There is a movement today which emphasizes the importance of the family—and that is good. The family is the basic unit of society and sound families give strength to a culture and nation. Strong families with a father and mother present, marked by reverence for the Word of God, will give children the training and security which they desperately need.
However, some feel that the family is all that is needed. The local church is given a secondary place, if any. There may be an emphasis on the leadership of the father, who becomes the absolute authority in the family and the source of all spiritual training; other teachers and leaders are viewed as unnecessary. The family may meet with other families in a home at times, but the association is rather tentative and easily broken. The family is paramount over the church.
Of course, it is right for the man to take leadership in his family. “Wives submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church, and He is the Saviour of the body” (Eph. 5:22-23 NKJV). But in connection with that exhortation, there is an emphasis on the church’s submission to Christ. To minimize the importance of the local church is to neglect the teaching of Scripture. God has emphasized the importance of saints meeting together in assembly fellowship and warns against neglecting this (Heb. 10:25).
The apostles gathered believers together into churches wherever they preached (Acts 2:42). A family isolated in a home lacks the gift and wisdom that can be found in a larger body. The place is not important, but, as groups begin to grow, they often discover that a home is not adequate for meetings.
As an assembly meets together it will need leadership. The apostles could have established churches with a bishop or pastor in charge, but under the leadership of the Holy Spirit they appointed elders. A plurality of leadership will bring wisdom to the decisions made. “And in a multitude of counselors there is safety” (Prov. 24:6). To be without recognized elders was regarded as a lack, a sign of weakness. Paul wrote to Titus: “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you” (Titus 1:5). He then spelled out the qualifications for elders. They should be the most spiritual, godly men in the fellowship, models for the saints to follow (1 Pet. 5:3).
Elders are responsible for the teaching and care of the flock entrusted to them. “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts. 20:28). They must correct error, “holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict” (Titus 1:9). One day they must give an account for their care of the flock to the Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4). It is a heavy responsibility.
The believers are exhorted to be submissive to the leadership of the elders. A man may be the leader in his own home, but he is not a law to himself. If he becomes extreme in some of his views and slips into false doctrine, the elders are there to help him recover. Of course, the elders’ authority is found in God’s Word, not in arbitrary, human decisions. Be very slow to ignore the leadership of your elders. “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give an account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you” (Heb. 13:17). Do not be a rebel—rather “submit to one another in the fear of God” (Eph. 5:21).