Satan's Strategy to Curse Christ's Congregation: An Analysis of How Anarchy and Apostasy Develop in Christian Congregations & Elderships

By Andy Woods and Keith A. Sherlin

Dr. Sherlin has worked diligently to show the importance of elder rule. What he has done is restore us to sound principles that come straight from the Bible. His book is a must for every assembly that wants to remain strong rather than go the way of the culture. I cannot recommend his book enough. Dr. Mal Couch

In this work, the author sets out the biblical case for congregations being ruled by a plurality of Godly men, known as elders. This work is meticulously footnoted and documented making it an invaluable resource for the layman and scholar alike. Dr. Andy Woods

Keith writes in a manner that is precise and with a fluidity of understanding of current day church leadership. The tone of his writing is shared in love and there are no judgmental undertones that permeate his thoughts. I would wholly recommend this reading to all who profess Christ as their Lord. Pamela Rogers

Dr. Keith has presented a solid case for authoritative leadership in the church. His book is a call for us to return to biblical leadership and be presbyters instead of politicians. Dr. C.V. Varnado

Do you believe that your local assembly is full of conflict, confusion, and/or compromise? Are you familiar with the strategy of Satan and his methods to undermine the grace, love, and truth of Christ's body? This work makes a clear and convincing case that many problems in congregations occur because the body has adopted a flawed foundation of church government and doctrine that is more political than biblical. How much or to what degree has Satan made inroads into your spiritual family and leadership body? Read and judge for yourself and if necessary seek to apply the prescribed remedy to the problem.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Oct 1, 2010
• ISBN: 9781452073842

Andy Woods

Keith Sherlin (BA North Greenville University; MTS Tyndale Theological Seminary; DD Scofield Theological Seminary; Th.D Scofield Theological Seminary; & Ph.D (c) Trinity Theological Seminary) is Dean of Students and a Professor for Tyndale Theological Seminary. He has served as a pastor/elder, church planter, and apologist. He has served on various leadership boards such as Disciple Like Jesus & Christian Release Time Ministries. He has authored numerous articles and several other works to include Essential Christianity (A Biblical Theology), and an apologetics work titled A Reformed Evangelical Dispensational Theodicy. In addition to his ministry work he has also served as a law enforcement officer for the state of South Carolina for many years.

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© 2010 Dr. Keith A. Sherlin. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 08/26/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4520-7384-2 (e)

ISBN: 978-1-4520-7383-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4520-7382-8 (hc)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2010912807

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any Web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible: New International Version®. NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked HCSB have been taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB® and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New living Translation, copyright© 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

I want to thank Jim Eliff for graciously allowing me to use the article, Southern Baptists, An Unregenerate Denomination, in this work. His website ministry can be accessed at http://www.ccwtoday.org He has only asked that the copyright information below be posted, which I have done in exact form as it appears on his website. Southern Baptists, An Unregenerate Denomination, Revised edition, Copyright © Jim Elliff 2005 Christian Communicators Worldwide, Inc. 201 Main, Parkville, MO 64152 USA. Permission granted for not-for-sale reproduction in exact form including copyright.

Contents

Foreword: By Dr. Andy Woods

Preface

Introduction: Satan Hates Christ and His Bride

CHAPTER1.       FAITH EXPRESSED IN LOVE: A PREREQUISITE TO ANY PRESENTATION

CHAPTER2.       SATAN’S STEALTHY STRATEGY TO SATURATE SAINTS WITH SIN

Unity Among Various Traditions Concerning the Apostasy of the Church

Practical Summation of Various Traditions: Satan Has Attacked the Church

CHAPTER3.       RECOGNIZING THE FOUNDATIONAL SIGNS OF A HEALTHY CHURCH

The Seven Highest Universal Essentials Verified from the Early Confessions of Church History

Doctrine # 1: The Triune Lord and His Grand Nature

Doctrine # 2: God Created the Universe from Nothing

Doctrine # 3: God Has Authoritatively Spoken to His Creation through an Inspired Revelation

Doctrine # 4: Mankind Has Sinned and is in Need of Redemption

Doctrine # 5: Jesus Christ is the God-Man and Only Savior of the Cosmos

Doctrine # 6: Salvation from Sin is In Christ Jesus by Grace through Faith

Doctrine # 7: Jesus Christ Will Return to Consummate History by his Kingdom and Establish the New Heavens and New Earth

Summary: Satan Seeks to Undermine these Basic Biblical Foundations through Discipleship of Others in Anarchy and/or Apostasy

CHAPTER4.       A FOUR PRONG CHURCH SYSTEM OF NON-NEGOTIABLE ESSENTIALS: DOCTRINAL; EPISTEMOLOGICAL; HERMENEUTICAL; APOLOGETICAL

