ACTS 20 V 28

I came across this verse when I was reading “Going Places with Paul” by Donald Fleming. It is only 76 pages and is an account of Paul’s missionary journeys and what happened on them. It helps to piece together some of the events of the New Testament in chronological order.

Paul is writing to the Ephesian Elders (note not to ‘the pastor’) and tells them to keep watch over themselves and all the flock which the Holy Spirit has made them overseers of.

Donald made a comment about this statement which jumped out of the book. He said that if the Holy Spirit hasn’t made you an overseer (Elder), then you are not an overseer, as only the Holy Spirit can anoint you for that ministry.

This I believe is a crucial concept if the church is going to be able to be a bride without spot or wrinkle and fulfil the great commission.

A bride like this cannot be so if there is rebellion in their hearts. The bride of Jesus which is the church is required to follow the teaching of scripture in all matters of faith and practice.

Evangelicals are very strident in their claim that the bible is the inspired word of God and is to be the only source of authority for the church.

It is very good at making sure we uphold the teachings of scripture regarding the new birth and salvation, unlike the roman church which says that salvation comes through the church and obeying its rules and practices and those who are in charge.

This is nowhere better illustrated than a catholic who made a documentary about sexual abuse by the catholic clergy in the USA. He was asked why he didn’t stop the priest abusing him. His reply was that you don’t disobey a priest.

However, I digress. When it comes to practice, the evangelicals are way of the mark and prefer their inspiration to come from tradition, even if it contradicts scripture. When I have raised this issue with church leadership, pointing out where they follow tradition, not scripture, not once has any leader been able to refute what I am saying. Their usual response is to ignore me.

One minister said he would get back to me after his holiday. Six months later I am still waiting.

It does not take much spiritual nous to realise that ministries in the New Testament Church were the province of the Holy Spirit when it comes to deciding who does what. At no time were people appointed by the church themselves or any denominations headquarters.

One became an Elder because they already had an anointing from God for eldership. All the church did was to recognise that the person was gifted accordingly and said that they would recognise that gifting.

In most cases today, leadership is primarily on the basis of a person’s loyalty to a denomination and its leadership. It is that loyalty that is mistaken for an anointing by the Holy Spirit.

The end result of this is churches led by men (and women) that have no anointing from God for what they are doing, especially if they are a paid pastor, and this creates an organisation which is run on secular business lines, totally devoid of the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

The outworking of all this is that the church is irrelevant and has no influence on society. Of course it gives the people who are attending the church a buzz as they can spend their social time with other likeminded people, but it doesn’t changed the world. Even less, it creates spiritual inertia because very few churches are going into all the world and making disciples.

The fact that we believe the right thing and do the wrong thing doesn’t seem to bother people. I guess when you are comfortable who needs discomfort?