Introduction

The disciples saw Jesus Christ as a great leader and organizer. There is no record in the gospels that they bordered themselves on how to organize the earthly ‘organization’ formed by Christ. They never have to worry about organization as he (Christ) was in charge. Jesus prayerfully made the decision on the appointment of the apostles. He also gave them responsibility and duties. They were always accountable to him. Jesus on the eve of his departure gave Peter a leadership role (John 21:15-18). Christ repeatedly told him to tend his Sheep. He (Peter) is required to feed the sheep of God committed to his care. Feeding of the lamb will also require organizing other disciples and the church that is to be the born. How was the church organized after the death resurrection and ascension of Christ? How did the apostles share the enormous task of leadership with other disciples? How did they appoint people to leadership role? Was there any preparation for the selection and appointment of leaders? What was the reaction of people after the result of the selection? These are some of the issues addressed in this paper.

The Holy Spirit led the church in the selection process

Selection of leaders was an integral part of the Church of the New Testament. The Holy Spirit has specific role to play in this process. There were various ways the Holy Spirit helped in making this selection.

Stating the need

There were different needs in the church of the New Testament. One of the keys that helped the Church to meet this need was the ability to see/identify the need. There would not have been any selection process without this important step. Jesus Christ appointed Judas Iscariot as one of the twelve apostles. He lost his position and a vacuum was created. There was therefore need for the apostles to appoint another person to fill his position. This is in accordance with the Scriptures. In Acts 1:15- 20 Peter explained to the people the need. Peter recounted what was said in the Scriptures “ For it is written in the book of Psalm, let his homestead be made desolate, and let no man dwell in it and his office let another man take” (Acts 1:20 NASB). Peter quoted from Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8. These Scriptures were fulfilled in Judas Iscariot through his betrayer of the Son of God. Peter could have just asked for nomination without this explanation. It would leave the assembly wondering on the need for the selection. The lack of understanding could bring misunderstanding to the community that is just recovering the demise of a loved one (Jesus Christ). “The warrant for replacing Judas was Old Testament Scripture. This was Peter’s conviction, which he expressed to the believers… These two scriptures seemed to Peter and the believers adequate guidance on the need to replace Judas” (Scott 1994 p56, 57). The explanation was needed therefore for people to understand the gravity of what Judas did, how a vacancy has been created as a result of his wicked acts and what the stand of the Scriptures is on his replacement. This is essential for any selection process today. Lack of understanding is a great concern today especially in the filling of leadership position in the church. Many who disagree on why a particular appointment is needed may not do so if they were properly briefed on the need for the selection. The same process is also repeated in appointment of people for the deaconate ministry in acts 6:1. There was a complaint of neglect among the gathering of the people in the New Testament Church. The situation could degenerate into something greater if not the timely intervention of the apostles. They were able to identify the need. “And the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables” (Acts 6:2 NASB). The apostles had so much to do hence the need to appoint other people to take the responsibility of serving food among the people. They identified the need. This method is evident in the book of Acts and other books of the Scriptures. Filling of leadership position should be based on need. After stating the need Peter went further in Acts 1 to define the criteria for the selection process.

Criteria For the Appointment

Several criteria were given for selection in the book of acts. These criteria include experience, character, spirituality and gifts.

Experience:

In Acts 1: 22-23, the person to be appointed most have been someone who had experience about the ministry of Jesus Christ beginning with the baptism of John until the day he (Jesus) was taken up from the apostles (ascension). “If Judas’ substitute was to have apostolic ministry he must also have the same qualifications including eye witness experience of Jesus and a personal appointment by him” (Stott 1994, p58). The person must not be a novice. “For the candidate’s witness would be both to the historical facts of Jesus’ life and to the transforming effect of his grace in the life of believer” (David 1990, p33). A novice could be easily deceived. Experience and knowledge is significant in leadership appointment. This appears to be the practice in the book of acts.

Pauline Pastoral epistle also stressed the need for experience and knowledge in the appointment of leaders. (I Tim 3:6).

Character

Another factor that is stressed in the appointment of leaders in acts is character, that is, reputation. “But select from among you, brethren, seven men of good reputation..” (Acts 6:3 NASB). The appointee must be well spoken off by people within and outside the church. Paul in his pastoral epistles to Timothy and Titus also stressed this essential attribute. If the leader leaves a life contrary what he/she professes then he/she is not worth to be a leader. The name of the Lord will be spoken against. The leader will not be able to administer with fairness. Preferential treatment will be evident in his administration. “Certainly the apostles (in Acts 6:3) wanted people of impeccable character, but that character should be a witness to Christ in them and activate involvement in the communicating his love to other” (Lloyd 1983, p136).

Spirituality/Gifts

Leadership in the church is a spiritual assignment. It therefore takes a spiritual leader to give spiritual direction. The church in acts recognized this and therefore gave as condition for appointment of leaders the need for the leader to be spiritual. “But select from among you, brethren, seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom” (Acts 6:3). Been filled with of full of the Holy Spirit is evident of spirituality. The life of the leader must reflect the evidence of submission to the leading of the Holy Spirit. He/she must be willing to seek the will of God in his/her daily activities. People in the congregation must see evidence of this spirituality. “Rather than being merely good administrator or managers of funds, this qualifications requires them to be empowered by the Spirit” (French and Roger 1999, 565). The evidence of spirituality must also be seen in the wisdom of God that will be demonstrated by the would-be leaders of the Church. If wisdom is taken as the gift of God, every leader needs this gift for effectiveness.

Haven specified the criteria for selection process, it was also important for the Apostles in the church of acts to prepare for the selection process.

Preparation for the Selection process

Physical and spiritual preparations are essential before, during and after selection process. According to acts 1:23, the physical preparation is the nomination of people that meet the criteria already stipulated for the selection process. “And they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias” (Acts 1:23 NASB). Having set the criteria earlier, the apostles used their common sense/initiative to nominate people that meet the criteria. “This sound deductive reasoning led to the nomination of Joseph and Matthias” (Stott 1994 p58). I do not think the Holy Spirit will work in a vacuum. He uses our reasoning in fulfilling his purpose too. This is part of our physical preparation in discerning the will of God.

Another important preparation is the Spiritual preparation. The one hundred and twenty people in the upper room may have included the prayer for the successor of Judas with their daily prayer. If they did, their prayer was not limited or restricted to this pre- selection period. After nominating people, they prayed, seeking the will of God in their final decision. “And they prayed and said, ‘Thou, Lord. Who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two Thou hast chosen to occupy the ministry this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place” (Act 1:24-25 KJV). “It was not enough to possess the qualification the apostles had, Judas’ successors must also be appointed by the same Lord who appointed the eleven” (Frank 1981, p266). The only way to ensure this is true prayers. Their prayers reflect total submission and dependence on God who knows all things. They are not depending on their understanding or knowledge. The church needs a conscious decision to depend on God in the appointment of spiritual leader. After prayer “…they drew lots for them…” (Acts1: 26) “a method of discerning God’s will which was sanctioned in the Old Testament, but which does not appear to have been used after the Spirit had come.” (Stott 1994, p58). This method was apparently a way to hear his voice and to obey it. The Holy Spirit has been given to us today, as we pray we can ask for the purpose of God in any situation we find ourselves (selection process included). “For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of a man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God” (I Cor 1:11). This important step is crucial in the selection process of the Church in the book of acts. They spend time in prayer to find out the will of God. No less is expected of the Church today. Fervent prayer, dependence and obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit must guard our selection process. “If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land” (Isa 1: 19)

Having prayed, the apostles and the people in Acts Chapter 1 were willing to accept the selection result as the will of God. “… and the lots fell on Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven” Acts1: 26. There may be other people in the congregation who would prefer Barsabbas, but there was no evidence of complaint or grudge after the selection process. It may be hard for people who feel otherwise to accept the result, but they were able to discipline themselves and submit to the will of God. I consider the unanimous decision shown here to be a great manifestation of maturity by the people involved. Matthias was added to the apostles and he was accorded the same respect given to other apostles. A similar act is reflected in Acts 6. After choosing the seven they were presented to the Apostles, there was no evidence of any decent. Through this selection process the church in Acts was able to organize itself.

