Do you have a pastor?
 

I was thinking about how church leaders can become isolated. They sometimes can even lose connection with their pastor. It maybe because of death or distance, etc... How important is having a pastor and does everyone need one?

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

Yes, I do. One needs a Pastor to be saved. Every Evangelist I know has a home Church and a Pastor.

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

Why don’t you need an apostle or prophet to be saved?

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

Did Moses have a pastor. What about the 12apostles? I find that leadership is very lonely. Thank God for his anointing and wherever it leads, but people often don’t realize the blessing of having someone speak into their lives. My pastor passed away several years ago and I miss having that voice in my life. I have other voices, but sometimes I would love to hear it frommmy mentor Bro. Loyd Hardy.

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

Moses had council from his father in law. The Apostles had Jesus and then each other. Paul was taught by the Lord himself, and coveted the prayers of those he evangelized. My Pastor councils with a neighboring Pastor. Bro after reading your post you have been on my heart to keep you in prayer and the comfort of the Spirit.

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

You may not see an Apostle or a Prophet in your walk with God but you will have a Pastor.

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

Thank you for your prayers, I certainly can use them. I still seek godly counsel, but today I was just thinking how much we need it. Also finding godly counsel can be tricky, because we have to carefully choose the voices we allow into our lives. I am thankful for pastors who feed the flock and maintain their integrity.

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

Pastors do not save us. They are not a requirement for salvation.

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

Why do you say that? Don't you believe you need a body of believers to belong to?

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

Why don’t you train and build a council of elders in your church, and truly give them ruling authority?
There are so many benefits to that.
I can post links to a UPCI pastor that practice that and even Bylaws from other churches that make it part of their constitution.

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

How does one give authority?

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

It’s a good question. Why don’t we need a prophet or gifts of healing to be saved? To put the emphasis on one part of the body( this is a common thing about The gift of a pastor among the Apostolics) the way it is when we say “You can’t be saved without a pastor”, elevates the need for this part of the body to a higher position than that of the rest of the body. We do need the body to be saved. But “ Pastor “ is not the whole body.

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

Then can you do away with a Pastor/prophet/evangelist/teacher/apostle and be saved?

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

. Our personal church is not that far along in the process. There is already deacons in our church who do have authority. I agree that we have to train presbytery in our churches. That does not negate the role of a pastor.

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

I do belong to a body of believers. That is a natural result of being "baptized by one Spirit into one body." It is not something I have to make happen. It is a fact. Now, what segment of that body I will minister in and to is a matter of prayer. I've been around the block for 40 years. I was Assemblies of God for the first 13 years of my Christian walk and have been a self-styled "Oneness Pentecostal" ( to put into an understandable man-made term) ever since. But the exaggerated and unbiblical emphasis that Apostolics have on church-culture and pastoral authority finally drove me into a sort of exile. Oh, I fellowship regularly and am active in ministry. My relationship with Christ has never wavered these past 4 years because it was focused on Christ to begin with and not men. I pray for the day I can return to a gathering that is more in keeping with my own doctrinal convictions, but it is not possible in my current geographical location. I must stress, I never "rebelled" or anything like that. But there were certain things I was being expected to conform to that were literally IMPOSSIBLE for me to do, and I was kicked to the curb and shunned. That was my "red-pill" moment and I will never subject myself and my family to such rubbish again.

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

Ah, but a Pastor is Gods idea of leading a flock. Look, I am a firm believer in the Five good ministry. I believe it should be in every Church. That being said, not every Church is big enough to have all five operating, but you do need a Pastor at the very least.

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

The goal of the 5-fold ministry is to disciple you to the point that you don't "need" them anymore.

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

I was a Deacon from 1994-2008 we dealt mainly with the finances. Two deacons would count the offerings. I was also a Trustee from 1994 till present. We deal with legal aspects of the Church. I am also an elder after being in the church for almost 40 years. I am a minister without a license, by my choice. I don't need a license to pray for someone, baptize someone, his it someone in the hospital. Teach a Bible Study, or teach or preach. I just need a Pastor I am accountable to.

