What or who is a �pastor?� Where did he come from? What does the Bible say? Where is the pastor found in the Bible?
Many questions are springing up today in regards to the issue of �the pastor.� No doubt, this is largely due to God�s Spirit moving and working in many people�s minds and hearts.
(All to the annoyance of many �pastors� I might add!)
It has gotten to the point where many local institutional churches have even created a plethora of pastor levels or posts. There�s the �senior pastor;� �assistant pastor;" the �counseling pastor;" a �youth pastor;" "singles pastor;" �pastor of visitation;� �outreach pastor;� all of these of course report back to the �head pastor�, or the �chairman.�
What is wrong with this picture? How did the "pastor" become such a powerful position?
Can you find anybody��anybody at all in the New Testament who was always the speaker; who delivered funeral orations; presided over marriages; who went to a school for pastors (seminary)?
Can you find anyone in the New Testament who always was officiating over so-called �worship services;� who was on the �payroll;� who patted old ladies on the hand; who was always dressed up in fine clothes and who prayed in a funny voice?
Can you find anyone in the New Testament who was hired by the congregation?
Did you find anyone? I didn�t think so.
The concept that �the pastor� is the premier member and leader of some local institutional church is essentially a Protestant brainchild and is quite striking at that, especially when the singular term
"pastor" cannot be found in the King James New Testament�..not even once!
The plural term "pastors" is found in the King James New Testament only once in Ephesians 4:11. This is the only verse in the entire New Testament with the word "pastors", and the world of Christendom has become totally and fanatically obsessed with this term.
One verse on which to hang an entire local institutional church doctrine and practice!
In Ephesians 4, �pastors� means shepherds, a metaphor describing a particular function in the assembly or community. It is NOT an office or a title. A first-century shepherd did not organize official church meetings; officiate �worship services�; set up programs and seminars, and neither was he invested with some kind of unquestionable official authority or position of mediation between the saints and their Lord, like we have today.
When we look at the letters that were written in the NT Scriptures, we find that none of them were addressed to "the pastor"; important travelers coming to town were not greeted by "the pastor," and collections of money were not given to "the pastor."
You would think that today�s "pastors" ought to seem somewhat aware that their job is strangely unbiblical, but no, exactly the opposite! How could something so obviously true be turned around into a great falsehood and then imbibed and embraced as �sound bible teaching� in our day? Such is the astonishing power of deception.
As was said once before, with only the rarest of exceptions, none of these so-called �pastors� who would come across an article like this can ever be objective in reading it because it exposes their role as the unbiblical figures in an unbiblical church institution that the people look up to, and in many cases, who pay their salary, fringe benefits, and other perks!
Many, if not ALL of them literally earn their living as those who think that they have been �called by God� into their �pastoral role�! It is very easy for them to be self-deceived. They have read the modern idea of the modern pastor back into the New Testament.
Never would any first-century Christian conceive of the modern day pastor! Haven�t Catholics made the same mistake with the word �priest?� The word �priest� is used in the NT, yet a priest back then certainly bears no connection or likeness whatsoever to the Roman Catholic �priest� of today.
It was right around the time of the Protestant Reformation that this gross aberration of Scripture was invented by men without any thought of trying to justify his existence Scripturally. �The Pastorate� is a man-made tradition.
Your �pastor� has NOT been called of God, nor ordained thru Biblical means. He has taken it upon his own initiative to label himself �The Pastor� and if these were Old Testament times, fire should swoop down from heaven and consume these imposters for their arrogance.
In Revelation Chapter 2, there were some professing Christians in Ephesus and Pergamos who did not listen to and follow Jesus' teaching and example. Jesus� command to His disciples in Matthew 20:25-28; Mark 10:42-44; Luke 22:24-27 in regards to exercising authority is, �It shall not be so among you.�
Jesus went on to say, �But whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.�
In the system that Jesus describes, the chief, the ruler, the head, the leader, the one who is great among a group of Christians, shall be the servant of all; not someone who �calls the shots� and rules over the others.
But those at Ephesus and Pergamos in Revelation 2 did just the opposite. They created a hierarchal, ruling class of "Nicolaitans" who set themselves above the people in the assemblies. But Jesus directly rebuked them saying, He "hates" (Revelation 2:6) the sin of the Nicolaitans and anyone who holds to that doctrine and/or practices that doctrine should "Repent therefore or else I am coming to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth." Revelation 2:15-16
(See the article, �The False Teaching of Delegated Authority� for more detailed explanation.)