Prong #1 - Doctrinal Essentials: A Summary of the Basic Beliefs of the Early Church

Prong # 2 - Epistemological Essentials: Inspired Revelation as the Proper Foundation or Basis for Faith

Prong # 3 - Hermeneutical Essentials: An Acceptable Approach to Understanding Language

Prong # 4 - Apologetical Essentials: the Church Will Seek to Obey the Patterns of Scripture Evidenced by a Plural Body of Elders

CHAPTER5.       GOD’S REVELATION STATES EACH NT CHURCH HAD ELDERS

The Early Church Fathers Embraced Eldership Government Not Congregational Government

The Elder Clement of Rome (A.D. 30-100): The Bishops/Elders Govern the Church

The Elder Ignatius (A.D. 30-107): The Eldership Rules with a Bishop Inside of the Eldership to Guide the Eldership

A Biblical Eldership Will Have a Functional Leader Who is the Primary Leader of the Eldership and Church Body

A Chief Elder among Elders in the Old Testament

A Chief Apostle among the Apostles

A Lead Pastor or a Primary Teaching Pastor to the Elders

Theological Harmony: Consistent with the Trinitarian Nature of God

Summary Concerning Elderships and a Lead Elder

CHAPTER6.       VOTING IN OR OUT ELDERS IS A SIGN OF THE DRIFT TOWARDS APOSTASY

2 Timothy 4:3: Voting In or Out Elders is One Way to Accumulate Teachers to Suit Personal Passions

CHAPTER7.       SOME MAIN ARGUMENTS BY CONGREGATIONALISTS EXAMINED BY THE TESTIMONY OF SCRIPTURE AND LOGIC

Congregationalism’s Central Confession is Democratic Control

Congregational Argument # 1: No Ruling Elders Were Present in the New Testament

The Spiritual Parent View Response

Congregational Argument # 2: Deacon Selection is Equivalent to Elder Selection

The Spiritual Parent View Response

Congregational Argument # 3: The NT Reveals a Duty of the Whole Church to Preserve Unity

Spiritual Parent View Response

Congregational Argument #4: The Church Has the Authority to Discipline the Members

Spiritual Parent View Response

Congregational Argument #5: The Whole Church Elects its Own Officers and Delegates

Spiritual Parent View Response

Congregational Argument # 6: The Spiritual Gifts and the Priesthood of the Believers Prove All Should Govern in the Church

Spiritual Parent View Response

Spiritual Parent View Summary: All Saints Need an Adopted Set of Fathers Known as Elders

CHAPTER8.       TWELVE PRACTICAL/EXPERIENTIAL BENEFITS OF AN ELDERSHIP TEAM

Experiencing a Love for God and Man

Experiencing a Love for Education

Experiencing a Love for Ethical Standards

Experiencing a Love for Evangelism

Experiencing a Love for Personal Holiness

Experiencing a Love for Service through the Spiritual Gifts

Experiencing a Love for Fellowship

Experiencing a Love for Communion with God through Prayer

Experiencing a Love for Worship

Experiencing a Love for Accountability and Discipline

Experiencing a Love for Civic Duty

CHAPTER9.       COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DOCTRINE OF ELDERSHIP

Is not Jesus Christ the Ultimate Authority in the church? If so, why place the authority in the hands of Elders?

Are not all Christians priests and therefore able to make decisions for the church?

In the United States of America the people vote in the Leaders. Why won’t this work in the church?

Does there have to be a definitive answer in the Bible concerning church government? Why cannot a church/denomination personalize their system?

What does a church do if there are no Elders to appoint an initial set of elders into office?

Is it not true that if all of the authority rests with the eldership the people cannot turn the Church around if all of the elders turn liberal or depart from the faith?

How can a single-elder, congregationally-ruled church turn to a plural eldership without destroying the church in the process?

Can the people in the church have any say in who is appointed into office as an elder?

Can the church ever vote on matters, or do the elders make every decision in the life of the church?

What should be done if the entire eldership has turned liberal and they are not responding to any counsel from any member or a large portion of the members?

CHAPTER10: Summary.       TO BE A CHURCH OF FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE THERE MUST BE SPIRITUAL PARENTS TO RULE IN LOVE OVER THE SPIRITUAL CHILDREN

APPENDIX: SOUTHERN BAPTISTS, AN UNREGENERATE DENOMINATION

Bibliography

DEDICATIONS

In some respects this book is a critique of my own beloved heritage. I experienced not only conversion but many years of guidance from the democratic, congregationally-ruled Southern Baptist churches. Though I now differ with them in regard to ecclesiastical structure (something I pray changes over time within this organism), I want to still dedicate this work to my spiritual leaders in the local assemblies who led me over the years, many of whom were Southern Baptist leaders. Even with this difference I now hold in contrast to the standard practice among Baptists, I am deeply grateful and thankful that God used these leaders in my life to lead me towards Christ. These leaders have traveled a road before me with a motive of love, and I pray heaven’s richest blessings upon them now and for eternity.

