Quotations from: "Bobby
M. Johnson's Commentary on Buck Dozier's Covenant of
Membership.
"Buck Dozier and the other
Madison Church of Christ Elders have aligned themselves with certain
"outside influences". These influences have helped the Elders "LORD"
over the membership unscriptural beliefs, teachings, and doctrines. Thru these
actions Buck, certain other Elders, certain teachers, and certain
members have divided the congregation into two different groups of
differing beliefs. To learn more of our possible future and what may
be in store for us please read on. One such outside influence is the
Saddleback Valley Community Church in California.
"Rick Warren uses
Rock
Music and little or no
reference to the unattractive notions of sin to attract new members.
These new members are then required to sign a COVENANT that commits them to tithing plus participation in a small
group, a lay ministry,
and a missions outreach. New members who study with Saddleback in
their series of high-commitment purpose-driven classes are
required to sign
further covenants before they can progress to the next classes.
http://www.purposedriven.com
To verify the covenants go
to the specific webpage below:
http://www.purposedriven.com/pdc/saddleback_20th/saddleback_20th.htm
"The Madison Elders have sent
Frank Scott to Saddleback to learn from them. Tom Haddon has been to
Saddleback and has taught the Homebuilders Class about their methods.
Tom has prophesied that the church as we know it will be changed
completely and our songbooks with their old songs will be taken away.
A tape of Tom's teachings on February 25, 2001 has been transcribed
and studied in depth. Church division was taught at on February 25,
2001 by Tom Haddon." Bobby Johnson.
Spiritual
Terrorism
When one captures a church and
forces pagan worship practices and sows discord among the brethren,
and then suggests that you get with the program or get out that
person is guilty of a terminal sin.
When one tries to convert your
congregation into his own "venue for musical entertainment" then he
is stealing the church house of widows. The work and authority of
elders does not extend that far: He has sinned beyond
redemption.
No church of
Christ, non-instrumental, has ever or would stoop so low as to
infiltrate like terrorists into a happy instrumental church and
subvert the purpose for which that church was organized and building
paid for in order to impose a CULTISH COVENANT OF MEMBERSHIP to force
the members to follow, like drowning lemmings, the ELDERS believed by
some to be CELESTIAL BEINGS, when they intend to fire the choir and
smash up the instrument.
To make sure that the
terrorists are never terrorized they then make you become a
card-carrying member to guarantee your locked-step loyalty without
any right to complain!
The only honest alternative for
a leader who is not happy with the doctrine and practices of a church
is that he is duty bound, honesty bound, ethically bound and
minimally part of the human species bound to leave and "search and
collect" his own flock and provide them with housing. If he tries to
confiscate your property or permits "moles" to subvert your church
then he is a thief.
If he
offends those who are easily deceived over the objections of those
who are Biblically superior then God will hang a millstone around his
neck.
Are Elders Celestial
Beings?
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James R. Cope:
"In matters of
judgment and expediency, those meeting the divine
qualifications of bishops are supreme and their word is final. The Holy Spirit has appointed them
- and to
resist their
authority is to rebel against the Holy
Spirit.
-
- God knew that the
final decisions in the sphere of expediency
had to be made by somebody, and divine
wisdom has
provided for
them in the eldership.
-
- Regardless of
the individual's judgment, it becomes his solemn
obligation
to acquiesce in the bishop's rule when that rule is
announced.
-
- For all
practical purposes, their decision is God's
decision,
and therefore, must become the disciple's
decision.
-
- To do otherwise
is to nullify the office of elders and reflect upon
God's
purpose in providing them..." James R. Cope, Guardian of Truth,
September 19, 1985.
If that is
radically outrageous then members are taught to believe
it:
An E-Mailer from
Madison Church of Christ: "What can't you understand about the great
commission? "This is especially true of those who
follow the
corrupt desire
of the sinful nature
- and
despise
authority (kuriotes or Lords). [such as our elders that are bashed on some of
your website links]
-
- Bold and
arrogant
these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings (beings worthy of
worship);
yet even angels, although they are stronger and more
powerful,
-
- do not bring
slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord." 2 Peter 2:10-11
Jesus:
"Those who are
supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and
their great men exercise authority over them [Jesus said to
his disciples]. But it shall not be so among you!" {Mark
10:42b-43a RSV}
If an elder lords it
over the flock then Jesus would define him out of the "among
you" even for inspired apostles.
Therefore, dominant
leadership is to claim superiority to the apostles and
perhaps "celestial beings" are among us.
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Because in song and sermon and in Bible classes the
Word has been deprived of its literal
and spiritual value, it is possible
that those who get
picked to be elders are, like some
evangelists, believed to have been "picked and empowered by the
sovereign grace of God." True, if own believes himself inspired as a
13th apostle then being rebuked comes hard. However, not even Jesus
rebuked those who rebuked Him: they just didn't matter in His scheme
of things. This seems strange and perverse in that not even the
President of the United States is immune from questioning, refuting
and rebuking. However, the president would not stoop to call the
press a group of gossips and therefore equate them to
murderers.
But, the fact is that the role of the elder is
much more limited than one imagines from the corporate, secular,
command leadership model which has no place in the spiritual kingdom
of Christ.
When Elders elevate themselves to being Holy
Gost Ordained and their sheep consider them LORDS and CELESTIAN
BEINGS then you have a problem. However, Peter was considering
celestial beings who had fallen. According to the Book of Enoch and
similar documents "God will come with then thousand of His host to
execute Judgment." The sin was introducing mixed-sex choirs and
instrumental music to seduce the holy people away from the Living
Word. Lucifer (ZOE) was their male/female musical worship facilitator
(manipulator).
If you believe that your
rulers are actually lords or celestial beings then to dare to
question them is slander!
Here are some comments about this covenant of
Madison Church of Christ in Nashville, which is anti-biblical and
therefore anti-Christian:
1. I will share the
responsibility of our church family
by praying for the
power of
God and the
Holy
Spirit to
come
upon its
ministry.
There is not the remotest hint
that one "makes the
church work" by praying
for supernatural power
of the Holy Spirit to
COME UPON THIS MINISTRY. That is charismatic
and unBiblical. In all of the teaching or "singing" passages the
Spirit is the Word of
Christ.
A holy spirit rules when
Christ, the Spirit is "given heed to" in song and sermon. The power
of God comes through sowing the seed of the kingdom, watering and
just watching God's supernatural power "make the flowers grow and
bloom."