Can anything be more frightening than those words that Jesus uttered? And yet.....AND YET, do �the pastors� today even care? The very idea of people actually voting on, and then actually electing, and then actually installing a man into the office and position of �THE PASTOR� in which he supposedly now can rule over and officiate over the people is completely incompatible with the words and example of Jesus!
Any so-called "pastor" who occupies this man-made, false position and teaches others to recognize him in contradiction to the Scriptures, cannot be considered a true leader guided by the Holy Spirit.
They are the wolves that Jesus earnestly warned us to flee from.
Anyone can be fooled by frauds, charlatans, fakes and imposters. When sheep are enamored and follow anyone other than Jesus Christ, they are following the wrong voice (John 10:27 states, "My sheep hear MY VOICE, and I know them, and THEY FOLLOW ME.").
There is ONLY ONE MASTER, JESUS CHRIST (Matthew 23:8-10), and any human leader who proclaims that they are �your pastor" is a liar and a wolf.
1 Corinthians 11:3 "But I would have you know, that THE HEAD OF EVERY MAN IS CHRIST."
Article Shared ~ "pastor" cannot be found in the King James New Testament�..not even once!
*** Not Truth...for it is Written in the Holy Scriptures�
Jeremiah 17:15-17 (KJV)
15 Behold, they say unto me, Where is the word of the LORD? let it come now.
16 As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was right before thee.
17 Be not a terror unto me: thou art my hope in the day of evil.
*** Please note in Verse 16 ~ �As for me, I have not hastened from being a [[[ pastor ]]] to follow thee:
*** The meaning of the Word Pastor is�
Pastor ~ Strong's H7462 - ra`ah
1. to pasture, tend, graze, feed
2. to shepherd, of ruler, teacher (fig)
3. of people as flock (fig)
4. shepherd, herdsman (subst)
2. shepherd, shepherdess, to associate with, be a friend of (meaning probable)
3. to associate withto be companions
4. to be a special friend
Article Shared ~ In Ephesians 4, �pastors� means shepherds, a metaphor describing a particular function in the assembly or community. It is NOT an office or a title.
*** This Statement is Not Truth either�for it is Written in the Holy Scriptures�
Eph 4: 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
*** The meaning of the Word �Pastors� in this Scripture is�
Pastors ~ Strong's G4166 � poim�n
1. a herdsman, esp. a shepherd
2. in the parable, he to whose care and control others have committed themselves, and whose precepts they follow
3. the presiding officer, manager, director, of any assembly: so of Christ the Head of the church of the overseers of the Christian assemblies
4. of kings and princes
*** Please Pay Close Attention to #2 and #3�Can�t get Any Simpler than that�
Foot Note: A shepherd in the Near East was responsible for watching out for enemies trying to attack the sheep, defending the sheep from attackers, healing the wounded and sick sheep, finding and saving lost or trapped sheep, loving them, and sharing their lives and to earn their trust.
*** I don�t personally know this Ken Cascio and it is Obvious that this person is speaking Un-Truths for the URL which this has been sourced from having �wickedshepherds� in it would be the 1st clue that this Person and Site is All About Tearing Down the TRUTH which is ANTI (Opposite) of Building Up the �Church� and �Body of Christ��
Galatians 6:1-7 (KJV)
6 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
2 Timothy 3:1-17 (KJV)
3 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was.
10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Titus 3:3 (KJV)
3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
Titus 3:10-11 (KJV)
10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
Today's "pastors" are not watching over you they are making merchandise of you. There are no "God sent" pastors because if they were they wouldn't be teaching so many false doctrines like the pre-trib rapture and the "once saved always saved" heresy and tithing and "word of faith" and many, many more.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.�2 Tim 2:4-3
You didn't disprove a single thing in the article, Godsjude.
3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
Titus 3:10-11 (KJV)
10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself."
I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled(by their wicked shepherds), they will accumulate for themselves teachers(their wicked shepherds) in accordance to their own desires,� 2 Tim 4:1-3
Shared ~ You didn't disprove a single thing in the article, Godsjude.
*** I point out the Scriptures do have the WORD "pastor" in it. So your statement above is also Not True. The very Scripture and other Scriptures I have posted not only Proved the author of the article is in error it proves you posted an article that is Anti Christ in the body of words as well as proving that you willingly choose to align your self and believe what this man writes instead of believing the very WORD of GOD...Jesus...that I have shared here in my 1st response...
