Subject: Elders not a pastor should lead church |
Bible Note: Thanks Doc, I will try to research if those type of congregations exist in my immediate community. I will also look into Dr. Devers "Nine Marks of a Healthy Church". As for Eutychus...most of us would fall asleep if someone was as "longwinded" as Luke described Paul. Luke said Paul spoke til midnight. You said, "Don't you think some of what you see today was passed down from the infant church?" That's my very point of concern...Paul said the time was going to come when the church would not endure sound doctrine...they would turn their ears from the truth...have itching ears, and accumulate "pastors" after their own desires. As for Martin Luther, I'm just grateful to him for the Protestant Reformation that opened the church's eyes to salvation by grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ. If it weren't for him we might still be paying and working for our salvation. Again, Br. Doc, you are saying of your own congregation, that you have a "pastor" not based on scripture, but man's thoughts and traditions. The carnal mind is enmity against God. Why can't we base church polity on the Word. Why put it on the back burner? You also said "Christianity has many transcultural mandates and principles." So, does that mean the Bible takes a backseat to our culture, or should the Bible shape our culture? We are told not to love the things of this world. As I get older, I don't want to be disobedient to God's Word. I also do not want to support or condone heresy. A few ministers have told me don't expect change...and that there are no perfect assemblies. Grieved in my soul, Bereaniam. |