Article 30 speaks of the government and offices in the church. Christ rules the church directly by His Spirit and Word-but indirectly through officebearers whom He appoints.
The government of the church is spiritual and is exercised in Christ’s Name. The authority of the officebearers is delegated to them of Christ. The “keys of the kingdom” are symbols of this authority (Matt. 16:19). There are various systems of church government: hierarchy is the government of the Roman Catholics with the pope as head over the whole church; congregational government has the congregation exercising complete rule over the church; presbyterian (or: Reformed) government has the rule placed in elders of the church.
The offices in the church include the ministers (or: teaching elders) to preach the Word and administer the sacraments (they represent Christ’s prophetic office); the ruling elders (representing the kingly office) who govern the church; the deacons (representing the priestly office of Christ) involve themselves in the work of mercy.
Such government is necessary (1) that true religion be preserved; (2) that true doctrine be propagated; (3) transgressors punished by spiritual means; (4) the poor and distressed to be relieved.
Article 31 treats especially the three-fold offices in the church. It mentions the choosing of officebearers through a lawful election-but in the consciousness of the necessary guidance of God which must be sought through prayer (Acts 14:23; 24:25).
One must seek the office in proper ways. Undue pressure to obtain it, or even attempts to “purchase” the office with money (simony-from Acts 8) is condemned. One is to await a proper call which has two parts: the internal part which includes a conviction of heart that one must serve, one sees also in self the necessary gifts and the means to develop these; the external part which especially involves the call from a congregation.
In opposition to the Romish hierarchy, the article insists on the equality of all the ministers and officebearers under Christ. The church is reminded also to esteem the officebearers highly for their work’s sake (I Thess. 5:12).
QUESTIONS:
1. What does it mean that Christ is head over all things to the church? (Eph. 1:22)
2. What is the idea and function of the keys of the Kingdom? (Matt. 16:19)
3. What is the relationship between the consistory of a church with the classis and Synod? (see the church order)
4. What do we mean when we speak of the “autonomy” of the local church?
5. What objection did our churches raise in 1925 in regard to the suspension and deposition of officebearers in the common grace controversy? (see: History of the P.R.C.).
6. What is the difference between the terms “officebearers” and “officers”?
7. Is there any way “simony” could be practiced in our churches?
8. What is signified by the “laying on of hands”? Should we do this for elders & deacons?
9. How does one become a “candidate for the ministry”?
10. What if a man has an “internal” call to the ministry-but no “external” call?
11. Is there a danger of not esteeming officebearers? Explain your answer.