- Called to the Ministry by Ready2Rapture
19 y
3,154 8 Messages Shown
Blog: Bible Study
You may recall from the post on Churchianity that what we have come to believe as being the Biblical model for the church is not really very accurate. No issue more clearly illustrates this than in the area of church leadership.
Church tradition has always held that pastors or ministers become such as the result of a subjective "call", where God allegedly picks someone for the position of elder/pastor by giving them a feeling or hunch of some kind. This individual is then sent to a seminary to acquire a degree, which then qualifies him to lead a church, perform public duties such as weddings and funerals, and obligates him to preach a prepared sermon at least once a week.
Would someone please show me all this in the Bible? (Hint: it ain't there.)
So what does the Bible say? First, there is nothing about formal schooling, but that omission may be partly due to what first century Jewish society would assume to be the case, where any leader would at least be able to read and have some familiarity with the OT scriptures. Since anyone being considered for a church leadership position was to be tested and held to a high moral standard (1 Timothy 3) and would be responsible for the spiritual oversight of others (Titus 1, James 3:1), it would be most difficult to perform the requirements of that office without some training in proper handling of the scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15).
Second, there is absolutely nothing in the NT about such elders being charged with performing rituals of any kind, other than appointing more elders or perhaps commissioning people for special assignments such as missionary trips. I have no clue why or how anyone gets the idea from scripture that the elder can/must perform weddings and funerals. That's strictly a social custom.
Third, no one is ever appointed an elder because they had a hunch or feeling of being called. In fact, as some of the references above already stated, it seems more a matter of a person's aspiration (!), and the Bible calls this a "good thing". So the Bible says that first a person desires to lead, and then they are tested, and finally approved by the other elders.
As already mentioned, the elder's job is to guard and train the church, to concentrate on spiritual truths. It is NOT, as is commonly practiced, to manage a building, to arrange financing or solicit funds, to oversee every church committee. Those are the jobs of deacons, an office which was created for the sole purpose of freeing up the elders for spiritual duties (Acts 6:1-7). (Although the qualifications for deacons are nearly identical to that of elders, the office of deacon is not primarily one of spiritual oversight but of meeting the practical needs of the people.)
And to emphasize what was said about this in the Churchianity post, the elder is not necessarily a speaker at church meetings, let alone the only speaker. We must not make the mistake of equating positions with spiritual gifts (although a good case can be made for the elder at least having discernment).
Churches today have an enormous amount of baggage to unload if they are to return to the Biblical paradigm. But considering prophecy and the signs of the times, I really don't expect this to happen. We can only spread the word and live the example, and let everyone else decide which they should do.
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Ready2Rapture
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- Amen sister, you could not have put it any better... by kerminator
19 y
1,163 Reply FCK TinyMCE
- Right on! by Ev
19 y
1,100
| I'm growing increasingly uncomfortable and annoyed with "church" and the ritualistic baggage that comes with it. I only say that because I have yet to find a church that mirrors that of the first portrayal of church in the Book of Acts.
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Ev
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- Re: Right on! by Ready2Rapture
19 y
1,180
| What amazes me the most is how almost no one since the 3rd century has spoken out about this. How the churches could all be following an unbiblical model for so many centuries, without any of the great church leaders of the past saying a word about it, is truly astounding. Have church leaders always been so afraid of the RCC that they never dared to oppose it, even after the Reformation? Even now, when the RCC does not have the political/military clout (in the US at least) to persecute us?
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Ready2Rapture
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- Re: Right on! by Ev
19 y
1,125
Here's what I think happens. (at least with my experience)
Everytime a person goes to the Pastor or elders with concerns (such as these) the concerns get pooh-poohed. The issues get circled around with various "pat" answers that don't amount to anything more than mouth garbage. (sorry)
I once raised the issue of discipleship programs and how I believe they are very necessary. I was told that it would be each believer's responsibility to disciple themeselves! Do you suppose the disciples discipled themselves? Heck no! They had the best teacher of all time, Jesus Christ.
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Ev
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- Re: Right on! by Ready2Rapture
19 y
1,273
| Telling people to disciple themselves is just plain irresponsible on the part of those who should know better. Yes, each individual is responsible for personal spiritual growth, but they do this by seeking out elders and teachers! For those people to refuse to pass on their knowledge and maturity indicates a great deficiency in their own training. It's a very large "snowball" by now! I think there will be many very surprised and embarassed pastors at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
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Ready2Rapture
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- Re: Right on! by Ev
19 y
2,626
Unfortunately, you are so right. I believe though, that there will be that seperation of wheat from tare. And God's true church will rise above the rest, and stand tall. I believe that is why we are being stirred awake to this mighty downfall of the "church" .
Acts 20:28-30
"And now beware! Be sure that you feed and shepherd God's flock--his church, purchased with his blood--over whom the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders.
I know full well that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. Even some of you will distort the truth in order to draw a following.
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Ev
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- Re: Right on! by kerminator
19 y
1,080
You guys or gals are on the straight and narrow path now... It is a shame that so much attention is given the so called worldly church, and there is not much notice given the true saints in the world today... These things will come to pass; But the word of GOD will endure forever, amen!
I will address this chain of thought on one of my future blogs.... Thanks for you GOD centered comments... May GOD bless you both.... ... k
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kerminator
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