The elder's "rule" is tightly
tied to "teaching the Word as it has been taught" and "rebuking those
who teach false doctrine." The Spirit has spoken to the elders and
their authority and rulership accrues to them based on their being
"apt to teach" and govern BEFORE he is identified. David Lipscomb
noted that the elder acquires no more authority as the result of
ordination than he had before ordination.
No one in the history of
religion before the last two centuries who believed that
Holy was the first name of a god whose name was Holy Spirit. Rather, the
Spirit of God is the Mind of Christ (1 Cor 2) just as our spirit is
our mind. If our mind or spirit is HOLY or totally dedicated to
Christ and His Word then we have A holy
spirit and are equipped to teach to command respect.
It is the
spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto
you, they are
spirit, and they are life Jn 6:63
Searching what, or
what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified
beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should
follow. 1 Pet 1:11
And I fell at his feet to
worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy
fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus:
worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Rev 19:10
If we construct "worship" to
take away the Word as the central focus of church which was
"synagogue" and not pagan worship center then the Spirit or Christ
will not be with us because we have not gathered in HIs name or by
His authority.
The Corinthians
believed that music made
the Holy Spirit COME upon them. However, Paul identified speaking or singing out of
their own "spirit" and especially that to which the once-prophesying
women were prone as speaking in tongues.
For with
stammering
lips and
another
tongue will he speak to
this people. Isaiah 28:11
To whom he said,
This is the rest
wherewith ye may cause
the weary to rest; and
this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. Isaiah 28:12
God caused the Assyrians to "sing"
to them in tongues
so that they could not understand that the triumphant army was there
to defeat the nation. Paul used this in 1 Corinthians 14 to define
the "self-composed" songs and sermons out of their own "spirit" which
was speaking in tongues. And Jesus identified the Devil as a liar
because he "spoke of his own."
Jesus identified the clergy and
Jewish elders as creating the burden which was "spiritual anxiety
created by religious ritual." Jesus died to give them rest but He
spoke to the multitudes in parables (tongues to them) so that they
would fall backward and be destroyed.
In the church, Christ is
Teacher and Shepherd: those with authority must walk step into step
of Jesus. The Spirit has always been the authority of God through
whomever speaks for Him by His authority:
But the
word (Dabar or Logos) of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little;
that they might
go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. Isaiah 28:13
Wherefore hear the
word of the Lord, ye scornful men,
that rule
this people which is in
Jerusalem. Isaiah 28:14
Isaiah goes on to define the
elders in Jerusalem to show that Messiah would come and speak the
truth. Peter defined how the spirit is the
power of Christ in His Words:
Then Peter said
unto them, Repent,
and be
baptized every one of
you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye
shall receive the gift
of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,
when the times of
refreshing shall come
from the presence of the Lord Ac.3:19
"Musical worship" is the most
works intensive, legalistic "works of human hands" one can imagine.
The Classics identify music as "singing" and "working." Therefore,
external melody is twanging a bow into your heart or "psalloing" your
head off with a sword:
Not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the
washing of regeneration, and renewing of the (A) Holy Ghost;
Tit.3:5
Being born again, not of
corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 1Pe.1:23
The error of Nimrod at the
Tower of Babylon was that he thought that with his musical worship
team he could regenerate the human mind and spirit "by external
means."
Therefore, "music" is from the
Greek "symphonia" and is a secular term. What we call "singing and
making melody" fails if it stresses the "music" and ignores the
command to teach the Word of Christ or Spirit.
The Vineyard: The Fourth Act
is Reaching a Climax with the Spirit: the Fifth is Giving of
Substance
By grouping opposing false
elders to murder and by calling on people to have the Holy Spirit
fall on the church there is a clear intent to intimidate. Those who
do not function and agree (or get out) are stopping the work of the
Holy Spirit which is proven by opposing the elders ordained by the
Spirit. Again on the work and authority of elders and the covenant of
membership at Madison Church of Christ:
2. I will support the testimony of our church
family
by attending
faithfully
by living a godly
life
by giving regularly to
support the ministry of our church family
The Corinthians volunteered to
give, they did not, Paul told them that time was running our. This
was a collection ONLY for the poor. In 2 Corinthians he clearly says
"this is not a commandment." Therefore, giving is based on
'OWNERSHIP' of the programs and the elders have NO AUTHORITY over
these affairs other than what God has given him which is primarily to
"teach that which has been taught."
Therefore, to even THINK of
such a signed covenant is spiritual terrorism.
If you want to get
sicker yet, read parts of a Cult Covenant of Membership:
h. They shall, as
part of this covenant body of believers, be entitled to
spiritual covering from
those whom God has
placed over them in the
leadership of the church for the good of their souls;
g. They shall be entitled to sow financially of their material means into the Christian
ministries of this
church, by honoring the
Lord with their first fruits (Proverbs 3:9-10); by bringing or
sending their tithes
into the Lord's storehouse (Malachi 3:10; Hebrews 7:4-10); and by giving or
sending their financial gifts (Luke 6:38; 2 Cor. 9:6-11) for the
Lord's work, expecting a
harvest. In so doing,
they shall fully expect the Lord to faithfully honor His Word in
assuring an abundant
supply for their needs
and ministry to others;
"Music plays an
important part in the ministry of Life of Faith Fellowship, in both
reaching the world and encouraging the believer's fellowship with
God. Our praise &
worship team consists of a
number of anointed
musicians and singers. Our styles range from contemporary rock and
oldie remakes to intimate worship.
Musical performance is not one
of those "gifts of God" Paul felt should be mentioned.
Tithing, like music (called
noise by God) is part of the restoration of the legalistic
sacrificial system.
Free will giving has always
been the practice of churches of Christ and all needs have been met
when the "audience" has ownership of the planned needs.
Dr. Rubel Shelly and John York
in sermons have given a second incarnation to the beyond-redemption
experience in the wilderness.
God said that He
turned them over to worship the starry host
of heaven as seen in Amos 5, 6 and most often at Jerusalem which is
called "Sodom and Egypt." This is the Hagar slavery model.
Dr. Shelly and John York say
that it was a pattern for Christian worship and community: that was a
community of
slavery where the Levites
were not "musicians" but slave drivers.
In the Vineyard the next to
last "act of worship" is a climax with the Holy Spirit: the last act
is called "Giving of
Substance."
The "musical worship teams" are
admittedly a restoration of the musical (sounding) Levites who,
according to Josephus, destroyed the nation
twice.
Dr. Shelly claims more than the tithe for the
church.
