Posted by Pastor Joey Faust in Church-Government, Elders, Pastors | Comments Off
Why Primary Pastors are the Angels of the Churches in the Book of Revelation
WHY PRIMARY PASTORS ARE THE “ANGELS” OF THE CHURCHES IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION
“The N.T. example, while it permits the multiplication of assistant pastors according to need, does not require a plural eldership in every case….There are indications, moreover, that, at least in certain churches, the pastor was one, while the deacons were more than one, in number….See, however, Acts 12:17…15:13…21:18…Gal. 1:19…2:12….These passages seem to indicate that James was the pastor or president of the church at Jerusalem, an intimation which tradition corroborates….1 Tim.3:2…Titus 1:7….1 Timothy 3:8,10, 12….In all these passages the bishop is spoken of in the singular number, the deacons in the plural. So too, in Rev. 2:1,8,12,18 and 3:1,7,14, ‘the angel of the church’ is best interpreted as meaning the pastor of the church; and if this be correct, it is clear that each church had, not many pastors, but one….A plural eldership is natural and advantageous, only where the church is very numerous and the pastor needs assistants in his work: and only in such cases can we say that New Testament example favors it.”
(Strong, “Systematic Theology,” 1907)
Posted by Bill Jackson in Church-Government, Elders, Pastors | Comments Off
Thoughts on Church Government
THOUGHTS ON CHURCH GOVERNMENT
(By Bill Jackson of C.E.C.)
Jesus had made it clear:
“Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.
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The Head Pastor Model and the Angels of Revelation 2 & 3
The subject of the “one presiding pastor model” for church government has become (at least in some circles) a popular and controversial subject. A “plurality of elders/bishops” is certainly seen in the Bible (Philippians 1:1, Acts 20:17). In a former article, I called attention to the lack of respect for aged men in churches. But I must confess, I do not think that “aged men” fully satisfies the meaning of “elders” in many of these Scriptures. I appreciate the feedback from readers. It appears that, at times, there was more than one ordained “elder” (the office) serving in churches. Yet, there are two questions that must be asked here:
Read MorePosted by Pastor Joey Faust in Church-Government, Elders, Pastors | Comments Off
Laodicean Disintegration: The Preparation for Rome’s Bloody Revival (Exposing the Radical Anti-Head Pastor Movement)
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LAODICEAN DISINTEGRATION: THE PREPARATION FOR ROME’S BLOODY REVIVAL (EXPOSING THE RADICAL ANTI-HEAD PASTOR MOVEMENT)
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If you are not a part of the RADICAL anti-head-pastor movement, then this article is not written directly to you. I am writing against those who think it is their duty to “deliver” people out of Baptist churches, simply because such a church has a head-pastor.
Read MorePosted by Pastor Joey Faust in Church and State, Church-Government, Elders, Pastors | Comments Off
Elders: Singular or Plural?
Alexander Strauch in “Biblical Eldership” argues:
“…when Paul and Peter directly exhort the elders to do their duty, they both employ shepherding imagery. It should be observed that these two giant apostles assign the task of shepherding the local church to no other group or single person but the elders. Paul reminds the Asian elders that God the Holy Spirit placed them in the flock as overseers for the purpose of shepherding the church of God (Acts 20:28).”(1)
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