The Local Church

How To Shop For A Church

2009-05-25T06:27:00.000-07:00

The Pastor/priest: Where Did He Come From?

2005-11-17T17:38:00.000-08:00

The Pastor: Where Did He Come From?

by Frank Viola

http://www.ptmin.org/thepastor.htm

It is a universal tendency in the Christian religion,
as in many other religions, to give a theological
interpretation to institutions which have developed
gradually through a period of time for the sake of
practical usefulness, and then read that
interpretation back into the earliest periods and
infancy of these institutions, attaching them to an
age when in fact nobody imagined that they had such a
meaning.

-Richard Hanson

The Pastor.[1] He is the fundamental figure of the
Protestant faith. He is the chief, cook, and
bottle-washer of today’s Christianity. So prevailing
is the Pastor in the minds of most Christians that he
is better known, more highly praised, and more heavily
relied upon than Jesus Christ Himself!

Remove the Pastor and modern Christianity
collapses. Remove the Pastor and virtually every
Protestant church would be thrown into a panic. Remove
the Pastor and Protestantism as we know it dies. The
Pastor is the dominating focal point, mainstay, and
centerpiece of the modern church. He is the embodiment
of Protestant Christianity.

But here is the profound irony. There is not a
single verse in the entire NT that supports the
existence of the modern day Pastor! He simply did not
exist in the early church.

(Note that I am using the term “Pastor” throughout
this booklet to depict the modern pastoral office and
role. I am not speaking of the specific individuals
who fill this role. By and large, those who serve in
the office of Pastor are wonderful people. They are
honorable, decent, and often gifted Christians who
love God and have a zeal to serve His people. But it
is the role they are fulfilling that both Scripture
and church history are opposed to as this article will
show.)[2]

The Pastor is in the Bible . . .
Right?

Man Who Protested at Mass Is Charged

2005-07-24T05:48:00.000-07:00

Man Who Protested at Mass Is Charged: "Man Who Protested at Mass Is Charged
By Caitlin Liu, Times Staff Writer

July 23, 2005

Prosecutors filed misdemeanor charges Friday against a man who handcuffed himself to Cardinal Roger M. Mahony's chair during a recent Sunday Mass to protest the archdiocese's handling of the priest sex abuse scandal.

Victim advocates said they were outraged by the charges against James C. Robertson, who contends he was abused.

Robertson, 58, of Mount Washington, has sued the church, alleging he was molested by two Catholic brothers at a Gardena high school during the 1960s. He faces up to 1� years in jail and $2,000 in fines on charges of trespassing and disrupting a religious service.

'It's unbelievable,' said Steven Sanchez, the Los Angeles director of Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests. 'For the last five or six decades, priests have gone and confessed to Cardinal Mahony or his predecessors that they were molesting kids, and all this time, Cardinal Mahony and his predecessors could not find the LAPD's phone number … until [Robertson] makes a silent protest.'"

A Few Books Written about Roman Catholicism

2005-07-24T05:21:00.000-07:00

Sex, Priests and Power Anatomy of a Crisis - A.W. Richard Sipes

Lead Us Not Into Temptation: Catholic Priests and the Sexual Abuse of Children - Jason Berry

Vows of Silence: The Abuse of Power in the Papacy of John Paul II - Jason Berry, Gerald Renner

Bill Handle Interview with Former Priest

2005-07-24T05:20:00.000-07:00

It's only in America that the filth inside of the dark institution of Roman Catholicism has begun to be exposed.

The Press, media and the courts have made a tremendous difference says former priest, A.W. Richard Sipes. While Sipes was in Rome in 1994 he and asked an offical, "Why is it that Rome doens't acknowledge the problem that we're having? The response, "In Rome the vatican can't figure out why the bishops can't control the press and the courts better."

Click here to learn a little more about what the Roman Catholic institution is really concerned about, and to get a glimpse at how deep this problem really goes.

Keep in mind that when a cardinal is ordained a cardinal by the pope, he kneels before the pope and takes a vow which includes, "I vow to keep secret anything that is confieded to me that if revealed would cause scandal to the church."

Dead priest left legacy of pain, fear

2005-06-07T03:53:00.000-07:00

Dead priest left legacy of pain, fear

San Franciscan Selected by Pope

2005-05-27T22:48:00.000-07:00

William Levada, who currently fills the catholic office of archbishop in San Francisco has now been promoted to head the "congregation for the doctrine of the faith," formerly known as, the office of the inquisition.