Article Shared ~ "pastor" cannot be found in the King James New Testament�..not even once!
*** Not Truth...for it is Written in the Holy Scriptures�
Jeremiah 17:15-17 (KJV)
15 Behold, they say unto me, Where is the word of the LORD? let it come now.
16 As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was right before thee.
17 Be not a terror unto me: thou art my hope in the day of evil.
*** Please note in Verse 16 ~ �As for me, I have not hastened from being a [[[ pastor ]]] to follow thee:
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*** This will be my last communication with you "mimi" for such as you are neither willing to converse in a manner that is civil or conducive in bringing Glory to the LORD!!!...
"Titus 3:3 (KJV)
3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
Titus 3:10-11 (KJV)
10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself."
*** GOD's continued Blessings and Grace abide to yall
The idea of "pastor" in the bible is not the same as we have today. In the bible, the highest authority of the church is the elder position. There is no dedicated preacher or leader in the bible, our current model of "pastor" is directly derived from the catholic idea of "priest", not from the original structure of the early church. It's really a form of pacifying the church body into inactivity. If we have a pastor who does all the work, then we can just sit in the pews and try to stay awake.
In truth, we are all supposed to be ministers to the world, we're all supposed to have the confidence and passion to speak the truth. People sitting in the pews are far more interested in being in the "right church" and listening to the "right pastor" than studying for themselves, going out into the world, and being the ambassador to those who haven't heard the name of Jesus.
1 Corinthians 3
1And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
5Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
Mark Shared ~ The idea of "pastor" in the bible is not the same as we have today. In the bible, the highest authority of the church is the elder position.
*** So which Elder Position would that be then ???...For in Eph 4 the Scrtipture begins with �Apostles then Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers. Eph 4: 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:....
*** So some become Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers based on this Scripture as well as 1 Cor 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
*** And then we also have Romans 12:6-8� 6 :prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Shared ~ There is no dedicated preacher or leader in the bible, our current model of "pastor" is directly derived from the catholic idea of "priest", not from the original structure of the early church.
*** Don�t get me started on Catholicism�:laugh:...Ok ??? � So following Scripture then Apostles would be the Elders�however the Apostles, Prophets and Evangelists I believe belong to one grouping in the Body as they are those that Travel much Proclaiming the Gospel of Christ�The Kingdom of Heaven�Salvation. So it is quite simple that the Pastors, Ministers and Teachers belong to one group also which is a Base Group because All the Apostles with their Disciples (future ??? placement per their gifts) and Paul with his Disciples (future placement per their gifts) traveled betwixt all the �Churches� no doubt in homes. Its how I see it Evolving in the Early Church�.
Shared ~ It's really a form of pacifying the church body into inactivity. If we have a pastor who does all the work, then we can just sit in the pews and try to stay awake.
*** Wow!!!�I know we all have opinions however I�m a bit taken aback at this type of comment. I have heard this before but have never experienced it in a Church. There are some I have visited that I don�t agree with what they teach �doctrine� and that is why I don�t attend them. I am Extremely Pleased that I have Found a Full Bible OT & NT Believing Preaching Church that Teaches all about Jesus�Salvation�the Cross and Resurrection. We are SO Encouraged to �DIG� Deep into the Word every day and not just on Sundays�All GLORY TO GOD !!!
Shared ~ In truth, we are all supposed to be ministers to the world, we're all supposed to have the confidence and passion to speak the truth. People sitting in the pews are far more interested in being in the "right church" and listening to the "right pastor" than studying for themselves, going out into the world, and being the ambassador to those who haven't heard the name of Jesus.
*** I agree�.Folks need to Stay were GOD has Planted them. Study quietly at Home or in Study Groups and Pay Attention during Service because GOD speaks through the Pastor, Minister, Teacher and there is always Something Needed to be Learned by Listening before they can Sprout Wings and Fly :purpleangel: Away on a Evangelical Mission. Some Churches do not Teach :dunce: or Lead :bouncy: a young Babe into the Why and How we Do the Great Commission. I learned a Long Time Ago�it Only takes �ONE� Person Other than the Pastor, Minister, Teacher to show and teach by �Example� What and How to Do what Christ Jesus has Asked Us to Do!!!...I will Pray and Hope that �ONE� person Will Step Up and Out and Do It !!!
** Thanks for sharing 1 Cor 3 Mark�One of my Favs !!!
