How could someone sincerely believe that a Pastor is not necessary? Didn't God establish is church WITH a form of government for His people?
Perhaps I don't think that God "established a church", at least in the manner that many think. I don't believe that it was God's goal to create organizations, denominations, to establish programs and official ministries.
I think God's purpose is and has always been to establish a one-on-one relationship with his creation, and to teach them how to relate lovingly with one another.
It is us humans who have established and organized what we've come to think of as the "church". Now don't get me wrong, I think God can (and does), work in those organizations. Just as I also believe that He works outside them.
And I agree, that an organization cannot run without some sort of structured leadership. But I do not believe that faith, by necessity, requires involvement in any such organization.
The problem with such organizations and such leadership structures are obvious. There will always be the struggle and danger of the corruption of power & Authority, and the tendency to become more focused on the administration and practical matters of said organization as to lose sight of the real goal.
Perhaps I don't think that God "established a church", at least in the manner that many think. I don't believe that it was God's goal to create organizations, denominations, to establish programs and official ministries.
I think God's purpose is and has always been to establish a one-on-one relationship with his creation, and to teach them how to relate lovingly with one another.
It is us humans who have established and organized what we've come to think of as the "church". Now don't get me wrong, I think God can (and does), work in those organizations. Just as I also believe that He works outside them.
And I agree, that an organization cannot run without some sort of structured leadership. But I do not believe that faith, by necessity, requires involvement in any such organization.
The problem with such organizations and such leadership structures are obvious. There will always be the struggle and danger of the corruption of power & Authority, and the tendency to become more focused on the administration and practical matters of said organization as to lose sight of the real goal.
Perhaps I don't think that God "established a church", at least in the manner that many think. I don't believe that it was God's goal to create organizations, denominations, to establish programs and official ministries.
I think God's purpose is and has always been to establish a one-on-one relationship with his creation, and to teach them how to relate lovingly with one another.
It is us humans who have established and organized what we've come to think of as the "church". Now don't get me wrong, I think God can (and does), work in those organizations. Just as I also believe that He works outside them.
And I agree, that an organization cannot run without some sort of structured leadership. But I do not believe that faith, by necessity, requires involvement in any such organization.
The problem with such organizations and such leadership structures are obvious. There will always be the struggle and danger of the corruption of power & Authority, and the tendency to become more focused on the administration and practical matters of said organization as to lose sight of the real goal.
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Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it. — André Gide
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds... - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Perhaps I don't think that God "established a church", at least in the manner that many think. I don't believe that it was God's goal to create organizations, denominations, to establish programs and official ministries.
I think God's purpose is and has always been to establish a one-on-one relationship with his creation, and to teach them how to relate lovingly with one another.
It is us humans who have established and organized what we've come to think of as the "church". Now don't get me wrong, I think God can (and does), work in those organizations. Just as I also believe that He works outside them.
And I agree, that an organization cannot run without some sort of structured leadership. But I do not believe that faith, by necessity, requires involvement in any such organization.
The problem with such organizations and such leadership structures are obvious. There will always be the struggle and danger of the corruption of power & Authority, and the tendency to become more focused on the administration and practical matters of said organization as to lose sight of the real goal.
Very well said!
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Instead of studying to make sure what we believe is supported by Scripture, we MUST study the Scripture to see what IT TEACHES... then BELIEVE THAT!
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2.15 KJV
Wow, I don't think I've ever had 3 people agree with me at the same time before!!!
and to think I paused and considered extending my own appreciation for your recent thoughtful post....then I thought....No, if Mich sees too many 'kudos' she'll respond with some sort of self-deprecating comment and think we are all under some groupthink spell
.....
For the June 3rd crowd; Mich posted this: Perhaps I don't think that God "established a church", at least in the manner that many think. I don't believe that it was God's goal to create organizations, denominations, to establish programs and official ministries.
I think God's purpose is and has always been to establish a one-on-one relationship with his creation, and to teach them how to relate lovingly with one another.
It is us humans who have established and organized what we've come to think of as the "church". Now don't get me wrong, I think God can (and does), work in those organizations. Just as I also believe that He works outside them.
And I agree, that an organization cannot run without some sort of structured leadership. But I do not believe that faith, by necessity, requires involvement in any such organization.
The problem with such organizations and such leadership structures are obvious. There will always be the struggle and danger of the corruption of power & Authority, and the tendency to become more focused on the administration and practical matters of said organization as to lose sight of the real goal.
The part I underlined is where I keep hoping to take these kind of conversations. Man-things (below realm --of the earth --temporal --visible) will always need a structure of leadership to administrate the issues and operations related to the shared community. GREAT! God-ordained! Orderly! Spiffy!
The Kingdom of God is NOT from below --it is from ABOVE.
The ministry of God's spirit on earth is established by the constituency of a BODY.
Our earthly bodies help us understand the concept of a BODY.
A spiritual "Body" is not a methaphor or typology or parabolic.
A body has one head.
A body has many members.
If we could accept and acknowledge that each of us who have been born again move within a temporal realm AND within heavenly places (spiritual realm) we might be better able to avoid misapplication of one realm's dynamics for establishing connections (engagement) with another realm's dynamic for connecting.
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Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath [James 1:19]
The major problem with ANY organization or church, for that matter, is the heart of the leader(s). If they are servants, things, for the most part, will go well. If they expect to be served, then you will be controlled and taxed from "Dan to Beersheba!"
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"Those who go after the "Sauls" among us often slay the Davids among us." Gene Edwards
comment and think we are all under some groupthink spell
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