In your reading of the Bible, did Jesus or His disciples ever set forth the concept of a ruling elite over the people of God? We have written about that in numerous articles and blogs in the hope our readers dare question the order of the Nicolaitane leadership they are following.
In this column, we will look at another office of true church government set forth in scripture.
First, for clarity, let us state there is not any scripture giving pastors sole authority in a group of God's people. Am I against pastors then? -NO! I love real pastors, the problem is the majority have apostasized from Gods' Word and they function as hirelings and are exercising an unscriptural headship position.
What happens when a pastor or a priest exercises sole authority in the church? The overwhelming majority become corrupted and the sheep are conformed into the pastors image rather than the Christ of scripture. Do you doubt that? -then compare the signs Jesus said would follow believers with what we see in the average "church". Jesus said:
" ... Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.
And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues;
they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mk 16:15-18
The average church is filled with unhealed, sick, afflicted, and spiritualy oppressed people.
Many have never even been baptized in obedience to the clear command of Christ.
How many churches cast out demons nowadays?
(the reality? -in "church" today, the demons have little to fear!)
The power of faith in the real gospel is lost as the sheep follow their pastor instead of the True Shepherd. The Biblical pastor was an unpaid servant in the local assembly with a gift for drawing people, comforting, and encouragement. (There ought to be a "five-fold" ministry in the local church where the other ministerial gifts such as prophet, evangelist, teacher, etc. are evident. -And none is exalted above the other, "for ye are brethren" as Christ said.)
Paul warned the Ephesian church of this when he said "from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them." John warned the church of corrupt "Diotrephes who loves to have the pre-eminence". Perverse meaning to speak contrary to Jesus.
You may include his wife in many cases who now becomes the co-pastor, or as we saw on a church banner "Welcome ---, First Lady!" -of the ABC Church we visited. We have the spectacle of pastors' kids becoming royalty and groomed for ascendancy into ministry, even becoming the heirs who inherit their parents church. This usually means taking over management of the organization, property, and position of the "church".
Only once in the New Testament is the word "pastor" used (Eph. 4:11), yet pastors absolutely dominate evangelical Christianity. Prophets are mentioned in 45 NT verses yet are practicaly non-existent except for a few that prophesy for pay in the church world, and a handlful of others. Many Prophets are paid to speak to churches and most always prophecy prosperity, larger ministries, and a bigger name. We heard plenty of these types and they were welcome guest speakers in our assembly on a regular basis and usually were paid very generously.
"Take, brethren, for an example of suffering and of patience, the prophets.."
Now consider the role of the prophet, of which God said He placed in the church also. The real ones do not seek the limelight but will speak when the Lord puts His Word in them. They are more loners and isolated as they are called to be somewhat remote as he has not the warm and chummy personality of the pastor. (people tend to be drawn to pastors and intimidated by prophets).
The prophet will "see" things others don't. For that he may be mocked, scorned, and rejected, he is by nature a watchman.
The prophet is drawn to, of all things, PROPHECY, enjoys the Book of Revelation, Daniel, and the other prophets. He will get revelation from the Lord and it will usually upset the comfortable traditions and status quo of "church". He makes pastors uncomfortable because he strains at their leash.
When he walks in the Spirit, he is passionate for God's Word and calling people to seek the Lord. He will be perceived as harsh, moody, difficult, and unsociable,which is often true because he just does not conform to the church "system".
(unless he gives himself over to gain and the flesh pleasing ministry of Jezebel and Balaam for hire).
He can be carnal and he hates his own failures.
He is zealous for people to repent and be holy.
He seeks spiritual things from above, visions, and dreams.
He is very sensitive and perceptive of spiritual atmosheres.
He will shout the truth from the rooftop.
He is excited by revelation from scripture.
His prophecies are disdained.
He is rejected and has few friends but he loves people..
He is known for his personal flaws and weaknesses.
He makes people uncomfortable when he speaks about God.
He is against the establishment order of manmade ministry,
a contrarian who is stifled by ritual and routine.
He has a fiery heart and speaks fiery words. Sometimes to his regret.
He talks to many about God.
He carries the Word and truth, but is scorned as a lone ranger Christian.
He is modest and not flashy.
He is not comfortable taking money from people for ministry.
He is called to suffer affliction.
He is without honor in his own house and country.
He is called to suffer. Take, brethren, .. an example of suffering and of patience the prophets who spake in the name of the Lord. -james 5:10
He dies when he is conformed to another man's ministry and loses his own Spiritual identity.
He is better for staying home and hearing from God than hearing a 3-point Bible College sermon.
He knows he is "different", but does not know why.
He rejoices when demons are cast out and people healed.
He positively grieves for what promotes itself as Christian.
He does not follow the mainstream crowd.
He hears from God and it is usually different from what is commonly taught.
He thinks something is wrong with himself when the reality is it is the church that has apostasized and it is his calling to examine themselves in the light of Scripture.
For this he is marginalized, tolerated (as long as he financially participates), and very seldom recognized in the assembly as a gift of ministry from the Lord.
The empty void in evangelical Christianity today.
The missing minister is the prophet. He has been homogenized into the mainstream milk that calls itself Christian. Typically he sits in a pew or is molded into the job of a pastor, but inside there is a burning fire that wants to tell it like it is.
He is not seeker sensitive in the stagnant water of the typical church service.
When mature, he rejects being bought for money, reputation, or popularity.
He is non self-glorying, non self- promoting.
Forget the "Prophet Appreciation Month" -he does not want it.
If you have been around church very long, you have met prophets, pastors, teachers, and perhaps an apostle.
Most of them became nameless, faceless followers conformed to the image of their fellowship.
But God has them, oh yes, and the ones who come out from among them and follow the Lord "outside the camp" of modern Christianity will be as candles in the night.