Therefore, according to all
of the cult-like patterns, when you sign the contract you are signing
up to the legalistic
restoration of the Jewish Tithe.
To restore the legalistic
pattern of Sinai, the legalistic "musical noise" of animal sacrifices
and the legalistic
tithe, the blind will
lead the blind in falling from grace.
Tithing was a tax paid by the
owner of free, developed land but only in Israel. It consisted only
of food products and the wage-earner would be extorted if he was
expected to pay the "rent" for a free land or workshop which he did
not develop.
However, freewill
offerings are open to anyone at any time. When you make this into a
"contract" made with the dominant elders then you have bound that
which Christ did not bind.
Paul only authorized a collection for the poor: a one time collection. In
2 Corinthians he said "this is not a command." Therefore, "giving" is not by the work and authority
of elders but by everyone having "ownership" in the programs which
the OWNERS have selected men whom they assumed would not squander the
widow's mite on a "venue for theatrical performance" to suck in the
unspiritual seekers of entertainment: a ministry of the lust of the
eyes and the lust of the ears.
You know that you have a "like
the nations" assembly when you set elders as kings who cannot be
questioned the moment you give
them the authority. God warned Israel that the kings would take their
lands, sons and daughters to be his own personal servants. He would
take your lands (contribute) and give it to his favorite "minister"
of the pyramid of ministry
power. Therefore, the
kings would be thieves specificially because:
"He will
take the tenth of your
flocks, and
you shall be his
slaves. And in that day
you will cry out because
of your king, whom you
have chosen for yourselves;
but the
Lord will not answer you
in that day" (1 Sam.
8:17-18).
Ecclesiasticus
48:7. who
heard rebuke at
Sinai and
judgments of vengeance
at Horeb;
Ecclesiasticus 48:
8. who anointed kings to inflict retribution,
and prophets to
succeed you.
O Israel, thou hast destroyed
thyself; but in me is
thine help. Hosea 13:9
I will be thy
king: where is any
other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom
thou saidst, Give me a king and princes? Hosea 13:10
I gave thee a
king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath. Hosea
13:11
And Saul tried to stay in
power by asking:
"will the son of Jesse give every one of you
fields and vineyards, will
he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds" (1 Sam.
22:7).
It was the king and
"commanders of the army" who set the Levitical musicians over the
temple.
"Therefore, thus
saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, against the shepherds that
FEED my people: You have scattered my flock,
and driven them away, and have not visited them; behold, I will visit
upon you the evil of your doing, saith Jehovah" (Jer. 23:2).
God does not know elders who
are not Set In Their Work by THEIR OWN HOLY SPIRIT.
Again, from Madison Church
of Christ in Nashville and the work and authority authority of elders
as celestial beings:
3. I will protect the unity of our church
family
by acting in
love toward other members
by refusing to gossip
(letting outsiders know our
affairs)
by following the leaders
God has set in our church Family
That is a claim to supernatural power the
elders do not have. When God sets people in the church it is for
servanthood:
For I think that
God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to
death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and
to men. 1 Co.4:9
One tests whether God is involved by whether
one is already working to the point of
exhaustion in preaching and teaching.
God does not set people in the church "assembly" in order to make
them supreme commanders of the church. Lipscomb noted that "an elder
has no more authority after he is ordained than he had before he was
ordained" or rather "identified" as one fulfilling that role. You
don't elect elders, you don't select elders, you "point the hand" at
those doing the work.
First: Elders are
not Rulers with Command
Authority:
Then Peter, filled
with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers
of the people, and elders
of Israel, Acts 4:8
Rulers:
Archon (g758) ar'-khone; pres. part. of 757; a first (in rank or
power): - chief (ruler), magistrate, prince, ruler.
Elders: Presbuteros (g4245) pres-boo'-ter-os; compar. of presbus , (elderly);
older; as noun, a senior; spec. an Isr. Sanhedrist (also fig. member
of the celestial council) or Chr. "presbyter": - elder
(- est), old
You don't get old, mature
and spirit filled with the Word by getting elected: you have to grow
into it.
Second: The unity of the church is built by Christ and not by
the work and authority of elders. It is based on speaking His words
in the assembly even as He as Son spoke only what He heard from the
Father.
The possible division in Romans 14
is cured in Romans 15 by speaking
the revealed Word of God
"with one
voice." That is defined in the Greek
classics as "singing."
In Ephesians 5 Paul defined the unity as
possible ONLY when we fill up with the Spirit which is His Word and
then speak those words one to another. Appointed clergy singers is
identified as "the first heresy largely pervading the church."
In Colossians 3 He demanded that we use the
Word of Christ and speak one to another. The purpose is to "teach and
admonish" and the WHO is the "one another."
When you use "the idolatry of talent" and have
this mutual teaching "performed" then you are sinning and you need to
be rebuked.
This is proof that it was not God who set the
elder in the church. There is only one LORD for the entire Christian
religion. He is the head. This means that whatever we do in word or
deed must be guided by Him through His Word. He is the Teacher and we
deprive Him of that role if we improvise our own Bible in "song and
sermon." He is the only Mediator contrary to the claim of "musical
worship teams" who believe they can lead you into the presence of
God. Sorry, but you have slipped in by the back door and landed in
the brothel of all pagan musical performance.
The Elders
Demand:
Because elders assume Divine
Authority because of Divine Selection they assume the authority to
dismiss YOU from YOUR church if YOU do not agree with the new
DOCTRINES and ESSENTIAL PRACTICES arrived at by the "God-ordained"
elders. Is that a holy spirit?
"If at some time in
the future, I find myself irreversibly out of harmony with the
fundamental doctrines and essential practices of Madison, I will not
be a source of strife and division, but will peacefully leave the
fellowship. Every effort will be made to assist you in finding a church home where you will be
comfortable and at peace."
That means: "This was the church you helped
support for all of those years. However, God has set me in this
church to define the DOCTRINES and PRACTICES of Madison Church of
Christ."
"Your old views pre post-modern view of
defining faith and practices has been abrogated: now we decide what
you will believe, teach and practice.
"Therefore, if God had set me as an elder over
His Church then you may be in trouble if you continue to wrangle over
the DOCTRINES AND ESSENTIAL PRACTICES DEFINED BY CHRIST AND THE
WORD.
You have a true shepherd when he weeps at the
notion of driving off one lamb!
But Jesus Demands in the
Misapplied Proof-text:
When strife and division results in the
sheepfold it is almost always the hireling shepherd who does not love
the truth who is the "TROUBLER IN ISRAEL."
