[Linux4christians] I need some advice.

[htgage3 at chartermi.net]

I'm not saying that the one vote per person is in the bible, I'm saying 
that that is the way that we do it in our work.

There are only two offices in the local, visible New Testament church: 
Pastor, also called bishop, elder, called by God; Deacon, approved, 
appointed, which ever way you want to use it, by the church. There are 
only two offices, and both are held by men only.


On Wed, May 18, 2011 at 12:56 AM, Billy Staggs wrote:

> On 5/17/2011 9:14 PM, htgage3 at chartermi.net wrote:
>> Billy, this is something that I don't understand. We have one vote, 
>> one person. Meaning one vote for one person. I cannot see in 
>> Scripture where there is a higher command in place.
>
> I don't find in the Scriptures where the Church or Israel used a 
> democracy or even a republic.  Where specifically are you finding the 
> one vote per person?
>
>
>> Elder, pastor, bishop are all the same office. The one who leads the 
>> church is the pastor, as God leads him. If he wants to be a rogue, 
>> and do differnetly than what God wants, the church as a whole 
>> suffers. I've seen it happen is a church that I used to belong to, 
>> this guy was in there before we moved our membership there. This guy 
>> had gotten mad at me several times when he had me to fill his pulpit. 
>> I truly feel sorry for him, but he did do the church hurt, and he 
>> paid for it in other areas, and ways. Sorry, I just son't see where 
>> the first church had the hierarchy in there.
>>
>
>
> Brother, I guess we will just have to agree to disagree on this, 
> because I feel there is sufficient evidence for a hierarchy within the 
> Church.
>
>
> 1 Timothy 3:1--5 This is a true saying, If a man desire the*office of 
> a bishop*, he desireth a good work.  A bishop then must be blameless, 
> the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to 
> hospitality, apt to teach;  Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy 
> of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;  One that 
> ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all 
> gravity;  (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall 
> he take care of the church of God?)
>
>
> 1 Timothy 3:8--13  Likewise must the *deacons *be grave, not 
> doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 
> Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.  And let these 
> also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being 
> found blameless.  Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, 
> sober, faithful in all things.  Let the deacons be the husbands of one 
> wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.  For they that 
> have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good 
> degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
>
>
> Titus 1:5  For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest 
> set in order the things that are wanting, and *ordain elders in every 
> city, as I had appointed thee*:
>
> 2 Peter 3:1--2 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in 
> both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: ^2  That 
> ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy 
> prophets, and of *the commandment of us the apostles* of the Lord and 
> Saviour:
>
>
> Acts 26:15--17  And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am 
> Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I 
> have appeared unto thee for this purpose, *to make thee a minister and 
> a witness* both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those 
> things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the 
> people, and fromthe Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
>
>
> 1 Corinthians 12:27--29  Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in 
> particular. 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. Are 
> all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of 
> miracles?
>
> ...etc
>
> I do sympathizes with you about how a Pastor out of God's will can 
> derail or even destroy a local body.  But to me this is just all the 
> more reason for a strong central authority above and beyond the local 
> body.
>
>
> --
> bstaggs <><
>
>
>      ------------------------------
>
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