The Selecting of the Seven

[Donnie Gillum]

Here is a topic for discussion that may be of interest of all members of the Network: The Selecting of the Seven (in Acts 6). This topic has piqued my curiosity for several years, and has offered plenty of food for thought…and raised many questions concerning leadership of the early church. While I do have some ideas of my own, I would love to see how my Network Brethren think, feel and analyze this subject…as each of us bring to attention particular points for consideration.

Here’s a background summary of Acts 6:1-8:
The early church’s efforts to meet the needs of the widows among them were leaving particular ones overlooked somehow. The apostles called the large congregation of disciples together and instructed them to look out seven men from among them to take care of this task. The apostles gave the disciples specific qualifications to look for. The disciples presented the required seven men…the apostles gave their approval by the laying on of hands and prayer…and the church grew.

Beginning questions:
Why choose men?
Why didn’t the apostles just handpick the seven men themselves?

[Donnie Gillum]

Protecting the seven...against burnout?
We’ve probably all seen, or been a “victim” of it at some time. Someone has noticed how easy it is to recruit “so and so” to do yet another task. Quite likely, “so and so” accepts because they feel that to respectfully decline would be a rebellion against authority. Or, they may be thinking they are really “busy for the kingdom”. The added responsibility takes more of their precious time and energy from their family…and they are used to the point of burnout! (This is most likely unintentional by the leadership.)

While I may not be able to “prove” every aspect or idea presented here, I would like to offer something that may be of help…especially to the young men of our Network , who are married and are fathers. I’m no super-authority, but don’t allow my handsome profile picture to fool you. I am 60 years old (but think I’m 30, feel like I’m 25, and at times, act like a teenager. LOL!) It is with hindsight that I put forward the following. Also, please note, I am not attempting to refute God’s divine order here. I just ask that you hear me out.

In the past, I have been a slave to the “God first, then the church and the family next” mentality of prioritizing my time. Somewhere I came to the realization that it was not worth it, to me, for my whole city to be saved…and my family lost. In my “busy-ness for the kingdom”, it was my family that was making the greatest, and unnecessary sacrifice. (Much more could be said here.)

I’d like to think that the apostles had more in mind…than just the business at hand. The apostles realized the job would be time consuming (Isn't that the implied reason they didn’t do it themselves?) Interestingly, there were twelve apostles, but only seven chosen for this business. There is no record of the apostles saying, “O.K. now Steve, you’ll be the PR man; Phil, your in charge of outreach; Proc, you, Nican, Tim, and Par answer to Nic.” Instead, it seems they were appointed and allowed the collective wisdom of them all to operate. (A contrary and revolutionary idea, I know.)

Maybe all seven were needed each day to oversee the serving of tables. I don’t really know. But, since it was a daily task, could it be that there was one "deacon" for each day of the week…therefore not overloading, or tying these men down either (as the apostles themselves didn’t wish to be)? It was not a matter of applying the old formula: “If you want something done, find the busiest person to do it.” I’d like to think the apostles were considerate of these men as well. I mean, after all, these men had places to go, things to do, and people to see – didn’t they?

The bible doesn’t say how long this condition of the widows, or position of appointment, lasted. But somehow Steven found time to do great wonders and miracles among the people, and deliver a fantastic sermon to the local ministerial fellowship (attended by a future apostle appointee). Phillip spent a few days on evangelistic tour down in Samaria etc. And poor Bro. Phil, bless his heart, had a family of at least four daughters!

I’m thinking this is something that leadership, and other kingdom workers need to keep in mind – protection against burnout. To break the “we’re going fishing today!” promise to go “work on the church building” will not positively impress that little boy for the kingdom of God. To always miss “tea time” with that little girl will not go far to teach her to love your God. Never having time for the wife will do much to tempt her to resentment of you, the local church…and God!

At the distant end of life’s stage, you may look back and see that you’ve won thousands, and train hundreds. But in the shadows, what you don’t want to see is a disappointed, hurt and neglected (like the widows) family wishing that God had loved them too.

I’m not merely suggesting that you take time for your wife and children. Rather, I am beseeching you brethren, that you MAKE time…just for them…and often. Why do we think God made snow, if not to gather everyone in the family together and go out and make snowmen, snow angels, get everyone good ‘n cold ‘n wet…and go in and drink hot chocolate – together. Brethren, that’s why God made snow!

With all due respect,
-Donnie

[Brandon Steinke]

Bro Donnie, some interesting concepts there, but very well said and intentioned. Thank you. I agree whole-heartedly with your comments on the family. If all we do is sacrifice, we'll end up with nothing but a pile of burnt ashes. Food for thought.

