Humans have added so many perversions to ministries through the centuries ... and so many names that are non-existent in Bible. There is no such name as cardinal, pope, minister of music in Bible. Many church groups today say there are no longer apostles or prophets.
To build your house on the word of God, you must ask:
What does the Bible say about ministers?
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The starting point is Ephesians 4 ... after Jesus arose, He gave ministry offices to the NT church.
And HE (Jesus) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
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- apostles: have an anointing from God to deal with "legal" matters in the church ... with various perversions of doctrine and of scriptures and men rise up to take over, even putting down and casting out specific scriptures, as is rampant in the churches we see today. Acts 15
- prophets: are often used by God to carry corrections to church to try to turn them back to ways of God ... NT prophets examples in Bible are Agabus in Acts 11 and Acts 21 ... Silas, who often traveled with the apostle Paul.
- evangelists: example in Bible is Philip, the evangelist ... Acts 21:8
- pastors: no example in NT of the work of a pastor
- teacher: Paul was an apostle/teacher
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No place in NT where any minister (or anyone else) is called "Reverend".
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- bishop is the same as elder ... the qualifications for such are set forth in multiple scriptures.
I Timothy 3 ...
This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
(notice the word "bishop" is not capitalized in Bible)
Titus 1 ... (elder/bishop used interchangeably thus same thing)
For this cause left I (Paul) thee (Titus) in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
For this cause left I (Paul) thee (Titus) in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
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Peter was an
apostle/elder ... Peter had a mother-in-law, thus Peter had a wife and
we see by the rules for "elder" Peter had multiple children. (Mt. 8:14)
Paul could not be an elder since Paul was not married.
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These rules are very important for us,
especially today, for when we see other things set up in church groups
we know immediately that group is not set up by Bible and we need to
depart from that group when we see such.
The following dream, given me by God in
1979, is very important to each of us showing we must not sit among
churches where scripture has been ignored or thought unimportant.
In this dream:
A meeting was going on. A man was speaking to a room filled with people. I went in and began to listen.
In this dream:
A meeting was going on. A man was speaking to a room filled with people. I went in and began to listen.
A second man rushed in and said: "Stop ... Wait ... Can't you see ... It's too late ... It's already begun."
The first man resumed speaking.
I looked out the window to see what had "already begun."
There was a tall pole with a yellow civil
defense speaker at top of the pole. A gas was coming out of the
speaker. I knew it was poisonous and would kill the people. It was
coming directly toward us!
The shocking thing was the speaker that
was set there for the purpose of warning us was being used as the
instrument which dispersed the gas that was poison and would kill us!
I looked at the man seated next to me. He had a big grin on his face
and was looking directly at the man who was speaking to the group. But
then I saw this man was a corpse, though he looked alive. He was already dead!
I looked about the room at the other people and realized they were all dead.
As I sat back in my chair and listened to the man speaking I began to
feel sleepy and I knew as I sat there among them this was killing me
too.
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God was showing me the anarchy that was already going on in our church groups.
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What we are to do when we come together as the church is shown us in I Corinthians 14.
How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation.
Let all things be done unto edifying.
If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
(We see by what Paul says, these women were interrupting the church gathering by asking questions)
What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
Let all things be done decently and in order.
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We are so far from what Paul said the church gathering is to be that we can't even recognize what the Bible says. I've never seen a church group do what the Bible says.
The "Sunday school class" is sometimes a little closer to I Corinthians 14. There is usually a little more freedom there for the Holy Spirit to work.
Antichrist is very deeply rooted in today's churches so there is not much you can do there anyway.
If we have to violate scripture to go to church, then we are better off not going.
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Paul knew all this was coming. He knew the perversion would happen in the churches as soon as he departed. Paul tells us this.
Acts 20 ...
And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
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.
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
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How much worse is it 2000 years after Paul spoke these words to the church?
Paul knew it would be very bad in the churches toward the end, before Jesus returns.
II Timothy 3 ...
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was.
But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing OF WHOM thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
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The scriptures were the "restraint", keeping antichrist back.
When the churches changed the various scriptures and omitted some scripture and changed doctrine away from scripture, the restraint against the man of lawlessness was removed from the church group and antichrist moved in and the apostasy reigned in the group.
Paul said Jesus could not return unless this apostasy in the church happened.
We see the apostasy going on in today's churches.
II Thessalonians 2 ... NASB
Let no one in any way deceive you, for it (the day of the Lord) will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things?
And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed.
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed
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The scripture were the "restraint" against the man of lawlessness (antichrist). When the churches removed, changed, and omitted scripture it removed the restraint and antichrist moved into the church group.
It helps us to remember that Paul said Jesus could not return unless this apostasy in the church happened.
It has
already happened. We are seeing it now as the church groups "water
down" various scriptures by changing the interpretation or by
eliminating portions of the scripture or by failing to mention that scripture and by going along with the ones who violate what the scripture says.