There ought to be several elders (pastors) in any gathering of believers, not just one who are able to teach and guide.
We have falsely been taught in this country and even around the world that it is a sign of special respect to call someone "pastor, so and so." But there is no one in the scriptures titled with this word.
If the church were to evaluate all their customs and traditions they would find out much of what they say and do is not supported in scripture, even against it at times.
Matthew 23:6-8 "…6 They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 the greetings in the marketplaces, and the title of ‘Rabbi’ by which they are addressed. 8 But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers."
God said that our teacher is Jesus Christ. We have leaders in the church called elders according to the Bible but they are not over Jesus Christ who is in us.
John 16:13-14 "13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.…"
No leader in the church or the home takes priority over Jesus Christ. We honor and obey them but we do not endorse everything they do if they disobey Christ.
Acts 5:29 "29 But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men."
We can treat with respect all leaders but this does not mean that we blindly obey them. We evaluate what they say and do and confront them when they disobey God. No leader has absolute power over anyone else, they too are subject to those they lead, accountability is very important for anyone who will be a leader.
A leader must always be willing to be corrected without responding in anger. Far too many leaders in the church think they are the ultimate authority over the people, they are not according to God's Word.
Mark 10:42-45
"And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Leaders are guides and servants but they are not to exercise authority over anyone. We listen to them as we would listen to anyone as they obey God. If they do not obey God, teaching false doctrine or living prideful lives, then we must reject their teaching until they begin to obey God again.
We have falsely been taught in this country and even around the world that it is a sign of special respect to call someone "pastor, so and so." But there is no one in the scriptures titled with this word.
If the church were to evaluate all their customs and traditions they would find out much of what they say and do is not supported in scripture, even against it at times.
Matthew 23:6-8 "…6 They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 the greetings in the marketplaces, and the title of ‘Rabbi’ by which they are addressed. 8 But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers."
God said that our teacher is Jesus Christ. We have leaders in the church called elders according to the Bible but they are not over Jesus Christ who is in us.
John 16:13-14 "13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.…"
No leader in the church or the home takes priority over Jesus Christ. We honor and obey them but we do not endorse everything they do if they disobey Christ.
Acts 5:29 "29 But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men."
We can treat with respect all leaders but this does not mean that we blindly obey them. We evaluate what they say and do and confront them when they disobey God. No leader has absolute power over anyone else, they too are subject to those they lead, accountability is very important for anyone who will be a leader.
A leader must always be willing to be corrected without responding in anger. Far too many leaders in the church think they are the ultimate authority over the people, they are not according to God's Word.
Mark 10:42-45
"And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Leaders are guides and servants but they are not to exercise authority over anyone. We listen to them as we would listen to anyone as they obey God. If they do not obey God, teaching false doctrine or living prideful lives, then we must reject their teaching until they begin to obey God again.
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