Church Structure

One of the important facets of understanding and interpreting the New Testament is to seek to understand how the authors used and understood the Old Testament. Often times this will enhance our understanding of the New Testament and sometimes even enlighten us on theological points we may have missed before.

I recently have been working through a book study on Titus, and while going through it, I have been seeking out cross-references for each verse. In the first chapter Paul is giving Titus instructions and lists some qualifications for leaders of the church. One curious comparison is to view Titus 1 and 2 Timothy 2 as they relate to Leviticus. Is it possible that Paul is drawing upon the qualifications and mandates made for the priests to establish his own listing of qualifications for elders in the church?

The other question this presents regards the existence and need for church structure. It seems there is a movement in today's church toward a decentralization of authority and a move away from structure. Rather than have certain men placed into a position of authority to lead and teach, we prefer to be 'conversational.' Rather than have established authority within the church, the movement is toward a more fluid understanding of church polity.

Paul is drawing on Old Testament regulations and creating regulations for the church. He is pulling something out of one culture and establishing a more general outline for church leadership. It seems that he has established something supra-cultural.

By taking away leadership within the church and becoming more 'conversational', is it possible that we are opening ourselves up for the entrance of false theology?