[Nathan Miller]

Good words, Donnie. I couldn't agree with you more. I also cannot help but think of past revivals and movements of God where one could easily tell that it was the Spirit who was leading, working, reviving--and not just man working! Could it be that at times we are too concerned with causing something to happen of ourselves, that we miss out on being with the One who really makes anything happen at all? I don't want to carry an idea too far, but I sometimes wonder if God is waiting for us to wait on Him.

[Donnie Gillum]

Welcome to the conversation, Nathan. i, too, can remember past revivals where the Spirit was more obvious in It' involvement. You may be right on the idea of God waiting on us to wait on Him.

[Donnie Gillum]

Our discussion of the Selecting of the Seven opens up many other extended and related side-topics along the way. It may be worthwhile to “chase” one of those “rabbits” at this point. Touching at one point on the area of Pastoral Eldership, Bro. Dave Huston offered an article for further investigation into the subject. It also is a manifestation of the wisdom God has given our brother. The article may be found at this link:
http://www.gloriouschurch.com/html/Advantages-Of-Pastoral-Eldership...

I found this article to be laid out in a very comfortable, easy to read style (a manner which I feel is best for communicating God’s Word – the intellectuals and people like me, both can understand it. Lol!) Bro. Dave briefly covers five distinct advantages of Pastoral Elderships…which are indeed advantages, and well worth a side-trip from our discussion tour. There are several situations that came to mind as I read each advantage, and I’m sure the Network brethren could add more. I will only mention one.

There is another condition that I have noticed over the years, that could be more readily avoided under the Eldership system: namely the unhealthy desire of some to be over and control others. (Cautiously, I might add that it often seems to surface in organizational ladder-climbing, or position-holding ambition.) The “lord-it-over” attitude is at times noticeably (and painfully) displayed in the single-man pastoral position. Not only does this inflict an injury for which people have no remedy, it very effectively stifles the creative, and cooperative efforts (and desire) of those in the congregation…and discourages many.

There are many honorable exceptions of course, and I thank God for them. However, this attitude seems to have more room to operate under the one-man condition. It can become so extreme as to allow no room for other God-given offices. (Sadly, I am aware of some such conditions.) In a reply in our discussion, Bro. Dave emphasizes the point about how far we have strayed from biblical pattern. How far indeed! But I do see the oversight by Elders as a much safer environment for both, the leaders and the lead.

Again, the article is well worth the side trip, and may even provide additional ammunition for our discussion.

[Donnie Gillum]

Here is a factor that I noticed many years ago (one of many that set me to wondering about modern practices): It is the amount of freedom to work as the Spirit allowed or dictated. I don’t think Stephen or Phillip (or the other five) were Johnny-come-lately’s. As someone in our conversation mentioned – they didn’t “become” after chosen…they already “were”. In other words, Stephen and Phillip didn’t become powerful men of God because they were selected. They most likely were selected because they were powerful men of God – already!

So we can see the quality of disciples in the early congregation at Jerusalem. We know Phillip was led of the Spirit to help the Ethiopian in the desert. But notice what it says about Stephen: (Act 6:8) And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. How many modern day Apostolics would allow this? Yet the apostles never sent someone to pull Stephen aside and assign him a job description with a page or two of statutes and limitations.

It’s obvious he recognized the apostles leadership, as well as the other six. My question is: Just how much liberty was there in the early church? How much liberty is there where the Spirit of the Lord is? What concerned me was the comparison to modern day methods that effectively squelch the efforts and desire of many to even seek after the leading of the Spirit…lest they be labeled as unruly and “not under any authority”.

[Donnie Gillum]

Since we are discussing the Selection of the Seven, here's another method of selecting leadership some may want to consider:


Chain Rabbi

The results of a computerized survey indicate the perfect Rabbi preaches exactly fifteen minutes. He condemns sins but never upsets anyone. He works from 8:00 AM until midnight and is also a janitor. He makes $50 a week, wears good clothes, buys good books, drives a good car, and gives about $50 weekly to the poor.

He is 28 years old and has preached 30 years. He has a burning desire to work with teenagers and spends all of his time with senior citizens. The perfect Rabbi smiles all the time with a straight face because he has a sense of humor that keeps him seriously dedicated to his work. He makes 15 calls daily on congregation families, shut-ins and the hospitalized, and is always in his office when needed.

If your Rabbi does not measure up, simply send this letter to six other synagogues that are tired of their Rabbi, too. Then bundle up your Rabbi and send him to the synagogue on the top of the list. In one week, you will receive 1,643 Rabbis and one of them will be perfect. Have faith in this procedure. One congregation broke the chain and got its old Rabbi back in less than three weeks.

Keep that last statement in mind if you try this! -Donnie