Scriptually Where Did Pastoral Authority Come From?

[Steve Epley]

From power hungry men who like to abuse folks. Just thought I would say it for you.

[revrandy]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

From power hungry men who like to abuse folks. Just thought I would say it for you.

Bro. Epley...

Do you feel the Position of Pastor is more important than the other roles listed??

Are they equally important in the kingdom or unequal?

I believe that Pastor is a calling... a Man must have a Shepherds heart to be an effective Pastor...

I love how the New Testament describes Shepherds... Men who serve to help and lead...

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by revrandy

Bro. Epley...

Do you feel the Position of Pastor is more important than the other roles listed??

Are they equally important in the kingdom or unequal?

I believe that Pastor is a calling... a Man must have a Shepherds heart to be an effective Pastor...

I love how the New Testament describes Shepherds... Men who serve to help and lead...

Yet we see from all across the bible belt, how the position of pastor has been defined as a position worthy "of a double portion" due to tradition. It makes me, as Wayne would say, spew chunks when I see some of these Southern men with their starched collars, Caddies in the parking lot, sitting on the platform overlooking their charges. "Humility" and "servant hood" are not words that come to mind when I see them.

[Sam]

It's interesting that the word "pastor" (singular form) is not found in our King James New Testament and the word "pastors" (plural) is only found once.

[Sept5SavedTeen]

Originally Posted by Sam

It's interesting that the word "pastor" (singular form) is not found in our King James New Testament and the word "pastors" (plural) is only found once.

Oh, oh! So maybe a NT, apostolic church should have a handful of pastors to preach, watch over the flock, feed the sheep, ect, ect...?

Sounds good to me.

Imagine this: A church with 100 or so people, 3 or 4 elders/pastors, 6 or 7 deacons, so on and so forth... Some may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one...

GOD BLESS!
Bro. Alex

PS- Sorry, I got excited...

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by revrandy

Bro. Epley...

Do you feel the Position of Pastor is more important than the other roles listed??

Are they equally important in the kingdom or unequal?

I believe that Pastor is a calling... a Man must have a Shepherds heart to be an effective Pastor...

I love how the New Testament describes Shepherds... Men who serve to help and lead...

I certainly do not. The AMF from the inception preached equal brotherhood from Mark 10:42-43. Some men's ministry may make them leaders by influence. But the pastor is not greater than the other 4 fold. It just has it's own realm of influence and obligations.

[revrandy]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

I certainly do not. The AMF from the inception preached equal brotherhood from Mark 10:42-43. Some men's ministry may make them leaders by influence. But the pastor is not greater than the other 4 fold. It just has it's own realm of influence and obligations.

Different Office...Different Service...Same Body and Ministry...

[Sam]

from passages like:

7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Hebrews 13:7, 17

17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
1 Timothy 5:17

17 And from Miletus he (the Apostle Paul) sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, ...
28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Acts 20:17-28

But this must be balanced with the words of the Apostle Peter:

1 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:
2 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;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
1 Peter 5:1-5

[SecretWarrior]

Originally Posted by Sam

from passages like:

7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Hebrews 13:7, 17

17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
1 Timothy 5:17

17 And from Miletus he (the Apostle Paul) sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, ...
28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Acts 20:17-28

But this must be balanced with the words of the Apostle Peter:

1 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:
2 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;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
1 Peter 5:1-5

Great Scriptures... Sam... Nice to See that Rhetoric is not all there is to Apstolic Friends...

[Coonskinner]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

From power hungry men who like to abuse folks. Just thought I would say it for you.

Elder Epley beat me to the draw.