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Prayer: O Lord, we come before You and also come to Your Word by Your precious blood. Lord, we are truly for You, and we gather around Your Word, looking to You that You may give us light. Open up Your Word to us, and may light from Your Word illuminate our whole being. We do not want to remain in darkness, the natural realm, or religion. We truly desire to enter into Your revelation. May each one of us see the light. Your word is a light to our path and a lamp to our feet. Lord, thank You for leading us on the way of the recovery. Step by step and year after year, You have been leading us. You have not left us in darkness or let us go astray.
Lead us so that we can follow and have the assurance in our spirit that we are walking in the light. Lord, speak to us again. Give us a sober mind and grant us an open spirit. Cause us to be poor in spirit so that we would not be content or think that we have sufficient knowledge. Lord, we are still very poor in our knowledge of You, in our knowing of Your Word, and in our entering into the light in Your word. Visit us so that the hungry will be satisfied and the poor will be supplied with riches. Lord, thank You for Your precious blood that always cleanses us and covers us. Be with us. Amen.
In this chapter we will fellowship some basic truths concerning the administration of the church in the New Testament. We need to have a new understanding of the administration of the church, because it concerns our household administration. Since the church is our home, there should be a household administration. These truths relate to the economy of God, and this new understanding of the administration of the church is based on God’s New Testament economy.
The economy of God has two aspects: an inward aspect as it relates to life and an outward aspect as it relates to administration. The church also reflects the inward aspect of life and the outward aspect of administration. God’s New Testament economy comprises both life and administration. Every man has a body for outward activities, but he also has an inward constitution related to his spirit and soul. Our body is for outward activities, but our spirit and soul constitute our real inner man. Although the genuineness of the church rests on the inward aspect of life, there is a need for the outward aspect of administration. Without this aspect the church would be like a person who has a spirit and soul but no body. Hence, it is easy to deviate from the economy of God if we speak of the church only in purely spiritual terms while neglecting its administration. Consequently, the economy of God includes both the outward aspect of administration as well as the inward aspect of life.
According to statistics published by some Christian denominations in the Far East, the Presbyterian Church has the largest number of members on the island of Taiwan with over eighty thousand. The local churches rank second with about forty-five thousand, and the True Jesus Church ranks third with about twenty thousand. Over the past twenty-eight years we have focused primarily on spirituality. We became so spiritual that we did not pay any attention to how many were born into our family. According to statistics provided by the brothers, we baptized fifty-eight thousand people in Taipei alone; this figure does not include other cities. Since the number of people saved in the church in Taipei typically comprises half of the people saved on the island, there could be as many as one hundred ten thousand believers among us on the island of Taiwan. According to this figure, we far outnumber the Presbyterian Church; this is a very precious fact to me. Regrettably, this information also shows that we have gained spirits and souls but not many bodies over the past twenty-eight years. We have been so spiritual that we do not even know the exact number of people born into our family.
In our effort to be spiritual, we have nurtured our spirit so that it could be strong, but our body is very weak. If we had paid more attention to this matter in just the last fifteen years, our situation would be vastly different. However, we failed to notice that something was lacking in our work. We were constantly preaching the gospel, saving and baptizing many, but our way of bringing them into the church was like pouring water into a bucket with many holes. As a result, close to one hundred thousand “drops of water” are no longer in our bucket; that is, they no longer meet with us.
Currently, brothers and sisters who meet with us are working in every level of society and in every Taiwanese institution; this is good. Nevertheless, we know little concerning the situation of the believers who are not currently meeting with us. This shows that we have been irresponsible in our care. We are like parents who have abandoned their children. We do not know where our children are living or even if they are still alive.
In order to have an accurate knowledge of the number and the condition of our brothers and sisters, we should use the information cards and establish the small groups. Many have testified that they have discovered a brother here and another brother there. One brother even testified that when he visited others, he would ask them if they used to meet in a district. If they responded by naming a certain district, he knew that they were our brothers and sisters, our family members.
The brothers and sisters who have been baptized by us are scattered throughout Taiwan and even overseas. There are Chinese students in all the major universities in the United States. Many of these Chinese students are involved in Chinese-speaking Christian groups, and many of the leading ones in these groups are brothers who met with us at one time. Our water has leaked out to many places. So many of these brothers were nurtured by us in Taiwan. It is a pity that they are completely dispersed.
