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To: OneWingedShark

Are you arguing that every Christian is the proper authority of the Church? Which then appoint bishops and evangelists? You need authority and without it you cannot have a Church of Jesus Christ.


256 posted on 12/22/2014 5:09:24 PM PST by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: 1010RD
Are you arguing that every Christian is the proper authority of the Church?

I'm saying that whatever is not prohibited is permitted, insofar as church organization goes.
As stated earlier, the qualifications for [most] positions of leadership are really pretty open.

Which then appoint bishops and evangelists? You need authority and without it you cannot have a Church of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the head of the church, He is the authority.
As for everyone else in His church, to have authority is to serve:

(Matthew 20:20-28) -- Also Mark 10:35-45 and Luke 22:24-30.
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

(1 Peter 5:1-3)
Tending the Flock of God
Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it—not for sordid gain but eagerly. 3 Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock.


260 posted on 12/22/2014 5:30:22 PM PST by OneWingedShark (Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)
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