Featured No pastors in the Bible

How is it you think Timothy was a pastor? Remember, that word is not in the Bible. Also, look it up....everywhere the word Elder is it is in the plural. Peter is an Elder...not a pastor...but an Elder.

I Peter 5:1-5 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd (ποιμάνατε) the flock of God among you, exercising oversight (ἐπισκοποῦντες) not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

 

Sorry again, last post was meant for Revmitchell

 

Salty. You are right, a lot of questions. These questions should have been ask a long time ago. How many Elders, how long do they serve, what type of authority will they have, how to censure a Elder, should you censure an elder. However, we begin with what is right no matter how difficult the task that follows. We are having a series of open meetings every other Wends to answer these questions.

 

As it stands right now the church has lapsed into the hands of a professional body of preacher/administrators. Every research I have seen on this matter indicates these pastors are a very unhealthy group of people: high incidences of alcoholism, divorce, depression, and suicide. Close to 3,000 pastors leave their church every month. All this is online if you are interested. The college of Elders would prevent this misery for the Church. When a pastor leave the Church the church falls into disarray. If they have Elders and an Elder leaves, it is business as usual.

 

Think clearly on this, I Peter 5:1-5 it is the Elders (plural) and Peter counts himself as an Elder, who are to shepherd and oversee the church. No one else. In Acts 20 it says these Elders are chosen by the Holy Spirit. In Acts 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

It is the Holy Spirt that put the Elders in their place of overseeing. Are you a pastor? If so, lead your church to restoring the Elders. Become a biblical Church.

 

Do you understand that you are making a case against the teaching of the Bible? There is no healthy Church that is built upon anything less that the clear teaching of the Bible given under the inspiration of God. Y

 

In the first place this has nothing to do with Elders. Secondly, doctrinal questions is exactly what Elders determine. They "protect" the flock, they are shepherds. I take it you are a pastor who is fighting to protect his career. Elders do not consider the church a "career" they are not paid and they serve faithfully expecting nothing in return. Elders are in the workplace and the Church does not have to pay their salaries, retirement, health care, rent, auto, convention expenses and all the rest.

 

No, I am a pastor of a Southern Baptist Church. In fact, I have pastored churches for the last 40 years. I count myself fortunate to have come to these conclusions and help the church before it was too late. It was just general Bible teaching that I began to realize my terrible error. It is very simple to see this in the Bible and it is a universal that pastors are very unhealthy people. I look forward, along with our church, the restoration of the Elders. It is not a convoluted or complicated argument,it is simple and undeniable. I believe in judgement, and if my church chooses me as an Elder I will stand in judgement as an Elder. Would not want to stand in judgement as one who replaced the Elders in favor of something else.

 

I am in my 60's and I have always thought ministry is the highest form of theChristian experience and have thus separated it from the concept of the pastor. Yes, I put it to a vote but first laid out my case such as I have done in this forum. It was 100% affirmative vote. It rings true in the hearts of the people because it is easy to show Biblical support and it just makes sense. I am a trinitarian believer. In fact if one was to look for heresy it would not be the churches that have Elders, it would be those who have had their Elders disbanded in favor of something else.

 

Yes...the verse is talking about Elders. That is my point. Not pastors in the sense we have them today. You do realize there were no pastors in the church until the 16th Century. The early Church was led by Elders until it became corrupted by the establishment of priests and ruling bishops.

 

How do you get the idea the Timothy was a pastor? Because it is called the pastoral epistles? that tile was assigned in the 18th century. Again, you seem to come with the idea of the pastor as an "office." Where is that in the NT? Elders and deacons...none other. Pastor came after the Reformation! NEver and office in the Bible, if so please show me where that it is.