To Robert Johnson: Thank you for preaching the gospel and believing the Bible at a time when many Southern Baptists did not. Though I don’t recall many of your sermons due to my young age, I do recall a few where you stood up and took a strong defense for the Bible as many SBC pastors of the 1980’s were not willing to do due to the liberal educational institutions of that time. Additionally, even to this day I still recall the Sunday that you were preaching and the Lord drew me to him and I walked down to you at the front to meet you to talk about my need for Christ. I can still see you, kneeling down with the Bible open in your hand as we read Romans 10:9-10 together and I confessed Christ as my Lord and Savior. Additionally, I still recall the many days of being in your presence at the church parsonage as my family and yours fellowshiped together. Thank you for your service to us all and for your preaching of the gospel.

To Harold Thompson: Thank you for serving me in my early teen years. To this day I am so grateful for all of the time I spent with you and your son as we did life together through church and school. I learned much from spending time with you around the dinner table and as Chris and I would do normal kid stuff (playing video games, mischievious deeds, etc). I learned much from you as I watched you interact with people on the phone, as you worked to serve the people in the day-to-day operations of the local church. You were a great model for me to see and learn how to relate to people with kindness and gentleness, even when you did not agree with or like what the people were doing.

To Tony Beam: You were my first youth pastor, or what I would now term as the elder over youth and family ministries. I recall you and your wife working so hard with us. Though I did not have much time with you before you left, I still recall you being very friendly, dedicated to the Bible, and willing to show mercy to those who had done wrong. I’m still sorry about all of us sneaking out of the church building windows into the graveyard at night to meet the girls. I’ll never forget seeing you walk into the room as I was helping my friend escape through the window. I just knew we were going to be punished with an indefinite sentence that would last until we were at least grown adults. In that situation, however, you handled yourself well and even through your anger I saw the fruit of the Spirit in your life. You were stern yet merciful, and I learned so much about Christ from that situation that still helps me to temper my responses and actions today towards those who have done wrong.

To Elaine Roark: I still hold a deep gratitude for the Lord’s use of you in my life at a critical time. The Lord used you to help me become interested in the Bible, a book that I had up until that point hardly read. I learned so much from you in your teaching sessions with the youth. Your personal time and attention, the many walks around the lake at Furman University, the prayer times together, and your constant persistence that I live out my faith were catalysts for me making crucial decisions for Christ in my life at an early age. I refrained from drinking, drugs, and sexual promiscuity due to your influence. But beyond that, I learned what it meant for a saint to truly sacrifice time, energy, and resources to pour into a disciple. Though I have lost connection with you and I am not sure how you are now doing in life, I am grateful beyond measure for your service in the Lord. Whenever I give my testimony I still reference how the Lord used you in my life to direct me towards a life like the Savior’s.

To Joe White: Words cannot express to you how thankful I am that the Lord in his providence sent you to the area and arranged it so that I would be under your spiritual care. I know you knew things about me and my future before I did (the Lord’s call on my life), but I’m thankful you were patient and allowed the Lord to work in his due time. Your spiritual guidance in my life is not something I can easily calculate or communicate with any conciseness. From you I learned how to teach the Bible, how to love people and lead people, and how to study in depth in a college program. I suppose your pastoral leadership was a life-altering model for me. All of the opportunities that you gave to me to minister, preach, and serve were some of the greatest lessons of life. Additionally, your leadership and love—coupled with, at times, a necessary dose of courage to confront—displayed while I was going through some tough times relationally touched my life in depths that you may never know this side of eternity. I appreciate you and pray the Lord continues to give you much grace as you do the work of the Lord.

To Jeff King: One of the toughest battles of life for me spiritually happened under your care as you worked under Joe’s pastoral leadership. I know I argued with you often but your steady defense of the gospel and your love for the grace of Christ finally helped me to break free from the sins of ascetisim, gnosticism, and legalism. Though I’m not sure if you knew it at the time, you helped me to find something so important in the Christian life, the art of balance. I’m forever grateful for those times together, because if I had continued to minister in the spirit of ascetism and legalism I could have done so much damage for many more years. The seeds you sowed into me, the principles you taught me, and the defense of the freedoms you had in Christ set me on the right path, a path on which I still find new discoveries that could never have been found without you countering my ideology in those early days of ministry.

