Who Is The Pastor- A Comment On My Other Blog

Today, Dialegomai http://christian-discourse.blogspot.com contains a very important teaching, something the Lord had been leading me to about five years ago and He finally settled it for me and it became the reason for my leaving conventional organizational ministry work, the paid CLERGY man or any other title within the structure of convential institutions of religion.
The reason I left was not just over the issue of money, it was over the issue of Scripture versus the Traditions of Men. Please read the article and you will understand.
I didn't recieve this teaching from any man. The Lord showed me this truth in my own personal time in the Word and through years of experience and He had been trying to show me this truth since I was a young man and I had accepted Christ. I was told by others that God had called me into the ministry, I needed to fulfill it.
The truth be told, if we are Christians we all have a call into ministry- "the ministry of reconciliation" and "the proclaiming of the Gospel and the discipleship of those that God calls when they hear the Gospel".
Yes, God gifted me with teaching but with that gift comes a lot of responsibility for seeking and speaking the truth. It is very difficult to have this gift, because God does lay the greater judgement on us all the time. He teaches us to live what He speaks. The prophets of old and even of the new, many gave up home family and more for the sake of speaking what needed to be heard. They were asked to live it and signify it. Sometimes where they looked rediculous to the world. John the Baptist went about in clothes made from camel hair, eating only grasshoppers and honey. What an odd looking character he must have been. Don't get me wrong, I am not equating myself as a prophet, but truthfully Christians are to be despised in this world, because they just don't fit into the box of mankind and His traditions. The problem still is here, that a prophet is never respected in his own home. I too experience that. The people in Jesus hometown could only relate to Him as the Carpenter's son, s simple boy they knew that grew up there. They couldnt see beyond his humanity. Pastors and Families do that to people in the congregation and at home, always holding people at bay, less they say something or do something they don't think is "kosher". Jesus sure wouldnt fit into a lot or most churches today and probably still wouldnt find much room for him in His hometown. He would be out of line, out of step with the traditions of men. He wouldnt be Churched, dignified, religious, in line with the program, he wouldnt be given even the time to speak much less teach, he would be confined to a pew, to be quiet and learn, because you can't be trusted.
At least the synagogue allowed others to speak, thus He did. For the church to have wanted to return to the practices of Judaism with a Tabernacle and a Priest, they went even further, they left out the equality of at least God's chosen to speak, a word or a scripture. They are left silent, while only those elected to speak, the one man show is worthy of speaking, only he is qualified, that's why we call Him Pastor.
We can't let the Holy Spirit in here, to allow others to teach or have a song, or whatever, my goodness it wouldnt be "churchy".

Each of us are to grow up into the fullness in Christ- where we should be teaching others. Read Hebrews, Read Corinthians, Read the Bible, we are not to be delegated to sitting on a pew in silence to the one man show. The system propagates lazy spirituality, and keeps babies - babies, always depending on an intermediary for their milk, never getting into eating meat, never growing, just sitting there Sunday after Sunday becoming, spiritually atrophied, useless hearers but never doers. The doer gets outside of the building, escapes the walls that have bound him, he is free to worship with his life and the way that he lives it. The doer has something to say!
It' so important he has to tell those outside of the building as well as within, he has to speak to more than just the "churched" and the "religious".
He goes where only Jesus has gone before, into the byways, the alleys, the bars, the streets, the homes, the hospitals, the rehabs, the work environment, where people are, right where they are. Jesus could have just sat there in the Temple and waited for the sinners came to him. He didn't he went to where they were! As He walked the earth in day to day life, we do as well, here is where the lost sheep are. They have given up, the church didnt want them, the religious have no use for them, they are the scum of the earth, the discarded, yet, these are those that Jesus died for!

The truth is truth- the Nicolatians that John spoke about in the Book of Revelation is none other than the clergy/laity system.

Either Christ is our Shepard and Our Head and we are of the Priesthood of Believers or "we are not".
Which shall it be?
Scripture or the Traditions of Men.

Read the teaching on Dialegomai, it isnt written by me, it is written by another brother in Christ that the truth was revealed to Him as well.
Most Seminarians, and even those in employed in the traditional practices of men, know these truths for they have studied Church History and the Languages of the Bible. For those that don't perhaps this will bring light to where darkness has laid for sometime. For those that know and continue anyway propagating this pagan practice, of the one man OVER the body other than Christ.
They reject the truth of scripture for the traditions of men.

I want to tell you a story, I was serving on a Pastoral Selection Committee, while acting as an interim Pastor (in my days before I listened to God and His truth on this one subject) and let me tell you the truth about Pastoral selections.
Unlike the early church where elders arose to teach and were selected by the Holy Spirit to serve with a multiplicity of other elders the single pastoral system within the organizations ARE NOT selected because the local body knows their character. Most selected today were never a part to that local body, they are not selected because of their spiritual gifting to teach or character, they are selected using today's Corporate guidelines to hiring. A lot of churces once the hirearchy has made the candidates choice, then try to Christianize it with a whole church vote.
I would have been assured, if this body had been together very long, The Holy Spirit already had some gifted teachers and under-shepards prepared and ready to serve who side by side, would have served just fine in roles of eldership. If the church was honestly seeking God's best in the situation they would have gone without having to seek outsiders. The Lord plants assemblies together, not men, and when He does, He has already gifted men and women who have been prepared by Him to teach and be examples of Christlike behavior. Almost every church in America, holding to the one man professional tradition has missed out on what God had prepared for them, if they but would listen to scripture and the Holy Spirit.

