“Pastor, Pastor, Pastor”
“Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.”
(Job 32:21-22)
Any letter written by an apostle to any congregation never once mentions a pastor, doesn’t that tell you something? They do not exist, at least…not in the way they are understood in modern times.
The only leadership mentioned are elders (plural) and deacons (plural), that is it. Paul never once called himself or anyone else a pastor and neither did Peter (1st Peter 5:1).
If anyone had the right to call themselves “pastor” it would be Peter or Paul would it not?
He then tells the elders (always plural) to shepherd/pastor the flock. That is what the word pastor means, does it not? He then goes on to say “not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.” (1st Peter 5:3)
The majority of modern day “pastors” (sic) use the Scriptures out of context to exhort money from the gullible, in the form of a salary. It is all another form of clericalism which the Lord Jesus hates (Revelation 2; Mark 10).
Test All Things 
A lot to examine. I need to look this matter over more to ascertain these things. Started rethinking some things after realizing I might be off on some of my understanding. I appreciate the post and finding myself not as well versed as I thought. Cheers.
I was very confused for many years because there are so many opinions from so many schismatic denominations (a work of the flesh – Galatians 5). I think it was 10 years ago that God opened my eyes to understand the Nicolaitan church system was a counterfeit of the real body of Christ. The “church” system is a matrix. 🙂
“The matrix is all around you…it’s there when you go to church.” No kidding, they invented the “church” system. 🙂
Hear your words mate thinking the same was I. After reading the “Church, What Is It” the direct rendering of ekklesia was not there so now when I read “church” it’s that word alone that is an automatic flag. The word itself has been used as a noun but in truth describes (if carefully read in context) means “called out” or by context referring to a particular group of called out one” as in a gathering or fellowship of His sheep. It’s right there where membership was being inserted to seal the fellowship only problem “Church” isn’t formed by men but by God when He does the adding. kyriakos is a more direct word but ekklesia is the TR word it’s translated from so in reality the word is made up so has no meaning. It’s there like you mentioned as a building which leaves it open to misapplication and invented things like memberships so why no stretch it farther to a bureaucracy. aka hierarchy. Scary stuff. I’m prone to take a large number of steps back and realize why our world got so corrupt.
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 1 Peter 2:17
Church was invented to clarify above because no word existed before. If you understand God’s word hear it is understood called out “ekklesia” unless the word kyriakos then it’s “belonging to the Lord”.
This confuses me a bit…there are many pastors quoted on this website, and many sermons from them as well.
To clarify. A gospel preacher is not a Nicolaitan, and just because an assembly is not following the correct pattern of the new testament does not mean that they are not an assembly, and it also does not mean I cannot teach what is clearly taught in Scripture in fear of upsetting a few brethren who need to prayerfully consider that their “church” practices confuse the sheep and are not grounded in Scripture. I know many faithful under-shepherds of Christ who would agree with this article. There are many who have woken up so to speak and even though they are in a role where they are called pastor they certainly do not behave like a Nicolaitan. Essentially, the Nicolatian church system is Roman Catholism and although many attempted to reform her they still followed and did not reject their “church” model that is more like a patent of the old testament levitical priesthood than the new testament ekklesia. :)
The brothers I endorse on this website are faithful gospel preachers. I have been around many of them and they have been given a heart to feed Christ’s sheep with a faithful gospel witness, and are feeding the flock of God. I do not and would never aim this message at them (they even wrote some of the Nicolaitan articles). At the same time, I know that this article is true, and if they call themselves “pastor so and so” because they have not been taught correctly then I do not agree with them but still love them as my brothers in Christ and support them and lead the sheep to be encouraged by their faithful gospel witness. 🙂
Ro 14:5. guess I can’t find one I’d care to fellowship with.
“And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.” (Luke 21:20)
Just wanting to understand the issue. It sounds like you’re saying it’s the title people are using and also the desire gain money from the flock? I’m with you, I’m not for “titles” (especially “Reverend”…or…”the VERY Reverend”).
Yes :)
And the desire to gain the preeminence. The one man show is not Scriptural. However, a faithful shepherd will serve the flock with a motive to feed the flock of God, seeking to give all the preeminence to Christ.
Ok. That makes total sense. Thanks for clarifying.
It’s there where we run into the caves if the doctrine is seriously compromised kind of like an educational institution of wokeness or my education verses what the Father has given you. That is where I draw the line. “Nic’s” I believe show their ugly head up and it’s infiltrating into our fellowships to where certain words like “bastard child” or “unnatural affection” get thwarted thus watering down truth for a lie. Before you know it you’re centering around a person that becomes the authority, because the goal is to steer away from truth. Satan is the author of confusion.