To Chuck Mullinax: I’ll never forget sensing the Spirit to drive to your house one afternoon after college. I still recall your words when I walked over to you on the swing: Hello Keith, I came out here to swing and wait on you as I knew you were coming by to see me. I am so thankful for your encouragement as I began to minister and teach the word of God. I’ll never forget the night service where I was preaching in your pulpit and the Lord touched my heart and confirmed that he wanted me to pursue him deeper and use my gifts to teach others the Word of God. I recall that night even the community support as many members from Morgan Chapel Baptist came to hear me preach and teach there with your people. And our time working together in ministry as I came on board to serve as a minister with you was a great time together watching God work among the body, among the youth, and in the community. I learned so much in my time there with you. One of the greatest lessons you taught me was while I had an internship assignment with you. I’ll never forget us sitting in your office talking about sermon preparation and other ministry duties, and how it all had to be in balance. I learned so much about being practical and relevant. And, of course, it would not be right to fail to mention that from you I learned to seek and pursue the holy fire of God when preaching and teaching. Thank you for all of your service and guidance.

To David Carter: My mind and heart fills with deep praise each time I think back to my first two meetings with you. Though Satan attempted to thwart the first meeting, when we finally did get together I knew I had found in you a man of courage and conviction, yet one who had wisdom, skill, and grace underlying. You took me by the hand and you continued to help me hone my skills. In you I watched a pastor who labored in love to try and turn around a spiritual drift that plagued not only a fellowship but a denomination and a nation at large. Additionally, you were so encouraging to me in my academic and theological studies. You were the first to encourage me in my studies on God’s sovereignty while at the same time holding my feet to the proverbial fire on the doctrine of the atonement and the urgent need to share the gospel with a hot passion from the soul. In you I learned what it meant to be both a theologian and an evangelist. Furthermore, from you I learned much about how to serve even under persecution. Words cannot express to you how much the Lord used you in my life to shape me.

To Gerald Burnett: Well, even if I have not been able to talk you into giving me the B.H. Carroll commentary set you own, I can still be thankful for you in the many other ways you taught me outside of the books. Thank you for letting me learn and develop in my ministry style. The freedom you gave provided me the necessary room to learn how to make theology alive for the people I taught. Furthermore, I appreciate how you sought to show mercy in all circumstances with all people. Your constant goal to make sure the leadership team was in harmony engrained into me the importance of team leadership, which was the seed that blossomed into this very study itself through which I embraced the doctrine of eldership. I am thankful the Lord used you and the others around us to grow and point me towards a deeper study of what it means to be an elder/pastor.

To Eric Sipe: What a difference one phone call can make in one’s life. Thank you for taking the time that rainy afternoon to answer your phone and to chat with me for an hour or more on the precious doctrines of the Word of God. I also thank you for your time over lunch where we continued to discuss doctrine. I was about as nervous as one could be in leaving the SBC to venture into a new journey and road with the Bible Churches. Thank you for being a man dedicated to the distinctives of the Bible Conference movement. Although I am not of the right generation to meet the likes of Dr. Chafer and Dr. Walvoord, I still found in you the spirit that I read and studied about so much while in undergraduate theological training. The art of verse by verse teaching came alive for me while under your leadership. Additionally, thank you for allowing me to teach in the service and especially in the Family Bible classes. In those Family Bible classes I realized my love for teaching to a greater degree than I had ever before in my life. And last of all, thank you for giving me opportunity to serve as an elder along with your team. Those years of service gave me an inside perspective, a solid dose of theology in practice, and a model to build and work from for the rest of my life. Thank you for your service and guidance.

To Terry Johnson: Coming from an SBC background into a Bible Church where there was a plurality of elders was a new step of faith for me. Yet you did so much to confirm for me what I had read and studied about in the Bible and in other books by teachers on the doctrine of eldership. I read in the Bible and books about what elders did, and when I was placed in your Shepherd group I saw what I read being lived out in action. I’m so thankful for those many nights where we sat in your basement and prayed with other believers, shared our struggles, and received fatherly guidance from you. On numerous occasions you looked out for me like one of your own. As my direct elder you helped me solidify the importance of division of labor among an eldership team. I gained from you both spiritual and physical aid as you served me both as an elder and as my medical doctor. Your kindness and gentleness reflected Christ to me. And your encouragement for me not to dismiss evangelicalism due to the friction between evangelicals and fundamentalists, even while within a fundamentalist church, led me to an evangelical model of theology that I still cherish and cling to this very day. I can’t thank you enough for your labors of love.

