ORDAIN. Appoint; consecrate; authorize; select; decree (2 Ki. 23:5; 1 Ch. 9:22; 17:9; 2 Ch. 11:15; Is. 30:33; Je. 1:5; Da. 2:24; Ac. 10:42; 13:48; 16:4; 17:31; Ro. 13:1; 1 Co. 2:7; 9:14; Ga. 3:19; He. 9:6). Ordination in popular usage among the churches refers primarily to the selection and consecration of spiritual leaders, and it is so used in the Scripture (Mk. 3:14; Jn. 15:16; Ac. 1:22; 14:23; 1 Ti. 2:7; Tit. 1:5). Ordination in the N.T. church was accomplished with the laying on of hands (Ac. 6:5-6; 13:1-3; 1 Ti. 4:14). The following is a study of ordination in the N.T. church.
WHAT IS ORDINATION? (1) It is human recognition of a divine call. It is God who must call a man to His service; the church's part is to recognize the man God has called (Ac. 13:1-3). (2) It is a setting apart for special service. Paul and Barnabas were set apart for the special work to which God had called them (Ac. 1:1- 3). (3) It is a pledge of support and fellowship. When a man is ordained, those taking part are saying, "We support you; we stand behind you in this work for which God has called you" (Ac. 15:3). (4) It is a commitment of the man to God's enabling grace (Ac. 14:26; 15:40).
WHO SHOULD BE ORDAINED? (1) Deacons (Ac. 6:1-6). (2) Missionaries/evangelists (Ac. 13:1-4). (3) Pastors (Ac. 14:23; Tit. 1:5).
HOW IS ORDINATION PERFORMED? In Ac. 6:1-6 is an example of how a church can ordain officers. In this particular case deacons were being ordained, but the same steps can be applied to the ordination of elders.
Step # 1--They saw the need (Ac. 6:1-2). Note some of the lessons in this: (1) A church without properly ordained leaders is not complete (Tit. 1:5; Ac. 14:21-23). (2) A church needs properly ordained leaders for training (Ep. 4:11- 12). (3) A church needs properly ordained leaders for protection (Tit. 1:9-11; Ac. 20:28-32). (4) A church needs properly ordained leaders for discipline (He. 13:17). (5) A church needs properly ordained leaders for an example (He. 13:7; 1 Pe. 5:3).
Step # 2--They received instruction from the Apostles (Ac. 6:2-3). Though we do not have the Apostles today, we have their writings in the N.T. Scriptures. A church must study these writings before ordaining leaders. Especially should the church study 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus.
Step # 3--They chose qualified men (Ac. 6:3,5). The church ordained men according to the standards which had been described by the Apostles. This was a very amazing thing when we think of how frequently the Lord's standards for church leaders have been ignored since that day. A church has no right whatsoever to choose leaders who do not meet the standards set forth in Scripture.
Step # 4--The men were ordained publicly (Ac. 6:6).
Step # 5--God blesses (Ac. 6:7). A church which follows the Word of God had God's best blessing. When qualified men are ordained in a church, victory and blessing follow. Contrariwise, a church that postpones ordaining proper leaders, or which ordaines unqualified leaders should not be surprised that God's blest blessing is not present. [See Anoint, Church, Deacon, Pastor.]
ORDINANCE. An observance or ceremony; judgments; statutes.
ORDINANCE IN THE O.T. (1) The laws and statutes of God (Ex. 12:24; 15:25; 18:20; Le. 18:30; 22:9; Nu. 18:8; Ps. 99:7; 119:91; Is. 24:5; Mal. 3:7). (2) The laws of nature (Job 38:33; Je. 31:35-36; 33:25). (3) Regulations of holy things (2 Ch. 35:13; Eze. 43:11,18; 44:5; 45:14; 46:14). (4) The philosophy and ways of the heathen (Le. 18:3).
ORDINANCE IN THE N.T. (1) The laws and ceremonies of the O.T. (Lk. 1:6; Ep. 2:15; Col. 2:14; He. 9:1,10). (2) Civil laws (Ro. 13:2; 1 Pe. 2:13). (3) Laws and regulations dealing with diet and the like (Col. 2:20). (4) Church observances (1 Co. 11:2). In this verse the Apostle is probably referring to all the instruction given to the churches in the N.T. Scriptures. The term "ordinance" in modern usage, though, is primarily a reference to the ceremonial ordinances Christ has given to the N.T. church. These are two: Baptism (Mt. 28:18-20) and the Lord's Supper (Mt. 26:26-30; 1 Co. 11:20-4). Some groups also observe the practice of footwashing (Jn. 13). [See Baptism - Immersion, Baptism - Infant, Celibacy, Footwashing, Lord's Supper, Vegetarian.]