In the San Francisco Chronicle, Don Lattin writes:
Pope Names San Franciso Archbishop as orthodoxy chief

"Pope Benedict XVI today named San Francisco Archbishop William Levada to lead the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith - making the Bay Area leader the church's top cop for doctrine and second most powerful man in Rome."

>snip

"Looking back, however, one can see early signs of Levada's destiny during his formative years of seminary study at the North American College and the prestigious Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

His doctoral dissertation was on papal infallibility."

>snip

A Dream About a Minister's Wife

2005-05-17T01:04:00.000-07:00

No Special Seating

I had a dream that the trumpet had sounded and the
dead in Christ had risen and we which were alive had
been caught up to meet the Lord.

A banquet table was spread and there was much
excitement with joy flooding the place as we began to
seat ourselves for the great feast in the presence of
our Lord and Savior.

A woman came in who I recognized as a minister's wife.
She began looking for a place set for her, but there
was not any, for no one had a special place set.

Surely her position required that a special place be
set, but no, there was not any. She looked around and
there were those that did not have much in life, yet
had kept the faith. Some had been poor and some that
had been old and had lost their usefulness in life.
There were those that had no husbands and those that
had husbands, but they were simple men and not very
educated. There had been those that had struggled with
many children to raise, that were just a pain to be
around in life, especially the ones with children that
did not have fathers to whip on them.

There were some that had always worn clothes from the
give away rack at the thrift stores, as well as those
that had been repulsive drunkards who had reached out
to the Lord just in time.

People that were simple and not of any high degree in
the church. There were those that didn�t seem to
belong to any group and mostly kept to themselves.
They had not seemed to possess any special talent and
most of them lacked money.

The woman continued to look for her place. There was
no separate table reserved like the ones they had at
all the other meetings where the ministers and their
wives would congregate. No special seating
preparations for the wives of pastors anywhere to be
found. None of the congregation were there waiting to
seat her first, or to serve her as they had so humbly
did for so many years. There was no separation at all
from the others that were just members of the
congregation.

She went about looking for her place and just could
not find it. Nor could she find anyone to sit by,
because she just could not fit in. Her clothes and her
finery were so out of place here. Her husband was no
where to be found, nor any of her other friends in the
ministry that she used to sit next to.

Fear began to take hold of her, as she began to look
about. Then an angel came to her and spoke saying, you
will not find a special place here because all are
saints and there is only One who sits on the throne.

You had your special place in life where you
segregated yourself with your position full of
prestige and pomp and there is not any in this place.
You surrounded yourself with fancies and finery that
most of these could not afford. This place has those
that have a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and
they are all dressed in white. There is no division.
These are the simple of the congregation who you could
not sit beside in the past. Besides, your clothing is
all wrong. No one is exalted here for they are all
just saints. You can�t expect to sit beside them now
here in this place. No, there is no place for you.

- a dream that a saint had 2005

BACKGROUNDER ON THE VIRGINIA STATUTE FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

2005-05-17T01:02:00.000-07:00

BACKGROUNDER ON THE VIRGINIA STATUTE FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

Where's the Pastor?

2005-04-28T14:41:00.000-07:00

Not in the Bible.

Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Psalm 119:165

Without looking, do you know how many times the word "pastor" can be found in the New Testament? How often do you hear the term, "the pastor" spoken among professing Christians? Where and how did and does this lone pastor, a type of CEO, and in too many cases, a dictator/ruler over the flock of God, derive his power? I challenge you to prove all things and see if the modern day pastor position is not biblically unsubstantiated and therefore unsound.

Do you know without looking? The word pastor, in singular form, is nowhere to be found in the New Testament. The word "pastor", singular, is found once in the Old. The word pastor is found only one time in the entire authorized version of the Holy Bible. Yet these days, as often as one is confronted with the term, you'd think that "the pastor" was the only office in the bible. With all due respect for the true gift of pastoring, we are inundated with man, woman and his or her dog either claiming they are or aspiring to be "the pastor."

Now, I thought that the word pastors (plural) was at least twice in the New. Not so, one time only is the word pastors, plural, found.

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; Ephesians 4:11

And that is it. That is the only place one can find the word pastors in the New Testament.

