The Culture Test - Elders Shape Their Church

Elders shape the atmosphere. Their spirit defines the church culture. If the Elders are humble, Spirit-filled, and surrendered to Jesus, the church will overflow with truth, love, repentance, and power.

Proverbs 29:2 “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, But when a wicked person rules, people groan.”

But if the Elders are carnal, consumer-driven, and insecure, the church will be shallow, divided, self-absorbed, and fragile. There is a lot of turnover with the church staff–and the changes are always under the table and never spoken of–everyone is left guessing.

Luke 6:40 “A student is not above the teacher; but everyone, when he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.”

You can walk into any church gathering and smell the aroma of the Elders' leadership. Is it the fragrance of Christ or Silicon Valley? “Yo, Bro! Yo, Dude, my Razor this weekend?”

Romans 15:13 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Is it the aroma of worship and reverence, or the stench of ambition and entertainment?

Acts 2:42-43 “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe…”

GOOD Elders create GOOD culture. They disciple others to become tomorrow’s Elders. They welcome scrutiny. They call for accountability. They keep the Bride sober, wise, and ready for the return of the King.

1 Corinthians 3:1-3 “And I, brothers and sisters, could not speak to you as spiritual people, but only as fleshly, as to infants in Christ… for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like ordinary people?”

BAD Elders fear multiplication. They don’t want more Elders. They want fans, not disciples. They recruit others who won’t challenge them—other “bros” who talk big but won’t carry a cross.

2 Corinthians 2:15-16 “For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life…”

Jesus said you will know them by their fruit. If your church is not making disciples who make disciples, look to the Elders. Remember, pastors are hired; they are technically employees who can be fired. If a pastor got called out, disciplined, or fired, he probably would not attend the church afterward. Elders, on the other hand are members of the church acting as volunteers. After serving as an Elder they don’t typically leave the church–they are the church.

Matthew 7:16–20 “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.”

If sin is tolerated, truth is diluted, or gossip is normalized, look to the Elders. If the fire has gone out and the Spirit has been grieved, look to the Elders. A healthy church will have at least 12 Elders. An unhealthy church will have two or three.

The culture around the church should be impacted by the church. But in far too many cases, the opposite is true.

John 2:16 “...and to those who were selling the doves He said, ‘Take these things away from here; stop making My Father’s house a place of business!’”

The world is shaping the church because, in part, the Elders are silent, passive, or compromised. They are business-minded, not Kingdom-minded.

Hebrews 13:7 “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their way of life, imitate their faith.”

It is time to test the fruit. It is time to ask the hard questions. It is time to inspect the roots of the tree. My whistleblowing means nothing without a peek under the hood. What is going on at your church? How are the Elders doing?

The Silent Good Ones — Stand Up or Step Down

This is a word for the GOOD Elders still hiding in the shadows. You have been faithful. You have endured.

Ezekiel 3:18 “When I say to the wicked, ‘You will certainly die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way so that he may live, that wicked person shall die for wrongdoing, but I will require his blood from your hand.”

You have kept your heart pure. But you have also remained silent—and silence in this hour is complicity.

Proverbs 24:11-12 “Rescue those who are being taken away to death, And those who are staggering to the slaughter, Oh hold them back! If you say, ‘See, we did not know this,’ Does He who weighs the hearts not consider it?”

You were not saved to be spectators. You were not anointed to be agreeable. You were not entrusted with authority to blend in.

Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

You were raised up to roar.

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Now is the time to stand. Speak. Rebuke. Restore. Confront the wolves. Call out the false gospels.

2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction.”

Uproot corruption. You carry the authority of the King. You know what is going on behind the scenes. Go to King Jesus in prayer and ask Him what you should do! Be ready to obey!

Jeremiah 1:9-10 “Then the Lord stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me, ‘Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to tear down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.’”

Elijah didn’t stay hidden in the cave.

1 Kings 19:15-16 “The Lord said to him, ‘Go, return on your way… and you shall anoint Hazael… and Jehu… and Elisha…’”

Daniel didn’t bow to Babylon.

Daniel 6:10 “Now when Daniel learned that the document was signed, he entered his house… and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and offering praise…”

Titus 1:9 “Holding firmly the faithful word… so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.”

Paul didn’t retreat from Peter and James. Why should you?

Acts 20:24 “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry…”

This is your moment. The Body of Christ is suffering under the weight of false leaders and counterfeit shepherds.

Ezekiel 22:30 “I searched for a man among them who would build up a wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.”

The Bride is being wounded by the very ones called to protect her. If you will not stand, who will?

John 10:12-13 “He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd… sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep…”

The hirelings can be fired. But the true Elders were appointed by God.

And when the King returns, He will ask: What did you do with the flock I entrusted to your care?

Acts 20:28 "Be vigilant for yourselves and for all the flock

Will you say, “I didn’t want to offend”? Or will you say, “I stood. I wept. I watched. I warned. I washed feet.”