He did not help "collect" the sheep
but he can dismiss any lost or troubling lamb with a swat of the
hands. Like the kings of the Monarchy, this makes them
thieves.
Christ is the Head of the body:
the elders are not; they are supposed to be the servant shepherds.
They are no more honorable than the foot or toe. The elder or shepherd is specifically named
the "eye" because he is the
"watcher" of the flock.
The shepherd is not an elected
official who suddenly gets God's approval. Rather, the shepherd or
bishop is the one who oversees (ruleth?). The exhorter has as much
"authority" as anyone else but only because he has the gift or talent
of exhorting and not because he is an ORDAINED EXHORTER to head up
the EXHORTATION MINISTRY STAFF.
God did not set elders in
the church with supernatural power but if that is the claim then here
is the "final exam":
That there
should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the
same care one for another. 1 Cor 12:25
Earlier, we see that those
claiming to be shepherds "work so that they have something to give"
along with the others:
Or he that exhorteth, on
exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that
ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy,
with cheerfulness. Romans 12:8
Distributing to
the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Romans 12:13
But, if an elder claims the
role of EYE to the body, Jesus insists:
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This is what you must do when
shepherds offend the "little ones" and "sow discord among the
brethren." So,
Jesus says, let's look at this from a common sense viewpoint
in an environment where God-selected people do not rule over
others.
- Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast
them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life
halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet
to be cast into everlasting fire. Matt 18:8
-
- And if thine
eye
offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee:
it is better for thee to enter into life with
one
eye,
rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell
fire.
Matt 18:9
The covenant of
membership explicitly says: I despise you if you do not do what God
has ordained me, as eye, to do without your making any
comments from the "cheap seats." Therefore, Oh elder:
- Take heed that
ye
despise not one of these little
ones; for I
say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always
behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. Matt
18:10
-
- For the Son
of man is come to save that which was
lost.
Matt 18:11
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You cannot be an underling shepherd without following
the chief
shepherd: the Chief
Shepherd came to seek
and save the
lost because the Jewish
elders as shepherd had
scattered the flock.
Christ did not come to set up a
new temple with temple rulers in control to restore the "musical"
(noise) part of animal sacrifices. Rather, the shepherd must do what
Jesus did: go out to seek and save the lost.
The Saddleback model knows full well that at first it must
SCATTER THE OLDER
PEOPLE and lose
membership before it begins to attract the Sucked in Seekers.
The Willow Creek knows that you cannot convert
"synagogue" to "theater" without lots of strife among the church insiders.
Among churches of Christ this
has been instituted as Navigating the Winds of Change.
Musical shepherds
know that they are going to scatter the flock when the decibel level
rises and the pure tones of unison give way to the "dog barks" of
complex harmony. Therefore, once again, Jesus will come to gather the
sheep because the hireling shepherds have used the sheep to "feed
themselves.'
Any elder who adds "musical
worship teams" in practicing the idolatry of talent when there is not
a hint of "music" as a worship word to God in the entire Bible and
when that elder knows before hand that he will SOW DISCORD AMONG THE BRETHREN, THAT HE
WILL OFFEND MANY OF THESE LITTLE ONES AND HE DOES IT WITH A HIGH HAND
HE HAS SINNED BEYOND REDEMPTION AND THE EYE NEEDS TO BE PLUCKED OUT
BY THE HANDS OF THE BODY.
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Still speaking of the shepherd
or elder "your job is collecting and preserving the flock.
If you come upon another flock you cannot take control of it
because they kill sheep thieves, you know:
- How think ye? if
a man
(shepherd) have an hundred sheep, and one of them be
gone
astray,
doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and
goeth into
the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone
astray?
Matt 18:12
-
- And if so be that
he find
it, verily
I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of
the ninety and nine which went not astray. Matt 18:13
-
- Even so it is
not the will of your Father which is in
heaven,
that one
of these little ones should perish. Matt 18:14
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The Madison church of Christ Cultic Creed of
Loyalty says that if
one of these are lost he will remain lost because while searching for
him we can engage in musical idolatry and suck in a hundred seekers
of entertainment and a charismatic, sexual experience.
We will see that the task of a
leader whom God has
set in the church is
not one who has been selected by his friends and who dared the congregation to "sow discord" by challenging the
narrow choice.
The task of the leader is
not buildings and
grounds. The task of
the shepherd is to go
out looking for sheep.
A shepherd does not steal another mass of sheep. Rather, he goes out
seeking them. Hie is "ordained" because "he is already laboring to the point of exhaustion in
preaching and teaching."
Therefore, the brother who trespasses is the one who has claimed to be the "shepherd."
If he believes that God has
personally SET HIM IN THE CHURCH FAMILY then he has pronounced his
own sentence if he offends "one of these little ones" or imports
wolves to help him "eat the flock" according to
Jeremiah.
|
Still including DISCIPLINING THE
SHEPHERD who does
not imitate the "seeking and saving the lost" of Jesus the
Chief Shepherd:
THE OFFENDER IN
MATTHEW 18:14 CAN BE A SHEPHERD WHO DOES NOT LOOK FOR THE
LOST!
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault
between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast
gained thy brother. Matt 18:15
- But
if he will
not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more,
that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word
may be established. Matt 18:16
-
- And
if he
shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto
the
church:
but if he neglect to hear the church let him be unto
thee as an heathen man and a
publican. Matt 18:17
Paul defines the elder
who labors to exhaustion in preaching and teaching as the
one worthy of honor and food. The elder did not rule in a
command sense but led. The fact that he was not beyound
being questioned is proven by Paul's provisions:
- Against an elder
receive not an accusation, but before two or three
witnesses. 1 Tim 5:19
-
- Them that
sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. 1
Tim 5:20
|
You will notice that the "elder" as an officer with
rulership given directly by God is not in this loop. Why?
The elder is not
arbitrator or negotiator. Rather, as Nathan told David: "Thou art the
man." You are standing in the judgment block. You must give account
to the sheep. You cannot escape judgment by childishly crying out:
"You're another one." Or, if you sass God's anointed then you must
pledge that you will leave when I offend you.
"We have frequently used the
term 'officers' with reference to the servants of the church. We have frequently affirmed that in
the ordinary use of that term an 'officer' is unknown to the Christian scriptures...An officer in the
ordinary acceptation of the term is one who is appointed to do a work, which he could NOT do without that appointment and to
which, without the
official investiture, would be a
crime...
can an overseer
consecrated as as he may be...
do anything as such that
every Christian is not at liberty, and even is duty bound to do to
the best of his ability" (David Lipscomb, The Gospel Advocate, 1867, p. 567)
The claim of selection by
God.
