House Church Talk - Fw: [EDG] New Polling Question

[Glenn Frank]

Hi Adam..

The answers you gave are pretty much accepted across the board in most
Christian circles all over the united states... And the world even... But, I
think maybe if you remove any preconceptions and experiences regarding
"pastors" and "elders", you might find the bible speaks differently about
them.


Check out "Pastor" again in the Bible...
1) Where does it say it is an 'office' of the church? Is it an "office"?
2) Where does it say a pastor is to be the head of a church?
3) what does the Bible say the role and reason for a pastor is?


And regarding 'Elders'... Are you sure they are subordinate/helpers to the
pastor?

1) Check out where (and how many times) the Bible mentions elders in the
context of the church and what were they doing?
2) Is "elder" an office of leadership and if so... How do you see their
leadership role and to whom are they responsible?
3) how many elders seem to be mentioned in most every church where elders
are mentioned? One? Or more than one?


Something else to think about... Was the church supposed to follow the moses
model? ... Can we really verify in the NT church that they followed this
advice from Moses' Father in Law? (the one head guy with a team of
subordinate helpers?)

 

Just some fuel for the discussion.

;-)


Glenn Frank



On 9/3/04 12:15 AM, "Adamkwyhmed at aol.com" <Adamkwyhmed at aol.com> wrote:

> In a message dated 9/2/04 9:08:53 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
> jesusislord343 at juno.com writes:
> 
> 1) What  is a 'Pastor'? (based on your understanding of scripture  and
> history)
> 
> 
> He that is to lead, be head of a church, is to be servant to all.  Not
> neccessarily a society based definition, but it is a Biblical  one.
> 
> 
> 
> 2)  In a 'house church' style church (where everyone is expected to
> contribute  and no formal "service" is practiced like in an institutional
> style church)  which also practices eldership/team leadership... what are
> the
> primary  roles of the Elders?
> 
> 
> To help the rest of the congregation; like the elders/desciples appointed  by
> Moses/servant of all Israel, to reduce the burdens he bore.  It  makes it
> easier to meet the needs of the people/congregation, so that both the  one who
> is 
> leading/the servant of all the congregation, and the  elders/desciples may be
> able to help more people with a quicker response; and  not to mention so that
> burnout is less likely to occur to whom much  responsibility has been given.
> Jesus did the same - the 12  desciples.  The elders meet the same needs met
> by the pastor/servant of  all, under his leadership, all for the Glory of G-d,
> not for the glory of  men.
> 
> Sincerely,
> A Bond-Servant of the Lord Jesus,
> Adam Waggoner
> 
> P.S.
> Even the founding fathers of America did the same in establing the  best and
> productive way for all the needs of its citizenry to be  met.
>    
>   
>

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