The truth concerning the administration of the church is related primarily to the limitations on the authority of the elders in a local church. This is a great matter. In the administration of a country it is essential to know how much authority has been given to the president, how much has been given to the legislature, and how much has been given to various government institutions. If each institution does not recognize its limitations, there will be trouble, and the country will suffer. Similarly, we need to know this fundamental point as it relates to the administration of the church, because the Lord is leading us to have a new beginning, and we need to make a thorough effort to advance the testimony of the Lord’s recovery. Such an advance will involve the move of the co-workers as well as the authority of the elders, and unless we are clear concerning the administration of the church, there will be problems.
As members of the household of God, we should know the arrangement of our household administration. Then we will act properly and not overstep our measure. At the same time, those who bear some administrative responsibility have an even greater need to know the limits of their authority so that they do not restrict or hinder others. This is very much related to our service.
For example, the church in Taipei has more than twenty halls and over four hundred small groups. Consequently, we need to know how those who are in these small groups should move in relation to those who bear responsibilities for the practical and even spiritual aspects of the Lord’s move, including the elders and deacons and those who function as apostles, prophets, evangelists, and shepherds and teachers. Furthermore, we need to know how the administration of the elders and the service of the deacons can be coordinated with the development of these gifts. We need to be clear concerning these matters.
Although the Bible does not leave us in darkness, the Bible was not written like a manual of guidelines. Every governmental agency relies upon such a manual, but the Bible was written from the perspective of God. When we read it, we can pick up a point here and another point there, but we must put them together in order to see something. I hope that we all would concentrate when we read the outlines that have been prepared. If we have a sober mind when we read them, they will be perfectly clear and easily remembered. The elderly saints should not make an excuse that they are too old to remember these points. No matter how old we are, we still need to exercise our mind. If the elderly saints are attentive, their mind will become more focused, and these points will be easily remembered. Although an elderly person may be slow in understanding, once something enters into his memory, it will not easily be forgotten. We all must concentrate in order to enter into these basic truths.
First Corinthians 12:28 says, “God has placed some in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then...helps, administrations.” Helps refers to the deacons, and administrations refers to the elders. According to our concept, elders should come before deacons. Paul, however, first mentions helps and then administrations. This verse shows an order to the various gifts. Paul begins, saying, “First apostles, second prophets, third teachers...” He uses the words first, second, and third in the first half of the verse, but no sequential numbers are used in the second half of the verse, although there is a clear sense of order. We absolutely believe that Paul was inspired by the Holy Spirit to put helps before administrations, knowing that it would be easy for people to highly regard and exalt the elders.
After Paul’s departure, a teacher named Ignatius emerged in the second century. He committed a serious error by teaching that overseers are higher than elders. In fact, the words elder and overseer refer to the same person, with elder denoting a person of maturity and overseer denoting the function of an elder. Ignatius’s erroneous view influenced the church and produced a hierarchy, a religious system. An overseer became a bishop of a geographic area that contained more than one local church, and thus he “oversaw” the elders of several local churches. Eventually, elders were promoted to be bishops, archbishops, cardinals, and even popes. Thus, this hierarchy produced a religious system.
I believe that when Paul was writing 1 Corinthians 12, the Holy Spirit was working specifically to invalidate the notion of hierarchy. We should not have a concept of rank. The elders are not higher than the deacons. Just as the eldership is an office, the deaconship is also an office, each having particular responsibilities and functions. The elders take care of administration, and deacons take care of service. They differ only in function. Thus, we should not bring in the concept of position and rank in any form.
Our concept about the order of the various functions in the administration of the church is completely the opposite of what is shown in verse 28. At the beginning of this verse the apostle Paul uses the words first, second, and third, but he does not use sequential numbering in the second half of the verse because he is speaking of two categories of service. The first category, which includes apostles, prophets, and teachers, is unrelated to the administration of the church; it is related entirely to supplying truth and life (Eph. 4:11). The second category, which includes helps and administrations, is related to the administration of church affairs.
Therefore, gifts function in the aspect of ministry, which is related to the supply of truth and life. These three gifts — apostles, prophets, and teachers — supply truth and life, although there are differences in their various functions.
Offices function in the aspect of administration, which is related solely to overseeing and leading the church. The elders oversee and lead the church; this is purely a function related to administration (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:1-3).
Apostles are gifts to the universal church. In the Bible we cannot find a local church that has its own apostle, because an apostle functions to supply all the members of the universal church. However, an apostle also appoints elders and deacons (Acts 14:23; 1 Tim. 3:1-13). Thus, apostles first supply truth and life and then appoint elders and deacons.