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

I am sorry for whatever you have gone through, or whatever you may have experienced, but one always needs the five told ministry in their lives. A member of the general board and an elder said that one never gets to big that they never need correction. He said even he needs a good old proverbial kick in the pants every do often.

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

A body of believers of WHAT?

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

A local assembly.

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

The Bible says you need all four, the teaching pastor, the evangelist, the apostle, and the prophet. All working together to build the believers to replace them as the believers mature. Sounds like a plan :thumbsup

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

Good point.

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

What does the local body have to believe since we have to be part of it to be saved?

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

And who is this man in submission to that gives him these need kicks? And "having the 5-fold ministry in our lives" does not mean we must conform to the church leadership model and culture of the UPC and many Evangelical churches.

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

This is such an odd reply to Originalist's statement.

Ron, why did you reply with the above? I may of missed the dialogue, because I'm still reading the thread. But why did you say that?

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

Another good point.

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

This is what inevitably has to happen. You have to have a Pope somewhere. The Catholic clergy system was built a certain way. To come to a specific conclusion.

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

I have seen to many line wolves in my years in Church. In fact, I almost want to scream when I ask someone if they will be attending Church service next Sunday and they say, "as the Lord leads!"🙄
It's amazing that if the Lord is leading them that the same God never leads someone into stability, and connection with a local assembly of like minded faith. These people usually have no fruit, no direction, no guidance, (save for that same as the Lord leads). We may not like it but I does say in the Bible to not forsake the assembly of ourselves together as the manner of some is, but so much more as you see the day approaching.
Now, I haven't got a clue where most of you live but I know Bro Bennie is about 4,000 miles away. I probably won't be meeting up with him for service Covid 19 or ko Covid 19. Just because of the distance. Where will it happen? In my local assembly.

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

You have two quotes highlighted and both are mentioning different things. Maybe read the whole thread then ask me.

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

It does mention in the Bible in Hebrews to obey them that have the rule over you. That being said, I like what my Pastor says, we are not a cult, and my job is to be there for you, and he is, pray for us, and he does, be a minister and example, and he does both those things.
The onus is on you to read your Bible, follow along and see if what he says a teaching you is Biblically based. If you believe differently, then find another Church that preaches what you believe.

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

Why don't you tell me? The goal of the 5-fold ministry is to disciple you to the point that you don't "need" them anymore. Then you add 'I am sorry for whatever you have gone through, or whatever you may have experienced" Followed with the conjunction ""but." This would lead anyone to assume that what you are saying after the portion I bolded in your quote, means you have a problem with Originality statement on a collegial eldership?

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

The obey them is plural. What I mean is, that it doesn't say obey him. But them.

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

Whaaatt?🙄 You quoted him on something I disagreed with, then you commented on something I was responding to about something else. You are all over the map Bro.😎

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

It does indeed say them, doesn't Pastor fall into them?

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

Yes, if there are more than one. The letter is being written to one congregation. Later these letters would be handed around. But literally, the writers were writing to a certain group of believers in a certain area, with specific problems?

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

So one will be saved if they attend a church that is "like minded"? What if they attend a Church that teaches heresies? Are they safer than one who does not attend to stay pure from them?

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

Okay, so you believe that you are or should be accountable to a Pastor. I actually like accountability, there is protection there. Ultimately, I vanswrr for my own soul, and then the souls of my family, but I am thankful for a Pastor.

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

Did you not read the post where I said the Word of God is saying forsake not the assembly of yourselves together as the manner of some is.

Re: Do you have a pastor?
 

Bro, we all have tons of accountability. Mostly everyone we meet. Don't get me wrong, I believe in church family, with ministry. But who you are in the dark is who you really are. We attend the Body of Christ, not ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS! You come into the church as a neophyte a baby, but when you are a full aged man you no longer need to call a sponsor. The drinking days are over.