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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Unanswered Bible Questions Author: Bereaniam Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Should a member rebuke an elder? | 1 Chr 16:22 | Bereaniam | 179874 | ||
Greetings My Brothers and Sisters, Some of you are familiar with my "thoughts and feelings" about the Church where I assemble(d). I wrote a letter some time ago to the "pastor" and the elders to let them know that my study of the Bible showed that our Church's government-orthodoxy- orthopraxy didn't seem to line up with the early Church that Paul and the disciples set up, Acts 20:28, 1Pet 5:1-4. I also questioned why 60 percent of the paid staff was the pastor's biological family or in-laws. I questioned the fact that the pastor says we are family and should take ownership...but will not allow members to see any financial records. We are a multicultural congregation...the pastor is white...there are no paid minorities on staff. One member of the pastor's family is (was) gay...he had an affair with a well known male musician. This was known throughout the congregation. The gay relative moved away. He is now back leading the choir. There are many other things that I questioned. Just to give you an update...I was pulled out of a prayer meeting by an associate pastor (a relative of the pastor) and an elder. They told me that if I felt like that, I should leave. They even said I should not attend the prayer meetings. I asked for a meeting with the pastor; I have two witnesses; he has not responded in over a month. I have been a faithful member there for 14 years...worked in almost every department. I asked the pastor and the elders in my letter to prayerfully investigate the matter and let me know if my views are skewed and slanted. Every point I made was documented with scripture. My question for you...is it wrong to confront elders, who are the overseers, and the pastor? Should a pastor's response to me be silence (I heard he told the elders not to speak to me)? Of course, I am currently looking for a place to gather with other Believers. Pray for me. Bereaniam |
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2 | Rev 2 angels: pastors or messengers? | Rev 2:1 | Bereaniam | 179750 | ||
Are the angels of the seven churches in Rev.2 pastors, or are they just symbolic messengers? | ||||||
3 | Elders who cower to pastors | Bible general Archive 3 | Bereaniam | 178812 | ||
Greetings Brothers and Sisters, For those of you who are familiar with me, you know I have been having problems with the government of the Church where I fellowship. Herewith is a brief synopsis of what I have already alluded to in this forum. I have been part of this "nondenominational" Church for 13 years. I have no agenda...I have worked in almost every department...had many leadership positions,etc. I do find fault with the elders who cower to the pastor who "lords" over all of us. He is the founder of the Church. He constantly says, "The buck stops with me". He had a "doctorate" conferred on him, and now has become a "bishop". Twelve of the seventeen salaried positions are his relatives (nepotism-partiality, respect of persons...which James 2:9 says is Sin). He tells us to take ownership whenever he refers to cleaning the bathrooms or other laborious task. When I asked to seek the financial records, I was denied. He and his family own a ranch with show horses, cattle, fancy cars, etc. They are in the process of building an estate. The pastor is White...the congregation is predominantly Black. All of the White associate pastors, youth pastors, Children's Director, etc. get paid. There are no Black salaried personnel. Recently, I wrote a letter to the elders informing them of their elderly duties...documented with scriptures. I have not attended a Sunday or Wednesday night service for three months (though prior to that, I never missed a Sunday/Wednesday/Saturday night Prayer Service). I did continue to go to the Saturday night Prayer Service. We only have about 300 people in our congregation , yet no one inquired about my husband and my absence for 6 weeks. My letter to the elders asked them to prayerly investigate the nepotism, their scriptural duties, the fact that a "male" member of the pastor's family had an adulterous relation with a man..his wife divorced him..he left town, but is now back leading praise and worship,and on the payroll! Another young lady who led praise and worship had a baby out-of-wedlock continued this task...then had another baby out-of-wedlock, and was allowed to continue her roll as song leader. The elders did nothing about this. At the last Saturday night Prayer Service I attended, I was pulled out by an associate pastor (one of the pastor's relatives who is salaried) and a Black elder. They told me if I did not like the way things were run, I should leave. I asked if they had studied the scriptures I submitted in my letter...the elder said "No". The associate pastor said, "We are not changing anything". I am now told that the elders have been informed that if they see the letter...and have a question about it...they should call the pastor. My letter let them know that I could be wrong, my views could be slanted, skewed, etc., but tell me scripturally where I am wrong. Using Matt 18:15, Jesus said if you have a fault with your brother, go to him. I did this, via a 9 paged letter since there are 22 elders (counting their wives). This scripture says if your brother hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear you, take two or three witnesses...I did that also. Then the Bible says if he neglects to hear them, tell it to the church. My question to this forum is what would you do in my situation? We do have three pastors from other Churches that act as a covering for us. Should I ask them to intervene? Should I tell the Church? Should I just leave and find another Church? I hate to leave my "family" that I have fellowshipped with for the past 13 years. I feel grieved that I am leaving them without informing them of this wolf in sheep's clothing to be exploited and psychologically enslaved. Thanks for allowing me to bounce this off of you. Proverbs says in the multitude of counsellors purposes are established and there is safety. In Him and He in me, Bereaniam |
