Who Runs the Church?: 4 Views on Church GovernmentChurches have split and denominations have formed over the issue of church government. While many Christians can explain their church's form of rule or defend it because of its "tried and true" traditions, few people understand their church's administrative customs from a biblical perspective. Who Runs the Church? explores questions such as: What model for governing the church does the Bible provide, and is such a model given for practical or spiritual reasons? Is there room for different methods within Christianity? Or is there a right way of "doing church"? And, finally, how (and by whom) should the church be governed? Four predominant approaches to church government are presented by respected proponents:
As in other Counterpoints books, each view is followed by critiques from the other contributors, and its advocate then responds. |
Contents
| 7 | |
| 21 | |
ROY TAYLOR | 73 |
PAIGE PATTERSON | 133 |
SAMUEL E WALDRON | 187 |
An Episcopalians Closing Remarks | 255 |
A Presbyterians Closing Remarks | 263 |
A SingleElder Congregationalists Closing Remarks | 275 |
A PluralElder Congregationalists Closing Remarks | 287 |
Steven B Cowan | 305 |
About the Contributors | 311 |
Other editions - View all
Who Runs the Church?: 4 Views on Church Government Peter Toon,Paige Patterson No preview available - 2004 |
Common terms and phrases
Acts Anglican Antioch apostles Apostolic Fathers apostolic succession argue argument assembly authority Baptist Confession believe Bible biblical bishops called canon chapter Christian church gov church government Church of England church polity claim clergy Communion congregation congregationalism congregationalists Corinthians council covenant deacons denominations developed distinction divine doctrine early church ecclesiastical ecclesiology eldership elected episcopacy episcopal polity episcopalianism Epistle ernment evangelical evidence faith form of church Gentile God’s gospel historical episcopate Holy Spirit Ignatius independent Israel issue Jerusalem leaders leadership Lord’s matter ment ministers ministry multiple elders Old Testament ordained overseers parity Particular Baptists pastor Patterson Paul plural-elder congregationalism plurality of elders practice presbyterian church presbyterian church government presbyterian polity presbyters priests Protestant Puritan Reformed regard regulative principle response Roman Catholic Church Rome ruling elders Savoy Declaration Scripture second century single-elder spiritual synods Taylor teaching elders Testament church theology Timothy tion Titus Toon’s tradition unity Waldron Word worship
Popular passages
Page 115 - But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Page 86 - 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.
Page 28 - Holy Scripture and ancient authors, that from the Apostles' time there have been these Orders of Ministers in Christ's Church ; Bishops, Priests, and Deacons.
Page 204 - God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the word: and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God and government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature, and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the word, which are always to be observed.
Page 40 - The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as 'containing all things necessary to salvation', and as being the rule and ultimate standard of faith.
Page 143 - 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.
Page 197 - For thus saith the Scripture, in a certain place, " I will appoint their bishops in righteousness, and their deacons in faith.
Page 121 - To the Church of God which is at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints* together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ...