BRETHREN

 

And You Are All Brethren

Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples,  saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat.  "Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. "For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.  "But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.  "They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, "greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.' "But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. "Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 23:10 "And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. Matthew 23:1-10

The word of God is very clear that not only are we all brethren but we have only one Teacher, the Christ.  We are to be daily led and taught by the Holy Spirit and no other. The present day idea of a pastor, a benevolent dictator, sole leader, is not only against the teachings and words of Jesus but it’s a just a clone of the concept of a priest in the Catholic institution.

For the record, in the gospels where Jesus Christ, our role model and our life, in His ministry  He didn't submit to any authority but rather cursed them with "Woe to you!" Woe to you doesn't mean something good is going to happen to you?

 And the twelve apostles of Jesus didn't submit to anyone but Peter and the other apostles said: "We ought to obey God rather than men."   Submission to men in leadership rather than God is nonexistent in the New Testament but is established in many religious institutions through the first major Christian institution the Catholic Church. See the article The Pastor: Where Did He Come From?  by Frank Viola

Many pastors and evangelists in America live and behave like kings of their own kingdoms, rather than like servants of the living God, as they should be. Humility and submission are words they must reintroduce into their own vocabulary and lives before they teach others. Contrary to many pastors’ and evangelists’ point of view, we as Christians don’t exist primarily to serve them or to give them money but to serve the King of kings and Lord or lords. In our Heavenly Father’s eyes, we are all equally important. He has no favorites and is definitely not a respecter of persons and shows partiality to no one-although, some pastors and evangelists would like us to believe otherwise.

How many times have believers been subjected to mishandled scripture with an implicit or explicit "touch not God's anointed" if any dared to question? This is in contrast to the Biblical admonition to "try the spirits", (1 John 4:1). Fear is not of God and teaching which incorporates psychological intimidation is corrupt and deceptive. One of the easiest ways to determine what "spirit" motivates a person "in authority" is to question them. A godly man or woman will never be offended or become indignant if someone dares to question them and compare what is said with the Word of God. However, if one is motivated by an "authoritarian" spirit of conceit or arrogance, the questioner will soon know it. Peter warned the elders (pastors and spiritual guides of the church) not to be domineering [arrogant, dictatorial, overbearing] over the flock of God, but to be patterns and models of Christian living (I Pet. 5:3, AMPL.)

Many prominent pastors and evangelists today make the claim that because "souls" are being saved and "healings" take place in their meetings, that this somehow validates their ministry. While these things may be well and good, they are no indication of "divine" sanction. A.A. Allen was a drunkard, Jimmy Swaggart a whoremonger, Jim Bakker a thief, Larry Lea a prevaricator, and Robert Tilton a charlatan - yet ALL of these saw thousands saved and miracles take place in their meetings. Because one is blessed with "prosperity" and has a "following" of thousands, doesn't mean a darn thing when it comes to integrity and godly sanction, for "he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust," (Matt. 5:45).

Frank Viola wrote about  the Lord Jesus Christ and Authority http://www.ptmin.org/authority.htm :

Jesus Christ came into the earth at a time when the Romans were in power. Now the Romans had a certain kind of leadership that marked their society. They got this leadership model from the Babylonians and the Egyptians. But the Romans brought it to perfection. It was the hierarchical leadership structure. In my country, our military is patterned after this structure. The Romans were great warriors, so it worked well for them.

Do you understand hierarchy? You have someone at the top, then you have someone under them, then you have someone at the very bottom. The one at the top has more authority than the one below him. The person lower has less authority than the one above, and on it goes. It is a descending order of authority. It’s top-down authority. It is a command-style relationship.

The Romans perfected this structure. It was part of their culture. With that in mind, listen to the words of Jesus Christ. Matthew 20:25: "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them and their great men exercise authority over them."

According to Jesus, the Gentiles exercise authority from the top-down. They are lording it over the people. They are dominating the people. They are controlling the people. This always happens with hierarchical structures of descending authority. It creates a culture of control and oppression.

But our Lord says, "It shall not be so among you!" Jesus Christ, when He came into this earth, was the most liberated Person to walk the planet. His main job was to set people free. He is the Great Liberator. In His day, He set women free. The women followed Him wherever He was. And when He died on the cross, it was the women who were there, staying with Him. When He rose again from the dead, it was the women who came to Him first. Jesus Christ had a very exalted view of His followers. He had a very exalted view of women in a day when they were oppressed and suppressed. He was a liberator. This is very important, brothers. There is something in your Lord that is liberating, that comes to set people free.

