Re: Titles Not Authorized by God -- Qohelet Web Ministry

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Date Posted: 17:39:08 02/25/02 Mon
Author: Jay Dee
Subject: Re: Titles Not Authorized by God
In reply to: Darren Beachy 's message, "Re: Titles Not Authorized by God" on 17:26:42 02/24/02 Sun

I have never really given this a whole lot of thought before. I suppose the reason is that various ministries have always existed in the church. Paul's discussion of various ministries in Romans 12 and in 1 Corinthians 12 indicate that by design, there are various ministries in the church. Notice:

1 Cor 12:4 � Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.
1 Cor 12:5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.

And notice this:

Rom 12:4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,
Rom 12:5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Rom 12:6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly:

I am not sure that giving a "title" is meant to be anything more than a description of what a person in a particular ministry is supposed to be doing. We do it with deacons. We have a deacon for this and a deacon for that.

It is like R. Davidson said, no one has a title in the Lord's church, including elders. Everyone had a "description" I did an in depth study of leadership a few years ago, and found that elders have a variety of descriptions. None were meant to be titles. Does that mean we are wrong when we consistently call them "elders?" No. Shouldn't it follow that there is nothing wrong with calling the one who ministers to the youth a "youth minister?"

There are those who want to do away with preachers, elders, and all sorts of things in the interest of "restoration." However, preachers,pastors, teachers, etc. are ordained by God. Notice what SCRIPTURE says:

Eph 4:7 � But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.
Eph 4:8 Therefore it says, "When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, And He gave gifts to men."
Eph 4:9 (Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)
Eph 4:11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
Eph 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

Notice that pastors (a description for elders) and evangelist (which literally means Gospel Preacher) and teachers are all gifts from God.

It would seem that those who want to erase these distinctions are motivated more by a lack of respect for leadership than by sound biblical study. How comfortable it would be. No preachers to preach the word and challenge us. No elders to guide us onto the right way. Just a flock of sheep without a shepherd.

Jesus never intended us to be sheep without a shepherd. Jesus never intended for us not to have various ministries to help build up the body of Christ.

I would like to hear where this question is coming from?

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Replies:

Re: Titles Not Authorized by God -- ollie adams, 06:29:44 03/10/02 Sun