John 13:14-15 “So if I, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example…”

Let your voice be heard again. Let your knees hit the ground again. Let your sword rise up again. Let your anointing flow again. DO NOT GIVE UP!

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword…”

The Bride needs you. The King is coming.

Revelation 19:7 “Let’s rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself.”

James 5:8 “You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.”

The Authority of the Elders — What the Bible Says

The modern church has forgotten something foundational: Elders are not employees of a board.

Jeremiah 3:15 “Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you knowledge and understanding.”

They are not volunteers in a religious nonprofit. They are not stage performers or brand ambassadors. According to the Bible, Elders are God-ordained shepherds entrusted with the care, protection, feeding, discipline, and direction of the flock of God.

Acts 20:28 says, "Be on guard for yourselves and for 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."

Jesus, the King of kings, appoints true Elders through the Holy Spirit. Elders are accountable to Jesus, not man. Not majority votes. Not denominational networks–just Jesus!

1 Peter 5:2-3 “Shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not with greed, but with eagerness; nor yet as domineering over those assigned to your care, but by proving to be examples to the flock.”

Acts 13:2 “While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set Barnabas and Saul apart for Me for the work to which I have called them.’”

Titus 1:5-9 and 1 Timothy 3:1-7 outline their qualifications.

Titus 1:7 “For the overseer must be beyond reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not overindulging in wine, not a bully, not greedy for money…”

1 Timothy 3:2 “An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, skillful in teaching…”

Elders must be above reproach, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not greedy, not violent, and not lovers of self.

Ephesians 4:11-12 “And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry…”

These qualifications are not suggestions—they are divine standards. And if these standards are ignored or treated lightly, the authority of the Elders is compromised.

Matthew 23:11-12 “But the greatest of you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”

The authority of a biblical Elder is spiritual, not positional. It comes from character, not charisma. It is built through servanthood, not status.

2 Corinthians 10:8 “For if I boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be put to shame…”

A true Elder speaks, prays, corrects, and leads with the authority of Christ, because they have first been broken by Christ.

Hebrews 13:17 reminds us, "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account." That is weighty. Eternally weighty.

Elders are responsible for what is taught, how the sheep are fed, what is allowed, what is tolerated, and whether or not the Body is maturing into Christ.

2 Timothy 2:25 “...with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth…”

When false doctrine spreads, false gospels gain traction, or the Spirit is grieved—good Elders don’t blame the culture. They repent. They re-align. They clean house.

Ezekiel 34:10 “This is what the Lord God says: ‘Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will demand My sheep from them and make them stop shepherding the sheep…’”

Elders have the authority to confront wolves, silence false teachers, rebuke sin, and call the church to repentance. They are God’s appointed stewards (Titus 1:7). And when they surrender that responsibility to fear, comfort, or popularity (Yo, Bro!), they are no longer operating under divine authority.

Titus 1:9-11 “...so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it. For there are many rebellious people… teaching things they should not teach for the sake of dishonest gain.”

You do not need permission from a committee to obey King Jesus. You do not need consensus to walk in your calling.

John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

If you are an Elder, and Jesus has appointed you through His Spirit, then act like it.

Speak like it.
Pray like it.
Lead like it.

Because the flock does not belong to you. It belongs to Him.

1 Peter 5:4 “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”

And He is coming to inspect what you have done with His sheep.

The Final Plea and Prophetic Warning

Beloved, this is not just an article. This is a trumpet blast.

The Spirit of God is summoning Elders in every city, every denomination, and every hidden corner of the Church to return to the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and take up their true assignment.

This is not about reforming the church business model. This is about repenting for becoming one.

This is not about tweaking a strategy. This is about tearing down altars built to men.

This is not about calling people back to Sunday morning. This is about calling the Bride to her knees.

Jesus is not returning for a platform. He is returning for a Bride. A spotless, radiant, faithful Bride.

If you are a GOOD Elder, the time for silence is over. If you are a BAD Elder, the time for pretending is over. If you are a confused Elder, the time for clarity is now.

Let judgment begin with the house of God (1 Peter 4:17). Let confession break out among the leaders. Let the hidden things be exposed by the light. Let the hirelings be removed and the humble be anointed.

There is a remnant rising. A new generation of Elders—like Anthony and Sharon—is already here. And they are being forged in fire, in prayer closets, in fasting, and in obscurity. These are the ones who will carry the oil of revival and the power of the cross.

They will be mocked. They will be betrayed. They will be misunderstood. But they will not be moved.

Because they have seen the King. They have heard His voice. They have wept for the Bride. And they have resolved to prepare the way for His return.

This is the hour of separation. The hour of decision. The hour of exposure. And the hour of divine appointment.
Elders, the King is at the door.
Awaken.
Repent.
Return.
And prepare His people.
Amen.