Jesus says, "Whoever wishes to be great among you of my disciples, he shall be your servant." I’m going to make a very important statement at this point that we will come back to. The mark of a servant of God is that he comes to set people free. Not to lord over them. Not to control them. But to set them free. One of the major things that I do in planting a church is to set people free. And that is the ministry of Jesus Christ.

Now let us go to Matthew 28.

Jesus Christ is getting ready to ascend. These are some of His last words. You are familiar with them. Matthew 28:18: "All authority is given to me in heaven and on earth. All authority is mine."

Now, brothers, there is no authority except the authority of Jesus Christ! Only He has authority. There is no authority except His authority. This is important.

And the bible tells us:

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.  John 14:26

But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. 1 John 2:27

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;  that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,  but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ-  from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:11-16

Yes, the New Testament clearly tells us that we are all brethren and kings and priests and have only one King Jesus Christ. Yes, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers exist for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ and for no other reason. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers don’t exist to built their own kingdom but to build up the sheep and as a result the kingdom of God.

Each joint is dependent on the whole body and no part of the body is superior to another part including any leadership be it pastors. If we have come to  the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ we will be like Jesus Christ who was led by the Spirit and led everybody and Himself was led by no one.

Have you ever seen an apostle or prophet submit to anyone? There is no such thing for Apostles and prophets pull rank over evangelists, pastors and teachers. The problem with the idea of pastors is that is not biblical nor is there any such animal in the bible. It's based on mainly the kingship idea, including King Saul ruling over people, which God originally didn't want to happen. We have no king over us but Jesus Christ who made us kings and priests.

Amazing the stupid idea of pastors is pushed by pastors who don't believe themselves in submission to apostles and prophets who have not ceased because the bible clearly tells us that in the church today:

 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 1 Corinthians  12:28

 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 1 Corinthians 14:26

 Equality, love and individuality among the Brethren is what the bible teaches and propounds, not kingship by individual fools like king Saul which is strictly an Old Testament idea! Hence the whole idea of one man kingship or leadership in our churches which has caused many problems to the sheep is shear bunk!

But many people cannot accept the notion of having someone who is invisible to be their leader so they give their spiritual leadership to a man they can see and call him a pastor just like the children of Israel did when they asked for a king to judge them like all nations. The bible records:

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah,  and said to him, "Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations."  But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." So Samuel prayed to the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. 1 Samuel  8-7

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." James 4:6

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5

Equality amongst the brethren, love, humility, and servant hood is the principle of the New Testament and not Lordship by self appointed arrogant and proud ones who have made themselves rulers over God’s people.  For the record the New Testament teaches and talks about elders, shepherds and overseer and not about kings and benevolent dictators or Lords or pastors. That is why the bible clearly states about fellow elders and brethren and not superior kings or priests or pastors:

The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:  Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. 1 Peter 5:1-4

I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. 3 John 1:9-11

Jesus Christ made us all into kings and priests and as a equal king and priest no one can Lord anything over us  except Jesus Christ and the wonderful Holy Spirit. That is why He said "But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren  (Matthew 23:8).  Apostle John, Jesus favorite friend and Apostle, warned us of those who love to have the preeminence among men and don’t receive the brethren and put them out of the church like many pastors.

Pastors should get off their high horse and self appointed positions and become like Jesus and demonstrate the miracles, signs and wonders that Jesus did. God’s word is unchanging:

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. John 14:12

The truest measure of a person’s success is their level of intimacy with God and his love for justice, truth and righteousness and not with their pastor. There is a prophetic plea for pastors to abandon authoritarian abuse and oppressive leadership structures. It’s time to set many Christians free from the tyranny of dictatorial leaders who overlord God’s flock. If  Christians  would open their eyes and read the bible for what it says it says in Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power and not in others especially foolish sick blind and dumb pastors who ignore the word of God that clearly tells them:

And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?  "You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock.  "The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. "So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. "My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them."   'Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:  "as I live," says the Lord GOD, "surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock"-  'therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the LORD!   'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them."    'For thus says the Lord GOD: "Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.  "As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day.  "And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country.   "I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.   "I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down," says the Lord GOD.  "I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment."  Ezekiel 34:1-16

 “Thus says the Lord: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he knows and understands me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight, says the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23-24