I received responses from 2 brothers who are professors at the seminary in town with respect to my question about the Lord’s Supper. The following is my question and their responses (all translated from Slovak):
Dear brothers in Christ,
I have a question for both of you, but first I must give you the context from which my question arises...
I am recalling one statement that you (brother “A”) told me last Sunday after church services when we discussed our potential pastoral candidate. You said, “The highest organ in our denomination is the congregation.” You said this when we were discussion whether or not to announce the meeting that would be with our potential pastoral candidate. Remember that?
I’m recalling this one sentence because it creates a problem in the context of our discussion that we had (the elders, you and others) regarding the Lord’s Supper last year in October or November.
Now I’ll form my question. If we truly believe that the congregation is the highest organ in our church, why do we have the tradition (or rule or habit) to allow only ordained people to lead the Lord’s Supper? The same question applies for baptism. Why do we (Slovak Baptists) think that it is more advantageous for a pastor or ordained person to do baptism, the Lord’s Supper, etc., if the congregation is the highest organ in the church, not the elders nor the pastor?
Of course, I’m not saying that just anyone could do these things - otherwise just anyone who is not spiritually mature could preach an do these other things. But, why in the church cannot a person who is seen, received and recognized as spiritually mature lead the Lord’s Supper or baptize?
Again I will return to what you said to me when you told me that the highest organ is the congregation. If it really is so, then we should not reserve certain functions for people with titles or positions, but rather according to spiritual gifts and spiritual condition, yes? (I’m speaking, of course, of things outside of governmental regulations like weddings & funerals. Those are things that the government requires.)
So, I ask you, brothers, to think about these things and discuss them between yourselves. If you want, write me emails. I’d be glad to hear your opinions.
I’m only putting this out on the table because it is creating problems for me on theological and practical sides of the issue. I don’t want to continue doing things only because of ritual, but Biblically. I think that sometimes our traditions hamper us more than help us.
I look forward to your responses.
AND HERE ARE THEIR RESPONSES:
I think that the highest authority must by the Word - the congregation decides about things that don’t concern faith. In these things, that which the Word says must be what informs us.
As far as the issue of serving the Lord’s Supper or other functions, it is important that the person who is executing, be accepted with respect as a representative of Jesus Christ. If people need ordination for that, then let it be. It is urgent that the faith of those who are receiving his ministry not suffer.
I hope I understood your question. If not, we can talk more when together.
***********
Hi Kelly,
I don’t see any problem in ordained ministry a gifted brothers. If the church truly considers someone as spiritually mature for executing some ministries, it can set him aside (ordain him) for that. That’s it in a nutshell.
That the church business meeting is the highest organ doesn’t mean that it can arbitrarily decide about whatever it chooses because the church business meeting should respect and take into account theological and sacral development with regards to the denomination.
More in person.
************
What do you think?
Dear brothers in Christ,
I have a question for both of you, but first I must give you the context from which my question arises...
I am recalling one statement that you (brother “A”) told me last Sunday after church services when we discussed our potential pastoral candidate. You said, “The highest organ in our denomination is the congregation.” You said this when we were discussion whether or not to announce the meeting that would be with our potential pastoral candidate. Remember that?
I’m recalling this one sentence because it creates a problem in the context of our discussion that we had (the elders, you and others) regarding the Lord’s Supper last year in October or November.
Now I’ll form my question. If we truly believe that the congregation is the highest organ in our church, why do we have the tradition (or rule or habit) to allow only ordained people to lead the Lord’s Supper? The same question applies for baptism. Why do we (Slovak Baptists) think that it is more advantageous for a pastor or ordained person to do baptism, the Lord’s Supper, etc., if the congregation is the highest organ in the church, not the elders nor the pastor?
Of course, I’m not saying that just anyone could do these things - otherwise just anyone who is not spiritually mature could preach an do these other things. But, why in the church cannot a person who is seen, received and recognized as spiritually mature lead the Lord’s Supper or baptize?
Again I will return to what you said to me when you told me that the highest organ is the congregation. If it really is so, then we should not reserve certain functions for people with titles or positions, but rather according to spiritual gifts and spiritual condition, yes? (I’m speaking, of course, of things outside of governmental regulations like weddings & funerals. Those are things that the government requires.)
So, I ask you, brothers, to think about these things and discuss them between yourselves. If you want, write me emails. I’d be glad to hear your opinions.
I’m only putting this out on the table because it is creating problems for me on theological and practical sides of the issue. I don’t want to continue doing things only because of ritual, but Biblically. I think that sometimes our traditions hamper us more than help us.
I look forward to your responses.
AND HERE ARE THEIR RESPONSES:
I think that the highest authority must by the Word - the congregation decides about things that don’t concern faith. In these things, that which the Word says must be what informs us.
As far as the issue of serving the Lord’s Supper or other functions, it is important that the person who is executing, be accepted with respect as a representative of Jesus Christ. If people need ordination for that, then let it be. It is urgent that the faith of those who are receiving his ministry not suffer.
I hope I understood your question. If not, we can talk more when together.
***********
Hi Kelly,
I don’t see any problem in ordained ministry a gifted brothers. If the church truly considers someone as spiritually mature for executing some ministries, it can set him aside (ordain him) for that. That’s it in a nutshell.
That the church business meeting is the highest organ doesn’t mean that it can arbitrarily decide about whatever it chooses because the church business meeting should respect and take into account theological and sacral development with regards to the denomination.
More in person.
************
What do you think?
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