The Buried Truth - "How the Modern Church Abandoned the Radical Blueprint of the First-Century Revolution"

The Lost DNA of the Church

Imagine a movement so countercultural, so alive, that it turned the Roman Empire upside down—not with swords or politics, but with sacrificial love, shared resources, and a brotherhood of equals. This was the First Century Church. Yet today, what remains is a shadow: a top-heavy institution of CEOs in pulpits, bureaucratic boards, and passive congregations. The truth? Modern “church leadership” bears almost no resemblance to its explosive, decentralized, Spirit-empowered origins. Let the ruins of history speak.

Act 1: The Apostolic Molotov—Elders, Overseers, and Deacons Unleashed

Scene 1: The Jesus Model

Jesus didn’t build a mega-church. He trained 12 disciples in dirt-poor obscurity, then sent them to plant oikoi (house churches) that multiplied like wildfire. No salaries. No titles. Just fishermen, tax collectors, and zealots empowered by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 10:1-15).

Scene 2: The Elders’ Rebellion
Forget board meetings and majority votes. The apostles appointed elders (plural, always plural) in every city to lead communities, not corporations (Acts 14:23). These were not seminary graduates but proven men of character: “not lovers of money” (1 Timothy 3:3), “hospitable” (Titus 1:8), and “able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2). They worked jobs (Acts 20:33-35) and ate meals with the poor. James, Jesus’ brother—a blue-collar laborer—led the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:13). No robes. No salaries. No power trips.

Scene 3: Overseers—Servants, Not CEOs
The word “overseer” (episkopos) wasn’t a title—it was a job description. Paul told the Ephesian elders: “The Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God” (Acts 20:28). No separation between “elder” and “overseer.” They were the same men: servant-leaders guarding doctrine and caring for souls (1 Peter 5:1-3). Yet by 110 AD, Ignatius of Antioch hijacked the term, inventing the “bishop” as a monarch over churches. The rot had begun.

Scene 4: Deacons—The Radicals You Never Heard About
The first deacons weren’t ushers—they were revolutionaries. When Greek widows were neglected, the apostles ordained seven men “full of the Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3). But these “table servers” immediately started preaching (Stephen, Acts 7) and evangelizing nations (Philip, Acts 8). Phoebe, a female deacon, bankrolled Paul’s mission and delivered the book of Romans (Romans 16:1-2). Deacons weren’t volunteers—they were frontline missionaries.

Act 2: The Subversive Network—How the Church Operated

Jerusalem: A commune of radical generosity. “No one claimed anything as their own” (Acts 4:32). Elders like James arbitrated disputes (Acts 15:6), but even Peter had to answer to them (Galatians 2:11-14).

Corinth: Chaos and charisma. Paul rebuked their divisions (1 Corinthians 1:12) but never installed a pastor—just urged them to submit to elders (1 Corinthians 16:15-16).

Ephesus: Timothy, a young leader, was told to appoint elders (1 Timothy 3:1-7) and silence false teachers (1 Timothy 1:3)—no mention of building campaigns or celebrity preachers.

Philippi: A church of “overseers and deacons” (Philippians 1:1) working side-by-side with Paul, a tentmaker (Acts 18:3). No clergy-laity divide. No sacred buildings. Just families gathering in homes.

Act 3: The Betrayal—How Constantine Killed the Revolution

For 300 years, the church thrived under persecution—poor, persecuted, and powerful. Then came Constantine.

312 AD: Christianity became the state religion.
325 AD: The Council of Nicaea fused Roman bureaucracy with church governance.
Salaried clergy: Leaders became employees of the empire.
Churches became basilicas: The table became an altar. The priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:9) was replaced by a professional priestly class.

The death knell: Elders became “priests.” Overseers became “bishops” ruling dioceses. Deacons became liturgical assistants. The organic, decentralized, Spirit-led body was entombed in hierarchy.

Act 4: The Modern Imposters—Elders, Deacons, and Overseers Today

Elders: Elected boards focused on budgets, not shepherding souls. Where’s the “teaching” (1 Timothy 5:17)? Where’s the plurality?
Overseers: CEOs with six-figure salaries, living in HUGE HOMES, hunting cabins, 401k Retirement Funds, while First Century overseers died in prisons.
Deacons: Relegated to passing offering plates. Where are the Stephens and Phoebes healing and preaching?

The ultimate heresy: We’ve turned the living Body of Christ into a business. Jesus’ command to “take no staff, no bag, no money” (Luke 9:3) is replaced with multimillion-dollar campuses and pastoral empires.

Epilogue: The Call to Revolt

The early church didn’t change the world by mimicking Rome—it did so by defying it. If we want to see revival, we must resurrect the buried blueprint:

Elders who work jobs and weep over souls.
Deacons who feed the poor and preach the Gospel.
Overseers who guard truth, not budgets.

The truth is shocking: Modern church leadership is a Roman counterfeit. The revolution began in homes, not cathedrals. It’s time to dig up the bones of the First Century and breathe the Spirit back into them.

1 Corinthians 4:20 “The Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power”

Will we return to the fire?