Leadership: Where
Things Started To Go Wrong.
In Jesus own words about leadership,
he said to the Apostles, “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have
one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone
on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor
are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The
greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt
themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Matthew 23:8-12
Acts 20:28-31: This
bears repeating!
Keep
watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of
God,[a] which he bought with his own blood.[b] 29 I know that after I leave, “savage wolves” will come
in among you and will not spare the
flock. 30 Even from your own
number men will arise and “distort
the truth” in order to draw
away disciples after them. 31 “So
be on your guard!” Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you “night
and day with tears.”
Question:
Many times in our day, it is not
politically correct to judge other Christians. However, we must remember that
judgment begins with the household of God. So, Is there some unwritten rule somewhere that
Christians are not to question other Christian’s beliefs about the
Institutional Churches traditional practices? No way! We are to “test” the spirits in the search for truth, but with “gentleness and respect”. From my research, it is absolutely imperative
to speak the truth in love.
An
early example of how leadership might have gone awry is what “Diotrophes” did
to the Apostles, other believers, and believers that he was fellowshipping
with. The scripture below points to what could possibly be the early beginnings
of the development of the “clergy/laity
division.”
3
John 1:9-10
9
I wrote to the church, but “Diotrophes,”
who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 10 So when I come, I will
call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not
satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops
those who want to do so (that is believers welcoming other believers) and puts
them out of the church. WHAT!!!
· Paul
wrote to the Elders of the
churches. (there were more than one)
· Elders
were the spiritually mature leaders who developed from the body of believers
over time.
· Elders,
overseers, pastors, ministers, shepherds, deacons (means servants), etc., are
terms that are all synonymous terms. They meant “functions,” not offices. Over time, we have let these
words, through tradition, morph into words that are incorrectly defined. Mainly,
these definitions came from the traditions of the Early Church Fathers.
· Elders gave
guidance and direction to believers through maturity, wisdom, and gentle
persuasion, but decision-making was by consensus of the entire body of
believers. (Not based on supposed Democratic voters meetings.)
False Teachings ofThe
Early Church Fathers and Others Influence:The Major Fatal Flaw:
So,
“who caused the deception?” False teachers and false teachings were abundant
during the time of the Apostles. The Post-Apostolic, false teachings of the Early
Church Fathers heavily influenced the beliefs of the Christian’s around
them. If they would have stuck to what Jesus taught the apostles, and the
apostles passed on to other believers they would have been on the right path.
However, the Early Church Fathers went astray when they themselves developed (I
think it was partially out of ignorance and partially intentional) their own
organizational system. From this point, the Early Church Fathers started
straying from what Jesus taught, and believed that what should be taught was
Jesus teachings plus their teachings. In fact, they went beyond and believed that
their teachings super-ceded those of Jesus.
With this belief came the development
of a division caused by the Early Church Fathers. From the quotes below, it is not hard to see
that this foundational error of the Early Church Fathers developed into a
system. Their “organizational system”
was completely spread throughout the body of believers by the end of the fourth century. From this “biblical error,”
all other areas of the body of believer’s practice were and continue to be affected
and in error. These are the areas that were affected: The pastor, sermon,
order of worship, church buildings, Lord’s Supper, baptism, tithes, clergy salaries,
music ministers, choirs, Sunday morning dress, etc., etc., etc.
Examining The Early
Church Father’s Quotes:
Clement of Rome, in his epistle
to the Corinthian Church in AD 95, wrote:
"The
high priest has been given his own special services, the priests have been
assigned their own place, and the Levites have their special ministrations
enjoined on them. The layman is bound
by the ordinances of the laity."WHAT?!!!!
Where
did the Apostles write about ordinances for the laity and being bound by them?
They didn’t!
Where did the Apostles ever speak of their
Christian brothers and sisters as layman in their writings? You won’t find it!
Ignatius - Bishop of Antioch AD 110
To the
Ephesians:
"Your
REVEREND presbytery is tuned to the Bishop as strings to a lyre...Let us be
careful not to resist the Bishop, that through our submission to the Bishop we
may belong to God...We should regard the Bishop as the Lord Himself..."WHAT?!!!
Where is the humility of a servant?
There is None!
Where did the Apostles ever demonstrate this type of
thinking in their actions? They didn’t.
Paul was not high-minded like this. In
fact, He said, “I am the worst of sinners.”
To the
Smyrneans:
*"Let no-one
do anything that pertains to the church apart from the Bishop...it is not permitted to baptize or hold a
love-feast independently of the Bishop. But whatever he approves, that
is also well pleasing to God." WHAT?!!!