In terms of office, there are apostles and then elders and deacons, and in terms of gift, there are apostles and then prophets and teachers. The apostles serve in both the aspect of office and the aspect of gift. However, whether in terms of office or gift, the function of the apostles is universal, not local.
Prophets and teachers are gifts to the local churches. Hence, Acts 13:1 says, “Now there were in Antioch, in the local church, prophets and teachers.” The Scripture text here does not mention apostles. In the gatherings of the local churches, there are prophets and teachers. Thus, prophets and teachers are gifts to the local churches for the release of the revelation of God and the supply of the mystery of the truth.
There are only prophets and teachers in the meetings of a local church. Prophets are referred to in 1 Corinthians 14:4-5. Verse 26, which speaks of each one having a psalm, also speaks of having a teaching and having a revelation. Teaching comes from teachers, and revelation comes from prophets. Prophets are different from teachers. A prophet is inspired by the Spirit and receives revelation from God; hence, the word that is released is a revelation. In the New Testament a prophet mainly speaks for God and speaks forth God through the revelation of God. Sometimes, however, a prophet can be inspired to give a prediction (Acts 11:27-28). In 1 Corinthians 14 the main function of a prophet is not to predict but to speak for God. Prophets speak for God. The word of the prophet is not an ordinary teaching; it is a word based on revelation from God.
The teachings of a teacher are mainly for the defining of doctrine, such as the truth related to justification by faith and sanctification. The teachers need to learn to give a clear explanation of justification, sanctification, and so forth. This is like a chief justice of a country who gives a clear judicial interpretation of the law. Teachers define doctrines and truths according to the revelation in the Word; they define the meaning of such things as regeneration, the mingling of God and man, the principle of incarnation, and the economy of God. Prophets receive revelation, whereas teachers define the meaning of doctrines concerning divine truth. In a meeting of a local church, there are prophets and teachers but not apostles, elders, and deacons. This does not mean that there are no elders and deacons in a local church, but no one functions as an apostle, elder, or deacon in a meeting of a local church.
When an elder comes to a church meeting, he should attend the meeting as a brother, not as an elder. This is because there are no elders, deacons, or apostles in the meetings of a local church. Even when an apostle attends a meeting, he should attend as a brother. We need to be clear about this. Clearly, the Bible speaks of elders who teach (1 Tim. 5:17), but this function of teaching in a local church can be likened to a parent who privately tutors his children at home. This is different from teaching in a school. The elders’ teaching of the saints in a locality is similar to parents teaching their children at home, and the teaching in a church meeting is similar to the teaching in a classroom. The elders’ teaching is in the pattern of a parent’s teaching, and the teaching in a meeting is more in the pattern of a schoolteacher’s teaching. Even if the elders have a burden to speak a word in a meeting, it should still be like the teaching that comes from a parent who is tutoring his children at home.
This difference between these two types of teaching is often manifested when an elder goes from one locality to another. Although he seems to be able to teach the saints in one locality, he has difficulty teaching saints in another locality. However, anyone who has the genuine gift of teaching will be able to teach wherever he goes, because teaching is his profession. Many fathers can help their children learn mathematics at home, but this does not qualify them to be a mathematics teacher in a high school; there is a difference. A person can have some knowledge of mathematics, history, and geography, but this does not qualify him to be a teacher.
Those who teach in the meetings of the church should be like teachers who teach students in school. However, when the elders teach, their teaching should be like the guidance of a parent who is teaching his children at home. There are two kinds of elders in a locality: those who can administrate with respect to general affairs and those who can teach through shepherding. Some elders are good at administrating the general affairs of the church, and others labor in word and teaching (v. 17). These two kinds of elders can be compared to the parents in a family; while the mother tutors her children in mathematics, history, and English, the father is responsible for the management and governance of the family.
Those who function as a prophet or teacher should endeavor to develop their spiritual capacity so that the church can increase and spread. Whether one is in a local church, in a district, or in a small group, those with the function of a prophet or teacher should endeavor to develop this gift to expand their spiritual capacity so that the church can increase and spread the kingdom of God.
The elders need to endeavor to coordinate with the gifts for the propagation in their administration of the general affairs of the church. Since the small groups provide an environment for everyone to exercise his or her talents, the gifts of many saints will be manifested. In the development of these gifts, many people will be saved, and there will be much propagation. Within a very short time a small group will double and become two small groups, and the number of people will increase. When the number of people increases to the point that a meeting hall should be built, the elders need to address this matter related to the administration of a local church. It is the responsibility of the elders to take care of matters such as purchasing land, planning, and drawing up the budget. The elders also need to have insight. Once they notice that the gifts in a certain district are developing in a very positive manner and that many people are being saved, they need to quickly purchase land to build a meeting hall. On the administrative side, the elders need to endeavor to coordinate in general affairs as the gifts develop.
