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The Water of the Word |
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1 Timothy 3 1Timothy 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. Bishop means an elder who is in the service of the Lord. I'm going to give my own personal opinion on bishops but remember it is just my own. I don't think God ever intended hierarchy like we see in many organized churches. I don't want to offend anyone but even the disciples never lorded over any church when they were alive. Peter certainly was not any pope or any exalted being above the other disciples. They were pillars of the church, apostles of the gospel and were great people but they were not infallible or higher than anyone else. Here is what Jesus said: Matthew 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. Mat 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; Mat 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Here are the words of Peter on the subject: 1Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 1Pe 5:3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock. Does this look like someone who is exalted above others and control other people's lives? We must teach the word and depend on the Holy Spirit to apply the word, we cannot force godliness upon anyone. Peter, who many call the first pope, refuted any such claim of lordship over the others in the flock. Leaders are to set godly examples for the flock to follow as they follow Christ but they are not to be lords and dictators over anyone. 1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; True bishops must be people of good reputation, have self-control, hospitable and have an ability to teach good things. 1Ti 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; He is not to be out for money and be serving God for material reasons. He is not to lust after other people's things. He is not to be violent and one that quickly loses his temper. He is definitely not to be one who cannot maintain self-control like one who is addicted to alcohol and drugs. 1Ti 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; Under aged children who abide still in his household must be obedient and not be a bad example for others to follow. 1Ti 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Notice it says to take care of the Church of God, not lord over it. Still he must rule over his own household. 1Ti 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. One who is newly saved and has not been long in God's service needs to work under another pastor or do other things until he matures enough to have a job as pastor. 1Ti 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. The devil will be sure to discover the past of anyone with a bad reputation. It will be found out sooner or later. If the past has been forgiven and the sin is under the blood, we must make sure to be up front and let it be publically known but that the sin has been forsaken. Deacons are those that take care of church business in a godly manner. 1Ti 3:8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Deacons are not to be someone who has a drinking problem, a gossiper or money hungry. 1Ti 3:9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. Faith alone is not enough, they must have faith along with a pure conscience. True faith is indeed a mystery because it can't be seen with our natural eyes. We can learn the doctrine of evolution in public school and reject it because of a mysterious thing called faith. Hollywood can trot out all the movies about Da Vinci, the tomb of Jesus and many such things and it will not destroy the true faith. We are to have this faith accompanied by a life of holiness so that we will have a pure conscience. Faith which claims belief in Jesus Christ but still allows sin in one's life is a flawed faith which I believe is not real. If we really believe in Jesus, we will believe in Him, in what He says, in what He stands for and in all He represents. To say we believe in someone and have nothing to do with that someone, ignore the teachings of that someone and live completely opposite of the way the person we claim to believe in lives, then of course we can't really say we believe IN someone. To believe in something means that we accept it as our rule and practice. 1Ti 3:10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Sometimes there are such a shortage of pastors that we are tempted to give over a ministry to a young newbie that has had no experience in dealing with people but fresh out of bible college. Experience is the best teacher. Some of the best pastors I've sat under have never been to bible college. I'm not putting down good education but we sometimes make too much of it. To be called of God is the first requirement, to be full of the Holy Spirit and have a love for people is second. Education is a plus but should never be a requirement because it limits God to a person's circumstances. He could be someone who is from a poor family that has no access to any university yet God puts that burning desire to share His word in someone and we limit him or her because of their circumstances. |
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