We can
transform the ministry of Christ in Job or Post?
INTRODUCTION
You may ask: what
is the difference?
Job is something
which the individual exercises during a given time period with a view to
earn rewards.
Post is the
obligation assumed in relation to someone or something, most of the times with
the purpose of exercising dominion over the others.
The ministry of
Christ, on the other hand, it is to be exercised 24 hours per day, with a view
solely to serve (instead of ordering - see 1Peter 5.3) and without
expecting any reward (but simply for the privilege of being useful in really
noble and vital something instead of wasting time with little petty and
cruel sins).
It is exactly this
that treats the excerpt below:
EXPLAINING EPHESIANS 4.11-14?
·
"And
he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers; for the perfecting
of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of
Christ: till
we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of
Christ: that
we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro,
and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and
cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;"
(Ephesians 4.11-14).
The majority of
individuals use this excerpt to justify the existence of religious
institutions. However, a more careful examination of the passage shows exactly
the opposite.
Let's look at how
the passage starts:
· "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy
of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with
longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4.1-3).
Notice that Paul begins
by saying he is a prisoner of Christ, and in verse eight he says that Jesus
led captivity captive. Now, what captivity we are talking about?
To understand this,
see what Jesus says:
·
"I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he
shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." (John 10.9).
· "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if
he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and
go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it,
he layeth it on his shoulders,
rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth
together his friends and neighbours, saying
unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I
say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons,
which need no repentance." (Luke 15.4-7).
There is greater
joy in heaven for a righteous which, having contact with other wicked ones,
ended up sinning, than over ninety and nine righteous which, having been
isolated in the desert not to defile themselves with sinners, not have to
repent.
Note that Jesus did
not put the sheep into the fold. On the contrary: those who enter the sheepfold
of religion by Jesus enters, exits (taking
the sheep with them) and find pasture outside the religion.
Therefore, the
captivity is the religious system. Jesus freed us from the yoke of
religious system and asks us to take His yoke smooth and light (Matt 11.30).
Instead of being slaves of the Babylonian System, we are now bounded to Christ
(see Rom 6.22).
But what Paul meant
by this? The problem is that many Ephesians were behaving exactly as the
mundane. Then he said:
· "This I say therefore, and testify
in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity
of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God
through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their
heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto
lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." (Ephesians 4.17-19).
· "But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the
truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former
conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful
lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in
righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every
man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one
of another." (Ephesians 4.20-25).
To say "and I
say this" Paul is wanting to emphasize the fact that Jesus has
given some apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and doctors should
never be seen as the mundane ones do in business system.
He still makes
clear: "But ye have not so learned Christ;”, that is, we should never make of the spiritual things an opportunity
for us to try to find our place in this world and have a life of luxury and
pleasure or highlight in this world (which contradicts Matthew 10.39).
In other words,
the ministerial gifts are not the privilege of one over the other. It
is not an exclusive gift for a group of privileged, but for all (see Ephesians
4.15,16).
·
"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things,
which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined
together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth,
according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the
edifying of itself in love." (Eph 4.15,16).
Note how the
religious model that exists here has nothing to do with the Sacred
Scripture. Once that those who belong to Christ is part of His body (Rom 9.95),
so there is not this story of a privileged group to stay serving others.
In the true Church,
each participates:
· "How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a
tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto
edifying." (1
Corinthians 14.26).
There isn’t the domain
of one on the other:
· "But Jesus called them unto him, and said, 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: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and
to give his life a ransom for many." (Matthew
20:25-28).
· "Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples
to the flock." (1Peter 5.3).
It never was
Eternal One’s plan that someone was more important than the someone else, let
alone dominate them:
·
“Nay, much more those members of the
body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: and those members of
the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon
these we bestow more abundant honour; and our
uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no
need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: that there should be
no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for
another.” (1Cor 12.22-25).
Jesus is God of
equity.
Somebody could
question: “but Moses was elected by Eternal One to lead Israel”.
However, it never
was plan of the Eternal One that Moses dominated:
·
“Now therefore, if ye will obey my
voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto
me above all people: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a
kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt
speak unto the children of Israel.” (Exodus 19.5,6).
He wanted all
Israel (all, and not only a few) was a priesthood kingdom, that is, His Church.
This only didn’t happen because they were very much attached to this world:
·
“And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the
trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed,
and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we
will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” (Exodus 20.18,19).
