Titles and Authority
First we see on one hand a great division between clergy and laity. We see
the clergy dressed in robes, and religious garments that make them stand out
apart from the laity. We see titles of Pope, bishop, overseer, pastor,
reverend, apostles, priests, high priest and archbishops. Hierarchy.
Does God want the church to have hierarchy? Why did the church start
having this kind of system when it didn't seem to be like that in the New
Testament after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
We know from reading history that pagan religions had hierarchy and many times
the religious hierarchy ruled the government. They held people in bondage
by using fear and intimidation. There was no separation between church and
state. We see in the Old Testament also that Israel had a
theocratic type of government with priests, prophets and Levites who made
offerings at the temple for the sins of the people. People could not go to
God without these priests except on a few occasions. So, what is right?
If one reads church history, we see so many abuses of authority that it is a
temptation to throw the baby out with the bathwater and have no authority at
all. Yet, I see an increase in people desiring titles such as apostle,
prophet, bishop and other titles that place one man above another in authority.
We will examine the scriptures to see what kind of authority that God wants
those in the church to have. If we examine them all thoroughly, there is
no place in the scriptures that gives any earthly leader authority without any
accountability.
First of all when we read the New Testament, the death of Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins reunited us with God and we no longer have to go through anyone but Jesus to have access to God. We now need no man as an intercessor. We do not pray to any saint, to Mary; neither do we have to go through a priest for our salvation. That we know for sure from the New Testament that the priesthood has been fulfilled in Christ and the priesthood type of religion or ordinances, rituals and sacrifices are done away with in Jesus Christ. To bring that type of worship back is to put back what Jesus died to free us from. We are now all priests and saints before God once the blood of Jesus has cleansed us from sin and made us kings and priests unto God.
We can all have access to God and no longer need priests and those that do our
praying for us. There should be no clergy and laity separated by
appointments of men and hierarchy. We all are priests when we are faithful
to Jesus Christ. .
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on
such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of
Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and
to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by
thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on
the earth.
Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first
begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that
loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be
glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Does that mean though that we are to be foot loose and fancy free under no authority? After the death of the apostles grievous wolves entered the flock and started to teach false doctrine leading people astray. The early fathers after the death of the apostles started to exercise more authority to keep that from happening. One of them warned, "Do nothing without the bishop." Well, it was overkill. They overdid it. By the time of the Emperor Constantine, church and state was ready to merge. The horror that followed is on the pages of history. So what is right?
We will start our journey in the book of Matthew.
Matthew 20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her
sons, worshiping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
Mat 20:21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that
these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left,
in thy kingdom.
Mat 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to
drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that
I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
Mat 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be
baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand,
and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it
is prepared of my Father.
Mat 20:24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against
the two brethren.
Mat 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.
Jesus who had authority from the Father in Heaven says that whoever desires to be great is in reality a servant. After the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ a new world order will be set up. Jesus will place people in authority who He chooses and who have earned their place in that position. All that are raptured or resurrected with Jesus will serve and rule over the world. Jesus will rule over all. That is still yet to come so I will not get into that yet because I am concerned with what we are doing now.
Jesus makes it clear in the above passages that we are not to copy after the
Gentiles who exercise dominion and extreme authority. We are to minister,
to be servants and to obey our calling in whatever capacity we are given.
God given authority is limited. It is given for a purpose and never to be
abused. It brings with it a great responsibility even if the authority is
secular instead of spiritual. We will look further before drawing any
conclusions except that we see that our desire to have authority over others is
not the right desire. We should not desire titles and recognition to be
seen of men. If we work the work of God, we have to be willing to be a
servant. A faithful janitor of the church is actually greater than a
bishop who becomes a tyrant and a harsh dictator.
Here is Peter's description:
1Peter 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and
a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that
shall be revealed:
1Pe 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.
1Pe 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of
glory that fadeth not away.
