The Pastoral Office of the Modern Church is not Biblical
The
head pastor is a fundamental figure within the "church" who is met with
praise, accolades, and reliance upon to dispel the Word of God to the
masses. He is most often on the top of the hierarchical ladder, or
status as the main focal figure to render out theological
interpretations within the "church" institution. He/she is often trained
and graduated as a professional from a seminary who has met the
criteria, or qualifications to maintain their position.
What would happen if the office of the head pastor was removed from the "church" altogether?
Could the "church" still function, or would it completely dissolve without a prominent figure to man the helm?
What may come as a surprise is that the pastoral function among the Early Ekklesia looks quite different to the the office of the head pastor in the modern "churches" today. The facts of history and Scriptural context will serve as evidence that this is the truth. Before you read any further, it is important to leave your personal feelings at the door because many will have friends and family who fill the head pastoral office somewhere. This is not meant as an attack on them as individuals, but a critical examination the office of the head pastor.
What would happen if the office of the head pastor was removed from the "church" altogether?
Could the "church" still function, or would it completely dissolve without a prominent figure to man the helm?
What may come as a surprise is that the pastoral function among the Early Ekklesia looks quite different to the the office of the head pastor in the modern "churches" today. The facts of history and Scriptural context will serve as evidence that this is the truth. Before you read any further, it is important to leave your personal feelings at the door because many will have friends and family who fill the head pastoral office somewhere. This is not meant as an attack on them as individuals, but a critical examination the office of the head pastor.
"Specially ordained and qualified"
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers – Ephesians 4:11
From the only singular verse that appears in the New Testament, there are some important things to consider.
The word pastor is used in plural form. This means that there is no Scriptural evidence that there was a singular senior head pastoral practice among the Early Ekklesia. Pastor is the Latin word for shepherd, and the Greek word for pastors is rendered as poimenas, which also means shepherds. This would mean that a pastor is not a professional title, but a metaphor for one of the many functions of the church. A shepherd is a person who cares for and nurtures the people of God, but not within the context of a professional hierarchical title. Upon closer inspection of Ephesians 4:11, it appears that man has added to and distorted the true definition, description, and function of a pastor, which has created the office of the head pastor in the institutionalized "churches" today.
The man-made idea of a prominent head pastor comes from a desire of people to have someone revered to bring them to God who is specially trained and is to stand out from others within the "church."
But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp. And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them! - Numbers 11:26-29
These verses here give an example of Moses opposing hierarchical or "special" positions that would suppress all of God’s people from using their giftings to the specially qualified.
I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. – 3 John 9-10
But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. – Revelation 2:6
These are the words of Jesus Christ who was opposed to Nicolaitans, which in Greek means “conquering the people.” He was opposed to making distinct hierarchical classes of people among the ekklesia who are considered prominent by lording themselves over others.
The
definition of the pastoral office in our western society is not a
Biblical concept, but a man-made one that is a distortion of a gifting.
The Early Ekklesia were led solely by the headship of Jesus Christ where
His body was recognized by men who were of all equal standing. People
were recognized by their spiritual maturity, not by their hierarchical
elitism. The apostles did not reside as permanent fixtures, but were
temporal as “church planters” who moved where God called them to oversee
for a time.
The deviation from the biblical pastoral office can be traced to Ignatius of Antioch (AD 35-107) and the role of the bishop. The bishop was given complete authority and required absolute obedience in the "church" system. In the third century, Cyprian of Carthage made more distinct classifications of Christians with the terms clergy and laity. He was a pagan orator who became a “Christian” who did not abandon the pagan traditions, but incorporated them. The position of bishop eventually evolved to the head of the church and the delegated responsibilities went to the presbyter.The presbyter evolved into the Catholic priest as the hierarchical structure of the "church" broadened. By the fourth century, deacons took a role under the presbyters, and under them were the laymen. By the time of the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century, the Catholic Church practices were questioned; the bishop’s office and the priesthood was reduced to the presbyter. What the Protestants did not do was question the status classifications between clergy and laity, but kept them with their own classification system. There are those who are “special”,“called”, and who must be “ordained” into a “ministry.” In fact there is really no distinction between the duties of the Catholic priest and a Protestant pastor except for slightly reformed office.
