If anyone is using the term "Pastor" with a capital "P" as though elevating a man above other men then they are incorrectly using the word.
The word pastor means "shepherded" charged with teaching and leading by example. This person has no authority over anyone, he is a messenger and oversees the people to bring them truth, not to be superior to them or have dominance over them.
The roles of the man are different than the roles of the woman but none is superior to the other. Each role was given by God for His purposes and according to our God-given talents within our genders.
When we elevate a person above the Holy Spirit we are giving that person pre-eminence, which belongs only to God.
Preeminence means to be the first and final authority. First in everything is Christ Jesus. No man can override this in any born-again believer.
Colossians 1:18
"18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy."
John 1:9
"9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world." That is Jesus Christ!
Colossians 1:15-17
"15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation:
16 for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.
17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."
Among the brethren many years ago there were no one-man-paid-pastor systems, they recognized that Christ is the only leader of the church everyone else is led by Him in worship at the Lord's supper every week. All the men participated in leading. The teachers at the second part of the gathering taught and others participated as led by the Holy Spirit.
No man dominated the gathering, the Holy Spirit dominated as He led men to speak, pray, and ask for a song. In the teaching the Holy Spirit led men to add to the leader's talk or correct if necessary, no man was silenced by false authority.
It was a beautiful thing, edifying to all, and a blessing to the Lord because He was the focus of all that occurred within the gathering. Men were not quoted as we see often now, men were not elevated it was all about God's word.
Nowadays so many people say they are "Bible-believing" but they use it like an amulet, not caring if everything they are saying and doing is supported by the Scriptures. In fact, more of the Bible is violated in the gatherings today than is obeyed and anyone who attempts to correct the wrong teaching is silenced and even removed.
The Holy Spirit is not the one leading in the gatherings today, they are led by men full of pride and inculcated with much human teaching.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears, they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."
We are living in a time of myths, the myths are elevated above the Word of God, and those who believe them are hostile to the Word of God.
Isaiah 30:10
"10 Who say to the seers, “You must not see visions”;
And to the prophets, “You must not prophesy the truth to us.
Speak to us [a]pleasant words,
Prophesy illusions."
Jude 1:17-19 "17 But you, beloved, remember what was foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ 18 when they said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow after their own ungodly desires.” 19 These are the ones who cause divisions, who are worldly and devoid of the Spirit."
We are living in the last days when there is very little faith in Christ upon the earth. It will not get better but we can be growing and learning in spite of the opposition against us.
2 Thessalonians 2:10 "and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not accept the love of the truth so as to be saved."
We do not have to follow the culture and we do not need many friends to validate us. Since we have Jesus Christ living in us we can continue in the truth, becoming stronger as we go because we will not be caving under the pressure of the world around us to give up the truth to be accepted by others.
Christ is everything and He is all we need. We love and enjoy the brethren but Christ always comes first in everything.
Proverbs 18:24
"24 A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."
Proverbs 18:24
"24 A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."
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