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4 | Are pastors angels? | Rev 2:1 | Bereaniam | 178312 | ||
Greetings My Brothers and Sisters, Some of you may know that I believe the governmental structure and of the Church should be egalitarian leadership. I believe the elders should have the rule(lead, example) for the Church, not a pastor. I have said that the word pastor(s) only appears once in the NT.Eph 4:11 Recently, someone said that the word angel that appears in Rev 2:1,8,12, 3:1,7,14 etc. refers to pastors. I agree that the Greek meaning of angel in those verses could mean pastor, messenger, etc., but does that prove that there should be a hierarchy in God's Church? Bereaniam |
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5 | Should fornicators be leaders in church | Ps 111:1 | Bereaniam | 177846 | ||
A young lady who can sing like a lark, was our lead praise singer. She was already a husbandless single mother. She became pregnant again, but the pastors/elders allowed her to continue leading the praise service. The pastor's wife has a cousin who was divorced after having an affair with a man. He has remarried another woman, and he is now the lead praise singer. How should a Church, particularly the elders and/or the pastor handle this? Should 1 Cor5:1-7 be applied? His, Bereaniam |
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6 | Should fornicators be leaders in church | Eph 5:3 | Bereaniam | 177848 | ||
A young lady who can sing like a lark, was our lead praise singer. She was already a husbandless single mother. She became pregnant again, but the pastors/elders allowed her to continue leading the praise service. The pastor's wife has a cousin who was divorced after having an affair with a man. He has remarried another woman, and he is now the lead praise singer. How should a Church, particularly the elders and/or the pastor handle this? Should 1 Cor5:1-7 be applied? His, Bereaniam |
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7 | Is it disrespectful to not use a title | Bible general Archive 3 | Bereaniam | 177733 | ||
Greetings Brothers and Sisters, Is it disrespectful to call "men of the cloth" by their name without their "title? None of the names in the Bible have titles...it reads : Jeremiah, the prophet; Paul, the apostle; Philip, the evangelist, etc. When we see "Lord Jesus Christ", is "Lord" used as a title? Jesus was an apostle and a prophet, none of the writers who were inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote Apostle Jesus or Prophet Jesus. Thanks for a reply, Bereaniam |
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8 | Elders not a pastor should lead church | Bible general Archive 3 | Bereaniam | 176313 | ||
Can someone give me a scripture from the bible that shows where one person (a pastor) is to oversee, feed, or lead a congregation? Every where that I read about the "government" of the early church in the bible,it was overseen,lead, and fed by elders (plural). I'm sure you bible scholars already know that the word "pastors" only appears one time in the NT. Many people (even pastors) say that's the way it is today, we can't change it. This says to me that what's in the bible doesn't matter. They certainly can't say they were led by the Holy Spirit to set up this "pyramid" type government. What should be the final authority in our lives...the bible, tradition, customs, just what ever we think? Why are we wholesale supporting something that is contrary to how the bible says the churches were organized. Read Acts 20:16,17,28; 1Pet.5:1-3; James 5:14, etc. While I'm on the subject, remember that the following words are synonyms (mean the same) pastor, bishop, elder, presbytery. These are not titles, but functions...it's what you do. My soul is grieved at the abuses I observe among the universal church. We have to stop saying we are going to "church" ...we need to "be the church". Bereaniam |
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9 | One Pastor and one assembly? | Acts 2:42 | Bereaniam | 175057 | ||
So Hank, is your answer to my question yes or no? Is there a scripture that says we must have one pastor and attend one local assembly? Bereaniam |
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10 | Do we have to have only one pastor, one | Acts 2:42 | Bereaniam | 174921 | ||
I know the bible says not to forsake the assembling of ourselves (Heb 10:25) and that pastors, et al, have been given to equip and edify the church (Eph. 4:11). I also know that the early church went from house to house. What scripture says we must sit under one pastor and with one particular group of believers? Bereaniam |
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11 | Preachers with titles wrong? | NT general Archive 1 | Bereaniam | 174014 | ||
My pastor just became an "ordained bishop". It was a "Big" occasion. I was told (since I chose not to attend)that several ministers came and poured oil, laid hands on him,and "prophesied" over him. He was given a royal blue fringed banner to wear around his neck. Embroidered on it are the words bishop and his name. He wears or has it with him when he preaches. We have "elders" in our church and I believe they serve the same function as a bishop. When I have mentioned this, some people take offense that I would equate a bishop with an elder. I also believe that words like bishop, prophet, apostle, evangelist, pastor, etc. are functions, not titles. They are what people do. The bible never mentions these functions in front of a name, e.g. it was Paul, the apostle; Jeremiah, the prophet; Philip, the evangelist. My heart is grieved at so many of the so-called preachers today who want these titles in front of their names. My pastor has become very "successful" during the past 10 -13 years that he has been my pastor. I do see a tremendous change in him. He also teaches that one can lose his/her salvation, and that one is cursed with a curse if one does not tithe. I do not believe either of the latter. I am seriously considering attending another congregation...but I realize that I will never agree with everything someone teaches. What would you do? Bereaniam |
