Why We Need Church Leaders

Every Church must have a leader

Every Church must have a leader (Bishop or Senior Pastor), and after the church grows large enough this leader will have to appoint assistants (Elders and/or Deacons). Church leadership was established when Christ appointed Peter as leader of the Apostles and was carried on by the Apostles when they appointed Elders in every city (Titus 1:5-9).

Be careful of people that build their doctrines based on half-truths and twist the doctrines of Jesus and His Apostles.

I do believe that each member of the Body is equally important. I also believe that this does not do away with the leadership within the church. It only means that all positions in the Church are equally important and the job of the janitor is just as important a the job of the pastor. This can be compared to the jobs of each part of the human body. The fingers, the toes, and the brain are just as important with each one having a different job. You also must understand that the fingers and toes operate independently but only as they are directed by the brain. The Pastor is not there to lord it over the rest of the church nor are the leaders or elders he has appointed to lord it over anyone in the church. (Ephesians 4:11-16)

There does seem to be upward mobility in the Church from saint through deacon on up to bishop (I Timothy 3:1-13). To desire the job of a Bishop is a good thing (I Timothy 3:1-13) but you are not to compete for position because each position, though different from the others, is no better than any other position. When a Pastor or Bishop finds a need to appoint someone to a needed position he will seek out the person that he feels is best for that position (not from those who are competing for a position). (Titus 1:5-9, Acts 6:1-4, Ephesians 4:11-16)

Every Christian (whether Bishop, Pastor, Elder, Deacon, or Saint) has a ministry and has been given a gift or gifts of the Spirit in order to effectively perform our ministry.Also, you should not "go it alone" as you may, by accident, start to listen to the wrong spirit. You need the Bishop, Pastor, or Elder to monitor your ministry, give you guidance, pray with and for you, and warn you when you start to stray from the right track.

Please read these Bible Studies:

1. Everyone's Ministry
   
   
2. "Gifts of the Spirit"
   
   
3. "Watchman of your soul"
   
   

You cannot believe that
one part of the Bible is the Word of God
and
another part is not the Word of God.

You cannot believe that one part of the Bible is the Word of God and another part is not. Either the whole Bible is the Word of God or none of it is. The choice is yours. Those people who do not believe that the Church should have a Pastor or leadership figure either don't believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God or refuse to believe or haven't read the following scriptures.

• Ezekiel 3:17-21
  17. Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
  18. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
  19. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
  20. Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
  21. Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.
  
  
• Matthew 16:18-19
  18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
  19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
  
  
• Ephesians 4:11-16
  11. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
  12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
  13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
  14. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
  15. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
  16. From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
  
  
• Titus 1:5-9
  5. For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
  6. If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
  7. 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;
  8. But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
  9. 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.
  
  
• I Peter 5:1-10
  1. The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
  2. Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
  3. Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
  4. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
  5. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
  6. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
  7. Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
  8. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
  9. Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
  10. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
  
  
• James 5:14-16
  14. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
  15. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
  16. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
  
  
• Hebrews 13:17
  17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
  
  
• I Timothy 3:1-13
  1. This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
  2. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
  3. Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
  4. One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
  5. (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
  6. Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
  7. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
  8. Likewise must the deacons begrave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
  9. Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
  10. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
  11. Even so must their wives begrave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
  12. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
  13. 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.
  
  
• I Timothy 5:1-2 and 17
  1. Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
  2. The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
  17. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
  
  
• Acts 6:1-4
  1. And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
  2. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
  3. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
  4. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.