·
“For ye are not come unto the mount
that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and
darkness, and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words;
which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to
them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if
so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through
with a dart: and so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly
fear and quake:)” (Hebrew 12.18-21).
This isn’t all! Do you remember what the Eternal One said when Israel
wished to constitute over them a king?
·
“But the thing displeased Samuel, when
they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the
LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people
in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have
rejected me, that I should not reign over them.” (1Sam 8.6,7).
And when the people, in the Testament of the Favor of the Eternal One,
decided to leave all responsibility to the apostles?
·
“And the multitude of them that
believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought
of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things
common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection
of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there
any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses
sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and
laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every
man according as he had need.” (Acts 4.32-35).
·
And in those days, when the number of
the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against
the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily
ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto
them, and said, It is not reason that
we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.” (Acts 6.1,2).
The truth is that it’s not reasonable that somebody leave the prayer and
the Holy Scripture, let alone neglect in serve the others. On the contrary: the
essence of the gospel is constituted of the personal relationship with Jesus in
favor of serve each other (see all these references about the exercise of the
love each other – John 13.34,35; 15.12,13; Romans 12.10; 13.8; 15.7,14; 16.16;
1Cor 11.33; 12.25; 16.20; 2Cor 13.12; Gal 5.13; 6.2; Eph
4.2,32; 5.21; Colossians 3.13,16; 1Thessalonians 4.9,18; 5.11; Hebrews 3.13;
10.24,25; James 5.16; 1Peter 1.22; 5.5,14; 1John 3.11,23; 4.7,11; 2John 1.5).
No one was rised by Eternal One to be
super-believer.
The Revelation is clear: only the Eternal One is worth of having in His
power everything that can put a human being over someone else.
·
“Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and
wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and
might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.” (Rev 7.12).
And the writer of Hebrews adds:
·
“We
have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. For
the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the
high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also,
that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the
gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his
reproach.” (Hebrews 13.10-13).
Note that everybody that insist on living in the Old Testament (whose
focus is the communion with the Eternal One around the temple that was in the camp
at Jerusalém) don’t have part in the New Alliance.
It’s necessary go out of the camp of the religious system to we can meet
Jesus.
Back in the parable of
the hundred sheep, note that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, finding the lost sheep, does
not lead it to the sheepfold or back to the desert where all the ninety and
nine were, but leads to inside of His home.
Finally, notice how
at the beginning of Ephesians four Paul says to we walk as it is worthy of the
vocation with which we have been called. Supplementing with Corinthians:
· "Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called." (1 Corinthians 7.20).
That is, there isn’t
the story of a brother start as a member of the group of praise, be promoted to
deacon, then to pastor.
Many times Paul shows that his ministry was not something that he
fought to achieve or that some spiritual leader gave him, but it was given by
Jesus:
·
"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle,
separated unto the gospel of God." (Romans 1.1).
·
"Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the
will of God, and Sosthenes our brother," (1
Corinthians 1.1).
·
“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy
our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints
which are in all Achaia:” (2Cor 1.1).
·
"Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ,
and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)" (Gal 1.1).
·
"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints
which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:” (Eph 1.1).
·
" Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and
Timotheus our brother" (Col 1.1).
·
“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;" (1 Tim 1.1).
·
"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according
to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus" (2Tim
1.1).
To sum up: every
true converted has at least one gift, talent and ministry, which must be
exercised in the life of each other when and where they meet.
HOW TO EXPLAIN 1TIMOTHY 3.11,12?
· "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?) Not a novice, lest
being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the
devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest
he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil." (1 Tim 3.1-7).
· "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." (1Tim 3.8,9).
·
"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." (1 Tim 3.11,12).
Many use this
passage to justify the existence of religious institutions. However, on the
contrary to popular belief, Paul was not allowing the existence of religious
leaders, but condemning. See how it begins 1Timothy 3 and how Titus 1
continues:
· "This is a true saying, If a man desire
the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work." (1Tim 3:1).
· "For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially
they of the circumcision: whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things
which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake." (Titus 1.10,11).
Notice how persons
were lifting themselves, both at Ephesus as at Crete, wanting to dominate the
brothers through the distorted teaching of Holy Scripture. Many false teachers
were raising (1Tim 1.7), as at Galatia (Gal 4.17) and at Rome
(Romans 2.17-23), to attract the disciples after themselves.