To Scott Stewart: What a blessing it was to receive encouragement from you as a fellow Reformed brother while taking a new direction in my life in regard to ministry. I am so thankful to see the work of the Lord in your life, your passion for communicating the gospel in a culurally relevant manner through the arts, and for your love for the community where you serve. The Landrum SC and Tryon NC area is my home and I am so deeply thankful you are serving the Foothills areas with the gospel of grace. I appreciate your friendship and encouragement. I appreciate you and the work you are engaged in here within my beloved home community.

To Bradley Cox and Seth Cain: How sweet it has been in providence to meet you two brothers in the Lord. I’m grateful you two have been around and willing to help me walk through some tough new ideas theologically. Your prayers, your time, and your dedication to the gospel have been refreshing. Your teamwork, love for one another, respect for one another, and your excellent relational skills show the love of Christ working through you both. It is a treasure to see you work and labor for the Lord. I’m grateful to be able to learn from you and with you in our journey home to glory. Thank you for your work and service in the Lord.

BOOK REVIEWS

One of the greatest issues facing churches today is how to be biblical with all the changes taking place in our culture. Too many churches are compromising and buying into the culture, importing error into the congregation. The key to correcting this is directing the church by elder rule. Without strong, wise, and spiritual elders, and deacons as well, the church will shift. Dr. Sherlin has worked diligently to show the importance of elder rule. He has given the biblical directives as to what the elder should be, and how he should act. Many people in our churches, and church leadership as well, have been neglecting the doctrine of leadership. What Dr. Sherlin has done is restore us to sound principles that come straight from the Bible. His book is a must for every assembly that wants to remain strong rather than go the way of the culture. I cannot recommend his book enough.

Dr. Mal Couch; Th.D; Ph.D

Founder of Tyndale Theological Seminary

President, Scofield Ministries

Clifton, Texas

Keith Sherlin has a passion for the Gospel and for building up Christ’s Church that shows in this book. This volume is a timely reminder that the enemy of God and His people is active and personal and seeking to hinder the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing together people from all nations to the praise of His glorious grace. A robust and biblically based ecclesiology must be the perpetual study of every generation lest human wisdom and traditions lead us away from the perfect plan that has been revealed to us in the Word

Jon Bell,

Maine

In this work, the author sets out the biblical case for congregations being ruled by a plurality of Godly men, known as elders. The writer carefully interacts with arguments employed by those seeking to dethrone this model in exchange for vesting ultimate authority in the congregation rather than in God-appointed shepherds. This work seeks to strike the proper balance between appropriate congregational input into church decisions and congregational overreaching. This work is meticulously footnoted and documented making it an invaluable resource for the layman and scholar alike.

Dr. Andy Woods; Ph.D; JD

Professor, Houston College of the Bible

Houghston, Texas

Keith writes in a manner that is precise and with a fluidity of understanding of current day church leadership. The tone of his writing is shared in love and there are no judgmental undertones that permeate his thoughts. It is apparent that he has studied the scriptures in depth to appropriate an educated synopsis from which to share. Keith’s acquaintance with leadership controversies that exist in the body of Christ at large will be enlightening to all readers who desire to seek truth as their foundation over denominational church doctrines. I would wholly recommend this reading to all who profess Christ as their Lord.

Pamela Rogers

Boise, Idaho

Dr. Keith has presented a solid case for authoritative leadership in the church. His book is a call for us to return to biblical leadership and be presbyters instead of politicians. After reading this work I had to ask myself, Have we exchanged biblical theology for secular political philosophy concerning church government?

Dr. C.V. Varnado

Th.M & Ph.D; Dallas Theological Seminary

The wisest writing is done from the depths of personal experience. Tempered with a solid Biblical background against the experience of being a pastor for many years Keith has crafted a warning to pastors regarding Satan’s methods of subverting a church. The warning needs to be heeded today.

Bill Pershing

Missouri

I would guess that a great many of us who have grown up evangelical have experienced the utter frustration of working with a leadership unprepared to oversee Christ’s Church. Spirituality, knowledge of the Word, and ability to govern were never analyzed or required of them. They received their commission the American way: more votes than the next guy. As the spiritual temperature of most of our church congregations continues to fall, we need to hear those who will put our feet to the fire. I believe that Keith Sherlin is one of those chosen voices. Whether you agree with him in all respects or not, I encourage you to read this work and draw about yourself the warm garments of Biblical input. Let him stir your heart and inspire your mind to obey God’s Word.

William F. Luck, Sr.

Retired Associate Professor of Bible and Theology

Moody Bible Institute; Chicago IL

The Satanic world system includes a gradual process