Fluidity - do you see it?

Why is there no precise list of church officers in the New Testament which is elsewhere repeated in the New Testament?

In Titus, there is a long list of requirements for elders. In Timothy, there are long lists of requirements together for elders and for deacons.

In Philippians, there are overseers and servants mentioned together. Bishops and deacons, they're called. But the word for deacon is the same word for servant - a name referring to any service. So, Paul could be addressing the elder/overseers and everyone else besides them.

Here are three comprehensive "leadership" lists. Though similar, they are not the same.

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:5-8 

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 1 Cor. 12:4-10 

One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Ephesians 4.

The lost key, I believe, to divine and biblical church leadership is fluidity - fluidity of servant actions rather than the filling of church positions.

True enough, there are requirements made of elder men, of elder women, younger men, and of servants in particular and in general. Yet we cannot deduce that there is an office of elder women or an office of younger men or an office of servants or an office of tongue-speakers.

Be very suspicious of Bible versions which add the word office about a half dozen times, by the way.

Imagine with me... Oh, what a beautiful thing to behold. Each empowered Christian using his/her gifts and resources for the others without regard to status or to office or to being paid.

We prefer everything to fit into a neat little package but that is not case with regard to church structure. We should be thinking in broader terms, it so appears. And praying for more gifts which will edify others.

Take for example, the table "servers" in Acts 7. Deacons, they have come to be called. More than one of these "deacons" also preached and baptized. One became the first martyr. Yet, in the minds of most, the "deacons" main task is a lesser one when compared to the pastors or to preachers. But remember, Jesus stated that if you would be great in his Kingdom, you must be a servant (deacon) of others.

Paul, the apostle, also refers to himself as an elder and a deacon (minister). Notice that Judas, the apostle, in the first chapter of Acts, is referred to - not only as an apostle but as having a ministry (diakonios). Yet, he is not remembered in modern times as a minister nor a deacon.

Over the years, we have focused on the role of the elders (older ones) as the natural shepherds or pastors - not requiring an election nor an ordination service nor a seminary degree nor a salary. This however would not rule out the possibility or even likelihood of young overseers. After all, the younger ones would eventually become the older ones (elders) who are charged with caring for the flock of God. That is, unless they are recent converts to the faith.

Pause and ponder today: If Paul put young Timothy into an administrative position over certain geographic regions, his useful, youthful agent would have surely been qualified to oversee things in a single house church as a pastor.

Do you see the fluidity? Think of gifts and responsibilities - not positions which are waiting to be fulfilled. Do you remember the text above which referred to pastor/teachers? Here is it assumed that the pastors would also be teachers. As they should be. Elsewhere we read of teachers without any regard to a pastoral role.

And with fluidity, don't overlook the element of liberty in the early church leadership framework. A sudden need arose for widows needing daily food. So, these workers were immediately brought into the picture. Problem solved.

So in short summary, if you can (ability) serve others - you should (permission) serve others! Are not the needs greater than ever?

We seriously need to simplify things. Because they have become needlessly complicated and expensive. The vast portion of church funds today goes towards leadership and other cumbersome machinery deemed indispensable. 

Do we really believe that the early Christians, often meeting in homes, were paying out professional salaries?

Please show me a church which is feeding needy people everyday. Yes, thankfully there are a few - but they are rare gems indeed.

Again I enquire: Why in the entire New Testament, is there no list of church leaders which perfectly corresponds to another list of the same?