It is faced with
this panorama that Paul writes. What he is saying is that, although crave the
episcopate (i.e., to be supervising the brothers in order to keep everyone in
the correct vision and concepts) is an excellent work (because this implies in
seeking in Jesus a worthy life), comes the question: who really is worthy of
this?
The revelation is clear:
· "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour
and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and
were created." (Rev 4.11)
· "Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive
power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour,
and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the
earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in
them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and
glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth
upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." (Rev 5.12.13).
· "And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb." (Rev 7.10).
·
"Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom,
and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be
unto our God for ever and ever. Amen." (Rev 7.12).
Once that only
Jesus is worthy to receive power and riches, wisdom, strength, honor,
glory, praise, salvation, thanksgiving,
what is left to the religious leader? This is what Paul tries to show to
everyone: who is it able to fulfill all the requirements for exercising the
diaconate? Nobody is able to meet all these requirements, let alone to satisfy
the requirements of the bishops who are more severe.
The idea is that
everyone would be ashamed and, instead of thinking to dominate over each other,
they decide to humiliate and serve each other in the face of the recognition of
their insignificance.
For you who insists
on being religious leader, I ask you: have you fulfill all requirements that
Paul quoted? Be honest with yourself!!!
In addition, even
if Paul were encouraging Ephesus to elect religious leaders (as, indeed, many
thought), I ask you: What was the result?
Simply the brothers
of Ephesus left the first love (Eph 2.4) and
become legalistic, coming to be severely rebuked by Jesus under penalty of
having your luminaire removed (Rev 2.5).
HOW TO EXPLAIN HEBREWS 10.24,25
·
"And
let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of
some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye
see the day approaching."
(Heb 10.24,25).
If this has
to do with evangelical religious institutions, comes the question:
which of them the individual should not leave? Here it says not to leave
"our congregations", but "our congregation".
And if the
individual discover that his evangelical religious institution apostatized from
the faith?
Besides, stop to
think: since each religious institution says something different, which one is
right? The Holy Scripture says that there is only one God, one Lord, one
Spirit, one faith. Consequently, there is only one truth. Jesus did not say
that He is the truths or a truth, but "THE" truth (John 14.6).
If spiritual gifts
were given to confirm the word of Christ (Mark 16.20; Heb 2.4), I ask you: what word Jesus is confirming,
since there are so many religious institutions affirming that the Holy Spirit
is operating there?
Someone might ask:
"It is clear that there are errors, now that we are at the stage of
learning".
However, what did Paul
say:
·
"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all
things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined
together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth,
according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying
of itself in love." (Eph 4.15,16).
Realize that the
true Body of Christ is in constant growth. And what we see in religious
institutions?
·
One insists in saying that women
have to wear the veil;
· Other one remains recriminating everyone who does not keep the
Sabbath;
·
Another one keeps defending the theology of
prosperity and diverting people from their personal blame, stating that all the
evils that happen in their lives is guilt of Ha-Satan.
Now, I wonder: if
the Holy Spirit is operating in these places, then why even today He did not
reveal the absurdities that commit in these and other denominations? Why can't
you see people being separated from truth for the exclusive use of Jesus?
Fans of religious
institutions claim that the Eternal is operating there, but year in and year
out believers in Jesus are going from bad to worse (as Paul prophesied -
2Tim 3.13). It was expected that the Holy Spirit will operate at the heart of
these brothers His purity and holiness (Titus 3.4-6).
And when there is a
change is always for the worse.
Brethren, think: when
the writer of Hebrews says: "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together", with certainty, it is not referring to anything of what you see
out there today. This model of religious institution arose from Constantine,
the Roman emperor.
Before that, the
brothers gathered in houses:
·
"Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:” (Romans 16.3).
· “Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the
firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ." (Romans 16.5).
·
"And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking
bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of
heart," (Acts 2.46).
Someone might
argue: but they also gathered in the temple.
However, think: at
the time of the apostles, how many temples are there throughout Judea? Only one
at Jerusalem.
Even if someone
consider using the temple of Solomon or of Herod as an excuse to justify
the existence of temples, so why religious do not follow all the guidance given
in Holy Scripture?
· "And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall
choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of
thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest
learn to fear the LORD thy God always." (Deuteronomy 14.23).