“He
that does anything without the knowledge
of the Bishop serves the Devil.” WHAT?!!!!
Where
did the Apostles ever write this type of requirement in the New Testament
scriptures and said these things?
They didn’t!
To the
Magnesians:
*"I advise
you to always act in godly concord with the Bishop, presiding as the counterpart
of God, and the presbyters as the counterpart of the council of the
Apostles...As the Lord did nothing without the Father, either by Himself or by
means of the Apostles, so you must do
nothing without the Bishop and the presbyters." WHAT?!!!
Where
did any of the Apostles write anything like this? They didn’t!
To the
Trallians:
"...respect
the Bishop as the counterpart of the Father, and the presbyters as the council
of God and the college of the Apostles: without
those no church is recognized." WHAT?!!!!
“It
is therefore necessary that, as you indeed do, so without the Bishop you should do nothing, but should also be
subject to the Presbytery (Elders), as to the Apostle of Jesus Christ,
who is our hope, if we live, we shall be found.” WHAT?!!!
Where
did any of the Apostles write anything like this? They didn’t!
Tertullian - AD 200
·
This
is a very interesting quote “Custom or (Tradition, my word) without truth
is error grown old.” Tertullian. (Pay
close attention here.)
This comes from the man who helped
develop the priesthood/clergy leadership structure.
"The
supreme priest (that is the Bishop) has the right of conferring baptism: after
him the
presbyters and deacons, but only with
the Bishop's authority.
What?
!!!!!
Otherwise
the laity also have the right...how much more is the discipline of reverence
and humility incumbent upon laymen (since it also befits their superiors) “It
would be idle for us to suppose that what is forbidden to PRIESTS is allowed to
the laity. WHAT?!!!The distinction between the order of clergy and the people
has been established by the authority of the Church."
WHAT? !!!
Where
did any of the Apostles write anything like this? They didn’t! There was no
separate authority or class.
Cyprian - Bishop of Carthage AD 250.
"If
Christ Jesus our Lord and God is Himself the High Priest of God the Father, and
first offered Himself as a sacrifice to the Father, and commanded this to be
done in remembrance of Himself, then assuredly the priest acts truly in Christ's place when he
reproduces what Christ did, and he then offers a true and complete
sacrifice to God the Father, if he begins to offer as he sees Christ Himself
has offered."
Where
did the Apostles speak of priests as the
mediators of and for the people? They didn’t! The only thing Peter stated was
that we are “a priesthood of all believers”.
Scriptures Concerning
Believers as Responsible Users of the Word
Romans 15:14
I myself am convinced my brothers that you
yourselves are full of goodness, “complete
in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.” Interesting! Where do you find the need for a
priestly/pastor mediator for man before God? You Don’t!
2nd Timothy
3:6
All
Scripture is God – breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting,
and training in righteousness, so that “the
man of God” may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Where is
the need for one man to guide the flock? There isn’t!
Acts 4:13
When
they say the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were “unschooled, ordinary” men (take special note and mark this in your
Bible), they were astonished and they took note that these men had been
with Jesus.
Interesting,
Peter and John were “unschooled and
ordinary”. Hmmmmmmm.
2nd Peter
1:5-8
For
this very reason, make every effort to add
to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; (accurate) 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to
self-control, perseverance;
and to perseverance, godliness;
7 and to godliness, mutual
affection; and to mutual affection,
love. 8 For
if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep
you from being “ineffective and
unproductive” in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1st John
2:27
27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in
you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you
about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has
taught you, remain in him.
Anointing defined:
This passage teaches that the gift of the Holy Spirit is the efficient means of
enabling all believers to possess the knowledge of the truth!
We
are all men and women of God. There is “no
clergy/laity division!” We are all
or can be competent in the use of the word and it’s application.
Why do most Christians
do the things they do and never ask Why?
The
answer is “Human Tradition”!
Let me repeat a quote,
“Change”
is nearly always difficult especially when it involves “long-standing, deeply-seated traditions” that we have become
accustomed to. Anonymous
Paul
speaking to the Galatians said, “Are you so foolish? After beginning with the
spirit are you now trying to attain your goal by “human effort?”
Galatians 3:3
Jesus
Words to the Pharisees/Scribes/Sadducees:
“Why
do you “transgress” the commandment of God for the sake of
your traditions?”
