Scriptural Ordination

Much foolishness has been broadcast about the ordaining of qualified men to the ministry. Whether a lack of rightly dividing the Scriptures, or trying to appease man, the results are the same. Men and churches are not in God’s order. Thus, it is sin. There have been many studies concerning who is qualified and what makes the individual a qualified candidate for ordination. In this lesson, we will Scripturally define the act of ordination. God promised His churches that the Holy Spirit, as Comforter, would teach us and guide us into truth.

Ministers of the Old Testament were the priests of God. Let’s first consider their example to us today. (I Corinthians 10:1-11) Leviticus 10:8-11 states there must be a holiness, a living example that shows the difference between clean and unclean. Leviticus 21:1-24 gave Israel very specific characteristics to look for in the sons of Aaron to see if they were qualified to fill the priest’s office or not. When there were troubles among the children of Israel, God told the judges to “diligently inquire” or make “diligent inquisition”. Look at Deuteronomy 13:12-14; 17:1-4; and 19:18.

This would be a great way to understand what the men would have to endure to be a priest for God’s service. How would Israel know if a man had a blemish, broken stones, or even the wife’s history? Nothing short of diligent inquisition would reveal these things. There was then an ordination or consecration of those men to the priesthood. Leviticus 8:1-13 explains the procedure for the Old Testament priest entering into the ministry. An intense inquiry and inspection took place first, and then the consecration.

In Jesus’ personal ministry, we have the ordaining of the twelve Apostles. (Matthew 10:1-4; Mark 3:13-21; Luke 6:12-17) Jesus personally knew the hearts of each. When His church gathered upon the mountain, the Scriptures tell us He chose and ordained twelve. I Corinthians 12:28 tells us this was the first office work Jesus placed in the church.

In I Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9, the LORD’S churches have been given the qualifications for both bishops and deacons. Like the Old Testament priests, the New Testament bishops (pastors), and deacons must be examined to ensure they meet God’s given qualifications.

I Corinthians 14:40 commands us that all things be done “decently and in order”. If there is confusion, verse 33 states it is not of God. To be in God’s order, a church must diligently examine the man to ensure he meets Scriptural standards. Then, as a testimony of this, he is ordained.

The Scriptural example of this can be found in Acts 6:1-7. The Apostles called the church in Jerusalem together to consider the matter of ordaining deacons. We can see in the Scriptures that the early church met daily, (Acts 2:46) and were well acquainted one with another. They selected seven men who met the qualifications, set them aside, and after prayer and examination, the Apostles laid their hands upon them. This signified the approval and setting aside of these men to the office of deacon.

Brother Paul makes mention of Brother Timothy’s ordination to the ministry. I Timothy 4:12-16 culminates Brother Timothy’s examination with the “laying on of the hands of the presbytery”.

Putting all this together, it is clear there are necessary elements to ordaining men to the office of either pastor or deacon. First, there must be a qualified man or men. To determine this, there must be an examination. A church must have adequate time set aside to make diligent inquiry whether the man meets the qualifications given in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1.

We also see where a presbytery is used by a church to aid in this examination. A presbytery is simply a council of elders, or men previously ordained to the office of bishop, or the office of deacon. A church would show great wisdom in using all the available resources to ensure the man is truly ready for the ministry, or the office of deacon.

By example, we then see there is prayer and a laying on of hands. The church, herself, may take a great deal of time in the examination of a candidate. In fact, when one surrenders to the ministry, and answers God’s call to the office of a bishop, the church should be looking and considering him from that time forward.

When the time comes for him to be ordained, it is an act of the church. All members should participate and be ready to approve the ordination through a vote, or be ready to show forth reason and proof of why a candidate should not be ordained. A presbytery gives a church a recommendation. It is still the responsibility of that local church to proceed and finally ordain the man.

This is not merely ceremony or tradition. It is absolutely essential that a church do all things decently and in order. A service set aside for the purpose of ordaining a qualified man is God’s order.

Until a church goes through this process and votes to accept the man’s qualifications as proof of his being called of God to the ministry, he is not qualified to fill the office of bishop. When a church votes to set aside a service for the purpose of ordaining a man, that in itself is not ordaining the man. They are merely starting the process of final examination.

From the Old Testament priests to the New Testament bishops and deacons, we have been given clear example. Rightly dividing God’s Word will give us God’s order. It is our responsibility to follow that order and not bring in confusion.