Pastores are not selected according to the scriptural guide of Timothy or Titus. Instead corporate guidelines are used where they must have the education, they must have a good work record as a Pastor or referral from some higher authoritarian, they must go through an interview process, they then are subjected to questions dealing with that particular bodies doctrinal beliefs and they often have to show that they can increase numbers along with the cash flow by their previous record or referral.
It is a process directly from man, and in no way resembles those that came up in the body, gifted, and stayed with the body serving as -under Shepard with others in multiplicity, not as the Head of the people but one who serves as an under-shepard. a servant, one who teaches but always open to others, one who learns as well, one who teaches with the purpose of burning the pews and replacing them with a pulpit for every beleiver in attendance. The scripture criteria given is never even used, because a large percentage of those applying aren't even known within the community much less that particular body of believers. I was involved in an interview with this young man, who by the way wasn't selected for the Pastoral job, because to be honest he would have chose teaching the Word over traditions of men. He told me the story, that while studying at Seminary, one very near by our location here in Athens, that one of His professors was explaining a particular passage of Sripture. The professor made a statement, now you can either preach this as the traditions of men would have it interpreted, or you can preach it as the Word of God defines it. If you preach it that way, you won't be a Pastor very long though. The young man applying for the position said," my co-student beside me, said I am going to preach it the way, tradition wants it, I want to be a Pastor". The young man applying said, "I told him, I was going to preach it the way God wants it preached, job or no job as a Pastor."
The young man applying made the right choice, needless to say the pastoral committee made the wrong choice. I and one other person were the only vote for him. Imagine that voting for selection of a Pastor! How perverse we have gotten.
I am so thankful to my heavenly Father for bringing me out of the system and into His truth.
I can never be a pastor, because there is only One Pastor, the word Pastor is Shepard, and that Shepard is the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus I call no man Pastor or nor do I want to be called Pastor.
I am just a believer like you, in the household of God, serving in the priesthood of ALL BELIEVERS.I have no intermediary between myself and the Father but the Lord Jesus Christ. I have no Head but Him. I don't have to seek help through a human pastor, I have THE PASTOR! I have the LORD - the true Klerios!
Read the article and learn something perhaps the Pastors have been afraid to tell you less they lose their position and titles. Any Pastor that knows the truth and can't rectify the situation by at least bringing this truth to their congregation, and then seeking a solution that is scriptural with the selection of a multiplicity of elders to serve and all are equal and allow for the gifting of each member in the congregation to be exercised as God chooses, is playing guard for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will never allow where people are spiritual for chaos to break out and destroy what God has built. Once, again where people are taught by the Spirit and led by the Spirit, there is no need to fear chaos. We have allowed the experience of Corinth to make us fear the true work of the Holy Spirit to teach and to guide into all truth, but one must remember these were "carnal" Christians, not "spiritual believers" who were relying on the Holy Spirit, they were trying to outdo the others, relying on themselves, they wanted to have pre-eminence over others, thinking that their gift was the supreme gift and it gave them authority over others. They were no different then controlling Pastors, who think theirs is the only gift in the body. They are carnal, and like mist driven by the wind.
Thus the division of Paul over Apollos, etc. The people were turning to the desire before even Ignatius came along and wanting to raise "a mere man" up to a position of authority rather than having Jesus as Lord. Thus they argued whether they were of Paul or Apollos, etc. Pastor Paul or Pastor Apollos, which would it be?, they argued. "I want Paul", no, "I want Apollos", etc. as Paul said, "we are mere men".
Christ is our all in all.
Like the pagans when they saw the gifted believers act according to the Word, and miracles happened they wanted to call them gods. We do that with leaders and teachers and pastors. Who are nothing without the power of God, and who are nothing if they are stifling the power of God. If you want power in your ministry, then let go!
Jesus Christ is who we should seek, not the best speaker, the best performer or the best motivator, we are to seek Christ and then he will install those who HE has selected to serve us and teach us and I promise it will be more than a one man band, it will be a natural out flow of the Spirit of God, and not the practices of the traditions of men. It would surprise many Pastor, if they were to allow just some of those that have something to say - to say it, that the Holy Spirit does still gift others within the body to speak. Often it will be the uneducated, the poor, the lowly, who can offer more spiritual insight in one moment than a thousand educated seminarians or years of experienced pastors, could preach in a life time. I know, I have been in experiences like that in house church.
I was used long ago in "house church" before I ever got into the professionalism of the game or the organizational traditions. God had given me a taste of His desire for the body of Christ long ago in a home in the mountains of New Mexico, and it was glorious but like most, I rejected it because, it was non- traditional, non-accepted and as the traditionalist like to tag anyone outside of the box- perhaps a cult.
Of course over the years, many many years, I came to see, in that simple gathering, where God the Holy Spirit led and their were expressions of the gifted body of Christ in a New Testament sense, this is what He desired for His assembly of believers anywhere, anytime. Jesus said, He who the Son sets free, is free indeed.
We have nothing to fear, if we are built on the soundness of scripture and the Holy Spirit. We do whenever it becomes one man or one woman, worship and idolatry over the rest of God's people. Jesus did not send the disciples out alone, he sent them in two's for a very good reason. There is safety in numbers, and their is safety in multiple eldership. Look at Moses and Aaron, God always guarded things, and He knew the tendency for men to become puffed up with themselves, if not accompanied by another to help. This is what eldership is all about a coming alongside, not a powering over others. God calls and uses those He sets aside in numbers not in singularity.
There was no weirdness in these meetings and when it did happen the Holy Spirit shut it down, there was no off the wall acting out things or pretending of spiritual gifts, they were real and didn't puff up the one with them, but it was where God could speak and you could understand through scripture truth and the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Not a bunch of people trying to outgift the other, not a bunch of people who spoke unintelligibly. They spoke words even as I spoke words of encouragement, they spoke to one another, they spoke the language of the New Testament - love for others above self. There was no trying to spiritualize something that isnt existent throughout the history of believers. Oh, there were always those few that might want to speak in gibberish, but it didnt last long, because it profitted no one. It was those that came alongside of you, and prayed for you, listened, exhorted and admonished you and alas comforted and encouraged you.
There was a unity of the Spirit of God. No one person was held in predominance over the others. No one's message or song was greater than the others. Some couldnt carry a tune, but they sang with beauty from the heart. Some couldnt theologize but they could in simple words say what no one had ever heard, words from the Lord. Things that only the spiritual man would understand. Plain English but full of God's wisdom and love.
These were meeting where not one part of the body could have gone without the other, where one had a song, another a teaching and throughout the body the Spirit flowed to give me something I had never experienced at a one-man show - the reality of the Living jesus Christ.
The reality of the Ekklesia, the assembly of those who had been called out of Babylon into the Kingdom of God.
God brought me full circle back to that truth about 5 years ago, where upon leaving the organizational church he opened the doors and brought me into a relationship with some other beleivers where we taught one another by the Holy Spirit's giftedness, and not the traditions of men.
For over 2 years, we ministered to one another, singing, eating together, having communion , praying, teaching one another. A life relationship, nothing superficial. We grew up into maturity into the fullness of Christ and are still growing. We still see each other, we still break bread now and then, but we have gone forth from there to reach out and begin to make new disciples for Christ in our daily life and work, as God directs us individually. These new disciples of Jesus will not be numbered and hung on a board to be displayed like trophies, based on someone we talked to reciting some manipulative prayer or four spiritual laws. Often we don't even know we have effected them in our life, and may not know until Jesus returns.
We just live a life of worship to plant the seed, it is God who will give it harvest and should that person or persons want to come alongside we will expend the energy to disciple them, if need be. Discipleship doesnt imply, being an overseer, nor some kind of spiritual boss, it is bringing the scripture to bear on life and it's decisions and guiding others to listen to the Holy Spirit who is the only real teacher believers are to have. To guide toward rightly dividing the Word of God. We can't play guard for the Holy Spirit and we can't do what the Holy Spirit can do. Whenever we try to be someone's spiritual authority, we are stepping in where -
NO MAN SHOULD TRED.
This is the work of God, this person, this individual and since God started it, He will finish it. This is the hardest lesson for us as teachers to learn. Thus we incur the greater judgement often.