The
Holy Spirit did not single you out and make you an elder and give you
supernatural power. In the deacon parallel one "full of the Holy
Ghost" is one "holding the mystery of the faith." That is, either an
elder or deacon has no authority beyond "teaching that which has been
taught." That which has not been taught by Christ or His Apostles is
not Spirit or Life (John 6:63):
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. Acts 20:28
"Therefore take
heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among
which the Holy
Spirit has made you
overseers, to shepherd (feed)
the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. Acts
20:28NKJV
One who has A holy
spirit is one who has the mental disposition of Christ.
Aside from God
as pure or Holy Spirit, A
Holy Spirit is having the Mind of Christ.
If you believe that a little
man (holy Spirit) came into the big man (me) in order to make me, a
carnal man, into your dictator is dilusional, dangerous and needs
treatment because he is scattering the flock. And indeed who else but
a sheep scatterer would dare to claim supernatural power and
authority?
The Holy Spirit is the Mind
of Christ (1 Cor 2).
For who hath
known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the
mind of Christ. 1 Co.2:16
The Holy Spirit is never a
THIRD person separated out from the Godhead. The Holy Spirit,
according to Paul, is to the Mind of God as our spirit is to our
mind. We have A holy spirit when we have the Mind of
Christ. Besides identifying God Himself, MENTAL DISPOSITION is the
meaning of Spirit in both Greek and Hebrew:
Pneuma (g4151)
pnyoo'-mah; from 4154;
a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by anal. or fig.
a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by impl.) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, doemon
Ruwach
(h7307) roo'-akh,
roo'-akh; from 7306; wind; by resemblance breath, i. e. a
sensible (or even violent exhalation; fig. life,
anger, unsubstantiality; by extens. a region of the sky; by
resemblance spirit,
but only of a rational
being including its expression and functions: - air, anger, blast, breath, * cool,
courage, mind, * quarter, * side, spirit ([-ual]), tempest, * vain,
([whirl-]) wind (-y).
An elder who oversees is
qualified because he already has the MENTAL DISPOSITION OF CHRIST. He
has A holy or set aside spirit according to Walter
Scott.
If your pals picked you and
informed the congregation of the new elders then they are usurping
the work and authority of elders because they have AN unholy spirit.
The shephers is first just a
sheep.
If the shepherd cannot take
heed to "yourselves" then "one of you" is a wolf. Majority rule on
doctrinal issues is not within the authority of one shepherd who is
also watching to see whether one of themselves is a wolf.
Made: The elders are "made" in the
"horizontal
posture." (g5087). This
imitates Jesus Christ:
No man taketh it
from me, but I lay it
down of myself. I have
power to lay it
down, and I have power
to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
Jn.10:18
Oversight means to OVERSEE
or SEE OVER.
A shepherd does not straw
boss: he stands on an elevated position so that he can look over the
flock. He can see the sick, hungry and the wolves sneaking in. He
SEES
OVER the flock.
The only FOOD is the Word of
God. He must feed the
sheep with the Spirit of Christ or His Word.
The elders of Israel starved
the people to captivity and death because the priests turned to
musical religious festivals (Amos 5, 6, 8; Isaiah 5)
|
ELDERS TAKE OVERSIGHT IN ORDER
TO FEED: NO ONE JUST TAKES THE OVERSIGHT WITHOUT
QUALIFICATIONS:
- For I have not
shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of
God. Acts
20:27
Counsel is volition,
purpose, will. They have the MIND of Christ or His
Spirit.
- 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. Acts 20:28
There are two words
used: one is "holy" and the other is "spirit." The senior
males are feeders now that Paul has taught them the counsel
of God.
They are qualified
because they have a HOLY:
- Hagios (g40) hag'-ee-os; from hagos , (an
awful
thing)
[comp. 53, 2282]; sacred (phys. pure, mor. blameless or
religious, cer. consecrated): - (most) holy (one, thing),
saint
-
- Hagnos (g53) hag-nos'; from the same as 40;
prop. clean, i.e. (fig.) innocent, modest, perfect: - chaste, clean, pure.
And the holy thing
is their own human Mind or Spirit:
- Pneuma (g4151) pnyoo'-mah; from 4154; a current
of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by anal. or fig.
a spirit,
i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by impl.) vital principle, mental
disposition, mind. Comp. 5590.
Or God
Himself.
- Paul the
apostle was not a MASTER but a slave, a deacon. He was
qualified by HIS OWN SPIRT and God's WORD:
-
- Giving no
offence (stumbling block) in any thing, that the
ministry
be not blamed: 2 Cor 6:3
-
- But in
all things approving our selves as the ministers
(DEACONS) of God, in much
patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in
distresses, 2 Cor 6:4
-
- In
stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in
labours, in watchings, in fastings; 2 Cor 6:5
-
- By
(our)
pureness, by (our) knowledge, by (our) longsuffering, by (our) kindness, by the (our) Holy SPIRIT, by
(our)
love
unfeigned, 2 Cor 6:6
-
- By the
(His)
word
of truth, by the (His) power of God, by the
(His) armour of righteousness on the
right hand and on the left, 2 Cor 6:7
-
- By
(our) honour and
(our) dishonour, by
(our) evil report and
good report: (REGARDED) as deceivers, and
yet
true; 2 Cor 6:8
-
- When elders
claim honor greater than Paul the hand-pick, Spirit
(Christ) instructed apostle then someone is trying to
deceive someone for some reason not Biblical
They have a holy
mental disposition to be "feeders" or teachers of the truth.
This is important because:
- For I know this, that after my departing
shall grievous wolves enter in among you,
not sparing
the flock.
Acts 20:29
The "shepherd" in the
Old Testament most often ate the sheep. That is, they lived
off the income of their sheep:
- Also of
your own
selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples
after them. Acts 20:30
-
- Therefore
watch, and remember, that by the space of
three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day
with tears. Acts 20:31
If one of the elders
begins to eat the lambs do we intend to say that he has been
SUPERNATURALLY ORDAINED by the Holy Spirit or God and can
make no mistakes?
What should you do
when you WATCH because you understand the Counsel of God and
have A holy spirit or mind? Do you just let the wolf eat up
the proceeds of the flock?
