The Appointment of Elders

Perhaps Titus was to go there and see who God has raised up? And then he would appoint them to the work?

I mean, Samuel annointed David, but only after God pointed him out.


No matter what, you can bet if Titus were to choose, he'd spend some time in prayer to do so.


Also, it could be that Paul was telling Titus to go back to his own local church. Furthermore, Paul was an Apostle. He had authority that doesn't exist today.... I mean, I haven't seen anyy Apostles running around.

 

Paul is not telling Titus to APPOINT elders. He is telling him to ORDAIN elders.

Appoint is like hiring someone. It's how I managed to get 'drafted' for this position or that.

Ordaining speaks of teaching and training folk so that they are equipped to teach and train others. Hence they become elders.

Do you really think that someone who is qualified to be a pastor but isn't currently pastoring loses the postion/title of elder simply because he doesn't have a church? Are deacons not also considered elders?

 

You know that is an interesting question. Perhaps some of more learned folk will kindly explain why one version uses the word ordain and the other appoint and what the original context was.

 

Food for thought: where these elders appointed for life? I mean, who is to say that once Titus appointed them, they were stuck with them for the rest of their lives?

I must remember that this was the early, young church. Maybe Paul had to tell Titus to do this since this was the start of the church. I bet that after the church got started, they elected their own people thereafter---but that is merely speculation. I wasn't there.

 

This is pretty much my idea as well. I know there is some tradition in other denoms of the local church not electing their own pastors. However, even those who pastor those churches are volunteers who are trained by those in the church. (I am loosely including everyone involved in training all the way down to their childhood SS teachers) You can't discount even in those denoms that there is input from the local congregations on who gets to pastor. (maybe not where, but who)

 

What?? Someone would actually "stretch" Scripture to make it fit their doctrine????


"Say it isn't so, Ethel!" :tonofbricks: :laugh: :laugh:

Ed

 

How else would it be done?
As you said, there are no longer apostles or their emissaries to do it.

Acts 1 describes how a vacant church office was filled.
Should we cast lots for a pastor too?

 

Who would appoint the elders? As pointed out by others already there are no apostles today.

By the congregation choosing the pastor aren't they really appointing them to the position?

Bill

 

In Acts 2, they cast lots to replace Judas. Who knows if God approved of this...Scripture does not say.

However, Jesus chose Paul.

What we are left with is having to read the Word, and seek God's will thru prayer.