The words of Christ must ever be our guide. They cannot be too often repeated. Again we quote: "Ye know thatthe princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. Butit shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister: and whosoeverwill be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but tominister, and to give His life a ransom for many." Matthew 20:25-28

It should be understood that the word "minister," in the above text, does not necessarily mean "preacher." Aminister is a servant, one who ministers or serves. In the text just quoted, the word "servant" indicates a morecomplete and humble servitude than the word "minister." The difference is shown in the margin of the RevisedVersion, where we have "servant" given as the equivalent of "minister," and "bondservant" as the equivalent of"servant." The word rendered "minister" is the ordinary word for servant, while that rendered "servant" is theusual word for slave. Now note the gradation in which they are used by the Lord. He who will be great in thechurch, must be a servant; but he who will be chief, must be a bondservant. That is, the degree of greatnessdepends upon the completeness of the service and the giving up of self to Christ.

So we learn from the words of the Saviour, that there is to be no such thing in the church of Christ as the exerciseof authority such as is known in civil government. The church is on an entirely different plane from the State.There is no likeness whatever between them. The kingdom of Christ is a thing entirely different from human ideasof government. He said, "My kingdom is not of this world." John 18:36. They who think to understand theworking of Christ's kingdom by studying earthly models, are proceeding in the wrong way, and are working in thedark.

We have read in 1 Corinthians 12:28 that "governments" are among the gifts that God has bestowed upon thechurch; but we shall come more closely to God's idea of government if we note that the Revised Version gives thealternative reading, "wise counsels." One of the titles of Christ, as the one upon whose shoulder the governmentis laid, is "Counselor"; He is "wonderful in counsel," and so He provides wise counsels for the government ofHis church, said counsel to be derived solely from Him, who alone is the Source of wisdom. He governs by love.His counsel is "the counsel of peace."

Recall again the words of 1 Peter 5:3. The elders or bishops he exhorts not to be "lords over God's heritage, butbeing ensamples to the flock." There can therefore be in the true church of Christ no such thing as a "LordBishop." That is one of the fruits of the unlawful connection of the church with the world. Christ is the only Lord;but here again we shall grievously err if we think of Him as occupying the "lordly" position of earthly lords. He is"meek and lowly in heart" (Matthew 11:29), and all men have to learn humility from Him who is "Lord over all." Hecalls upon them to humble themselves to walk with Him. Micah 6:8, margin

The church of Christ, as directed by the Lord Himself, is the only place on earth where "liberty, equality, andfraternity" can be fully realized. The apostle Peter proceeds, "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto theelder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, andgiveth grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5. The trouble with earthly associations formed for the purpose ofpromoting liberty and equality on earth, is that they are only human organizations, directed only by humanwisdom and human power, and among men self is bound to predominate. Only the Spirit of Christ is unselfish.

"Rank," as known among men, is unknown to the church of Christ. There is no such thing as one setting himselfup above another, or allowing himself to be so placed or considered. That pertains to the princes of this world,  but the words of Christ are, "It shall not be so among you." Christ "emptied Himself," and therefore self has noplace in His body, the church. To the Jews He said, "How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another,and seek not the honor that cometh from God?" John 5:44. Through the apostle Paul He said, "Be kindlyaffectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another." Romans 12:10. Again, "Letnothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better thanthemselves." Philippians 2:3. Love "seeketh not her own." 1 Corinthians 13:5. "Be not ye called Rabbi: for one isyour Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren." Matthew 23:8