We find it difficult to just pray for others and their enlightment of scripture, we want to tell them. There is nothing wrong in the telling, as long as we leave it after that with the Lord, for He will define the truth for that believer and often times we will learn where we failed, where our error is from this new member of the Priesthood of Believers. We must always be humble and never think for a minute that just because we have been a Christian, a teacher, a preacher or anything of the sort, that God can't speak to us, from someone in our failed human opinion that might not look like a messenger from heaven or sound like a messenger from heaven.

Jesus was THE- Messenger From Heaven, and the religious of His day would not hear Him either. Nor did they want to listen to Peter or John or the other little men of the time. They were uneducated but because of the gift of the Holy Spirit- the Resurrected Life of Jesus Christ within them, they spoke with boldness the Gospel, they talked about spiritual things, that the people could only assume would come from someone with an education in Theology or of the sort from the Rabbinic schools of the time. There they were, the old rough tough, fisherman Peter, called by Jesus- as we ALL ARE - if we are His - speaking words that only they had heard from those who had the education and the knowledge from schooling.
Paul dumped all of His schooling to know Christ and Him alone. Thus Paul, was not a great orator because of His education, he was a great orator for when he spoke the Holy Spirit would speak with power to break a man's heart in two, to realize his need for this Jesus Christ he spoke of. He would bring men to see themselves as God saw them with nothing in their lifes or hands to offer or to be accepted by God and that only Jesus Christ was that perfect sinless offering already made for all men.