Greek Language Word
Meanings:Tradition and Transgress
Definitions:
Transgress Means:
Paranomia – contrary to the law
Parabaino – to go beyond the
commands of God
Hyperbaino – overstepping the
limits, breach of the law
Tradition Means:
Paradosis – “handing down”
Paradidomi – “to handover or
deliver”
All
of these definitions are applicable in the case of the
Pharisees/Scribes/Sadducees.
Note:
Just
because people have believed something and handed it down through the years, “Does not make it true!”
Pharisees
Did This By Developing:The Jewish Law
Halakhah – Jewish Law – means “the
path that one walks.”
613
laws to follow – 248 positive/365 negative laws
Three categories of
Jewish Law:
· Gezeirah
or Fence Laws – Laws designed so Jews would not get too close to breaking the
Torah Law.
· Takkanah
– Rules for the general public welfare.
· Minhag
– Customs developed by the Rabbi’s for worthy religious reasons.
Examples:
· Jesus
disciples picked grain and ate it without going through this traditional ritual
of washing their hands.
· Pharisees
traditionally washed their hands all the time before eating.
· Jesus
healed the whole man on the Sabbath.
· Pharisees
did no work on the Sabbath, i.e., pick up pencil on prayer book on Shabat
· Modern
Day Example: In Israel, on Shabbat, elevators – stop on every floor so Jews
won’t have to push any buttons – Pushing buttons equals work.
They
surely went beyond the commands of God! In fact, Jesus came to set the people
free from this type of burden that the Pharisees were forcing the people to
carry, i.e., ritualistic ceremonial traditions. This is why in Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus said, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you
rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find “rest” for your souls for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Note:
Mainly,
the reason for sharing this information is to demonstrate not only the legalism
of the Pharisees, but how it relates to the body of believers today. We, as
believers, have ignorantly taken on, carried up to the present day, and adhere
to the same burdensome traditions of the Early Church Fathers and other
legalists. We ourselves have unnecessarily placed a yoke of slavery on our own shoulders.
Hebrews 6:1-2
Therefore
let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity not laying again the
foundation of repentance from acts
(defined as “useless rituals in the
Greek Language”) (Mark this in your Bibles) that lead to death.
Hebrews 9:14
How
much more then will the blood of Christ who through the eternal spirit offered
himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts (defined
again as “useless rituals in the Greek Language”) that lead to death so that we may serve the living God.
Galatians 4:9
“But
now that you know God or rather are known by God – how is it that you are
turning back to those weak and
miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved all over by them again?”
Let
me share another story that I believe demonstrates how others inside the church
and the Early Church Fathers deceived the Christians of their time and is
continued up to and in our present day.
How to Catch a Rat:
A
grandpa’s grandson had a chicken coop that was invaded by rats. Attracted by
the feed, they had moved in. He asked for his grandpa’s help and they set out a
couple of traps. After a week, they had not caught a single rat. A farmer
friend came by and offered some advice. “No rat”, he said, “Will touch an
exposed trap. You’ve got to disguise it with food. Fill a pan with meal and
place a trap in it. Cover it well with meal so it is completely hidden.” It
worked! The next morning they had a big, fat rat.
All this is a reminder that the devil
knows this trick all too well. He has used other believers and the Early Church
Father’s “man-made traditions”
to deceive and drive a dividing wedge between all believers. He took that error
and hid it under religious “things” like ceremonial rituals like church
services, sermons, titles, authority/power, etc., etc., and in turn, it became
the foundation for the Catholic Church. The Institutional Protestant Church has
fallen prey to the same man-made
traditions as well.
Important
Note:
· Every
believer must have a discerning
spirit and attitude, not just the spiritually mature.
· Be
“continually watchful”
for false teachings and keep your spiritual radar on “high alert” and in the receiving mode. We must watch
over our hearts with diligence.
Scriptures
Concerning Discerning Truth About Tradition: A Fuller Picture
Colossians
2:8
8
See to it that no one takes you captive through “hollow” and “deceptive
philosophy”, which depends on “human tradition” and the “basic principles of this world”
rather than on Christ.
Scripture Breakdown:
Meanings According to the Greek Language.
See
to it
Paul
sees the situation in Colossi as very serious, almost to the point of having to
command them to do what he is saying. Be very aware!
No
one takes you captive
To
be taken captive in this context means to take control of a person and carry
them away from the truth into the bondage of error by the false teacher’s subtle
persuasion.
Hollow
and Deceptive
This
was the character of the Philosophy. Hollow meant that there was “absolutely no purpose” or is
completely fruitless, nothing of truth or reality. Deceptive meant “to give a false impression by
appearance, statement, or influence.” Also, to be led astray was done
by subtle persuasion.
