Who Makes the Final Decisions?   

This question was submitted to us from a sincere individual who is considering the teaching of Biblical Eldership. It is a common question in many people’s minds who are under a governing system where one person, traditionally the local Pastor, makes the final decisions on behalf of a local assembly of believers. We know of some individuals who have rejected the teaching of Biblical Eldership solely because they felt more comfortable with just one person making decisions than local elders making decisions. 

First, we must ask ourselves what “final decisions” are being referred to with this question. Interestingly enough, the expression “final decision” cannot be found in the New Testament. Furthermore, and somewhat surprisingly, the word “decision” or any its various forms cannot found in the New Testament. Does this not give us at least an indication of how the people’s minds have changed from the early days of the church to the present? Does the absence of these words mean that no decisions were made during the days of the writings of the New Testament? Of course not! This was a time of many decisions as Christianity was new and there were many things to sort out. Clearly, someone was making decisions.       

In today’s institutionalized church environment, many people are satisfied with a governing structure that parallels that of the early Israelites. The Israelites “wanted a King” so they could be like all the other nations of the earth (1 Samuel 8:5-20). Likewise, as the Israelites had earlier said to Moses, “you speak to us, and we will hear you: but don’t let God speak with us” (Exodus 20:19) many today are content to let a single man be their representative to God and, in return, they are fully satisfied to allow that same man to represent God to them. It is sad to see how far some have strayed from God’s desire to have a personal relationship with each of His creation. 

 “The buck stops here” is a statement that many dictatorial Pastors like to use in describing their position and authority. This statement was made famous by a United States President, and may in fact actually represent the responsibility of the President, the head of an earthly kingdom, but it is not representative of any one man’s position in God’s spiritual Kingdom. His kingdom is not to operate or be governed after the pattern of earthly kingdoms, because His kingdom is divine. “My kingdom is not of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight” (and boy do preachers fight at times!), John 18:36. If the buck stops anywhere in God’s kingdom, it stops solely with Him. On a practical level, the Head of the church is Christ. He is the final decision maker and He has given us His “final decisions” in His Word, the Bible. He has sent His Spirit as a witness to His Word. This arrogant statement should not be the attitude of any of God’s humble servants who are called to be overseers of a New Testament assembly. The self exalting attitude behind this statement alone scripturally disqualifies a man from holding such New Testament office (1 Peter 5:3). Humility is the central key to successful godly leadership. 

So, who does make decisions? 

God does. 

And then God works through His people. 

For instance, in temporal matters, i.e. caring after the material needs of others, God set before us a method of appointing from among us seasoned and proven individuals of reputable character who are full of the Holy Ghost (Act 6:3-4). These individuals, later termed deacons and deaconesses (1Tim 3:8-13; Rom 16:1), oversee and make decisions in day to day temporal matters according to the leading of the Spirit of God. That is why it is necessary that they be filled with His Spirit (John 16:13) and for accountability, there must be more then one person involved. 1 Tim 3:8-13 describes their qualifications: 

Likewise [must] the deacons [be] grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being [found] blameless. Even so [must their] wives [be] grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. 

The local church, or the local assembly, should be involved in all decisions affecting or requiring the cooperation and continued support of the local body. We see samples of this in the following scriptures: 

 Act 11:22  Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.  

1 Corinthians 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 

With regard to final decisions, Christ outlined a 3-step procedure that should be followed to resolve a matter between brethren. In this process, which is rarely followed in today’s churches, the scriptures clearly identify the collective local church as the highest decision making authority on earth. 

[Step 1] Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

[Step 2] But if he will not hear [thee, then] take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

[Step 3] And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell [it] unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. - Matt 18:15-20

In the churches that we have been previously associated with, we are not aware of one such assembly in over 50 years where this instruction was ever carried out. That is not because they had no unresolved problems among them, for certainly they did, but they all looked to a single man, the Pastor, to resolve their problems and make their final decisions for them. Sometimes this approached worked, but most of the time it didn’t.

In a local assembly, God has ordained that ruling elders (bishops) provide spiritual oversight. This governing method, the only governing model taught and practiced by the New Testament church, ensures that there be accountability among the local leaders. Acts 20:28 notes that ruling elders are to be accountable to each other, and then if found faithful, they are to lead the local assembly. In verse 17 of this chapter, Paul called to the elders of Ephesus and instructed them saying, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Clearly, they were to take heed unto themselves first, or in other words, they were to look out and be accountable to one another to make sure that no one among them was being ensnared by the devil. He immediately warned them that he was concerned about them going astray and elevating different ones among them (i.e., verse 30, of your own selves shall men arise), thereby causing much harm to the local body. This accountability is still very much needed today. No one single person is ever to be looked upon as the final decision maker with some special calling to solely interpret or apply scripture. That is the prevailing spirit behind Roman Catholicism and is what eventually led to the Dark Ages. 2 Peter 1:20 clearly states that “no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” Scriptural understanding and wisdom from God is available to any person who seeks after God with his whole heart (James 1:5). If all serve the same God, have received the same Holy Ghost, pledge allegiance to the same Word of God (Bible), are members of the same family, should not all be able to come to the same conclusion on important matters? 

The qualifications for these ruling elders is found in 1 Timothy 3:2-7and Titus 1:6-9. It is absolutely essential the only qualified ruling elders (overseers) be identified or chaos is certain to follow. An overseer must meet every requirement identified below.

      1 Timothy 3:2-7  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;  (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 

      Titus 1:6-9 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 

What is the responsibility of these ruling elders? They are to teach the Word of God to the people in order to establish them in the faith and bring them into perfection (Eph 4:12). They are to train all in the local assembly to look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2 ) and to be responsible decision makers in seeking out the will of God. Individually, we should reach a state of maturity such that we have no need of some man to continually tell us how to live, dress, act, etc…, but we should come to a mature state that we can discern the will of God for ourselves. In Hebrews 8:11 and 1John 2:27 we find God's divine plan for us today, "Not one of them will have to teach another to know me, their Lord. All of them will know me, no matter who they are." (CEV) "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." The over reliance of looking to man for answers leads to a spiritually weak church. We read about one such assembly in Hebrews 5:12. “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.”  A weak church is a very susceptible church and is in much danger in these last and evil days.           

The mature church making collective decisions is found throughout the New Testament. Let us look at a couple examples from the scriptures: 

Act 11:22  Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. 

Act 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; [namely], Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren. 

While the scriptures do teach that we are to know and obey them that have rule among us, this obedience is earned and not commanded. We are thankful for every pastoring elder who God has gifted to lead, instruct, nature, and feed His people. These “chief men” among us are to be esteemed highly, but they are never to be elevated in status or importance. Certainly, they are not to make decisions that God has instructed the church to be involved in. The governing of the church is upon Christ’ shoulders and He has the final say in decisions regarding His church.