Pastors are a dime a dozen, but the PASTOR, our only true Pastor can give us words and deeds that will amaze the hierarchy who often wonder why them, Lord and not me Lord? They will find them saying to themselves for example, "Why I tried for months to convert old John and I'm his pastor, he wouldnt hear me, then along comes little Sally who is always trying to butt in, when I am speaking and always talking the Bible and stuff, and she talks to this man, old John, one time, and he has a transformation take place, he hears God's call to salvation, why her Lord, and not me?"
The reason God works that way is because what man considers foolish is the Wisdom of God. Man will never get it, as long as He depends on the ways and methods of this world. There is a cry for all of us to return to scripture. To return to the simplicity of allowing God to be our everything.
Pastors- hear the Word of God, it is time to let go, you hold no power over the people, only God does, when you lay down your scepter and decide no longer to be king, then the KING can come in to your local body and shake the very foundations of this world, turning it upside down for Jesus. You might just discover what church really is all about. It will rock your tradition and break it down to mere little pebbles that can then be crushed under the feet of Jesus, so you can discover the real ROCK, and the real foundation -the Lord Jesus Christ and the Apostles.
I guarantee it, try it, you will like it! It will be all you ever hoped for if your heart is really intent on serving Christ.
If you just can't let go of those reins, perhaps it's time you examined if your goals and purposes are in line with the Word of God or are they just an extension of man and his traditions. Ask yourself, are you trying to play guard for the Holy Spirit or is the Holy Spirit guarding you?
If He is our guard then we have nothing to fear, for the gates of hell cannot prevail against the TRUE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST!

I sign, stepping out of titles, that men so often desire ..


your brother in Christ- Joe Black

Who Is The Pastor?

Who is your Pastor?

The Pastor according to the New Testament

INTRODUCTION
At the beginning of the last academic year we received a phone call asking to speak to the pastor of the church. When I replied that we had no single pastor overseeing the church, the caller became rather nervous and soon concluded that she was not going to visit due to the absence of a pastor (among other things), despite her tacit agreement with our doctrinal statement. Usually the first question among visitors to our morning meeting on the Lord’s Day is, “Who is your pastor?” The focal point in modern church life today is not the choir or the building (usually called a “church”), but the pastor or clergyman. If he is a particularly gifted speaker, a good communicator and teacher, people will flock to hear him. Members of that congregation will express how they have been blessed with such a gifted man of God. He is everything to them. Many in American Evangelical and Bible churches will confess that it is the pastor’s teaching that draws them to attend any given Christian communion. However, a close examination of the Scriptures and the history of the church paints a different picture of the significance and position of pastors, hence the title of this paper, “Who is Your Pastor”.

The following paper will contrast the Biblical Pattern for the Pastor and pastors taught in the New Testament with the prevailing practice in Protestant and Roman Catholic churches (among others) that a single pastor is the leading teacher and the principle authority over a congregation of believers. The assumption is that, since this has been the practice in Christendom for a very long time, that this it must have biblical authority. It is never questioned. In fact any investigation into the validity of this pattern is deemed a threat to some. Thankfully though, “the word of God is not bound” 2 Timothy 2.9. We will examine some of the history and tradition of the single pastor view in light of the often overlooked teaching from the New Testament as to the identity of the Pastor and the pastors leading to the Christ honouring conclusion that the Lord himself is the Pastor over His own flock and that under-shepherds should function within the Biblical bounds for the edification of the body of Christ Ephesians 4.12. Many of Christ’s “under-shepherds” are indeed godly men, who love the Lord’s people and use their gifts to the glory of God. It is hoped that such might prayerfully read this little paper that they might more effectively use their gifts in the manner prescribed by the primitive church.

It is beyond the scope of this paper to fully develop church polity (the role of apostle, pastors, elders, bishops, priests and deacons). That has been done adequately by others (note a bibliography for further reading) at the conclusion. The intent here is to exalt the person of the Lord Christ and to demonstrate that He is the one who deserves the preeminence amongst those who gather to His blessed Name. Furthermore, it is hoped that this paper might help those who visit Assemblies gathering to the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and ask, “Who is your pastor?” to discover His identity and give Him his rightful place.

DEFNINTIONS OF THE WORD “PASTOR”
Dictionaries are not Scripture. However, the bias in English dictionaries over the centuries has been theologically misleading. They are based on common usage. Since the word pastor is generally understood as the head of a church, any translation which translates the Greek word into pastor, perpetuates this understanding. Shepherd [the more objective word] carries with it the spiritual or Biblical significance of the ones gifted to do the work, that of feeding the flock.

DEFINITION 1. [Merriam Webster]
”Etymology: Middle English pastour, from Middle French, from Latin pastor herdsman, from pascere to feed – more at FOOD: a spiritual overseer; especially : a clergyman serving a local church or parish”

COMMENT: “Feed the flock of God” Acts 20. is an important responsibility given by the apostle Paul. Note well, that the responsibility for feeding a single assembly (or church), was not given to the pastor! That may surprise many. Nor was it given to the bishop. Paul called the elders [presbyter, spiritually mature] (plural) and charged them with that task. However, the definition given by Webster ignores the plurality taught in the Acts in favour of the practices of Christendom. The common practice influenced the editors in their definition for the noun “pastor”, “a clergyman serving a local church or parish”. This definition assumes the notion of a clergyman and the existence of a local or parish church as the standard for the role of pastor. However, such assumptions make no appeal to the Scriptures, merely what is practiced in Christendom, which practice we will examine later. Elders in Acts 20.28 and elsewhere were in the plural [See also 1 Peter 5.1]

DEFINITION 2. [Oxford English Dictionary]
“A shepherd of souls; one who has the spiritual oversight over a company or body of Christians, bishop, priest, minister, etc; spec. the minister in charge of a church or congregation, with particular reference to the spiritual care of his flock.”