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12 | Can know Jesus then lose salvation? | Matt 13:20 | Bereaniam | 173776 | ||
I have always believed "once saved always saved...osas" and that Christians can "backslide" and not receive the rewards they could have if they kept walking in the Word, but still go to Heaven. Anyone who "claims" to have been a Christian and then renounces Christ...I believe only gave mental assent and were never truly born again. But, will someone please explain 2Peter 2:20,21. "If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they of worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them." NIV Thanks in advance for your response. Bereaniam |
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13 | Who will judge Gentile Christians? | Rom 2:29 | Bereaniam | 173725 | ||
I know the twelve disciples will sit on twelve thrones and judge Israel...who will judge Gentile Christians? Bereaniam |
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14 | Lukewarm Christians go to hell? | Rev 3:16 | Bereaniam | 173670 | ||
Can the following scripture mean that one can lose his/her salvation? Rev 3:16 "...because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spew you out of My mouth." Thanks in advance for a speedy reply. Bereaniam |
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15 | Can name be blotted out of Lamb's book? | Bible general Archive 3 | Bereaniam | 173501 | ||
Can a Christian's name be "blotted" from the Lamb's book of life? Bereaniam |
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16 | Devil will be saved/reconciled to God | 1 Cor 15:22 | Bereaniam | 173177 | ||
Help! I recently was involved in an informal conversation with some brothers and sisters and someone related this interpretation of Colossians 1:16-21 to us. He said that by Jesus ALL things were created, even the devil...I agreed with that. But he said verses 20 and 21 states that "through the blood of the cross" God will reconcile ALL things to Himself, even those who "were sometime alienated and enemies...yet now hath He reconciled." In other words he was saying, in the end, God is going to "reconcile or save" ALL, even the devil. He went on to say that if God expects us to forgive our enemies, He will forgive the devil who has been His enemy. Also, that this will be God's finest hour to show His "unconditional love" for everyone. He said "EVERY knee has to bow and EVERY tongue has to confess that Jesus is Lord..." and that's all it takes to become a Christian...those who call upon the Lord shall be saved.Rom 10:13. Brought up in the discussion was the parable of the man who hired laborers throughout the day, and everyone received the same wages...even those who were hired at the last hour. But when the subject of hell was brought up, this man said he would discuss this with us another time. Please help me to understand these scriptures he related to us. Thanks, Bereaniam |
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17 | Pastor preaches about men body parts! | Luke 22:26 | Bereaniam | 172642 | ||
Is my pastor wrong to teach on a Sunday morning in front of men, women, and teenagers about what a real man is? He mentioned that Hollywood and renown painters show men and Jesus as soft and effeminate. He intimated that he's a real man because he hunts, skiies,deals with his horses, cattle, and "passes gas". He said real men do not help w/dishes, change diapers, cuddle all the time, or go shopping w/the wife. He counselled some woman if that's what she wanted in a husband...she should marry a woman. Such men, he said, are wimps. He also told all the men in the church to say "We have tes------" (a man's body part). I almost came unglued! My husband does not like hunting deer, fishing, etc., but he does like to cook. So he was squirming during the sermon. My pastor is white, (I'm Black)we have "one church...two locations". The "church" I attend is predominantly Black. I felt the pastor was being myopic and insensitive to the Black congregation, as many cannot afford to hunt at deer leases, go skiig, deal with horses, cattle, etc. My pastor does not like for anyone to critique him...do you think I should speak to him to at least help him understand how he may have offended some of the men? Or, do I just continue to pray that God speak to him about what he should preach. He tells us that he does pray and feel "led" that this is going to be a 6 week series. I just hope it is not as graphic. Bereaniam |
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18 | Is salvation an ongoing event | 1 Cor 1:23 | Bereaniam | 172180 | ||
What does Paul mean when he says in 1Cor 1:18 ...for the work of the cross is folly to those pershing, but to us "who are being saved" it is the power of God. Is salvation a one-time event or an ongoing process? Bereaniam |
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19 | Is salvation an ongoing event | Eph 1:4 | Bereaniam | 172178 | ||
What does Paul mean when he says in 1Cor 1:18 ...for the work of the cross is folly to those pershing, but to us "who are being saved" it is the power of God. Is salvation a one-time event or an ongoing process? Bereaniam |
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20 | Melchisedec restored tithing | Rom 4:3 | Bereaniam | 171842 | ||
A well-respected preacher said that Melchisedec restored tithing under a new government. Isn't this ridiculous and unscriptural? Bereaniam |
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