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 The
July 23, ‘74 Firm Foundation had as its central theme “some
very good material” on elders and preachers (according to the
editor). Bro. Jack Pope’s “Charge to the Elders” was
printed, in which he said, “An elder is a bishop,
the vicegerent of the Lord who is the Supreme Sovereign.”
I read it three times before I could believe he said it. Then, I
decided I must not know what the word “vicegerent” meant, so
I checked some reliable authorities. Yes, that’s it.
Funk
and Wagnall’s Dictionary says “Acting in the place of
another, usually in the place of a superior; having delegated
power.” Again, “One empowered by a superior authority to
discharge the duties or fill the place of that authority; one
duly authorized to exercise the powers of another.”
Webster’s
Third International says “Someone or something that
substitutes for another.” Again, in Webster Collegiate, “The
officer deputed by a superior, as a monarch, to exercise the
powers of another; a vicar.”
“Vicegerent”
is not a common word among saints; having a Roman Catholic
connotation to those even casually acquainted with church
history, for the “Vicar of Christ” is to them the Pope.
Their “vicar apostolic,” “vicar capitular,” “vicar
general,” etc, are all indicative
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of their concept of “delegated authority”—
regarding men as being “in the place of” “exercising the
powers of” divinity. I don’t know how an intelligent man
like Jack Pope, or an editor, or even a proofreader, could let
that go by.
Anyhow,
it isn’t so! Elders are NOT “vicegerents” of Christ; nor
were the twelve Apostles, nor are evangelists, nor are any other
men. If it were not for the growing misconceptions brethren have
of the “office” of the elders— “speaking for God” or
“to disobey them is to disobey God”—I would be inclined to
regard bro. Pope’s statement as a fluke, a “boo boo,” that
he couldn’t possibly mean.
And
then I would have to find some sort of explanation for another
line: “In doing so your special assignment is this
congregation at Westover Hills, but your territory includes the
reach of the whole world.” If all elders have an equal place
— all are “vicegerents” of Christ, and all have a “whole
world” territory; bro. Pope has given us little “popes”
who, in conference (getting more common these days) can really
show the Roman Pope a thing or two about authority.
Aw,
he didn’t mean that!! You know good and well he didn’t mean
that!!!
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