COMMENT: How revealing to observe that the most definitive dictionary of English in the world likewise provides the commonly accepted meanings to the word PASTOR without regard to the accurate Biblical pattern. Note the verbiage, “in charge of a church”. This shows the common bias, that a man is the head of a congregation, whereas The New Testament teaches that Christ is the head of the body which is His church. Moreover, spiritual care is said to be of “his” flock. Never does scripture allude to the commonly accepted notion that such or such a church or congregation is Rev. Smith’s Church. All too often a pastor is heard referring to “my people” or “my church” or “my flock”. The venerable Oxford English Dictionary plays into this notion. Finally, the connection made to pastor as “, bishop, priest, minister” declares the Roman catholic origin to the generally accepted thought of church “offices” which is fully manifested in the Church of England, Episcopal, Methodist and other Protestant communions which have inherited the ecclesiastical heritage of Rome in opposition to the clear teaching of Scriptures.

DEFINITION 3: [Arndt and Gingrich A Greek-English Lexicon]

“poimen: shepherd, sheep-herder. 1. lit. …Of the shepherds at Jesus’ birth Lk 2:8, 15, 18, 20…2. fig. b. of those who lead the Christian churches…B Christ 1 Peter 2.25”

COMMENT: This excellent, definitive scholarly resource traces this word though its use in the NT as shepherds of domesticated animals and then those who lead the Christian churches to the Lord Jesus himself in 1 Peter 2.25, “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls” Note the present position Christ hold over his Flock. He is called “the Shepherd” (same word translated elsewhere “Pastor”) We shall see in the next section why Shepherd is to be preferred. Nevertheless, according to the commonly accepted role of pastor, there is no contextual reason not to translate the word Pastor here. Christ is the Pastor over his Flock. Yet how few view Him as the Pastor? He is also called the Bishop, which means Overseer. The risen Christ is not far off, inactive and incapable of legislating or administering the activities of His own Flock. A casual reading of the Book of the Acts demonstrates that the risen Christ was very active amongst His own via the Hoy Spirit. Many will accept these roles for Christ, yet they believe that he has somehow delegated this responsibility to others. No, he is alive and well and active amidst the twos and threes gathered to his Name. “I am in the midst” “Under-shepherds” have their place , but to the exclusion of the Christ. None can take His unique Place.

BIBLE TRANSLATIONS and THE WORD PASTOR
The Bible is not a dictionary. However, it conveys meaning from the way words are translated from the originals. The Greek word poimen may be translated shepherd or pastor

In the following passages, in the old testament and in the new note the bias toward an ecclesiastical tradition which is not rooted in the Scriptures but in the Roman Catholic Church and was added centuries after the church was established in the 1st Century by the apostles.

The revered Authorized [King James 1611] Version was a translation supported largely by the Church of England, not by the Puritans. The Puritans favoured the Geneva Bible. This is significant for many reasons. The Puritans were Calvinists, evangelicals who mistrusted the ecclesiastical Roman Catholic leanings of the Church of England. It should be remembered that they ultimately fled England for Holland to escape religious persecution from the Church of England. The Authorized version translated several Greek words according to validate the existence of Church offices, such as Bishop, Pastor and deacon.

Authorized Version [King James 1611] “The LORD is my shepherd.” Psalm 23.1

Authorized Version [King James 1611] “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;” Ephesians 4.11

Geneva Bible 1557 [earlier editions] “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;” Ephesians 4.11

These should have been translated Overseer, Shepherd and Servant. This has had no small impact on the polity or views on church leadership for the past 4 centuries since most could not read Greek or had access to lexical tools, but relied on the English text.

OLD TESTAMENT VERSES NEW TESTAMENT ORDER
1. The Old Testament people of God, earthly Israel, were governed by the theocracy (divine rule) as to their civil government. As to their religious life, they were led in worship by the Aaronic priesthood. At that time there was a distinct division between the general people of God and the priests, made up of the family or tribe of Levi. From that tribe there were various orders of priests, carrying out the worship and service of the temple. There was also the position of high priest, the first being Aaron, the brother of Moses. In sharp contrast to the Old Testament people of God, (Israel) who had a priesthood over them. The common could not enter into the holy place or the holy of holies in the Temple (formerly the Tabernacle). This is clearly set forth in Leviticus and in Hebrews 9 and 10.

”Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people” Hebrews 9.6-7 It could be said that there was a division between the priesthood and the people in the Old Testament.

2. The New Testament People of God (the Church) are a priesthood. Every believer is a priest having equal access to God. [1 Peter 2.5-9]. There are no intermediaries or intercessors between the believers and God other than Christ, Who holds the office of High Priest [Hebrews 9.11] over His Church. [See also Ephesians 5.23 and 1 Timothy 2.5]

The New Testament teaches the most liberating of doctrines, THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS
”But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” 1 Peter 2.9
However, a misunderstanding of the Church’s priesthood and a mixing of Law and Grace will bring about the basis for the clergy and laity system which enslaved Christendom for 1,000 years and continues to limit the Spirit’s ministry in the hearts and lives of true Christians who would express their worship in the liberty of the Spirit.
The apostle Paul makes it abundantly clear in the New Testament that we are not under the dispensation or administration of the Law. We are under God’s dispensation or administration of Grace.

“ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6.14

“we are not under the law, but under grace” Romans 6.15

“ye are not under the law” Galatians 5.18

The Old Testament priesthood with its orders of priests and system of sacrifices have been discontinued. All the former legal system is fulfilled in Christ. The greatest doctrinal problems encountered in the New Testament, which were largely dealt with by the epistles were the tendency to return to the Law or the practices of the Law. The Epistles of Hebrews and Galatians particularly deal with the tendencies.

