Matthew 20:25-27 , the Bible also has no mention of a head of a church, I see shared leadership?

Question

By these words Jesus indicates that an entirely different system of government than that employed by the world should prevail among Christians.

Answer 1

TRUE The New Testament church has no "earthly government." The ONLY leaders mentioned being selected in the church were LOCAL (bishops(overseers), shepherds(pastors), and elders(presbyters): all 3 words refer to the same group of local leaders.)

Ac 20:17 From Miletus, Paul sent for the elders of the church at Ephesus. ... 28 “Keep watch over yourselves. Keep watch over all the believers. The Holy Spirit has made you leaders [bishops] over them. Be shepherds of God’s church. He bought it with his own blood.

...Here, all 3 words clearly apply to a single group, not levels of leadership. No other leadership for the church is discussed.

Answer 2

I don't see any mention of articles of incorporation, or of trustees, or of a tax ID number either. However, modern circumstances dictate such things.

In addition, I don't see any mention of bathrooms, fellowship halls, or church kitchens, so by your logic those shouldn't be in a church either?

And while we're at it, how do you explain Jesus' declaration that "upon this ROCK (petra) I will build my church", referring to Petra (Peter)? In what sense does that NOT mean some sort of leadership?

And how do you assure that church leaders are sticking to teachings that are genuinely Christian? Church leadership came about NOT because they needed to pay for a new building, or to enslave people, but rather because people were teaching false doctrines. Peter and Paul were leaders because they needed to address false teachings in the early church.

And last...

What do you mean "entirely different system"? What are you thinking about? Would these "shared leaders" ever make a decision? If so, how would they do that? Would they have a group of leaders who discuss things and take a vote? If so, isn't that democracy?

Email me if you wanna discuss this... but I think that you misread the passage, and have naive ideas on church leadership.

Answer 3

Really? I only recall Jesus giving the Keys to His Kingdom to ONE man. Keys are the universal symbol of authority. In Jewish culture the keeper of the keys was the chief steward of the household, who held authority over all the other stewards, and answered directly to the Master of the House. The chief steward also directed the running of the household, standing in the place of the Master of the House and exercising the Master's own authority when the Master was not physically present. Jesus knew that his listeners would be well acquainted with this custom, and therefore immediately know the meaning of this obvious analogy. Which is why from that day forward the apostles were referred to as "Peter and his companions". Kind of like "the President and his cabinet".

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Answer 4

You are correct in your observation. The Bible teaches that Jesus is the head of the congregation, and God is his Head. All of the congregation serve in their proper way and by organization and arrangement. Each individual member of the congregation is here to minister to others. That is the way true Christians work. That is the way it was back then and that is the way it is today in my religion. I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses. That is the way God's Kingdom is. It is a real government and Jesus is the King of that kingdom, which is by God's appointment. Today we are fulfilling the prophesy written at

Matthew 24:14: "And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come."

Answer 5

He's not talking about church government, He's talking about rank in Heaven. Ephesians 5:23 says Christ is the head of the church. You can also read the book of Acts if you want to see how the early church was organized.

Answer 6

the Bible also has no mention of a head of a church, I see shared leadership? See Exodus 18. Is that 'scriptural old testament'? No.

Answer 7

That's a shallow interpretation. You must read that verse in light of the whole passage, Verse 20-28. That's all one thought. The wife of Zebedee was asking Jesus to show favoritism to her children. This passage says nothing about church leadership.
When interpreting Scripture remember that "context" is king.

Answer 8

Jesus is the head of the church are bodys are the temple of God we are a part of the body of Christ He is the head of the church

Answer 9

I agree.
All mentions in the Bible of church leadership are plural. Elders, decons, overseers etc.

Answer 10

The demise of organized religion is imminent....yes

however this passage does refer to leadership - as in a great leader is a true servant. And a servant of the Lord, as we SHOULD understand it, is one who will lead others to true salvation by grace in Christ Jesus.

Again about religion - although God knew that man would develop doctrinal religions, His intent was to have true fellowship with Him - and when we have that, and we are not limited by the constraints of organized religion, we can't help but want to know more of Christ, and follow His will more completely.