CHAPTER II
DIVINE GOVERNMENT IN THE EARLY CHURCH
In chapter I of this series we began to study the true scriptural
role of the shepherd and sheep in the local church. We took a look into
the original Greek meaning of key words found in Heb.13:17 and found
that we are not told lo literally "obey them that have the rule over
us", but rather to "be teachable toward them that lead, or stand before
us". In I Peter 5:2-3 we found that a pastor is not a lord (authority)
over the sheep, but rather an example to the flock. We studied the
warning of Jesus that the Church is not to have an authority structure
like the Gentiles, but he that would be greatest must be as the younger.
as he that serves. Luke 22:25-27. We noted from I Cor.12:12 that we
are all equal members of one body, and only Jesus is the head, or authority
over anyone in the Church, Col.1:18. We looked at Psalms 105:15 and
found that God said "Touch not mine anointed" to protect the patriarchs
from heathen interference and that God is primarily concerned with how
the shepherds treat their sheep, not with protecting the shepherds from
the sheep as this passage has been twisted to imply.
To summarize, we found that God's Word leaches that the shepherd
is to feed, lead, and oversee the general direction of the church, without
ruling the lives of the sheep, he is to keep order in meetings, deal with
heretics, divisions and known sin in the Church. We found that the sheep
are to respect and cooperate with their pastors, but follow him only as
he follows Christ. We also found that the sheep are to look out for
one another, minister to one another and provoke each other to love
and good works.
In this teaching we are going to look at the Early Church to see
how they related to leadership in the book of Acts and the Epistles.
PRECEPT AND EXAMPLE
In rightly dividing God's Word it is always a good policy to look
for both precept and example before accepting a particular doctrine.
False cults often twist the meaning of a scripture, but if we look for
examples of how the Early Church "functioned, we can quickly recognize
the error. All major truths can be seen by both precept and example
in the Bible, for in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word
be established. Precept and example are two reliable witnesses.
If Shepherdship teaching was really correct, we would see the Early
Church obeying men as their delegated authority set by God to rule over
their lives. However, quite the opposite is true. As we look into the
scriptures, we can quickly see they practiced obedience to Jesus and the
Holy Spirit first and foremost, and there was no concept of obedience
to a human authority structure whatsoever.
OBEY GOD OR MAN ?
In Acts 5:18 Peter and some of the apostles were put in prison
for preaching the gospel. We all know that God ordained secular government
in the Noahic Covenant, yet in verse 19 the angel of the Lord led
them in a jailbreak. The authorities proceeded to forbid them to preach,
yet in verse 29, Peter and the apostles stated that "We ought to obey
God rather than men". God was the higher authority and He would not
let human authority interfere with His purposes.
In Acts 10, we see God sending Peter to preach the gospel to the
household of Cornelius, opening up the gospel to the Gentiles. We see
that Peter did not ask the other apostles if he could go, he just
obeyed God and went. It is clear that they probably wouldn't have let
him go if he had asked because in Acts 11:2, we see that they "contended"
with him and he had to patiently explain the whole episode before they
realized it was really God. As Gentiles, we should be grateful that Peter
had not heard our current Shepherdship teaching about submission to delegated
authority. If he had believed that error, we might never have
received the gospel in the first place.
THE APOSTLE PETER'S BLUNDER
Many have mistakenly thought that Jesus appointed Peter as head
of the Church. We all agree that he was a leader in the Early Church,
yet like us, he could get in the flesh and make mistakes. In Gal. 2:11-
14, we see that he compromised and would not eat with the Gentiles
because he feared the disapproval of the Jews. Peter was technically
Paul's elder, yet Paul called him down publicly over the matter and it
would appear that Peter humbled himself and accepted correction. This
would be unheard of in Shepherdship circles. It would be like the cell-
group-leader publicly correcting the pastor of the church. The Early
Church valued truth above men's positions and the elder received correction
from the younger when necessary.
PAUL AND BARNABAS
After his conversion, Paul went to Jerusalem (Acts 9:26-27) but
the Christian leaders rejected him at first. Barnabas had to go and talk
the apostles into receiving Paul. Barnabas was a junior novice compared
to the 12 apostles, yet he had to get it through their thick heads that
Paul was chosen of God.
When Paul received his commission from God to preach the gospel
to the Gentiles, he "conferred not with flesh and blood"(Gal.1:16-18).
Three years later, he went up to Jerusalem to tell the leaders what he
had been doing, not to ask their permission. In this passage, Paul makes
a special point to explain that he did not ask the apostles before he began
to preach the message God gave him. Hearing from God was enough.
In Acts 13:1-3, the Holy Ghost sent Paul and Barnabas out as missionaries.