·
"But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and
over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it:
they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall
minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle. And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the
Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the
Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to
death." (Num 1.50,51).
Repair as there
could only be temple at Jerusalem, only the priests could minister in the
interior of the temple and only the levites could
help the priests.
The place
where Jesus or the apostles were was in the courtyard of the temple.
As you can see, the
model of religious institution adopted has no support in Holy Scripture.
But this is not
everything!
Someone might ask:
"But what is wrong in creating a religious institution or belong to
one? Simply that everything that is taught and done it is in full agreement
with Scripture and all is well."
In the first place:
Have you noticed that there is not a religious institution that works in total
harmony with the Holy Scripture? If this was a good thing, Jesus would have
founded one or ordered that this was done (either personally or through
the apostles).
Beloved brother,
believe in what says the Holy Scripture:
· "Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after
that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their
gods, saying, How did these nations serve
their gods? even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD
thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth,
have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they
have burnt in the fire to their gods." (Deut 12.30,31).
Never try to seek
inspiration in pagan cults that the heathens provide to their gods in order to
find the best way to serve Jesus. Anyone who has tried to do this was punished
severely:
·
"And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer,
and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before
the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the
LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD." (Lev 10.1,2).
This without
counting the destruction that occurred during the deluge, the Tower of Babel
and Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim. Have you thought about the reason that
stimulated the Eternal One to act in this way?
· "And God said unto Noah, the end of all flesh is come before me;
for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy
them with the earth." (Genesis 6.13).
·
"And they said, Go to, let us build us a city
and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make
us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And
the LORD came
down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded." (Gen 11.4,5).
· "And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is
great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see
whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come
unto me; and if not, I will know." (Gen 18.20,21).
In all these cases,
the brothers were doing exactly the opposite of what the Eternal One wanted:
·
In the deluge they were praying for the Eternal One
asking the end of all flesh, when His will was to give opportunity
for all to be saved (1 Peter 3.20);
·
At the tower of Babel they were looking for:
o
make a name for themselves, when the only name to
be exalted is the Eternal One’s name (see Phil 2.10);
o
They were trying to reach the sky through the
efforts of the flesh. However, the worship is in spirit and in truth (John 5.23,24);
o
They were fighting for not being scattered over
the face of the whole earth, when it was exactly this that the Eternal One
commanded (Gen 1.28) and Jesus ratified (Matthew 28.18-20).
·
In Sodom was having far cry by reason of the
multiplication of evil. It is good to remember that of the crowd that came
in with Lot in Sodom, only Lot and his two daughters were saved, and yet for
mercy (Gen 19.25,16). All the others were corrupted. Obviously, whoever
gets stuck the prosperity of Sodom, only has the capacity to pray by evil of
those who deprive them of this prosperity.
Do you see how is
harmful to worship and serve Jesus with the wrong motivation?
And now let us
admit: What was the crime committed by the people of the tower of Babel? The
same which is committed by religious institutions (especially the gospel):
wanting to make a name for themselves (Assembly of God, Methodist, Universal,
etc.) and join the brothers around them in order to reach the heaven through
physical rituals.
Even Jesus saying
that is to go into all the world and preaching the gospel to every creature (Mark
16.15), yet the religious leaders insist on calling individuals to the temple,
having the fallacy to say that it is necessary to be affiliated to an
institution to be saved.
Beloved brother, in
the name of Jesus, meditate with calm on Holy Scripture and you will see that
nothing that is done in this religious institutions was
ordained by Jesus and the apostles. It’s not in Holy Scripture that they
took inspiration for doing everything they do.
But after all, what
does it mean Hebrews 10.25?
In short, what the
writer of Hebrews means is that we never should abandon the individuals that
the Eternal One bring to us only because they sin.
Rather, we should
stay sturdy in Christ, without leaving ourselves of everybody, so that we urge
ourselves to the love and to the good works.
HOW TO EXPLAIN TITUS 1.5-9
- "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: if
any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not
accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the
steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry,
not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; but a
lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy,
temperate; holding
fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by
sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers." (Titus 1.5-9).
This passage is very strong and apparently suggests
that Paul really wanted that priests (bishop, elder, helper, reverend, etc.)
was established in Crete. However, what Paul wanted was that Titus
did the same that Adam (Genesis 2.19): seek to fathom each Cretan brother
in order to minister effectively the teaching of Sacred Scripture in the life
of one by one.