I thought it was also here: "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." I Cor 12:28

Where is the pastor? He is not in the bible. Teachers are there. But you won't find what Christiandom today refers to: a lone, solo, priest prototype or the misused term , "the pastor." He's just not there.

Why is it then, that a word found one time in the entire New Testament has become seemingly the only and particularly the most exalted ministry in modern religious circles? What does it mean to say, "Reverend so and so assumed the pastorate?" That which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. Luke 16:15 (King James Version)

So Jesus spoke to them: "You are masters at making yourselves look good in front of others, but God knows what's behind the appearance. What society sees and calls monumental, God sees through and calls monstrous. Luke 16:15 (The Message)

Could it be, that some, if not a vast amount of what we assume to be "just the way it is" is nothing less than false doctrine? Jesus said that some worship him in vain, teaching for commandments, the doctrines of men. Paul tells us "of your own selves" shall men arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after themselves. Paul went on to say, "Therfore watch and remember that by the space of three years, I ceased not to warn everyone night and day with tears." Acts 20

For three years the beloved apostle ceased not to warn every true, Apostolic, born again of water and spirit, Christian. Night and day with tears he warned them that after his departing, men whom he described as grievous wolves would enter in, not sparing the flock, the Apostolic church of the Holy One of Israel.

Why is this so important you may say. Maybe you're content with your local church just the way it is. The bible says,

Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Psalms 119:104 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. Psalms 119:128

The lone pastor system is a false one. Anything we practice that can't be supported with scripture is a hindrance to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jesus bought the church with His own blood. The least we can do is strive to be what He paid for, for the sake of the saints and whosoever will.

Sincerely I pray,
Lori Ann in L.A.

What is "clergy?"

2005-04-26T20:46:00.000-07:00

The bible tells us to prove all things. Has anyone ever proven that such a class called "clergy" being distinct and above a class called "laity" exists? Let God be true and every man a liar.
http://www.rickross.com/groups/clergy.html

Zero Tolerance for Sin

2005-04-25T01:27:00.000-07:00

The Holy Bible has a Zero Tolerance Policy for Unrepented sin. We read in Matthew 18 about Jesus speaking to his disciples and telling them,

...whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

But Praise be to God, the Lord didn't stop there. He goes on to give specific instructions for how to deal with sin. Verses 15-17 state:

15Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

17And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Now, in the case of a little child, or even a youth, the parents are directly responsible and accountable to God for their protection and care. Parents ought to never allow an opportunity for a child to be violated. Good parenting solves so much more than any other institution and is the masterpiece of God for childrearing. Responsible parenting includes just saying no to so called youth groups. Youth don't belong secluded with other youth and one adult. Adults(plural), parents(plural), role models(plural), and youth(plural) make for a healthy group.

But Glory and praise be to Jesus who clearly instructs Christians to "put away from among yourselves that wicked person."

This is a wonderful thing indeed. For as the world becomes darker and deadlier, the church, the true church of Jesus Christ continues to grow brighter and safer. If there is any place on earth where one should feel safe, it is among the church, the people of God. And if you don't feel safe there, there is either sin being tolerated or you're in the wrong place altogether. There's only one church. Accept no substitutes, no matter how grandiose in wealth or numbers it may appear. (Matthew 7:13-14) The only numbers that matter to Jesus are the numbers of those who are truly saved and ready to stand before Him. If you have six billion people, and out of those three have obeyed the gospel and are living a Holy life, then what you really have are three, whole people. And that's one more than it takes to meet with Jesus. It doesn't take a large group, a building or any other thing besides the Name of Jesus for believers to meet together with the Lord.

Pope 'Obstructed' Sex Abuse Inquiry

2005-04-25T01:13:00.000-07:00

Confidential letter reveals Ratzinger ordered bishops to keep allegations secret

The Song, Better Than the Singer

2005-04-18T16:13:00.000-07:00

The late Catholic commentator, Peter Hebblethwaite said of Catholics, regarding their response to John Paul II's moral stance on various issues, "They like the singer but not the song."

The singer was a complete stranger to me, but some of the song seems very much in tune, with the Word of God that is. It wasn't because of the singer. It was in tune because it was at least in part, some of God's song.

Christians (non-Catholics) are in agreement with the deceased pope's stand on various issues and see them as in line with the Holy Bible, while abhorring the mother of harlots.

A Current Poll Asks the Question, "What do you think is the biggest issue facing the new pope?"

