IS IT REVEREND PREACHER AND BROTHER MEMBER OR IS IT BROTHER - TopicsExpress



          

IS IT REVEREND PREACHER AND BROTHER MEMBER OR IS IT BROTHER PREACHER AND BROTHER MEMBER? 1. The Holy Spirit answers this question in Galatians 3:26-29. "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise." The answer in the light of this is that everyone is on the same plain and level in the church. No one is to be exalted above the other. They are all our brothers and sisters regardless of preachers, teachers, song leaders, people who pray, and people who are encouragers. No preacher should be exalted above others and especially he should not be a reverend or distinguished as the pastor. 2. Jesus Christ answers this question in Matthew 23:8-10. "But be ye not 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." Here the Lord Jesus Christ told everyone in all of Christendom not to call people by any religious titles of honor. The reason is that being Christians means being servants. In Matthew 23:11 the Lord said, "But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant." The 12 apostles were discussing among them who would be the greatest and Jesus told them "But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and give his life a ransom for many." (Matthew 20: 26-28) To emphasize that point, Jesus, at the last supper, girded himself with a towel, took a basin of water, and washed the disciples’ feet. He then said, "Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet." (John 13:12-14) Humility and oneness are necessary for us to reach heaven. "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." (James 4:10) We are all common and none are bosses over the others so we cannot take religious titles of honor. 3. This question is answered by the early Christians at Jerusalem in Acts 2:44. "And all that believed were together, and had all things common." All things common would include being on the same level. They did not have their favorite preachers or favorite people. When some were neglected, and this was brought to the attention of the apostles, they corrected the situation by having them choose seven men to wait on tables. These would see that all were treated alike. (Acts 6) This was the norm of the early church. No reverend this one or common that one. 4. This question was answered by the apostles themselves. As apostles they had authority in matters of teaching because they were teaching by the inspiration and power of the Holy Spirit. Yet, when he wrote the Philippians he began by saying, "Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons." (Philippians 1:1) Peter also addressed himself as a "servant and an apostle" when writing II Peter. 5. The elders of the church were overseers (bishops) and rulers but they did this as their work and not as an office with titles of honor. "The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock." (I Peter 5: 1-3) Notice that elders are to 1)Feed the flock which means to see that the proper spiritual food is provided so the Christians can grow thereby. 2) Elders are to take the oversight which would be to coordinate the work of the Christians in the congregation so they can work together in a smooth concerted way. That’s quite a job for them to do. 3) They are to be good examples themselves both in life and working for the Lord. Leading by example is one of the greatest ways of leading. Never should they lord it over God’s heritage. Someone defined an elder as a "man out in front who is walking in the right direction and calling for others to follow him." The shepherds of Palestine led their flocks in that fashion. Even in giving qualifications of elders in I Timothy 3:1 the Holy Spirit said, "This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work." 6. In the King James Bible God is called holy and reverend. Psalms 111:19 says "He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant forever: holy and reverend is his name." Reverend is defined by "worthy of worship or reverence." Here the one who sent redemption is the one worthy of worship or to be reverenced. The late translations translate this phrase "holy and awesome is his name." The point is that only God is worthy of the title "reverend"
Posted on: Thu, 27 Jun 2013 09:02:05 +0000

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