The idea was that
Tito would see that there is nobody good enough (Lk 18.19) that was worthy
of controlling the Church of Christ, and, thus, realize the importance of the
mutual zeal.
Someone could still
ask: but, what about the "churches" mentioned by John:
· "Saying,
I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What
thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto
the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto
Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto
Laodicea." (Rev 1.11).
Unfortunately, the
term "churches" was poorly translated. After all, if the Church is
the Bride of Christ, there is no possibility of having more than one. Therefore,
which was translated by "churches" should have been translated by
another word (such as "oholyao", for
example). It is a question of brothers in Christ who met in homes in each of
these cities.
And the angel of
each one of these denominations is each member of oholyao when
they rises to bring the good news and proclaim peace.
The fact of being mentioned "the angel" (and not "the angels) is
because all must watch each other as if they were the only one to do
this.
And when someone converts to Christ, where they
should go to?
Look at the Holy
Scripture:
· "Then
Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of
eternal life." (John 6.68).
·
"Come
unto me,
all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest." (Matt 11.28).
·
"No
man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will
raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they
shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath
learned of the Father, cometh unto me." (John 6.44,45).
·
"But
ye have not so learned Christ; if
so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth
is in Jesus:" (Eph 4.20,21).
Note that it is to us
go to Christ. Jesus did not ordain anyone go to any religious institution, but
to go directly to Him to hear Him, be taught by Him and guided by His Spirit (Rom 8.14).
If Jesus were to
stay there in the heaven using only a few privileged to speak with the
brothers, and this in a specific place, it didn’t need Jesus came and suffered
all that suffered. I could continue in the Testament of the law.
Jesus gave His life
for, personally, redeeming us, that is, give us His true life that frees us
from the curse of sin. In other words, the framework of the New Covenant is
intimate communion with Christ.
How to quit preaching the gospel
with only small groups?
The commandment to
go into all the world and preaching the gospel to every creature (Matt 28.19;
Mk 16.15) is for all those who believe continually, wherever they are. Jesus
will build His Church, that is, undertake to provide the resources and lead
each one to where He wants, without the need for a system organized by man.
But the Holy Scripture does not
encourage to serve Christ?
Many misunderstand
the issue of "serve to Christ":
- "But
I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye
might be saved." (John 5.34).
- "I
receive not honour from men." (John 5.41).
- "God
that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of
heaven and earth, dwelleth
not in temples made with hands; neither
is worshipped with men's hands,
as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth
to all life, and breath, and all things;" (Acts
17.24,25).
- "But
the anointing which ye have received of him abideth
in you, and
ye need not that any man teach you:
but as the same anointing teacheth you of all
things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye
shall abide in him." (1John
2.27).
Jesus Himself was
clear to show that He is not served by human hands.
When Paul speaks that
he was servant of Christ, what he was saying is that he rested and hoped in
Jesus so that Christ could do, through him, everything that liked Him.
Following Jesus is
not religion, but to live the character and word of Christ in every moment of
our life.
- "And
ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They
answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man:
how sayest thou, Ye shall be made
free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the
servant abideth not in the house for ever: but
the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore
shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8.32-36).
Anyone who believes
in Jesus is free to stay in the Father's house permanently, namely, attending
to Jesus and those who belong to Him in order to serve them. It isn't as a
religious person providing a service and returning to live their life, but
someone who stays all the time due to already be in place that belongs to them.
It isn’t like
someone who tries to live two lives: the secular and the religious one.
Rather, it is
someone who takes care of those whom the Father gives them all the time and in
every detail, living the ministry that has been entrusted to them exactly where
they are at any moment.
Finally, the
education, dissemination and the practice of Sacred Scripture is of
extreme importance. However, it should never exceed the intimate communion with
Jesus and the being guided by Him 24 hours. Remember that Abel, Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob, Joseph of Egypt never had the Holy Scripture and yet were
great men of the Eternal One? And even the other characters of the Holy Scripture that
the Eternal One used, none of them had the complete and Sacred Scripture,
however, were prominent.
Sacred Scripture is
important because it leads us to Jesus:
- "Wherefore
the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ,
that we might be justified by faith." (Gal 3,24).
- "We
have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto
ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth
in a dark place, until
the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:" (2Peter
1.19).
So, do not commit
the crime of transforming the Holy Scripture in religion.
