The church has been deceived for hundreds of years when it accepted a hierarchy, pews all facing forward, and everyone else in the building being silenced unless they had permission to speak.
Most things within the gatherings were man's idea for controlling the people, rather than allowing them to be controlled and motivated by the Holy Spirit within each of them.
Most people like the man-made system because it is familiar and they don't have to do anything but sit in a pew and do whatever the man up front tells them to do, even what to believe.
Most Christians I have met in my lifetime do not know the Bible, rarely read it, and only then if the pastor tells them what to study.
It is a lack of faith in Christ for men to think they must control others. Sharing truth, even speaking it, is what God intended, not only for one man who is educated by men, but for all the believers in the gathering.
1 Corinthians 14:26 "When you come together, every one of you has a psalm, a teaching, a tongue, a revelation, and an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification."
The one-man-paid-pastor-educated by the seminary system is not Biblical. It is man's idea to control others and Lord it over the congregation. Whenever man thinks up his own ideas to help God out while negating what He commanded, the system goes bad very quickly. And, sadly those who fall into the system become comfortable, lazy, and dependent on that system.
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Matthew 20:25-28 "25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles domineer over them, and those in high position exercise authority over them.
26 It is not this way among you, but whoever wants to become prominent among you shall be your servant,
27 and whoever desires to be first among you shall be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Leaders serve and instruct; they do not have authority over another born again believer, only the Holy Spirit has that Authority.
All leaders and teachers should be subject to the entire congregation and readily able to be corrected or taught themselves.
Now that the man-made system is imploding, full of wrong doctrine and even heresy, people who attended church all their lives are becoming insecure, not knowing how to gather at home.
When the virus shut down the church buildings, many people were upset as though they didn't know what to do when there was no formal building and a paid pastor.
I didn't care that the buildings were closing, I didn't need them, and neither did any others born again believer. Since God made it clear that we can meet anywhere, on any day, at any time, with anyone we choose gave such freedom to the gathering. There are no rules about these things according to Scripture.
In these last days, it is difficult to find a group of people who are meeting Biblically, our families are enough, and in accordance with God's mandate to not forsake the gathering.
Matthew 18:20 "20 For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”
God never commanded a particular building, or a paid pastor. When we deny what God said we are trusting in man instead of Christ.
It is my belief that God is going to allow our country to become so corrupted that believers will not be allowed to be in those buildings, to show us our own hearts. Are we able to meet in homes and know what to do because we know Scriptures, or will many not have a clue about the purpose of the gathering?
1 Thessalonians 5:9-21 "9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep, we might live with him.
11 Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Final Instructions and Benediction
12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray without ceasing,
18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
20 Do not despise prophecies,
21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.
22 Abstain from every form of evil.'"
Hallelujah! God's way is always best and never changes!
