#1
Attending church is a spectator event with ministry and
edification limited to professional clergymen.
Very little is expected from the "laity." Saints are silent and passive in the church
meeting.
Attending church is a participating
event where each believer contributes his spiritual gift for the common good
(Rom 12:4-8; 1 Cor 12:4-7; 14:12,26; Col. 3:16; Heb. 10:24-25; 1 Pet
4:10-11). Saints are active
participants in the church meeting.
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#2
Only those specially called, trained and
"ordained" are viewed as ministers with the authority to minister to
the assembly. Promotes a false division
between God's people known as the "Clergy-laity" distinction.
Every Christian is a priest before
God with the authority to minister and edify the saints (1 Pet 2:5,9; Rev 1:6;
5:10 Eph 4:12-16). The New Testament
knows nothing of a "clergy-laity" distinction nor does it confine
"ministry" to a select few.
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#3
A church is to be governed by a man known as the
"pastor." He is the final say on church-related matters. In reality, the "buck" stops with
him.
A church is to be watched over by a
plurality of older men known as "elders" (Acts 14:23; 20:17.28; Phil
1:1; 1 Thes 5:12-13; 1 Tim 5:17; Titus 1:5; Heb 13:17; 1 Pet 5:1-4). Leadership decisions come through a
non-authoritarian and consensus process (1 Pet 5:3; Acts 15:22-25).
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#4
Church leadership is divided into a hierarchy of
"pastor," "deacon," then "laity."
Without denying that there might be
leading men among the brethren ("First Among Equals" - Acts 15:22),
the New Testament knows nothing of such a rank structure among the
brothers. Elders may be gifted differently
(1 Tim 5:17), but there is no need for special titles or "offices"
among them.
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#5
Church leaders are to be given elite and honorific titles such as "Reverend," "Minister," "Father," "Bishop," "Senior Pastor," and "Pastor." Religious garbs, collars, and suits and ties are also important. Calling an "elder" or older brother in the church, "Pastor so-in-so."
Special titles not only feed the
pride of men and divide the Christian brotherhood, but they contradict the words
of Jesus who taught that such honorific titles should not mark His followers
nor are we to call any man "Master", "Teacher",
"Rabbi", "Father", "Pastor",
"Reverend", or "Elder" for in Christ alone are these titles
to be given (Matt 23:6-12; Mark 10:35-45; John 10:1-18). Religious garbs are unnecessary and draws
attention to the individual rather than to Christ alone.
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#6
Elders are viewed as different from Pastors. Elders are to do the non-spiritual work
(e.g., church administration, property oversight, budget and finances, etc.)
while "the pastor" is to do the spiritual work (e.g., preaching,
teaching, praying, etc.).
Terms such as "elder,"
"pastor," and "overseer" are used interchangeably within
the New Testament to describe church leaders.
All elders are older men, are pastors, and fully involve themselves in
the spiritual oversight of the local church (Acts 20:28; 1 Tim 5:17; James
5:14; 1 Pet 5:1-4).
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#7
One man alone is to do the corporate teaching on Sunday
morning (i.e. "the Pastor").
He is to be the dominant, focal-point of the gathering. The church is
held together by a precarious reliance upon the pastor's pulpit eloquence.
No church should be expositionally
dependant upon one man for its instruction, regardless of how eloquent and
gifted he might be. There is also a
corporate dimension of teaching that every believer is to contribute to (Rom 12:7; 1 Cor 14:26; Col 3:16).
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#8
Great importance is attached to a professional and polished
"sermon." The "sermon" comes from the same man, week after
week, and follows a monologue format with zero feedback.
Without denying the need for
teaching within the assembly (1 Thes 5:12; 1 Tim 4:13; 5:17), the New Testament
knows nothing of a professional "sermon" as we conceive of it. Teaching within the early church was less
formal and seemed to follow a dialogue format (Acts 20:7). In contrast to our closed system of
communication, they had an open system which allowed teachings or prophecies to
be evaluated by all (Acts 17:11; 1 Cor 14:29-32; 1 Thes 5:20-21; 1 John 4:1 Rev
2:2). Discerning Christians recognize
the importance of feedback and that genuine learning comes more fully by
provoking dialogue, questions, and even differing viewpoints among church
members (1 Cor 11:19).
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#9
The Lord's supper is an elaborate and mystical ritual. Only the "ordained" minister has
the right to "administer the elements." A cracker and a small glass of juice replaces the meal.
The Lord's supper is an informal and
joyous occasion within the context of a full-on meal (Acts 2:46; 1 Cor
11:18-34). The New Testament never
speaks of an elite class which alone has the authority to dispense the bread
and cup. Such thinking, in practice,
denies the priesthood right of the believer.
The Lord's supper is a community meal.
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#10
Attaches great importance to a building and all that goes with it (e.g., pulpit, pews, stained-glass windows, etc.) The average local church suffers from an "edifice complex." Buildings are called "churches." Exorbitant amounts of the Lord's money is spent on securing property, building projects, and maintenance.
The early church met almost
exclusively in homes as opposed to large, religious edifices (Acts 20:20; Rom
16:19; Col 4:15; Philemon 2; 2 John 10).
The "church" is God's people, not a pile of bricks (1 Cor 3:9,
16-17; Heb 3:6 1 Pet 2:5). Money is
spent on people-oriented ministries (e.g., the poor, missions, needy believers,
etc.) instead of purchasing large buildings that might only be used once or
twice a week.
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Is it not clear, brothers and sisters, that we have
inherited traditions which have no basis in Scripture? Is it not clear that we have departed from
the simplicity of the New Testament?
Are you willing to rethink and test your own view of the church and
pastoral leadership in the light of Scripture?
Or, are you content with the traditions of men? Christianity or Churchianity? Spiritual life or spiritual death?
Blessings to you! "But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these otherthings shall be added to you." - Matthew 6:33