Since the days of the apostles, the mixture of the Old Testament Priesthood with the New Testament functions of apostles, evangelists, pastors and deacons has brought about the system known as the CLERGY and LAITY. This system supports the notion of the “office” of Pastor OVER a single congregation (or local church). The development of this system will be detailed in the next section.

CLERGY OR LAITY
One of the most disturbing developments early in the church age was that of the CLERGY and the LAITY split in the churches. This developed in the third and fourth centuries but was not the pattern in the Acts or the primitive church.

Andrew Miller writes, “Clericalism, then, we firmly believe sprang from Judaism. The Judaizing teachers boldly affirmed that Christianity was merely a graft on Judaism….Ignatius (one of the so-called “Church Fathers” in the third century), writing to the church at Ephesus says, ‘Let us take heed, brethren, that we set not ourselves against the bishop, that we may be subject to God…It is therefore evident that we ought to look upon the bishop even as we do upon the Lord Himself’ This is amazing to Protestants, however it is still the way the common Roman Catholics look upon their leaders. The ultimate extension of this mind set is the manner which the pope or ultimate pastor is viewed. He can do no wrong and is infallible (at least when he speaks ex-cathedra). While this system developed further in the middle ages, and flourishes today in Rome and her offspring denominations, the spirit of it often filters down into even Bible churches where some pastor are elevated to places far beyond the intent of the Scriptures. One man, an elder of a Baptist church was heard to say, the only man who has the right to interpret the Bible is the Pastor!

“ Scripture teaches that every believer is to be subject to those in authority in government (Romans 13) and even in the assembly. “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God” Ephesians 5.21 Hence, one who has the gift of pastor or shepherd in the true sense should submit himself to other believers. This is so different from the religious world where men hold sway over other men in an inappropriate manner. Furthermore Scripture teaches “Obey them that have the rule over you [better translated “TAKE THE LEAD AMONG YOU” (note the ecclesiastical bias of the KJV)] and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” Hebrews 13.17 However, it is a far cry from the ecclesiastical power executed in the Roman Catholic and other religious bodies where men hold the souls of other men in their thralldom and threaten such with excommunication from heaven or favor with God.

The Greek word KLEROS means 1. lot (i.e. pebble, small stick, etc;) or 2. that which is assigned by lot, portion, share [Arndt and Gingrich] In New Testament times a stone or a small stick was used in making a decision. This was done in the choice for the successor to Judas. It was made by lot or choice. The hand held the sticks. It would be agree upon that the shortest or the longest would be the winner. An appointed person would make the choice or draw the stick. It is used in the New Testament of that which is God’s choice or chosen people.

1 Peter 5.3 reveals the KLEROI (KJV heritage) belongs to God, “God’s Heritage” God’s lot, his personal possession. The elders (NOTE THE PLURALITY: not the pastor or the elder, but the elders) who feed the flock are not to be lords over them. The flock or people of God were not pastor “Jones or Smiths” church, as we often hear in the religious world. How often clerics refer to “my people”? No official or even apostle much less pastor or elder is ever seen calling a church or assembly, “mine”. Such language is foreign to the New Testament. The only one who has the right to use this kind of verbiage is the Lord himself; “If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray…” 2 Chronicles 7.14 or “…I will be their God, and they shall be my people” 2 Corinthians 6.16b.

Christendom has “hijacked” this term KLEROS and degenerated it into a category never intended by its etymology or usage in the Scriptures. It became an upper tier for those who were specially trained for something called “the ministry” or holy orders. They were chosen from the ranks of seminarians. They came from the ranks of those who were more educated than the common people. They were the schoolmen. They were the monks and the priests who ruled over what became known as the LAITY. The word LAOS means simply the “people”. All the people who are saved and indwelt by the Spirit of God are His people. Another word, LAIKOS, derived from LAOS is never used in the New Testament. One writer suggests that it is only used once in all Christian literature prior to the third century but even then, not used of Christians at all.

Noting the fact of the priesthood of all believers it must be stated with vigor, EVERY TRUE CHRISTIAN IS GOD’S CLERGY. There is no division or upper tier and lower tier in Biblical Christianity. There are different gifts. Every believer has a gift or gifts from the Spirit to be used in the Body of Christ for the glory of God and the edification of the same. The passages on gifts are in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4.

THE DEVLOPMENT OF THE SINGLE PASTOR IN HISTORY
A.D. 66 [Apostolic era]
In Acts 20.30, the apostle Paul warned the Elders of the Church at Ephesus about departure from apostolic church order: “of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them”

A.D. 90 [Apostolic era]
There was early fulfillment of this prophecy recorded in III John. It seems that there were three leaders in the assembly, Gaius, Demetrius and Diotrephes. In this letter, reference is made to one who rose up from within the ranks of three elders in an assembly. Note his character and his deeds “I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating (gossiping) against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. One commentator wrote, “The aged Apostle had written to a church which allowed one Diotrephes to exercise an authority common enough in later ages, but wholly new in the primitive churches. Diotrephes had rejected the apostolic letters and authority. It appears also that he had refused the ministry of the visiting brethren (3 John 1.10), and cast out those that had received them. Historically, this letter marks the beginning of that clerical and priestly assumption over the churches in which the primitive church order disappeared. (Scofield Reference Notes 1917 edition)

AD 100 – 500 [Post Apostolic era]
In the last section, reference was made to “that clerical and priestly assumption over the churches.” This began to accelerate during the post apostolic era with the rise of the Clergy or the CLERGY LAITY SYSTEM

Ultimately it became the primary polity of many centers of Christendom, the Coptic, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox and the powerful Roman Catholic Church in the West. The growth of the clergy constitutes a large study in Church History far beyond the scope of this paper. However, its importance requires some mention of the salient events of these times.

