Pryor Scrapbook Clippings, 1945-2000

• INSTALLATION OF ELDERS AND DEACONS AT COLLEGE CHURCH OF CHRIST Searcy, Arkansas October 3, 1971 (Church Polity by William L. Hayden and Scheme of Redemption by Robert Millican were used freely, without documentation, in the preparation of the following message. JEP) Today 1s a special day for this congregation because new elders and new deacons are to be apfiointed to join those who have served in these two capacities for many years. Much preparation has preceded the events of today. In some instances, the pre~aration began two or three generations ago with the grandparents and great grand– parents of those being appointed. In each case, many years of personal study and ~edication have prepared the individual for this hour. In recent weeks much prayer and soul-searching has been involved in the selection of the men, their approval by the congregation, and their own acceptance of the invitation to become an elder or a deacon. It is altogether fitting and proper that we this morning examine the orgar.i · zation of the church of our Lord, the qualifications of elders and deacons, and the work of each office. The system of church organization and administration established by the apostle of Christ for the gove-i:ument and regulation of Christ's disciples is binding on the church to the end of time. Where the apostles bind us, we are bound to observe their directions; where they have left us free, we are free to make our own arrangements according to the law of expedi.ency. The government of the church is still under the rule and guidance of the apostles, as their directions are emboided in the teaching of the Hew Testament, and the affairs of the church are now managed in harmony with their instructions. In the church of our Lord there is but one King, Lord, and Lawgiver--Jesus the Christ. He alone reigns over His church. He has all authority and power--in heaven and on earth. His kingdom is a spiritual kingdom and is not of this world. His church is not a democracy, led by every demagogue who has some selfish impulse drivir:~_ him forward for personal honor or fortune. His church is an abeelute monarchy over which He reigns as Lord of lords and King of kings. He has need, however, of laws, officers, and organization through which His work on earth might be accomplished. ·The New Testament contains His law, written by some of the Apostles and their co– laborers under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. But a book is not sufficient to govern the church. In the Jewish dispensation, after the giving of the Law on Sinai, Moses, Joshua, and the prophets administered the law. In the Christian dispensation, as stated in Ephesians 4:11-16: "He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and som~, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unt~ the building up of the body of Christ: till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the statur~ of the fulness of Christ: that we may be no longer children, tossed to and .fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; but speaking truth in love, may . grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ; from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love." To accomplish this o~ganization for the churches which he had established, the the apostle Paul wrote to Titus, Titus 1 :5-9: ''For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders i c every city, as I gave thee charge; if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children that believe, who are not accused of riot or unruly. Fo~ the bishop