Philosophy
Philosophy
at the time was solely based on human thinking apart from God, i.e., religious
doctrines and speculations, i.e., Gnosticism, Aceticism, Stoicism,
Epicureanism.
Human
Tradition
In
this context, Paul was talking about the “human
traditions” that perpetuate error and cannot be supported by God’s
word. These traditions were fabricated by man and given more importance than
God’s word. Some examples of this are the Rabbi’s Talmudic teachings that were
based solely on their own authority as well as the Pharisees observance of ritual and ceremonial laws. (I’m
sure that some of the Early Church Fathers who continued their traditions were
sincere even though what they taught was wrong. A person can be sincere, but, also, can be sincerely wrong.)
Basic
Principles of this World
In
context, this meant the basics of religion or the ABC’s.
Romans
16:17
17
I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions
and put
obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. “Keep
away from them.”
I
urge you
Paul’s
thinking-I beg of you please! Very Urgent Message!
Watch
out
Examine
and scrutinize carefully. Keep your eye on those who cause divisions
(dissensions) and obstacles (hindrances). During Paul’s time, he was
encouraging the believers in his day to make this a“continual activity” because there were many, many false spiritual teachers present.
Divisions
and Obstacles
They
refer to a person or thing by which one is drawn into error, or sin, or trapped
by an enticement. Other thoughts are that they make progress slow or difficult,
or they interfere with the activity or progress of something, or they block the
way.
Contrary
to the Teachings
Is
that which goes against the Gospel truth.
Keep Away From Them
We
are to obey this command of “continually
avoiding association with them”, and steer clear of them. Don’t give them the time of day.
Also, this conveys the idea of protecting fellow believers who are not as
spiritually mature as others as well as new believers. It may sound harsh, but
do this! If you know what they stand for, than why associate with them?
Colossians
2:20-23
20 Since you died
with Christ to the basic principles of
this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you
submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not
touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are
all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an “appearance of wisdom”, with
their self-imposed worship,
their false humility and
their harsh treatment of the body,
but they lack any value in restraining
sensual indulgence.
Human
Commands and Teachings
The
human commands and teachings of the Pharisees meant a formalized set of
man-made rules/prohibitions as well as coercing others by the imposition of
these rules, i.e., Legalism, Asceticism, Ceremonial rites and rituals, as well
as an organizational system.
What
was happening at the time of Paul was the Colossians were being led into the
error of believing that they could not eat certain foods as well as by keeping
other rules they would be the key to greater spirituality.
Perish
To
shrivel, wither, spoil, ruin, or corrupt. Also, refers to a state of ruin,
destruction. It pictures deterioration, disintegration, or rotting like organic
matter. It pictures a “departure from the original or from what is pure and
correct.”
Appearance
of Wisdom
All
these precepts and teaching can be lumped into one category. Paul’s thinking
was that these teachings had a reputation at the time for “popularly passing as wisdom” i.e., seeker sensitivity, New
Apostolic Reformation, Latter Rains Teachings, Word of Faith Teachings, etc.,
etc., but they lacked the reality of true wisdom. Similarly, it is the
same way we operate in the traditional churches today.
Self-Imposed
Worship
The
thinking is a religion thought up by one-self. The idea pictured is an
individual practicing beliefs resulting from their own desires and initiative.
Also, a man worships what seems best to him by his own will.
False
Humility
An
external effort by showy piety means - To make a show of reverence for divine
things by complying with painful rites or ceremonies.
Examples: No Long hair,
no makeup, long dresses, unusually long periods of fasting, going to church
multiple times per week, etc.,etc.,etc.
Harsh
Treatment of The Body
Not
sparing or holding nothing back. The picture is of severity and austerity, and
in context, most probably is alluding to Asceticism, i.e., self-denial,
self-torture to attain a higher state of holiness. Also, it is not uncommon in
ancient as well as modern religions to find thinking and practice of extreme self-denial or self-torture of the body with the
notion of purification of the soul.
Restraining
Sensual Indulgence
They
cannot keep the reins on the flesh. Man-made
rules are of no value. Jesus alone provides the power for purity,
cleansing, and fullness of spirit.
So, why have I given you all this
information so far? It is for you to gain a sense of what was happening during
Paul’s time as well as how this flowed into the development of the traditional
body of believers through “man-made
traditions” concerning leadership and believer’s meetings.
The above scriptures and the breakdown
by meaning are for you to think about when you are making a comparison of New
Testament Christianity during the Apostles time with the body of believers
today! They speak directly about human tradition.
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