THE BELGIC CONFESSION OF FAITH
– A Commentary – By Dr. Chuck Baynard
The Belgic Confession of Faith,
Article XXXI
The Ministers, Elders, and
Deacons
We believe that the ministers of God's Word, the elders, and the deacons
ought to be chosen to their respective offices by a lawful election by the
Church, with calling upon the name of the Lord, and in that order which the Word
of God teaches. Therefore every one must take heed not to intrude himself by
improper means, but is bound to wait till it shall please God to call him; that
he may have testimony of his calling, and be certain and assured that it is of
the Lord.
As for the ministers of God's Word, they have equally the same power and
authority wheresoever they are, as they are all ministers of Christ, the only
universal Bishop and the only Head of the Church.
Moreover, in order that this holy ordinance of God may not be violated or
slighted, we say that every one ought to esteem the ministers of God's Word and
the elders of the Church very highly for their work's sake, and be at peace with
them without murmuring, strife, or contention, as much as possible.
The Reformed
have always looked to a threefold calling to office in the church. 1. The sense
of calling by God to a particular office in the church by the individual. 2. The
acknowledgement of that call by the congregation to which the person belongs. 3.
The official call, ordination, and installation of the person to the work of the
particular office by a recognized court of the church. All offices in the church
are ordained offices. The modern practice of professional lay people who earn
their keep so to speak within the church courts was a foreign thought to the
reformers.
There is no
difference between elders in the church. Most hold a three office position here
as Pastor, elder, deacon. Many have blended the call of eldership and only have
two offices, whereas they distinguish between those called as pastors and those
called as elders in the church by title and duty only.
There should be three distinct offices per the Bible and this confusion
of offices in the church is part of the disrespect we see for the office of
minister as a whole today, and is an affront to God who specifically listed the
officers given to the church from God as opposed to those called of God to serve
in a particular church alone (elders and deacons). Pastors properly called and
ordained belong to the whole church. They should be respected for the office and
God’s calling more than their own actions. There are mechanisms in place for
men who fail their call or who have sneaked in by ungodly methods or for ungodly
motivations. Among men this will be part of the ministerial scene and places no
stigma on the office which the Bible demands all respect and to listen to these
God ordained officers in ordering the worship and activities of the church.
So while there
is no hierarchy within the eldership per se’. There is a place of office in
order of things that should be maintained and respected. This isn’t unlike the
Godhead where none can biblically debate the equality, yet all would also be
unable to produce biblical grounds there is not a distinction of office within
the Godhead. This is a key concept to understand. We also see this understanding
as key for the place of man and woman within the church and of husband and wife
in marriage. Until we understand this three office issue, we will not understand
the full implication of the Firth Commandment nor how all our earthly
relationships should reflect the relationship that exists within the Godhead.
