From the Institution to the By-Ways

I was following an interesting post here by Dan - related to his being a Pastor in a church trying to understand the concept of organic church. It was interesting - yet it also brought back the discussions I had with the Lord when I was called out to go to.

Firstly I had the title of Pastor giving by men - having been schooled and earning my Masters in pastoral ministries - yet it counts as dung compared to the teaching I have received in the school of Knee-ology. It was in this time that the Father revealed His calling on my life which is equal to all other believers in the body - not above and not below others - merely a gifting and calling of the Lord.

I could see the pain staking chains of religion that bind many in our programed spirits in relation to the common view of how church works. The common statements of "You don't have any ordained leaders" is one that I will mainly discuss here.

First off I would say that I know many good men speaking from the pulpit - with a heart for Christ and a heart for people. As well, I know many that are merely filling the position as a chosen career. Yet in each case the full knowledge and understanding of the office of pastor in misconstrued.

The Bible is clear that it is God who ordains not men. It is not a matter of how much book or Bible knowledge one has - it is scriptural y correct in saying that it is a calling that the Father spoke before we were even born. Yet it is as well common for men and women to be ordained of God - yet not commissioned by Him till the right time. This as we read in the New Testament is when Holy Spirit brings witness to the elders that God now commissions the ordination that the person may walk in order that calling publicly. Yet at no time in the New Testament do we see it called a job title, rather it is a way of life as a servant of the body and Christ Jesus.

There is much misunderstanding of the role of the pastor/teacher today. From the groups that do not believe in the office to those who place far to much emphasis on the office. I believe that were we to read the New Testament with spiritual eyes we would see that the offices of apostles, evangelist, prophets and pastor/teachers is a must for the body to operate accordingly. Each one of these offices if a gift from the Father to the body. The problem is that these positions have been wrongly administered and used to lord themselves over the body.

The position of elder is also one that is mistaking and misunderstood- many today are called Deacon - who in some cases rule the pastor - yet the elder-ship of the new testament plays a vital role again as a servant to the body and is based on spiritual maturity not necessarily age.

This discussion and role of the pastor is hard to understand for those who have gone through a cemetery- oh I am sorry I meant seminary. For the seminary if you will is likened to a cemetery - as they often drain the life of Christ out of their students and replace Him with stale dead religion indoctrinated toward a certain denominational belief - trust me - Holy Spirit had to leave me on a heavenly intravenous for some time to get religion out of my blood stream.

This one of the reasons why they can't begin to understand that a pastor is not the ruler or leader of a local fellowship of believers. They have been taught that they must herd the sheep in such a manner as to maintain control - from emotionally tied tithe messages to down right guilt riddled messages to ensure the business of the institution continues.

They can not grasp the idea of a truly Holy Spirit lead group of believers, dependent upon His leading and the operation of the offices acting in their true role as servants ( true gifts) to the body. They con not grasp to understanding that these offices raise up, train and set in place elders to see that the Kingdom principles are functioning in the body to ensure against herisey and false teaching - yet in a biblical manner of love and intervention. They are to counsel - discipline in a brotherly or sisterly manner as true servants to the body.

In the body we need each office in full operation. Not disposed of because of those who abuse the office and certainly not held is a controlling manner. We have for to long thought of these offices as a select few - yet in a true body of believers operating in the kingdom manner we will see these gifts spread out among all the believers in one form or another - to the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. Their are those who are babes who must be discipled as are those who are mature who must be released to their calling - commissioned and set in place that the whole body may benefit.

It is not the New Testament order of the church that is broken - it is the misunderstanding of the truth that must be reformed.

In the true sense of biblical understanding of these roles functioning according to the Spirits leading and revelation - a pastor would not be the center stage of the meeting - rather the one who steps in under the body of believers and lifts them up to the true revelation of Jesus Christ.

The preachers are all of us proclaiming (preaching) the truth to the lost - the evangelist would be operation in the calling of the lost as well and the motivation. The prophet would be operating as one who encourages, brings forth not only the correction of the Father but the messages of excitement and motivation. The apostles operating as those who go out, scope the land (communities) and by their teaching, calling the body together, establish and plant new group of believers and tend to the training and releasing those who are to fill the offices of the local branch of the body. As well they are those who carry forth the testimonies of what is happening through out the body from region to region.

This is what Holy Spirit has been showing me over the past year - with an in-depth studying of the book of acts and a re learning of what Jesus taught us about the Kingdom of God here on earth - that it would be a true reflection of what the Father has spoken in Heaven. Which is why I am fully engaged to and with a open heart believing that the "Simple-church" - "House Church" "Organic Church" operating in a kingdom minded manner will bring a much needed reformation to the body.

It may not put an end to people meeting in large building - I just believe however that the true church is heading toward the day when large buildings will only be needed on occasion when the body - located throughout neighborhoods in each city, state and nation comes together to rejoice in all that the Lord is doing through them. Which is what we read in the New Testament Acts of the first disciples of Jesus Christ - and they transformed the world.

I would like to know what others thoughts are on this subject.