AD 1500s [Middle ages]
Protestant Reformers continued with the Roman system
Liberating thousands from the of superstition and darkness where the simple gospel was exchanged for a works system which neither gave life nor liberty to the hearers, the Reformers Luther, Calvin and others continued many of the practices which had been entrenched in the Roman Catholic church for nearly 1,000 years. Rome’s hierarchical structure of Pope, Cardinals, Bishops and Priests (later Pastors) found its way into the polity of the Church of England, Lutheran and Methodist communions and others. The names were changed, but the structure remained more or less. For our purpose it is interesting to know that the parish priest was retained in the designated form as the local church Pastor.

AD 1800s [Modern era]
The nineteenth century saw the rise of another movement in England, the Oxford Movement (or the Tractarian Movement). Cardinal John Henry Newman, bishop in the Church of England led hundreds of bishops out of ht Church of England back into the fold of the Roman Catholic Church. During this era there was a return to high church formularies and robes and an increase of clericalism. At the same time the Spirit of God raised up many who saw the truth of gathering simply, without clerical orders or rituals. In fact many of those who became known simply as brethren came out from among the ranks of holy orders and priesthood. What a stark contrast. Men like William Kelly, John Darby and others left the established church and met on divine ground. Their motto was a simple one, given by their Pastor, their Master, their Lord,

But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. Matthew 23.8-10



AD 2004 [Today]
Today’s professing churches retain the practice of the “One Man Ministry” or Single Pastor over a Single Congregation. It has become more complex as men have recognized their inability to keep up with the demands of a large congregation. There are in some places a more scriptural plurality with elders. Yet there is the existence of the “Senior Pastor”. Is this an intrusion into the Biblical title reserved only for the Lord Jesus, “When the Chief Shepherd shall appear…” in 1 Peter 5.


THE PROBLEMS OF SINGLE PASTORS
1. Displacement of the function of the Holy Spirit
The New Testament makes it abundantly clear the one who leads (or ought to lead) in all things is the Spirit of God. He seeks to choose to use whomsoever “he will” in the congregation of believers gathered to the Name of the Lord [1 Corinthians 12.11]. This is God’s ideal. The Philippians had gift. They had a plurality of leaders (“bishops and deacons” –literally “overseers and servants”. There was no false doctrine or immorality to contend with as with the church in Corinth. Yet, Paul’s care for them in an apostolic age required him to send Timothy as his legate, his representative to meet the needs which could only be done by that authority or role. Timothy was an apostolic legate there being no evidence that he was a pastor.

In Darby’s comments on his tract, “Notion of a Clergyman” he underscored the results of that system as it pertains to resisting the work of the Holy Spirit, “It is a question of the dispensational standing of the Church in the world – a statement that that depends wholly on the power and presence of the Holy Ghost, and that the Notion of a Clergyman contradicts His title and power, on which the standing of the Church down here depends. It is the habitation of God through the Spirit. Scripture is clear, that if the Gentiles do not abide in God's goodness, they will be cut off like the Jews.

2. Misplaced Affection
To be sure, the Lord Jesus taught us, “This is my commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you.” But is love or devotion to be directed to one group or person more than another? This reached a level of excess in an article in a Christian publication recently entitled, “Nine ways to love your Pastor” in which the following was suggested; ‘write a note telling the pastor how good a particular sermon was.” and ‘Remember birthdays and anniversaries of each member of the pastor's family. Find reasons to celebrate—like the anniversary of your pastor's arrival at your church as well as other memorable milestones. Occasionally include the entire church in the festivities.’ among others things. These were called “pastor pick-me-ups” Another asked, “"How can a church show love and appreciation to its pastor?" The answer was, A church can pay its minister well. Another book was written on How to Keep the Pastor You Love Jane Rubietta explores the "flip side" of pastoral care--caring for your pastor.

3. Misplaced Dependence
It is necessary when young in the faith to have guides. This is taught everywhere. One must walk before one can run. Yet Paul strongly challenged the Hebrews who were stunted in their spiritual growth with these words,

“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe”