The Holy Spirit directed the church to share responsibility among his people.

Recognizing roles in the church

Another important factor in the organizational structure of the church of Acts is sharing of responsibility among people. The selection was not done for the sake of appointing people; it was done to allow other people share in the ministry. This is evidence in Acts 6. The apostles realizing the fact that they cannot do every work of the ministry asked the people to select other people who will share in the ministry. It is important for leaders to recognize this (limitation in roles and calling). They cannot do it alone; other people must be brought in to have a share in the great work committed to the believers in Christ. Hence they said “But select from among you, brethren… whom we may put in charge of this task. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:3). This is a good indication of recognition of roles in the church. “The twelve took the initiative and summoned the body of the disciples, submitting a proposal to them for additional leaders and for division of labor. New situations demand new forms of ministry” (Gerhard 1986, p133). Role sharing helps proper organization of any church.

Equality of ministry

Is there any indication in this passage that one role is more important than the other? Every ministry is unique and important. “There is no hint whatever that the apostles regarded social work as inferior to pastoral work, or beneath their dignity.” (Scott 1994 p121). Serving table is as important as ministry of the word and prayer. The roles are different but they are geared toward fulfilling God’s great mission on earth. Everyone is called to fulfill his/her mission in this world to the glory of Christ. The most important factor in ministry is faithfulness. “In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy (faithful)” (1Cor 4:2 NASB). There is no big or small ministry believers are called to fulfill their parts of the whole mission. Equality of ministry was important for the proper organization of the church of Acts, it should be important for the church today.

Result of proper organizational structure of the church.

When things are doing properly there is bound to be results. The church in acts was able to organize herself through proper selection process and there were positive result.

Growth

“And the word of God kept on spreading: and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem…” (Acts 6:7). As result of the proper selection process initiated by the apostles, the church of Acts grew. “It seems to implied that this effects was promoted by measure just described, the ordination of seven almoners or deacons” (Joseph 1980, 247-248). People were allowed to use their gifts; hence there was increase. Not allowing people to use their gift is under utilization of people and it inhibits growth. This is still true today. For effective growth in the church, people must be allow to fulfill their calling and use their God given gift.

Unity:

It was recorded in acts 6:1 that there was great dissention among the disciples. Through the selection process initiated by the apostles with the Holy Spirit, the people became united and there was no mention of this type of division again in the book of acts. Proper selection process help promote unity among the people of God. If the church must be united we all must be involve in doing our parts. The church of Acts was able to organize itself through this Act.

Conclusion:

It will be right to conclude therefore that the Church of Acts was able to organize itself proper through a selection process that is rooted in proper definition of needs, stating of the criteria for the selection process, making proper preparation for the selection process and sharing of responsibility among its people. This ultimately brought great result for the church.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

David Willams, The Book of Acts, Hendrickson Publishers, Massachusetts, 1990

Eugene Carpenter, Asbury Bible Commentary, Zondervan Publishing house, Grand

Rapids, Michigan 1992

Frank Gaobelein (Ed) The Expositor’s Bible Commentary Vol 9” Zondervan Publishing

house, Michigan 1981

French Arrington and Rogers Stronstad (Eds), Full Life Commentary to the New

Testament, Zondervan Publishing House, Michigan 1999

Gerhard Krovel, Augsbury Commentary on New Testament –Acts, Augsbury Publishing

House, Minnesota 1986

John, Stott, The Message of Acts, Inter Vasity Press, Illinois, 1994

Joseph Addision Alexander Commentary on the Acts of Apostles, Klock & Klock

Christian Publishers, Minnesota 1980

Lloyd Ogilvie (Ed), The Communicator’s Commentary Vol 5, Word Books Publishers, Texas,

1983

New American Standard Bible, The Lockman Foundation, Canada, 1988

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