Of course not! But,
how can we know a wolf from a lamb or shepherd? When a
hireling begins to hire "staff" and more staff he has staff
infection. His co-hirelings want "an office and a crust of
bread" so that they don't have to be a shepherd who
FEEDS.
Paul
said:
I have
coveted no mans
silver, or
gold, or apparel. Acts 20:33
- Yea, ye yourselves
know, that these hands have
ministered
unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. Acts 20:34
Here is that "holy
spirit" or mind mental disposition without which you are not
qualified:
- I have shewed
you all things, how that so labouring ye
ought to
support (succor) the weak, and to remember the words of the
Lord Jesus,
how he said, It is more blessed to give than to
receive.
Acts 20:35
In the Dominant
Pastor, the pulpit as feeding place is turned over to the
musical and theatrical performers. They eat up the lambs or
chase them away.
PARALLEL MEANING
FOR THE DEACONS:
When the first
"deacons" were chosen they must be FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT and
WISDOM (Acts 6:3).
- Wherefore,
brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest
report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may
appoint over this business. Acts 6:3
Paul said that this
means that the deacons must be:
Holding
the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 1 Tim 3:9
This means much
more than "freedom from a guilty feeling." It means that all
obstacles to grasping the mysteries of the faith have been
cleared away:
- Suneidesis
(g4893) soon-i'-day-sis; from a prol. form of 4894; co-
perception, i.e. moral consciousness; - conscience.
|
Paul to the Hebrews Identifies the Ruler as the One
Who Teaches You: he is not identified with a God-ordained, with
eternal tenure with the "impossibility of apostasy."
When a deacon is "a deaking"
then he is authorized. However, there is not a "generic deacon" who
stands in line to be an elder. In the same way, the overseeing
teacher is selected by the
congregation to do that which they are not capable of. That "rulership" is clearly limited to
the teaching of those in need.
Apt to teach does not mean: "He is as apt to chase a
coon as apt to teach the Word as it has been taught."
Anyone who preaches is a preacher. Anyone who teaches the Word of God rules
in the sense of applying the commandments of God. Anyone who listens
and obeys is obedient. The wise elder might be taught by one not part
of the "pyramid of power." If he is taught by a "regular" member then
the regular member is exercising the oversight. We have no evidence that this applies to
any official "officer" of the church.
Let your
conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave
thee, nor forsake thee. Heb 13:5
So that we may boldly say,
The Lord is my
helper, and I will not
fear what man shall do unto me. Heb 13: 6
Remember
Who rules:
them which have the
rule over you,
How rules: who have spoken unto you the word of
God:
Why follow: whose faith
follow, considering the end of their conversation. Heb 13: 7
Remember is:
Mnemoneuo (g3421) mnay-mon-yoo'-o; from a der. of
3420; to exercise memory, i.e. recollect; by impl. to punish; also to
rehearse: - make mention, be mindful, remember.
Therefore watch,
and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to
warn every one night and day with tears. Ac.20:31
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard,
and hold
fast, and repent. If
therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and
thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Re.3:3
A person with A holy spirit or mental disposition of Christ is easy
to follow: he is out front doing the seeking and saving the lost. He
is faithful (not faithless) and his conduct makes us want to follow
him. Any such person has moral authority but never command
authority.
A "leader" is a "guide through
grizzly bear company." If the leader hires on a grizzly bear to be your "hiking leader" then you have absolutely no obligation
to follow the self-proclaimed leader.
If you grasp that he has no
intention of being your guide by HIS faith
and HIS conduct
then you should not follow him: you should BRING HIM UP ON CHARGES because he is not God chosen and is
"having the lambs for supper."
Many of the Nashville Wrecking
Crew believe that the writings of
the Bible have been
"filtered" through philosophy, their own agenda and time. However,
"there are seven facts about Jesus which remain undamaged by time."
However, this is to deny that Christ came with power the first time
and is the sin of anti-christ.
Why Remember?
Jesus Christ the
same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Heb 13: 8
Let us go forth
therefore unto
him without the camp, bearing his reproach. Heb 13: 13
THERE NEVER IS A MUSIC TERM
CONNECTED WITH THE WORSHIP OF GOD IN ANY DISPENSATION.
Music is frequently
identified as the cause or MARK that one will not listen to the words
of Christ.
However, the Levitical
Overseers (bosses or slave drivers not musicians) had a
legalistic
role to play
only under the king and commanders of the
army for the burning of animals sacrificed for sins. Their "worship"
meant "slave labor" or "bondage" consistent with the law "given
because of transgression."
All common people were "put out" of the
camp when the noise
and sacrifice began.
Therefore, a RULER worthy of
being OBEYED will lead
you out of Jerusalem (Babylon, Sodom Rev
11:8) because Christ
suffered outside
the camp or outside of
the city.
The Levitical "musicians" stood
in the court and made a great crashing noise during animal sacrifice.
They were commanded by the king and commanders of the army for
Canaan, Jerusalem, the temple and only for the sacrificial
system.
However, we are not come to the
sound of trumpets!
For here have we
no
continuing city, but we
seek one to come. Heb 13: 14
By him therefore
let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name. Heb 13: 15
Because music, sex and
perverted sex were "locked at the hip" in ancient
paganism, those who are
so arrogant and presumptious that they believe they must be the
mediator/mediatrix to lead you into God's presence would just as
logically presume to be your "love making leader" with your wife.
The worship of god is
always WE or US or ONE ANOTHER: you cannot do that and God will
never, never, never forgive you for trying.
Paul outlawed non-sedentary
women because any visible
or audible
authority is authentia:
sexual authority which is both erotic and murderous."
When the "US" is replaced or overpowered by effeminate singing which excites to "fleeing, fighting or
sex" proven by the swaying and handclapping (as a show of contempt for Christ and HIS word) then
we have abrogated that which Christ died to give to us. Christ refused
to sing and dance when the pipers piped.
Therefore, here is how
you obey ONLY
those who are
"gone into all the
world" with the gospel
in gathering the flock and "doctorinating" and equipping the flock:
But to do good and
to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased Heb 13: 16
Obey them
that have the
rule over
you,
and submit
yourselves:
for they watch
for your souls,
(oversee means see over)
as they that must give account,
that they may do it with
joy,
and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. Heb
13:17
Obey is:
Peitho
(g3982) pi'-tho; a
prim. verb; to convince (by argument, true or false); by anal. to pacify or conciliate (by other fair means); reflex. or pass. to assent (to evidence or
authority), to rely
(by inward
certainty): - agree,
assure, believe, have
confidence, be (wax)
confident, make friend, obey, persuade, trust,
yield.
