Denominationalism

[rancherforChrist]

(11-21-2009 03:41 PM)Strefanash Wrote:  I did not think you were saying that it was heirarchy v anarchy, i was saying that to turn the offices of the church into heirarchy is to abuse them, to lord it over one another as the unbelievers do.

I was not clear whether you said PAul insituted heirarchy or not, but IMO he did not do so.

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you may consider what kind of hot or cold? I was very hot, but it was not godly, it was carnal fanaticism, zeal without love and certainly zeal without rest.

so i am not hot for God, and making legalism on this verse ("it is not an option") will not address the issue. If I am luke warm i will be lead to repent. Or I will perish. striving to make myself hot will make me a bigot and a fanatic for it will be flesh

an of course there is a abuse of order as opposed to the godly institution of order. look at the creation, all is order to a dazzling degree.

i cannot say that an apostle outranks a person who waits at table, but the godly order is there - if you reject it because of abuse this is irrational and will have you swing from one error to the oposite erro.

do you distinguish order from herarchic abuse of it? do you distinguish or even admit to the possibility of a distinction between heiarchy as instituted by God and heirarchy as abused by men?

Hi Strefanash,

Your response seems to indicate that you thought my last post was directed at you. It was not, nor was my sharing about luke warm water directed at you. None of that was directed at anyone in particular.

In response to the rest of what you said. I believe that God's divine order within the body of Christ is not achieved through hierarchy or position. God's divine order is achieved through submission to Christ as our head, and through submission to one another. Submission to Christ and submission to one another, promotes unity, equality and edification within the body. Surely people weren't healed because of the title of apostle. I thought the prayer offered in faith would heal them and their sins would be forgiven. It doesn't say that the prayer of an apostle would heal them. Isn't it just possible that apostle is a word used to describe God's calling on someone's life, rather than a title to be tossed around as though they have some authority over others. Does authority or maturity come through a title such as apostle, or does it come through faith. I know many called apostles who lack much in maturity and faith. Isn't it also possible that this is not supposed to be about position, but rather, about submission. Position promotes self. Submission promotes Jesus.

Love ya,
Chris