Declining number of priests 20%

Birth control 13%

Women's role in the church 17%

Catholic church's relationship with other faiths (16%)

Something else 34%

Total Votes: 134

"Something else" wins out.

As far as priests' numbers declining, after the years of free info-mercial, surrounding the abuse scandals, discovered in the U.S. advertising safe haven/asylum for predator priests, the concern should be an increase in their numbers.

As far as I see, the pope's stance was in line with scripture on contraception.

Catholic women's role is abyssmal. While the stand on not allowing women to serve as bishops is not contrary to scripture, the women's ability to wield influence is immeasurably minimized in that the unsound hierarchy and forbiddance of men in leadership to marry, leaves women completely out of the loop, particularly in their primary roles as wives of bishops and mothers of bishop's children.

As for the Catholic's relationship with other faiths, the question is flawed. The Holy Bible acknowledges but One Faith.

Something Else. Yes. But what? It is called "the church." The church of what, the church for who? The world? I think so.

Is it the church for you? Choose ye this day whom ye will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Build your church Lord, build. Amen

Pseudo Priests/Pastors, Real Wolves

2005-04-18T03:06:00.000-07:00

Not everyone that walk, talks or dresses like a priest or pastor is.

The mainstream media constantly lumps Christianity together with Catholicism. Catholicism is not Christianity. Christianity is not Catholicism. Why do many Catholics refer to themselves as Christians while most Christians deny being Catholic? It may not disturb Catholics to be called Christians. But Christians object to the false accusation of being called Catholic.

The Roman Catholic organization is a counterfeit. The Church of Jesus Christ is not a man-made organization with a far away CEO and a human chain of command. It's not a business or in business.

There's only one church and if what you're calling church doesn't match the church in scripture, in the Holy Bible, then it's not the church.

The Church, the Glorious Church that Jesus is building is not an organization of men, but an organism of God. It's about locality and accountability. It's about local accountablity. There's not one on every corner, because the church is not a building. It's the collective group of believers in each city or a particular household.

Shame on every professed Christian who refers to himself or allows others to call him "pastor", "reverend" or the most vulnerable "father." Come down or be cast down from your self elevated and altered reality.
http://www.boston.com/globe/spotlight/abuse/overview/video_gallery/

One prosecutor of the pseudo priests remarked "They're taking care of themselves and leaving their victims out to dry." Of course, that's the instinctual reflex of the clergy club, knife the saints while guarding one another's back. God hates the deeds of the Nicolaitans and is pleased with saints who hate their deeds as well.

It's time we made this a test of fellowship. Come out her my people, says the Lord. If you are fellowshipping people or a man with a clergy-laity mentality, you are fellowshipping darkness.

Below is a map of sex abusers. I got tired before clicking on half of them.

http://www.boston.com/globe/spotlight/abuse/map/

Al Rantel, KABC talk show host was talking about how the death of the pope was a 2 week long info-mercial for the Catholic "church." I think the way child molestors are protected and shuffled around in the Roman organization is an ongoing info-merical advertising safe asylum for sex abusers.

But again, if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

Pedophile Priests and the Boy Scouts

2005-04-18T01:44:00.000-07:00

by David Kupelian

"Pedophile priests."

The phrase has such a great ring to it – for journalists, that is. It's hot, punchy (with that double-p alliteration) and short enough for headlines. All in all, a great tag for summing up one of the most sensational news stories of the year.

The only problem is – it's a lie.

It turns out the vast majority of the Catholic priests' offenses do not involve "pedophilia" – sexual contact between an adult and a pre-pubescent youth. Rather, they amount to sexual seductions of teen-age boys by predatory homosexual men who have abused their position of authority and trust.

"The real problem the Catholic Church faces," explains Father Donald B. Cozzens, author of "The Changing Face of the Priesthood," is the "disproportionate number of gay men that populate our seminaries."

>snip

The Scouting folks know what everyone with half a brain understands: that adults interested in sexual contact with young people gravitate toward careers and volunteer positions allowing proximity to their prey, positions such as coaches, teachers, scoutmasters – and priests.

>snip

The only problem for pro-homosexual journalists in all of this is: How do you get around the fact that it's smooth-talking predatory homosexuals that are the cause of the problems with the Catholic Church and with the Boy Scouts of America? Doesn't that spoil the "gays-are-just-normal-folks-who-want-equal-rights" argument?