Elders also need to strictly oversee the move of the local churches. The elders should not think that they can take an extended time of rest, like animals going into hibernation, since there are small groups and since in each small group spiritual gifts are being developed. The elders certainly have suffered very much in the past, even to the point of being worn out. Now that the burden can be shared among four hundred small groups, it seems as if the elders can live in ease and comfort because things have become much simpler. The elders must not think in this way. They must realize that the responsibility of the elders will only increase as the small groups multiply. As the small groups multiply and develop, the saints will increasingly speak of the need for additional meeting halls. The elders cannot be negligent in this matter; they should be like a “Combined Logistics Team” that supplies the needs of the military. In a war the military forces should be provided with supplies when they call headquarters for help. If they are not provided with supplies, the Combined Logistics Team is being negligent. The Combined Logistics Team cannot replace the military forces in fighting the battle, nor should they restrict the advancement of the military forces. Instead, the Combined Logistics Team needs to be aware of the situation and be swift to respond to the needs of the advancing military forces. It should consider the interests of the military forces and prepare the needed supplies.
We were not so clear concerning this matter in the past. Consequently, the authority of the elders might have restricted the development of the gifts, but some of these gifts also did not stay within the bounds of their measure and encroached upon the duties of the elders. As the elders exercise their responsibility for oversight, they should be careful not to restrict the development of the gifts or hinder them from propagating. The elders’ function is not to propagate but to be a “Combined Logistics Team” ready to supply. According to Ephesians 4, there are apostles, prophets, evangelists, and shepherds and teachers. These ones should endeavor to exercise and develop their capacity, to propagate, to edify others, to lead others, to revive others, and to establish others. Then spontaneously the kingdom of God will spread. This relates to spiritual matters. However, in relation to general affairs there is the need for local administration in order to respond to various practical needs. This is not the responsibility of the gifts but of the elders.
If the elders notice that a certain small group is not on the track of God’s New Testament economy, they should both oversee and intervene. The elders should strictly oversee the move of the local churches so that they progress in a proper way according to God’s New Testament economy and are not led astray by different teachings. However, the elders should be careful to not restrict or kill the proper move and propagation of the gifts either intentionally or unintentionally. We should each remain in our proper place; the gifted ones should go out to propagate, and those in the eldership should actively coordinate with them in general affairs.
There presently is a need for a meeting hall for the church in Taipei. The small groups are being promoted, and I believe that the capacity of our meeting halls will not be sufficient. Therefore, the elders must keep their eyes wide open, their view must be broadened, and they must quickly purchase land and build a bigger meeting hall. This requires long-term plans. Of course, they can fellowship with the gifted ones to discuss future plans and a budget. Once these have been completed, they can report to the saints so that everyone can begin to make regular offerings to meet the demands that will develop from the positive results of our future propagation. We should not raise money at the last minute but begin making preparations in advance. This is a matter for the elders to address. The elders need to constantly watch the development and propagation of the gifts so that they can be prepared to coordinate in a timely manner.
We should be clear concerning gifts and offices: In terms of gifts there are first apostles, second prophets, and third teachers. In terms of offices there are first apostles, then helps (deacons), and then administrations (elders). In a meeting there are only prophets and teachers who release revelation as well as teach to edify and establish those who attend the meeting. In the meetings those who have the function and office of apostles, elders, and deacons are only brothers.
Those who are gifts should endeavor to develop their spiritual capacity so that there can be a continual propagation and so that those who have been gained can be established. This will bring in the increase and spread of the church. Those who have responsibility for administration should broaden their view and actively prepare to coordinate in general affairs related to the propagation. In this way no one will overstep, and no one will restrict others.
In the past, due to the lack of a clear understanding, there was an overstepping in some areas that caused both sides to be restricted in their function. I hope that in the future the gifts will be developed even more, and the offices will be strengthened even more so that the church may gain increase in every locality. This fellowship is like our house rules. When there are house rules, the father, mother, and siblings in the family know what is expected of them and thus are able to fulfill their family duties. When we carry out our responsibilities in an orderly way, the church will spread step by step, and the Lord will have a way to go forward.
