into somewhat of a prophetic perspective then, perhaps
in overreaction to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans and Balaam
(authoritarianism) the doctrine of Jezebel (egalitarianism) has arisen. 
It seems that ultimately the two doctrines tend to work hand in hand in
keeping the saints from the preeminence of the Lord Jesus.]

Out of time to write on these things for now...

Grace in Christ,
Glenn S.



On Sat, 16 Oct 2004 10:54:25 -0500 DanG <dan.dgordon at gmail.com> writes:
> Gary wrote:
> > I am still trying to adjust my mindset on the whole idea of how a 
> church is
> > governed, 
> 
> I follow these type of organisational discussions somewhat
> peripherally, since, somehow they go waaaay over my head.  Hence,
> whether or not this discussion is at a level I can understand, or
> whether you want persons like me to understand, I am somewhat dis
> interested - not as a statement against the persons involved in 
> this
> dialog - just as an explanation of where I am and how I read these
> discussions.
> 
> Which then places some reference upon the observation or question I
> just thought as I skimmed your post, Gary.  I wonder why we use the
> word church as if it is some brick and mortar establishment - "...a
> church is governed..."?  We also refer to the church as one, I 
> believe
> - one in Christ.
> 
> What if there are not two understandings of the word "church"?  
> What
> if there is only one church and that is one body?  And then, as we 
> all
> summarily know and assert to be true - Jesus Christ is the 
> government
> and whole of the church.  What if the concept of leadership in the
> church such as elders, pastors, teachers - was - and is not anymore? 
> 
> Can that be possible?  I guess what I am asking is this.  Could it 
> be
> that there were only ever a handful of elders which we see named in
> the Bible, and there were only a handful of pastors which we see 
> named
> in the Bible, and the concept of elders as we dialog about them 
> from
> time to time here at hctalk really is not as human as we seem to
> assume?  That is, the Bible itself is profitable for reproof,
> correction, instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be
> throughly furnished unto all good works.  Hence, human
> elder/pastor/deacon is not a reality.  Could that be?  I am asking,
> not suggesting.  However, as I ask, I can kinda begin to see some
> justification for that mind.  (Now someone will respond in this 
> thread
> and tell me that what I am suggesting is called something like
> antideaconism and is founded in third century romanism under
> Cleopatricus of Athens...)
> 
> (btw, Mr Strauch is staunchly dispensational as a leader in the
> plymouth brethren denomination.  They would shun the name
> denomination, but such is the movement - it is denominational in 
> all
> of its manifestations, methinks.)
> DanG ChicagoArea
>      
>     
>     --- Info and subscription management at 
> https://housechurch.org/talk ---
> 
> 

________________________________________________________________
Speed up your surfing with Juno SpeedBand.
Now includes pop-up blocker!
Only $14.95/ month - visit http://www.juno.com/surf to sign up today!