In this case, the elders didn't send them, but they did recognize
that the Holy Ghost was sending them out and they agreed with Him.
In Acts 15:38-39, a strong disagreement arose between Paul and
Barnabas over whether to take John Mark on their trip. Paul didn't trust
him because he had departed from the work at Pamphylia. Barnabas
wanted to give him another chance. Each had a strong conviction, so
Paul took Silas and Barnabas took John Mark and they went off in different
directions and God blessed them both! Now Barnabas was older in
the Lord than Paul, so he should have submitted to his elder (according
to Shepherdship authority teaching}, but he didn't. Or, perhaps now it
was becoming clear that Paul was the leader, so Barnabas should have
submitted to Paul but he didn't. This shows us that both men felt free
to disagree on an - important matter and no one had to submit to anyone,
they could separate and still be blessed because there is liberty to have
different points of view on issues like this. Later on Paul used John Mark
as a very helpful minister after he had proven his faithfulness.
PAUL STANDS ALONE
In Acts 21:4 and 12-13, all the prophets and elders warned Paul
not to go up to Jerusalem lest he be bound and thrown in jail, yet Paul
refused to submit to their word and insisted on going anyway. In this
case,we believe they all got a true word from the Lord for him, but
they misinterpreted it and were all wrong but he was right. By Shepherdship
standards, his refusal to submit would be termed the worst kind of
rebellion, but it was not. Again, this shows us the danger of submitting
to man. In this case they meant well. We can see that they had heard
from God, nevertheless they misinterpreted it all to mean that he was
not to go to Jerusalem, yet God had told him to go. He did go to jail
in God's will and later God got him out. Sincere Christian leaders may
miss God just like they did and give wrong counsel. They may hear from
God for you and yet put a wrong interpretation on what you are supposed
to do. God may not necessarily explain everything to someone else, but
He will be faithful to make it clear to you, if you will look only to Him
and not to others. If Paul had submitted to the prophets and elders
in this case, he would have missed God. Many sincere Christians are
missing God today because they are submitting to man.
PAUL'S APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY
Paul was an apostle in the Body of Christ, which is a much higher
ministry than a pastor, yet he never took direct personal authority
over anyone, nut even the Churches which he had founded. Notice the
way he appealed to them in his epistles: II Cor.10:1..."I, Paul, beseech you
by the meekness and gentleness of Christ...",Rom. 12:1..."I beseech you
by the mercies of God...", II Cor. 1:23-24..:'To spare you I came
not to Corinth, not that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers
of your joy..", II Cor.4:5 "For we preach not ourselves but Christ Jesus
the Lord and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. . . "
Notice how Paul related to individuals I Cor.16:12 "As touching Apollos
I greatly desired him to come unto you... but his will was not at all to
come at this time." Paul was definitely an elder as compared to Apollos,
yet he did not command Apollos to come help him. He considered Apollos
a man in his own right to make his own decisions. He did not think
of him as a "submitted sheep". Some shepherdship pastors do not command
obedience, but they have the attitude, "When you grow up and become
more mature you will realize you should submit to my authority". This
is manipulation, and guilt-projection because it makes you feel small and
inferior until you get in line with their wishes. Notice that Paul did not
use this on Apollos. There was no disapproval, Apollos was a free member
of the Body of Christ, just as Jesus intended all of us to be.
I Thess. 2:7 "We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth
her children..."
Paul preached the Word of God with great power and authority, -
and God confirmed his preaching with signs and wonders, yet Paul held
no personal authority over anyone.
In Shepherdship thinking everyone must be submitted to a shepherd
and he is their "covering" or else they are out of God's order and totally
unprotected. However, Paul preached the gospel and raised up churches
in various cities and left them to function as prayer groups until leadership
gradually emerged. Two or three years later, he sent Titus to visit these
groups and ordain elders, after enough time had passed for God to raise
up leadership (Titus 1:5).
MORE EXAMPLES
When the angel visited the virgin Mary, she was engaged to Joseph,
almost the same as married, yet she did not go and ask Joseph if she
could have Jesus. She just obeyed God, and He made it right with Joseph.
God does not intend for us to ask a man before we obey Him.
Mary Magdalene didn't get permission from the apostles to announce
the resurrection of Jesus and it's a good thing she did not, because they
probably would not have let her do it had she asked.
Sapphira agreed with her husband Ananias to lie to the Holy Ghost
and was struck dead for it (Acts 5). In her case, she should have disobeyed
her husband's ungodly plan and lived out her life.