No problem. Just call the bad priests "pedophiles." And pretend there is no connection between the issue of homosexual Scout leaders and sexual attacks on Scouts. And bingo, the homosexual issue drops off the public's radar.

By the way, I don't blame homosexual activists in any of this. They have a right to lobby, to persuade, to picket – they even have a right to twist facts, intimidate people and lie, as they typically do, as long as they aren't breaking the law.

I blame the news media. Unlike activists and lobbyists, the press is "sworn to tell the truth," so to speak. It's a sacred trust between them and the public who rely on them for accurate information. But they violate that trust as easily as breathing.

Bishops in the Holy Bible

2005-04-17T23:58:00.000-07:00

The term "bishop" is interchangeable in scripture and synonymous with two other terms: "elder" and "overseer." In the Holy Bible, a plurality of bishops along with deacons are to shepherd the flock in each city. A group of men, with no one man exalted over another, but who are brothers in the Lord, accountable one to another and to the saints.

A few things that bishops are not:

Bishops/elders/overseers are not sex offenders.

Bishops, elders or overseers are not forbidden to marry.

Bishops are not to be called father.

Bishops are not instructed to dress in effeminate garb, apparel, jewelry or to dawn crowns.

The Holy Bible does give us unequivocal requirements for a man who desires to serve as a bishop/elder/overseer.

Paul, the apostle in I Corinthians 14:37 states:

If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

Then Paul in II Cor 13:1 says:

1This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

Below are two different books of the bible, two witnesses that define biblical bishopricks:

In the Book of 1st Timothy, Paul, the Apostle told Timothy:

1This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

4One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

5(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

6Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

7Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. I Timothy 3:1-7

And in Titus, Chapter 1 Paul tells Titus:

5For 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:

6If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

7For 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;

8But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

9Holding 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.

10For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

11Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

12One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

13This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

14Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

15Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

16They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. Titus 1

Runaway Priests Hiding in Plain Sight

2005-04-16T23:22:00.000-07:00

http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/spe/2004/runawaypriests/

Predators in Rome

2005-04-16T22:09:00.000-07:00

April 13, 2005

Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Missouri, USA
SNAP Outreach Director
(Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests)
39 334 180 7425

We're here in the literal and figurative center of Catholicism.

This is perhaps the last place you might expect to find potentially dangerous clerics, allegedly celibate men who have been credibly accused of molesting children.

It saddens us to say this but several clerics have been identified as credibly accused child molesters. They either live or work in or near the Vatican.

At least some church officials have known of the allegations, in some instances, for years. For at least six months, these men and their frightening histories have been public knowledge, thanks to outstanding research by Dallas Morning News investigative journalists Brooks Egerton and Reese Dunklin.

Yet it seems that little, if any, action or safeguards have been taken to protect vulnerable youngsters.

This situation concerns us for several reasons.

First, we of course worry about the safety of innocent children and vulnerable adults here, around these men.

Second, we also worry about the signal this sends to other priests, those who are predators and those who are not.

Will predators believe or assume that there are few, if any, consequences for hurting a child?

Will good priests feel demoralized watching an abusive colleague who ignores celibacy and criminal laws, get an apparent promotion?

Third, we worry that these are not isolated incidents. In a year-long investigation, the Dallas Morning News discovered and documented more than 200 cases where admitted, proven or credibly accused Catholic clerics moved from one country to another, sometimes to evade criminal prosecution.

Church officials may claim some of these men are monitored, are safer here than in their home countries or dioceses.

We've heard these weak reassurances for years. They lead to complacency. And complacency never protects children. Complacency is reckless. Jesus does not call us to be reckless with the lives of his flock.

Church officials may also try to minimize the risk these men pose to others. "It was one incident." "It happened years ago." "He's been in therapy."

We've heard these rationalizations for years. They lead to complacency. And complacency never protects children. Complacency is reckless. Jesus does not call us to be reckless with the lives of his flock.

These hollow reassurances and misleading rationalizations also have been proven wrong time and time and time again. Many SNAP members are living proof that priests can't monitor, and supervise, and cure abusive priests.

We do not know for certain whether each of these potentially dangerous men is still in this area.

We do not know whether these men have abused youngsters here in Italy.

We do know, however, that child molesters are rarely, if ever, cured.

And we know that parents -- both Catholic and non-Catholic-- should be warned.