We see from this passage that there are elders who are in charge of certain groups of believers. Peter claims to be one among many of these elders. Peter is the one many think of as the first pope. Yet here Peter calls himself one of many elders of the church. Elders or pastors are in charge but in reality they are servants. They are put there not as over the flock for the sake of having a higher salary or a great title but to serve, to lead, to teach and to care for the sheep.
I dropped by a church I use to attend to pick up something I left there the week before, I saw the pastor mopping the floor in the hallway. When I saw that, he went up in my estimation. He that is great among you, let him be the servant.
Here is another lesson from Jesus:
John 13:4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a
towel, and girded himself.
Joh 13:5 After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the
disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
Joh 13:6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost
thou wash my feet?
Joh 13:7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but
thou shalt know hereafter.
Joh 13:8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered
him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
Joh 13:9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands
and my head.
Joh 13:10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his
feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
Joh 13:11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all
clean.
Joh 13:12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was
set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
Joh 13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
Joh 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought
to wash one another's feet.
Joh 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to
you.
Joh 13:16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his
lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
There is no need to have a formal feet washing service and then forget what is taught. We are to submit to one another and have a servant's heart. We never should desire titles and high places in the church. To have a position in the church is a calling, a place of service and a great responsibility. Only those that desire to serve should occupy those positions. Only those that are willing to submit to God's leading should be in that position and only those who possess true humility. Arrogant, proud, boasters, tyrants, pushy, domineering people do not need to be in those places. Do we need leaders at all though? We shall see.
Words of Paul:
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all
men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great
God and our Savior Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and
purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Tit 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no
man despise thee.
Those who God calls into places of authority are to do so in order to guard
against false teaching and those that would desire to draw followers after
themselves instead of drawing followers after God. This can include all
members of the body in Christ who have been faithful servants willing and
obedient to the word of God. We all can in the spirit of meekness, exhort,
rebuke and speak with authority but God in His mercy and care does appoint
leaders to help us get it right.
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 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 fullness
of Christ:
Eph 4:14 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;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things,
which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that
which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure
of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
So we see that he gave some of us apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. This is a gift to the church. There are other gifts of the spirit given to the church but here are gifts to the church in the form of human messengers. They have a great calling but not any calling that God cannot give to any one of us who are faithful and love His word. We are not to idolize any of the above, neither follow them if they stop following the truth but we are to respect them and treat them as we would want to be treated ourselves. If we have a disagreement with them, we are not to go behind their backs to others in the congregation but go to them alone in the spirit of meekness. If God forbid we have a cruel leader who even goes so far as to threaten someone's life who opposes him then we better get out, away and pray the person out of his position. He is not called of God to do that type of thing. I'm thinking of Jim Jones and others who lord over people and abuse their authority.
We see from the scriptures above that their authority does not cover our personal private lives in our own homes. They are responsible only in what goes on as we meet together to worship and learn of the scriptures. They have authority over the meetings only, not our personal lives. If any of them start to question how much we make on our paychecks to see if we are paying a full ten percent of wages for example, that is none of their business and not New Testament teaching. They are never given authority to tell us who to marry, what kind of job to get and that sort of thing. God may lay it upon their hearts to preach about some of these things but they have to allow the Holy Spirit to apply it to our hearts. There has been so many abuses of these things that we have to watch carefully what authority is given to them from God and what it not given.
There is a different authority in the home.
Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
A wife for instance is under her husband's authority more than the pastor's authority. Children are under authority of their parents more than the authority of any spiritual leader. A pastor has no authority over another man's wife and children except in the church meetings where he has to have order by the leading of the Holy Spirit when it is time to teach, exhort, preach and worship.
There is also a type of submission that will cause the church to have peace and orderly services.
Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves:
for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do
it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
We obey those that have rule over us in the church meetings for the purpose learning and receiving the word of God, not to have anyone Lord over our personal lives and choices we have to make in our own relationship with Jesus Christ. No one can interfere with our own personal walk with the Lord and the leading of the Holy Spirit. So those God puts in authority in the church only have authority over the meetings themselves, not our private lives once we leave the public meetings. They may advise, teach, exhort and gently lead by example but they are not given authority over our own decision making and private lives. If any try to do this, they have overstepped their authority. Remember Jim Jones, Jeffery Lungren and others who have exalted themselves higher than they should have and the result was the death of innocent people.
Yet to desire the calling of church leadership is commendable but it brings servanthood not exaltation. We should never seek titles to appear to be great in the sight of men.
1Timothy 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop,
he desireth a good work.
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;
1Ti 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient,
not a brawler, not covetous;
1Ti 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection
with all gravity;
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?)
1Ti 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the
condemnation of the devil.
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.
1Ti 3:8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much
wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
1Ti 3:9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
1Ti 3:10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a
deacon, being found blameless.
1Ti 3:11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in
all things.
1Ti 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and
their own houses well.
1Ti 3:13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to
themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ
Jesus.
The meaning of bishop is a superintendent or overseer. This person
oversees and makes sure nothing hinders the truth from being preached, false
doctrine is not being taught and the wolves have not entered in to devour the
flock.
Deacon means a teacher, pastor, minister or servant of the Lord.
It might appear from the above verses that this bishop is to rule the church
with the same type of authority he has in his home but we must remember that the
authority given is over the meetings and business of the church as a whole or
what is done in public and not over personal private homes. The homes have
their own God given authority. The husband. The wife then has authority
under the husband but over the running of the house and guiding of the children.
The bishop or deacon cannot come into her home and tell her how to raise her
children. We have to live by our own conscience in private but in
public assemblies we have to submit to others in order to worship God without
confusion and disorder. If we don't have some kind of order, anyone can
stand up and teach any crazy doctrine they can think of. A good leader
will not allow that to happen. We have to have them though because we are
not yet perfect.
I say this in love here, we have to be careful not to idolize and look to any leader more than we look to God. We are not to compare ourselves, exalt someone higher than the other or have what we call respect of persons. We are warned not to have men's persons in admiration.
2Corinthians 10:7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any
man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again,
that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.
2Co 10:8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the
Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not
be ashamed:
2Co 10:9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.
2Co 10:10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily
presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
2Co 10:11 Let such a one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters
when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.
2Co 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves
with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themseves,
and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
2Co 10:13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to
the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach
even unto you.
2Co 10:14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached
not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of
Christ:
2Co 10:15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's
labors; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged
by you according to our rule abundantly,
2Co 10:16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in
another man's line of things made ready to our hand.
2Co 10:17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
2Co 10:18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord
commendeth.
Jude 1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts;
and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in
admiration because of advantage.
Everything needs to be in balance. We are not to starve our pastors
and refuse to support them if we decide we don't like them. What kind of
love is that? At the same time we are not to idolize them and follow them into
sin if they go into sin and error. The minute a pastor starts to steer his
flock away from God's word or uses the word to manipulate instead of instructing
them in righteousness, run and do not follow him or her as the case may be. .
Another authority we have to heed is secular authority.
Titus 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to
obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
Tit 3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all
meekness unto all men.
We must obey civil law and authority if it is not contrary to God's word.
God always has the higher authority.
1Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake:
whether it be to the king, as supreme;
1Pe 2:14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment
of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
1Pe 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence
the ignorance of foolish men:
1Pe 2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but
as the servants of God.
1Pe 2:17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
1Pe 2:18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the
good and gentle, but also to the froward.
Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no
power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Rom 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of
God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Rom 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou
then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have
praise of the same:
Rom 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that
which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the
minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Rom 13:5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for
conscience sake.
Rom 13:6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers,
attending continually upon this very thing.
