Post by WatchmanRay on Jun 19, 2011 8:58:48 GMT -5
The Spirit of God has dealt with me severely and consistently through many years that the Lord's people should purge their conversation, purify their terminology, and remove from their consciousness the multitude of non-scriptural and extra-biblical expressions carried over from Mystery Babylon. We have both parroted and coined a great many unscriptural terms that have been so misleading and have led us astray in our understanding of the scriptures and the wonderful plan of God. How often we, like the babes in the harlot's house, refer to a minister of the gospel as "the pastor" of our church or some other congregation of saints. To hear all the Christians today constantly talking about "our pastor," "their pastor," ''your pastor, "my
pastor, " and "the pastor," one would certainly be led to believe that this position of "the pastor" must indeed be one of the cardinal doctrines and most highly acclaimed offices in the New Testament! The fact is, as you may have discovered by your Scripture search or earlier, that the phrase "the pastor" is entirely foreign to the Scripture. It is an un-scriptural and extra-biblical term.
There was no man in the New Testament church who ever occupied a position called "the pastor." Not one church raised up by the twelve apostles or by Paul had any such ministry as "the pastor." oh, yes, there were "pastors" plural (Eph. 4:11), but no single minister of God in the New Testament was ever elevated to the position of "the pastor" of an assembly. The truth is that in every case in the Greek New Testament where the word for pastor (POIMEN) appears in the singular accompanied by the definite article, it is used in reference solely to our Lord Jesus Christ.
He alone is "THE PASTOR" of the flock, "THE SHEPHERD" of the sheep! David wrote from the depths of the Spirit, while in Israel, under the inspiration of the Living Word of God, "The LORD is my SHEPHERD (pastor)!"
Can we not see by this that any man who takes to himself this title "THE PASTOR," thereby usurps the place and headship of our precious Lord. I instructed the brethren among whom I labored in years past that they should never call me "the pastor" or "their pastor" because the Lord alone IS THE PASTOR. I may be "a pastor, " but never "the pastor." The saints were taught that if anyone came inquiring after "the pastor" they should be told that the pastor is the Lord.
If they were asked, "Who is the pastor here?" they should reply, "The Lord is the pastor here." They could then explain that we do have one of the Lord's servants, an under-shepherd, along with elders and ministries; but THE LORD IS THE PASTOR.
We have been so completely saturated, so thoroughly brain-washed in the errors of the religious systems that we do and speak by habit the ridiculous doctrines and catch phrases learned in the pews of Babylon. How astounded we are when once we learn the truth and discover that the cherished teaching or hallowed practice we have unwittingly ASSUMED to be godly and spiritual is not only unfounded in the Word of God, but actually is an abomination in the sight of God
pastor, " and "the pastor," one would certainly be led to believe that this position of "the pastor" must indeed be one of the cardinal doctrines and most highly acclaimed offices in the New Testament! The fact is, as you may have discovered by your Scripture search or earlier, that the phrase "the pastor" is entirely foreign to the Scripture. It is an un-scriptural and extra-biblical term.
There was no man in the New Testament church who ever occupied a position called "the pastor." Not one church raised up by the twelve apostles or by Paul had any such ministry as "the pastor." oh, yes, there were "pastors" plural (Eph. 4:11), but no single minister of God in the New Testament was ever elevated to the position of "the pastor" of an assembly. The truth is that in every case in the Greek New Testament where the word for pastor (POIMEN) appears in the singular accompanied by the definite article, it is used in reference solely to our Lord Jesus Christ.
He alone is "THE PASTOR" of the flock, "THE SHEPHERD" of the sheep! David wrote from the depths of the Spirit, while in Israel, under the inspiration of the Living Word of God, "The LORD is my SHEPHERD (pastor)!"
Can we not see by this that any man who takes to himself this title "THE PASTOR," thereby usurps the place and headship of our precious Lord. I instructed the brethren among whom I labored in years past that they should never call me "the pastor" or "their pastor" because the Lord alone IS THE PASTOR. I may be "a pastor, " but never "the pastor." The saints were taught that if anyone came inquiring after "the pastor" they should be told that the pastor is the Lord.
If they were asked, "Who is the pastor here?" they should reply, "The Lord is the pastor here." They could then explain that we do have one of the Lord's servants, an under-shepherd, along with elders and ministries; but THE LORD IS THE PASTOR.
We have been so completely saturated, so thoroughly brain-washed in the errors of the religious systems that we do and speak by habit the ridiculous doctrines and catch phrases learned in the pews of Babylon. How astounded we are when once we learn the truth and discover that the cherished teaching or hallowed practice we have unwittingly ASSUMED to be godly and spiritual is not only unfounded in the Word of God, but actually is an abomination in the sight of God