As best we can tell, they haven't been, despite repeated promises by church officials to be more honest about abuse cases.

This, we feel, is the very least church officials can do.

Beyond that, church leaders should take aggressive steps to reach out to anyone who witnessed, experienced, or suspected abuse by these men. Those victims and witnesses should be encouraged to contact law enforcement and to get therapy.

If these men are guilty, they should be locked up. We say this not in a spirit of vengeance, but in a spirit of concern - concern for the vulnerable. When molesters are behind bars, innocent children and vulnerable adults are safe.

The long term solution involves reforming criminal and civil laws (including extradition laws) that make it very hard for victims to expose, remove and imprison dangerous predators.

But in the short run, starting today, responsible Vatican officials must at least use every means possible -- church bulletins, web sites, diocesan publications, and verbal announcements -- to warn parents and reduce the chances that these clerics will not rape or sodomize others.

For more information:

In Rome:
Barbara Blaine of Chicago Illinois USA, SNAP Founder and President (312) 399 4747 cell

Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Missouri, USA, SNAP Outreach Director 39 334 180 7425 cell

In the US:
David Clohessy of St. Louis MO, SNAP National Director (314) 566-9790 cell, 314 645 5915 home

Mark Serrano of Leasburg VA, SNAP Board Member (703) 727 4940 cell, (571) 223 0042

Mary Grant of Long Beach CA, SNAP Board Member (626) 419 2930 cell

Peter Isely of Milwaukee WI, SNAP Board Member (414) 429 7259 cell, (414) 963 8617 home

www.snapnetwork.org

Matthew 24

2005-04-09T21:45:00.000-07:00

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2024;&version=9;

The Hireling Fleeth

2005-02-27T11:57:00.000-08:00

The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. John 10:13

Where's "the Pastor?"

2005-02-20T22:21:00.000-08:00

Not in the Bible.

Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Psalm 119:165

Without looking, do you know how many times the word "pastor" can be found in the New Testament? How often do you hear the term, "the pastor" spoken among professing Christians? Where and how did and does this lone pastor, a type of CEO, and in too many cases, a dictator/ruler over the flock of God, derive his power? I challenge you to prove all things and see if the modern day pastor position is not biblically unsubstantiated and therefore practically unsound.

The word pastor, in singular form, is nowhere to be found in the New Testament. The word "pastor", singular, is found once in the Old. The word pastor is found only one time in the entire authorized version of the Holy Bible. Yet these days, as often as one is confronted with the term, you'd think that "the pastor" was the only office in the bible. With all due respect for the true gift of pastoring, we are inundated with man, woman and his or her dog either claiming they are or aspiring to be "the pastor."

Now, I thought that the word pastors (plural) was at least twice in the New. Not so, one time only is the word pastors, plural, found.

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; Ephesians 4:11

And that is it. That is the only place one can find the word pastors in the New Testament.

I thought it was also here: "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." I Cor 12:28

Where is the pastor? He is not in the bible. Teachers are there. But you won't find what Christiandom today refers to: a lone, solo, priest prototype or the misused term , "the pastor." He's just not there.

Why is it then, that a word found one time in the entire New Testament has become seemingly the only and particularly the most exalted ministry in modern religious circles? What does it mean to say, "Reverend so and so assumed the pastorate?" That which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. Luke 16:15 (the context is interesting.)

Could it be, that some, if not a vast amount of what we assume to be "just the way it is" is nothing less than false doctrine? Jesus said that some worship him in vain, teaching for commandments, the doctrines of men. Paul tells us "of your own selves" shall men arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after themselves. Paul went on to say, "Therfore watch and remember that by the space of three years, I ceased not to warn everyone night and day with tears." Acts 20

For three years the beloved apostle ceased not to warn every true, Apostolic, born again of water and spirit, Christian. Night and day with tears he warned them that after his departing, men whom he described as grievous wolves would enter in, not sparing the flock, the Apostolic church of the Holy One of Israel.

Why is this so important you may say. Maybe you're content with your local church just the way it is. The bible says,

Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Psalms 119:104 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. Psalms 119:128

The lone pastor system is a false one. Anything we practice that can't be supported with scripture is a hindrance to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jesus bought the church with His own blood. The least we can do is strive to be what He paid for, for the sake of sinners and saints.

Sincerely I pray,
Lori Ann in L.A.