Now when the
congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes
followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
Ac.13:43
Rule is:
Egeomai (g2233) hayg-eh'-om-ahee; mid. of a
(presumed) strengthened form of 71; to lead, i.e. command (with
official authority); fig. to deem,
i.e. consider: - account, (be) chief, count, esteem, governor, judge, have
the rule over, suppose, think.
LET as many
servants as are under the yoke
count their own masters
worthy of all
honour, that the name
of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. 1 Ti.6:1
However, in the elder sense it
most often means "count." Or "account." That is, the teaching elder has the same kind of
authority as the shepherd to make sure that not one goes
astray.
Let the elders that rule
well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour
in the word and doctrine. 1 Tim 5:17
Proistemi (h4291) pro-is'-tay-mee; from 4253 and 2476; to
stand
before, i.e. (in rank)
to preside, or (by impl.) to practise: - maintain, be over, rule.
g2476 means to
abide, continue, covenant, hold
up, stand by. 5087
means in a passive or upright and active position. Advise.
We noted above that Jesus spoke of ELDERS and
RULERS as different. However, the elders have no command authority as
did the archons. All old men are "elders" but some older, senior men
are natural leaders and are due more respect and support than just
old men who can also grow dumber and less mature with age. The ones
whom we respect are senior members who consider and account as a
father to a son or daughter. They do not become elders by being
APPOINTED: you have to grow old. They do not become pastor-teacher by
being selected and indeed most elders are not 'self-selected' because
of their teaching ability.
Notice that the LABOR or work to the point
of exhaustion in WORD and DOCTRINE
before they are COUNTED WORTHY OF HONOR.
Therefore, the elder's RULE here means to
stand before those needing teaching of
the Word. Their RULE in the first clause
is teaching the WORD and DOCTRINE in the second. No
one has a "program" of mind control or "navigating the winds of
change" which will substitute for the Word and Doctrine.
The elders are selected by the established church because
they have teaching
ability. That is, when they teach the
Word people will listen to them. When they defend Christian doctrine
they will listen, learn and imitate both his teaching and his
lifestyle. If the elder looks back and the people are grumbling or
not following then he is not a shepherd but a tyrant.
The elder gets no permanent power when those who
picked him to
lead refuse to follow him
and repudiate his teaching as unscriptural and ungodly.
If the elders do not teach (rule) by
teaching the WORD of God which is "spirit" then the elders are
sinning: they must be rebuked.
If they are substituting some Hitler-like cult principle
to bring all of the members into a binding COVENANT which at
Saddleback
has five concentric circles which you must jump through to get to be
"leadership material." Before that, Hitler would classify you as
HUMAN MATERIAL with no right to question
God's Anointed.
Paul to Titus:
Mature males must stand over
the flock as Shepherd capable of feeding and driving off the wolves.
When the shepherds turn this presiding over role to young women or
effeminate men they violate Paul's direct command. Silence includes
the idea of keeping one's seat or being sedentary:
An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to
the charge of being wild
and disobedient. Tit 1:6
Since an overseer
is entrusted with God's
work, he must be
blameless--not
overbearing, not
quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Tit 1:7
Obeying the
doctrine and practices
of Madison Church of Christ in Nashville is not God's work. And if he is
overbearing by insisting that YOU must get out if you disagree with OUR doctrine and practices then he is overbearing, quick-tempered,
drunk on ignorance or more and he is violent.
Dishonest
gain is making the
"synagogue" into a theater to suck in the seekers in order to pay off the building, and keep the pyramid of ministry
power on the dole
supported by widows and welfare recipients.
The elder must be the
giver!
Rather he must be hospitable, one who
loves what is
good, who is
self-controlled, upright, holy
and disciplined. Tit 1:8
He must
hold
firmly to the
trustworthy
message
............as it has been taught,
............
so that he can
encourage others by sound doctrine
............
and refute those who oppose
it. Tit.1:9
If an elder believes that the
elders can make
up the DOCTRINE and ESSENTIAL PRACTICES of HIS church then he lacks the fundamental teaching
of the first principles. Therefore, by definition he is
not
qualified to rule
others by teaching and
guiding. He must be
rebuked as Jesus demanded in Matthew.
Christ and His apostles
do not define the
doctrine and practices of Madison Church of Christ or any other institution. No
congregation has God-given authority to define its own teaching. If the elder deviates from the as
taught
message then he cannot
be an elder by God's will.
He can do anything he chooses
but when he makes up his own doctrine and practices he ceased to be a
Christian in the truest sense.
If an elder turns from synagogue (school) model to theater
(Saddleback) model then the elder sins. He is not competent to be an elder: he is not competent to be a
Christian.
THIS is a true
saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good
work. 1Ti.3:1
Literal
translation: "If any
stretches forward
to overseership, of a good work he is desirous." Albert Barnes
says:
"The Greek word
here is a single word. The word 'episcope'...occurs but four times in the NT. It is translated
'visitation' in Luke 19:44, and in 1 Pet. 2:12; 'bishoprick,' Acts 1:20; and in this place 'office of a bishop.'
The verb.. in Heb. 12:15 is rendered 'looking diligently,' and in 1 Pet. 5:2, 'taking the oversight'" (Notes on I Tim. III, p 141).
And shall lay thee even with
the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in
thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy
visitation. Luke 19:44
As an apostle Judas was
supposed to be a "visitor." That is, he went out and collected sheep
and set them in sheepfolds:
For it is written
in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man
dwell therein: and, His bishoprick let another take. Acts 1:20
Judas would lose his
"eldership" because he was a "musical agent of Satan." It was prophesied in Psalm 41 that he would lead
the triumphant attack upon Jesus to
mock him with music.
The Judas Bag was for
carrying the mouthpieces of wind instruments: it was always attached
to a flute case.
The Jews "piped" trying to
get Jesus to SING AND DANCE which would make Him their lusted after
Messiah really be Dionysus: the new wineskin god.
If the elder turns over that duty to
Sister Singers in violation of Paul's direct command then that elder
has sinned: rebuke him.
If the elder turns the congregational
"speaking" of the Word one to
another in singing and making melody in
the heart then that elder has sinned: rebuke him.
If the elders "sends across the sea" to find a
new method when Moses and Jesus taught the truth, then that elder has
sinned: rebuke him.