The deviation from the biblical pastoral office can be traced to Ignatius of Antioch (AD 35-107) and the role of the bishop. The bishop was given complete authority and required absolute obedience in the "church" system. In the third century, Cyprian of Carthage made more distinct classifications of Christians with the terms clergy and laity. He was a pagan orator who became a “Christian” who did not abandon the pagan traditions, but incorporated them. The position of bishop eventually evolved to the head of the church and the delegated responsibilities went to the presbyter.The presbyter evolved into the Catholic priest as the hierarchical structure of the "church" broadened. By the fourth century, deacons took a role under the presbyters, and under them were the laymen. By the time of the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century, the Catholic Church practices were questioned; the bishop’s office and the priesthood was reduced to the presbyter. What the Protestants did not do was question the status classifications between clergy and laity, but kept them with their own classification system. There are those who are “special”,“called”, and who must be “ordained” into a “ministry.” In fact there is really no distinction between the duties of the Catholic priest and a Protestant pastor except for slightly reformed office.
Higher calling, higher class.
Ordination rite.
Us and them.
The
Early Ekklesia were a participatory body, but the "church" sysyem
requires a ruling single pastor (sola pastora). Likewise, the bishop was
raised to a status where all power and authority from him was absolute.
Ignatius said, “He that honors the bishop is honored of God.”
Fallen man always has the urge for someone to mediate between them and God. We can see this in Exodus when the Israelites wanted Moses to be their mediator for everything. Today, we can see that the pastor takes on a similar role, and conducts everything from baptism, marriages, sermons, and controlling influence over other activities within the institutional "church."
The hierarchical system infiltrated the "church" as a result of the influential Greco-Roman culture. The "church" had become an institution with “official” people doing ministry. The true Scriptural ekklesia, which was led by the Holy Spirit was functional and shared by all believers, but soon became a thing of the past. Pagan organizational patterns have infiltrated and became the backbone of what is the modern institutional "church."
A true follower of Jesus Christ should understand that what a person does in everyday life is sanctified by God, there is no need for a higher calling into the “ministry” versus a worldly vocation. The dichotomy between what is “sacred” and what is “worldly” is a pagan conception. There are no grounds for ordained spiritual elitism because every believer has the discernment from God to recognize those who have particular giftings that God has given them. Among the Early Ekklesia, the term “ordain” did not mean to be put into an official title, but rather an affirmation of the gifting and character of an individual that is recognized. It was a blessing pertaining to the function, not a rite. Ordination into office stems from pagan rites by empowering an individual through divine streams to become venerable, honorable, and separated. It is the syncretism of Old Testament priesthood with Greek hierarchy. In contrast, each person who was part of the Early Ekklesia did not set themselves higher than one another, but in humility served each another.
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. – 1 Peter 5:2-3
Fallen man always has the urge for someone to mediate between them and God. We can see this in Exodus when the Israelites wanted Moses to be their mediator for everything. Today, we can see that the pastor takes on a similar role, and conducts everything from baptism, marriages, sermons, and controlling influence over other activities within the institutional "church."
The hierarchical system infiltrated the "church" as a result of the influential Greco-Roman culture. The "church" had become an institution with “official” people doing ministry. The true Scriptural ekklesia, which was led by the Holy Spirit was functional and shared by all believers, but soon became a thing of the past. Pagan organizational patterns have infiltrated and became the backbone of what is the modern institutional "church."
A true follower of Jesus Christ should understand that what a person does in everyday life is sanctified by God, there is no need for a higher calling into the “ministry” versus a worldly vocation. The dichotomy between what is “sacred” and what is “worldly” is a pagan conception. There are no grounds for ordained spiritual elitism because every believer has the discernment from God to recognize those who have particular giftings that God has given them. Among the Early Ekklesia, the term “ordain” did not mean to be put into an official title, but rather an affirmation of the gifting and character of an individual that is recognized. It was a blessing pertaining to the function, not a rite. Ordination into office stems from pagan rites by empowering an individual through divine streams to become venerable, honorable, and separated. It is the syncretism of Old Testament priesthood with Greek hierarchy. In contrast, each person who was part of the Early Ekklesia did not set themselves higher than one another, but in humility served each another.