We can plainly see that the Early Church had no Shepherdship-submission
concept of authority at all, and they wrote the rule-book! The
Early Church flowed together in humility, co-operation and respect, yet
there was always leeway when the elder missed God to disagree and
go on following God for themselves. They practiced submitting one to
another in the fear of God, with the emphasis on God (Eph. 5:21).
JESUS' LAST EXAMPLE
Even after the last passover, the disciples were in strife over who
was to be the greatest. Jesus gave them their last great lesson by washing
their feet as an example of the nature of true, spiritual leadership. John
chp.13:12-16 Jesus broke the authorization concept of leadership for all
to see and follow.
19TH CENTURY EXAMPLES
We have enjoyed reading the biographies of the great saints of the
1800's such as Hudson Taylor who took the Gospel to China, C.T. Studd
to Africa, and later Rees Howells who turned the tide of World War II
through intercession. Often their pastors and spiritual leaders opposed
their calling and they were delayed a year or two wondering if they had
missed God because others were so sure they were wrong. This shows
us again that God does not necessarily confirm our guidance through our
leaders. A pastor tends to have a burden and vision for the local work
and he may fail to understand when God calls some away to other fields.
Many of God's greatest saints had to go it alone for a while before their
leaders recognized their calling.
HOW DO WE RECEIVE GOD'S GUIDANCE?
When we come to God for guidance we must put our own wills on
the alter and get our own wishes and opinions out of the way. We must
never seek guidance in an attitude of self-will (idols in our hearts) or we
are open to be deceived (see Ezek. 14:1-10)
God's Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our paths (Ps.
chp. 119:105). The Bible is the first place to look for guidance in the
affairs of life. It is certainly wise to seek godly counsel from someone
we respect before making major decisions. The purpose here is to see
if someone else may point out appropriate scriptures and Bible principles
which we may have overlooked previously.
After searching the scriptures and seeking wise counsel we then must
pray and seek God until we have a clear "inner witness" regarding His will
in the decision we face. Last of all we ask God for a clear confirmation
before we proceed. The confirmation may come in ANY WAY GOD CHOOSES.
For more teaching on guidance we recommend the book "How You Can
Be Led By the Spirit of God" by Kenneth Hagin. Also through Living Word
Tape Library, "Guidance" by Judy House may be obtained for a $2.00 contribution per copy.
SHEPHERDS' BLOCKS GUIDANCE
We must not look to man for our guidance or confirmations. No one
can grow to spiritual maturity unless he learns to follow God for himself.
(Rom. 8:14) "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the
sons (not babies) of God". In fact, God will not speak to us at all if we
are planning to check with man before we obey. John 7:17 gives us the
principle that if any man wills to do God's will, only then is he in a position
to receive guidance. God has to be God in our lives or He will not talk to us at all.
LAW VERSUS GRACE
Shepherdship attempts to motivate Christians through the law principle,
fear of punishment or hope of reward. Sheep often serve the shepherd
to win his approval and avoid being rebuked. Shepherds emphasize how
much they have done so their sheep will feel duty bound and obligated to
serve them and guilty to think of leaving their church. We need to set
God's people free to serve God's grace and love not duty and obligation.
Legalism produces a servant doing his duty, but only grace produces a son
gladly giving all to Jesus out of a heart overflowing with love because
he loves his Father and understands His unconditional love and grace. A
pastor is called to be an able minister of the new covenant, not of the
letter, but of the spirit: for the letter (Shepherdship, legalism) killeth, but
the spirit (liberty, grace) giveth life. (II Cor. 3:6)
FOLLOW GOD'S GLORY-CLOUD
If God's work is to go toward, it must never again be bogged down
with a Dark Ages authority structure, where we must check with man before
we can obey God. The Protestant Reformation began to move toward when
the Church got back to the Bible and re-discovered the fact that we don't
need a priest or a saint as our mediator. We can hear and follow God
for ourselves. The Reformation has continued only as far as men would
follow God in their generation. Men must be set free to come out from
under their leaders if necessary and follow the glory cloud when God begins
to move toward.
God is calling thousands of laborers into the harvest field in these
last days, yet Shepherdship would keep them being discipled under their leaders,
never able to grow up and leave the nest. Shepherdship is the devil's strategy
to hinder the great end-time harvest of souls. God does not want to bring
a revival to put His babies in bondage to men.
We Christians have a part to play enabling God to accomplish His purposes
in our city and nation. We can: (1) intercede pulling down strongholds
of Shepherdship error and bondage, (2) pray that laborers be sent into the
harvest-fields to raise groups and Churches to teach God's Word in liberty
and truth, (3) teach and share the truth for people to recognize error and
come out into the light, free to follow God, not man.
In Chapter III we will discuss typical marks of Shepherdship so that
it can be easily recognized whenever it is encountered.
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