Rom 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due;
custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
The above scriptures from Titus, Peter and Romans is not the authority of church
leaders but the authority of civil government. When we speak of secular
government it is governments that are not theocratic governments but are
governments of the world. In the Old Testament the government for Israel
was Theocratic. After Christ came and died for sins, His kingdom no longer
was of this world. Until He returns again in person, we have no authority
to set up a theocracy. It may sound good to have a theocracy and a
Christian government but for now His kingdom is not of this world and we cannot
do it. We cannot mix church and state. Many have already tried that
and the result of thousands and maybe even millions of people being killed and
persecuted by those who thought they were doing God a service. It will not
work until Jesus Christ comes back in person. Any theocracy we try to set
up will be a dictatorship, not a real theocracy. Men seem to have a little
trouble letting God rule, they will rule themselves. How do I know?
Read church history from an unbiased source. The Roman Catholic church, John Calvin's Geneva Switzerland fiasco, The Church of England, The Puritans, and a few others who have tried to set up Theocratic governments and have failed miserably. The whole gospel was ruined and the plan of salvation disappeared.
We cannot even have a theocratic government ruling in the church also, because it too would be lead by one man, not God. The church has already tried and failed to set up theocracies.
Jesus warned us of this type of thing:
Matthew 24:46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall
find so doing.
Mat 24:47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his
goods.
Mat 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth
his coming;
Mat 24:49 And shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink
with the drunken;
Mat 24:50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for
him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
Mat 24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the
hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The Roman Catholic Church thought the Lord delayed His coming and began to
persecute, torture and kill those that were considered heretics, Jews and
Muslims. John Calvin forgot where he came from and his life that was once in
danger for leaving the Catholic Church and he began to beat his fellow servants
who disagreed with him. Type in Michael Servetus in any search engine on
the Internet and see what pops up. Martin Luther started out great but he
got so angry at the Jews for rejecting his message that his words was used to
justify the holocaust in the 20th Century. The Church of England leaders
had people put to death for dissenting. The Puritans also became
persecutors but not as widespread as others.
So a hierarchy in the church is not good. Titles, appointments and levels
should be avoided. It brings forth the type of stuff they had in the
middle ages, but because of false teachers and wolves we have to have some kind
of authority. That authority must have to do with the congregations,
worship and order in the church itself, not in civil governments, our private
homes or in a manner that abuses that authority. They should preach, teach
and warn against the sin that may destroy our private home life but they abuse
their authority if they try to dictate and make our decisions for us.
Forced conversions, judging our consciences and being Lords over the flock is not a God given authority but authority does have its place in the Church of God. We are all the same and all under God's authority. We are all to be in subjection to one another. We are all kings and priests when we become believers, yet we have to have leaders to keep order and make sure that the truth is taught and not lies. That leader has to be called of God and be held accountable for his actions.
My particular church affiliation has had a history of calling people Brother so and so and Sister so and so. Even the pastors are addressed this way. I hope we never get to the place where we separate clergy from laity and demand to be address by "Bishop so and so" or Reverend so and so. Are we changing? If we are????
That happened once before. Jesus spoke of it.
Rev 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes,
which I also hate.
I found two meanings of the Nicolaitanes.
First was followers of Nicolaus who allowed fornication or community of wives,
eating things sacrificed to idols and other immoral practices. Sexual
impurity, lust and other things forbidden by scripture were considered not
sinful thy this group of Gnostics.
Another meaning is this:
Nicolaitanes means "victory over people" or to conquer the "laity."
Nikos means to conquer, laos is the word laity comes from.
If the second definition is what Jesus meant when he said that he hated the
deed of the Nicolaitanes, then we need to be very careful of hierarchy forms of
church government and titles.
Peter gives us the sum of all these things:
1Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all
of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God
resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may
exalt you in due time:
My conclusion then is that the New Testament does not teach hierarchy and Nicolaitism but it does show us that we do need God given, God-breathed, loving authority. In fact we should consider it a gift from God.
DC