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. – 1 Peter 5:2-3
"Sheeple"
You
will find nowhere in the New Testament where preaching, baptizing,
marriage, etc... was limited to those with "special" powers and
authority. We all have immediate access to God; the true ekklesia are a
collective of believers that share the Word of God with one another, not
via a singular paid mediator to a passive audience. According to John
Calvin, “The pastoral office is necessary to preserve the church on
earth in a greater way than the sun, food, and drink are necessary to
nourish and sustain the present life.” It is clear today that most
"church" institutions have taken John Calvin’s model of church, but is
in no way, shape, or form the model of the Early Ekklesia, which
apostles had planted.
Both the Catholic and Protestant practices of "church" are built on the same human ideologies and traditions. The modern pastoral office has become an obstacle to the true functioning of the ekklesia. True functioning believers of Jesus Christ are not meant to be simply ears to hear the "very words of God" that are spewed from the pulpit every Sunday morning.
The Greek word for minister is diakonos, which means servant. It has become incorrectly synonymous with a pastor who is in a professionalized salaried position.
What has the office of the head pastor of the modern "church" done to followers of Jesus Christ that can be see in the modern "churches" today?
What really stands out is the division of Christians into separate classes where the special, or more privileged can only serve Jesus Christ in certain ways. The man-made system suffocates the rest of the people into becoming complacent to a one-man-ministry that reaches to mute audience. In contrast, the Early Ekklesia encouraged every member of the body of Christ to function with a right and privilege in the church assembly.
Are you sick and tired of being a spectator who feels coerced and obligated to sing, raise your hands, take notes, and throw money in the throats of the offering plate (1 Peter 2).
Unfortunately, the office of the head pastor in the modern "church" has circumvented the very headship of Jesus Christ because it has taken the centrality and the functional headship away from other believers. When Jesus Christ is truly the headship, it manifests as freedom and openness with everyone contributing, and all body parts functioning as they should.
Both the Catholic and Protestant practices of "church" are built on the same human ideologies and traditions. The modern pastoral office has become an obstacle to the true functioning of the ekklesia. True functioning believers of Jesus Christ are not meant to be simply ears to hear the "very words of God" that are spewed from the pulpit every Sunday morning.
The Greek word for minister is diakonos, which means servant. It has become incorrectly synonymous with a pastor who is in a professionalized salaried position.
What has the office of the head pastor of the modern "church" done to followers of Jesus Christ that can be see in the modern "churches" today?
What really stands out is the division of Christians into separate classes where the special, or more privileged can only serve Jesus Christ in certain ways. The man-made system suffocates the rest of the people into becoming complacent to a one-man-ministry that reaches to mute audience. In contrast, the Early Ekklesia encouraged every member of the body of Christ to function with a right and privilege in the church assembly.
Are you sick and tired of being a spectator who feels coerced and obligated to sing, raise your hands, take notes, and throw money in the throats of the offering plate (1 Peter 2).
Unfortunately, the office of the head pastor in the modern "church" has circumvented the very headship of Jesus Christ because it has taken the centrality and the functional headship away from other believers. When Jesus Christ is truly the headship, it manifests as freedom and openness with everyone contributing, and all body parts functioning as they should.
The professional, modern pastor has become slave to the office, which oppressively manifest in many ways, such as emotional breakdown, marital issues, stress, “plastic fantastic”, burnout, and depression just to name a few. This is not the result of the pastor, but the effect of the modern office.
Scripture does not support one sole individual to wear so many hats at one time. There is a high expectation and obligation to entertain, "tickle ears," and make everyone feel good. This is artificial Christianity at its best, which is to be blunt is dishonest and deceptive. The modern head pastor can be likened to a Hollywood star who wins an Oscar for the primary role as portraying someone who is always spiritual, cheerful, perfectly dressed, and disciplined in all areas of life. The unapproachable and unquestioning attitude exposes the corrupt and political nature of the modern office, which often leads to isolation from being AMONG the people (laity) to just those who are OVER the people (clergy) within the institutional "church" system.They often have no real substance outside of that group.
The evidence reveals that the office of the head pastor by how it functions in the modern "church" is unsupported and non-existent in Scripture.