Paul gave Timothy a way to determine
whether an elder was
already "laboring to the point of
exhaustion in preaching and teaching" or was incompetent.
A competent elder-oxen is out "threshing" the corn. That
is, the fields are "white unto
harvest" and he is out working as an
evangelist. He cannot be a summertime
hero. In early church history one was
usually considered a Bishop or elder
if they were carrying out the
primary evangelistic
work. They had regional "authority" in
the sense that they taught a large
region.
I will bet that no Christian elder ever went
into private quarters to decide that their duties was to
rule over the Theatrical
Performers who had confiscated a
church.
There is no role for a
"located elder" to be God's designated ruler over buildings and
grounds. If he is not a competent
teacher he is in no way qualified to be an elder. Therefore, check
him out. Timothy was supernaturally equipped and was to set churches
in order according to Paul's commands. "Elder" women are also
"rulers" in the sense of teaching women. The senior males (not
corporate businessmen) ruled by teaching and was therefore due
support by the community.
He cannot meet the demands of "bishop" and be
business leader of political patron.
The Elders Must be Rebuked
when THEY sin:
Remember that the elders are
those chosen by the
flock and their "votes" are
that they want him to be their teacher with the mature judgment to
keep the wolves out rather than providing a "theatrical venue"
specificially to seek the wolves.
When he disqualifies himself by
aligning himself with the Judas Musical Triumph Over Team then he is
not following a HOLY spirit.
Remember that there are
"generic elders." All older people are elders and are due respect:
those who announce that "we are waiting for the old folks to die so
we can take over" has no respect for elders or for Christ.
However, there are "elders" who
have specific abilities. One who "rules well" is one who "labors in
Word and Doctrine."
Let the elders that rule
well be counted worthy of
double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 1
Tim 5:17
Rule, as we have
noted means to "stand before" (not over) to "practice." We noted
above that we OBEY only when the elder's TEACHING and CONDUCT are
worthy of being followed.
Labor is not attending meetings
and deciding to turn the church over to the effeminate. Rather, those
already laboring in preaching and teaching are out in the field
rounding up sheep.
When the flock is convinced
that he is such a laborer then they know that he has A holy spirit or
mental disposition.
Then, and only then, does he
qualify to be followed in his teachings and life.
Kopiao (g2872) kop-ee-ah'-o; from a der. of
2873; to feel
fatigue; by impl. to
work
hard: - (bestow)
labour, toil, be wearied.
I beseech (beg) you, brethren, (ye know the house of
Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they
have addicted themselves to the ministry (diakonia) of the saints,) 1 Cor 16:15
That ye
submit yourselves unto such,
and to every
one that
helpeth with
us, and laboureth (co-labor). 1 Co.16:16
Paul said "this is the SUCH
which you should follow." If an elder is not SUCH as has addicgted
themselves to preaching and teaching then Paul would never COMMAND
that we owe him loyalty as one with command authority.
If the first six men were
"deacons" then we understand that ministry is defined by the fact that two of them are not
called "official" deacons but evangelists. They were shepherds out collecting sheep and not
stealing sheepfolds.
Again, the "bishop" has an area
wide responsibility: it neither begins nor ends in the Elder's Board
Room.
He does not RULE OVER several
churches but he is a PRIMARY CO-LABORER working in behalf of all
believers. His interest is not in building a mega-church and forming
a venue for theatrical performance to such members out of area
congregations sheepfold. If he does this he is a thief and he must be
rebuked.
He is competent
only because he teaches only that which has been taught to Him from
the Word of God.
This is the way God SETS an
elder over a work. He has no command authority to Lord it over the
flock.
For the scripture
saith, Thou shalt not
muzzle the
ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. 1 Tim 5:18
As we owe obedience only to
those who already are LABORING in THE WORD and DOCTRINE, or in
finding "sheep" and indoctrinating "sheep," we do OWE honor or
OBEDIENCE to those who don't know the word, don't care about the word
and have no intention of going out in the community and gathering the
flock.
This co-laborer has no call on
the loyalty to those who are not loyal to the Word "as it has been
taught" and to doctrine or ongoing teaching.
To assume the authority over
"buildings and grounds" or whether Paul will be disobeyed and we will
import theatrical talent to do our "worshiping for us" is to be
presumptious even over Christ Who spoke only what He heard from the
Father.
But what if he is, as Paul
identified some in Corinth, "super apostles" who do not obey the
definition of one owed "honor" but who does not labor to exhaustion
in preaching and teaching and wants to permit the tongue speakers
(almost always women or strange men) to preside over the
flock?
Against an
elder receive not an accusation, but
before two or three
witnesses. 1 Tim 5:19
Them (elders) that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. 1 Tim 5:20
When hundreds of members rebuke
an elder the elder is totally out of step with the Bible and has lost
connection with the HEAD when he suggests that "YOU should go find
another sheepfold."
Because the supernaturally
equipped Timothy was to identify those who were laboring in WORD and
DOCTRINE, even so must he be very careful. For instance, "buddy
selection" is preferring one person over the other. James says that
this makes one guilty of violating the entire Law of Moses:
I charge thee
before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that
thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. 1 Tim 5:21
Lay hands
suddenly on no man,
neither be partaker of
other mens sins: keep
thyself pure. 1 Tim 5:22
If the self-selected elder uses
Scripture to get his "authority to rule" and refuses to teach the
Words of Christ "as it has been taught" then he is a hypocrite and
violently uses the Scriptures to beat people into subjection.
As with all CULT uses of
Scripture, the PROOF TEXT has a BEFORE TEXT and an AFTER TEXT. These
added proofs totally repudiate what the elders are attempting to
force over Madison as necessary for all CHARISMATIC Control to
exist.
We will see Next that the MARK 12 "proof
text" for tyrannically eradicating all who do
not LOVE in the sense of not daring to DIALOG as Christ endured, Paul
endured and Paul commanded even for those who CLAIM THAT THEY ARE
INSPIRED BY BEING ELDERS BY GOD'S DIRECT WILL.
Dan Dozier identifies how this worship PERFORMS at
Woodmont Hills Family of God. Apparently those navigating the winds of change claim
to be "selected and trained by the sovereign grace of God." The
natural result is that they are worshiped as "celestial beings" but
the audience cannot hear the message in the midst of the Charismata
of Personality.
And see how Jack Reese is facilitator at a
"christian" college.
Some of the ways to identify a cultic movement may be
found here.
See Dancing on the Rim
by Lynn Anderson
Kenneth Sublett: specific comments
welcomed.
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