When persons are spoon fed, there may be the tendency to rely on the teacher and not study on his own. How often we hear “The pastor said so” or “My pastor teaches this or that”. A faithful pastor is to be commended if he is faithful to the Word of God. But, what of growth? What of development? Paul told Timothy, “Study to show thyself approved unto God.” Was that admonition for the clergy? Was it for a leader. Timothy was a representative for Paul at Ephesus. He had apostolic work to do to establish the churches. But the admonitions given to Timothy are for us today, “…a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Perhaps the reader has recently visited a hall where Christians were gathered. You witnessed a simple meeting. There was no entertainment. There was no apparent leader. As a sincere true believer in Christ, you appreciated the fact that there was order. You were reminded of the Scripture, “let all things be done decently and in order” 1 Corinthians 14.40 Yet, you noted that there was no raised platform, no pulpit, no elevated desk. In fact, no single person was “running” the meeting. Various men stood and gave thanks to God for His Son. Others spoke to the Lord Jesus and expressed their appreciation for his lovely person and his suffering on the cross. Still others gave out hymns which were sung by all in great dignity and reverence. At one point, another gave thanks for the simple emblems on the table in the center of the room, a loaf of bread and a single cup of wine which was passed between the believers in remembrance of the One who was said to be “in the midst”. Another arose and brought a challenging yet worshipful address to the saints, which was followed by a closing hymn. There was no chaos. There was no rush or discord. How can this be? Who was in charge? Where was God’s man? Where was the pastor? Let the reader be reminded that the Lord is not only “in the midst” but on the throne on high. He through instrumentality of the Holy Spirit desires to use whomsoever HE wills in the exercise or conductance of the meetings of the saints. 1 Corinthians 12.11 Those with gift, evangelists, pastors, teachers, administrators etc. are to be sensitive to the leading of the Lord the Spirit and use their gifts to the glory of God.


In the subject of the church and its order, there are two opposite principles working in the realm of Christendom or Christianity: Man’s order and a Divine order. In man’s order there is the exaltation of man, ultimately leading to the man of sin. In the divine order there is the subjugation of man, leading to the exaltation of The Man of God’s own choosing, none other than the Christ of God presently exalted in heavenly glory. In man’s order there is always a man at the top. In the divine order there is a Man at the top. The question is, which man? What does Scripture teach concerning the Man of God’s own choosing?

“In all things He (Christ) might have the preeminence” Colossians 1.18

However, this is not the way of the churches. In the Roman Catholic denomination we hear of “his eminence Cardinal Cushing” or in Protestant domains we hear of “Reverend Smith, Pastor of the First Baptist Church of East Anglia” or similar words. Elsewhere we hear of the senior pastor or the youth pastor often mixed with reverend or other title which tends to uplift the individual to levels of importance never imagined in the Scriptures or seen among the early Christians in the Book of the Acts. In Scripture, no one is call Reverend but the Lord God, “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.” Psalm 89.7

May we ever keep the following before us as we think of the Person and Ministry of Christ, In all things he must have the preeminence. In other words Christ must have first place in all aspects of New Testament church life and mission.

HEAD OF THE CHURCH

The Pope is the Head of the Roman Catholic Church. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the head of the Church of England. The Metropolitan is the head of the Eastern Orthodox Church. On and on it goes with man being exalted to the detriment of Christ. What saith the Scripture? Who is the Head of the Church? Scripture must be allowed to speak: “Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.” Ephesians 5.23; “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” Colossians 1.18; All evangelicals, Biblical Fundamentalists and others would subscribe to the fact that Christ is the head of the Church. However, they would then “qualify” that by the following, He is the head of the universal church body. But what of the local manifestation? After all, Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” Are there then two bodies? One local (Corinth) and the other universal? No, the church at Corinth was a representation of the whole, the expression of the body. The lack of the article in the original, translatable, “Ye are body of Christ” bears this out. They were not THE Body, but were body-like or had the character of the body, hence expressing it. So, the argument that Christ is not the head of the local company of believers is fallacious. Christ is always Head and must be owned as such.

To suggest as many do that the local pastor is the head of a local company or group of believers is a grave error, usurping a place which belongs only to Christ Jesus Himself. This was akin to the problem manifesting itself in III John. In the assembly there a man by the name of Diotrephes “loveth to have the preeminence among them” The result, he didn’t received John and others who came to the assembly. This was an early example of one who usurped the place of Christ. He was preeminent. However, Scripture teaches in the strongest possible language that the Son of God should in all things have the preeminence. How sharp is the contrast with Biblical Christianity with the practices of Rome where we read of men who are given such titles as, “Vicar of Christ”, “Reverend” or even his “eminence”? Spirit filled, Scripturally informed and sensitive men quickly decry such titles hoisted upon themselves by men. It is an enigma even to find Biblical Fundamentalist leaders, who would vigorously defend the truth that Christ is the head of the church on the one and retaining the prefix Rev. in front of their names on the other hand.

"Lord, what is man?" Yes, with deep adoration,

Gladly prolong we this wonderful theme;

Jesus, divine One, Thou Head of creation,

Head of Thy church, which Thou cam'st to redeem!

CONCLUSION_WHO IS YOUR PASTOR
The Scriptures teach that there are shepherds [pastors] among the flock Ephesians 4.11. They should develop their skills by studying the Word of God 2 Timothy 2.15. These men are in the plural where they flourish and are not to be “lords [plural] over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock [singular]. The flock [note they are also part of the flock John 10.] are to follow their lead, receive their teaching and go to them for and advice. All of this is within the scope of the Bible. However, we must never forget Who the Pastor is.

“The Lord is my Shepherd [Pastor]” Psalm 23.1 When under-shepherds have done their part, it is to Him the sheep must ultimately go to, for He is the “Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9.6 [He is a Wonderful Counselor!]



If the Lord Jesus Christ is not YOUR PASTOR, then you have NO PASTOR.

Leonard Layne
October 10, 2004