Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: pastorbillrandles; daniel1212; FatherofFive
One needs to be very careful in assuming God has “ordained” a particular person through our actions. Just because a group of “believers” get together and “ordain” a minister, elder or deacon, does not mean that person is sent by God or that God gave us some "authority" and power to send a person out. Rather it is no different that Jethro instruction to Moses to appoint judges to assist him so he wouldn't "wear himself out" (Ex 18). It is for OUR benefit.

You are correct to say that it is believers responsibility to appoint elders and deacons. But the reason we do so is just like Moses; we can't do everything. The leaders of the Church realized that they could not take their valuable time "to wait on tables". Like Jethro's advice to Moses to appoint qualified men, the New Testament scriptures also lays down qualifications for those posts. We measure men and women against the scripture and appoint them accordingly. We ASSUME the men we appoint have been ordained from God based upon their past actions. If a person fails to live up to those qualifications, then they should be removed. But it is a big mistake to think that we have been granted some sort of mystical power to ordain people on earth. This is a very wrong Catholic notion.

God has not relinquish His sovereign control over us or "delegated His authority" for which we should be thankful for. He knows what is in our hearts.

156 posted on 05/26/2018 5:33:52 PM PDT by HarleyD ("There are very few shades of grey."-Dr. Eckleburg)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]


To: HarleyD

True Harley, Ordination is only recognition of what God has been doing in a person’s life. Far be it from me to have communicated anything more than that. The reason for the qualifications in scripture are that the church might jude ministers and either accept or reject them.


157 posted on 05/26/2018 5:57:53 PM PDT by pastorbillrandles (ore and rebuild Jerusale)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 156 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson