Quote:
Originally Posted by keith4him
And that same Jesus uses his body to manifest himself on the earth and a vital and significant part of that body is leadership gifts, they are all the body and don't play the only role, but to diminish their role it to try and exist with parts of your own body missing. Good luck in trying to function in life with members missing.
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Agreed. That is why I was careful to note that WE DO NEED PASTORS. I love mine. I love the leadership that God has placed in His church. I think I may have been in error to not head-on address the comment about "independence." We're not islands and I don't believe we'll make it if we keep our "independence" to the point where we are not in fellowship with the body.
I'm not diminishing their role - at least not the role that Scripture gives them. But a pastor's role is NOT as a mediator between God and me. That's an abominable theology/tradition that is inherited from Roman Catholicism, and they inherited it from the OT. You simply do not find that example in the New Testament. "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"
1 Timothy 2.5. ANYONE, regardless of how well-intentioned he or she may be, who assays to step into that role is in error. A pastor should offer direction and correction with love from the Word of God, but so far as "hearing from God" on someone's behalf... well, that's just not scriptural. That makes for weak and lazy saints, and promotes the whole separation of classes within the church (ministry/laity).
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Instead of studying to make sure what we believe is supported by Scripture, we
MUST study the Scripture to see what
IT TEACHES... then BELIEVE THAT!
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2.15 KJV
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