Pastor Or Reverend???

[Pilgrim]

(07-10-2009 08:53 AM)heb13-13 Wrote:  [color=#483D8B][b]Never in the New Testament do we see the pastor as the "Key Man" upon whom rests the burden of speaking for the Body in a way that no other person can. Today, I have noticed that "leaders", more and more are prefixing their names with TITLES. Apostle, Bishop, Prophet, etc.

There is very little in the New Testament that would support the thesis that the church is to have a special class of Christians who rule over the church in place of the Head (Jesus).

Greetings.

I have seen numerous postings here with very well thought out responses...please be advised that this will not be one of them.
I have found myself rambling in the posting below, and straying off topic. Please excuse that, and feel free to delete what is not pertinent to the thread.

I can tell you how the title "pastor" was interpreted in a Oneness Pentecostal church I was a member of for quite awhile. He preached that he was the God ordaind leader of the flock, and that we were to follow him, as he followed God. I had even heard him say that he was the closest representation to God that we would see in our lifetime. (Am not joking)

The pastor also taught us that the office of pastor was the highest office of all, the Christian successor to a Jewish Rabbi. and, that any interpretation of the scripture other than his was incorrect.

Too often I have seen pastors and leaders not only treated special by other members, the reverence appeared to be both expected and required. When one pastor led a prayer, I remember the ushers barring the doors of the chapel to keep people from walking out. Seriously, they spread their legs and arms to keep anyone from moving in the chapel. I found that the church highly revered their pastor, his word was the same weight as Gods.

One of my observations over the years is that those who were very much into the personality cults of large or even small churches, those pastors/leaders were often highly respected by the congregation, but often this admiration turned into a dark side, where the pastor or teacher actually began to believe they were raised in stature than mere christians (lower case for emphasis). In essence, they became a god in their own eyes (my interpretation) when they became lords over the people seeking to serve God.

Seeing the entourage of a leader of a large charismatic church in Colorado entering into a place of worship was disheartening, not the honoring part by the congregation, but the expectation that it was his right and our requirement. I have seen a congregation of which I was a member to suffer while putting together offerings to the pastor for appreciation, and the pastor live in a residence that he did not pay for, but was given to him outright, that was worth 10 times the average church member's home or condition. And they thought it was a good thing.

Very seldom have I seen the reciprocal of that....a pastor or man leading a congregation in humility, someone who is not trying to turn Christianity into a money machine for their own support. When I do, my heart is humbled, and I see a glimpse of true Christianity.

My opinion is that many of today's pastors may have had good intentions at one point, but many are there as a career path. Have you heard a pastor indicate they were led to a particular church to serve, and then later, as another opportunity opens up, they suddenly hear a different calling? I have.

Whatever happened to following the leading of the Spirit? I led a group for one year only. The burden was there for one year, not for a lifetime career. I profited not at all, in fact I supported the group.

Over the years I have heard of many prophets, apostles, bishops, leaders, Christian Rabbis, etc. In established denominations, these come as a result of scholary achievement. In more charismatic denominations, this often comes by virtue of heredity, as much as education. I have seen a number of pastors pass their churches to their eldest son, as their right to lead the flock, and to partake of the reaping of the tithes and offerings.

For the record, I am not bitter, or trying to vent here. I learned much from many leaders of the church movement I was in, and for that foundation I am thankful. Yet, when I hear of someone referring to themselves as pastor, apostle, messenger from God, evangelist, etc., I immediately am wary. Not of the title, but how that person interprets their status with God.

Administrators, if I am totally off base here, my apologies.