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Welcome to the Sub Domain, www.unbannedbiblepublications/e-books |
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Jesus Christ is the Creator God |
UNSCRIPTURAL HIERARCHY OF RULING CHURCH ‘ELDERS’ |
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Renette Vermeulen
© COPYRIGHT NOW UNBANNED PUBLICATIONS NONE OF THESE BOOKS AND ARTICLES ARE FOR SALE, YET THE CONTENT AND CONTEXT MUST NOT BE ALTERED, SOLD OR USED IN MATERIAL THAT IS SOLD, CLAIMED OR PREACHED AS PERSONAL PROPERTY AND REVELATION, DISTRIBUTED FOR PERSONAL GAIN, OR MISUSED IN ANY WAY Subjects · True ministers are stewards and servants, who have no rank or preference, except in the unbiblical “rise of the bishops” · Where did the words “bishop” and “deacon” come from? These are merely separate church offices for hierarchical ‘elders.’ · Translators of the Bible substituted the concept of the “servant or [spiritually mature, God-called] elderly” with the words ‘bishop,’ ‘elder,’ minster’ and “deacon” to make them into ‘important’ and well-paid hierarchical church posts for unscriptural clergymen. · Because they are misogynists, the ‘elders and bishops’ excluded women from their all-male hierarchy. True scriptural ‘elderly’ and not unbiblical ‘elders’ have the real anointing of the Holy Spirit. God “poured out His Spirit on all His male and female servants (ministers/elderly,) and they shall prophecy, [teach, lead, etcetera,]” (Acts 2:17-18.) Spiritually, there is no longer race, social status, or gender in the truly born again body of Christ, (Gal. 3:28-29.) · The “Jezebel spirit” does not mean ‘women in ministry’ but ‘male and female seducers who call God’s servants to follow strange spirits!’ · “But someone has to take control!” someone shouted. Yes, the Holy Spirit must be given control. · Was it Paul and the other “elderly’s” ‘right’ to claim tithing and extort money from Jesus’ believers?
JESUS COMMANDED GREAT HUMILITY NOT THE VERY ‘IMPORTANT’ OFFICES OR POSTS OF THE ‘ELDER’ CHURCH HIERARCHY In their wonderful book, ‘The Great Ecclesiastical Conspiracy,’ Davis and Clark wrote, “The early believers followed the Lord’s example and instruction on this all-important matter [of ecclesiastical servant-slave leadership,] and they viewed servanthood as the highest vocation. But by the close of the first century, the rise of the [so-called] hierarchical elders, bishops [and deacons] began, ever so cunningly, to corrupt the simplicity of the faith and to defile the example of the humble Christ… The anointed consists of all those [male and female,] whom God has sanctified to be His people, (1 John 2:27; Acts 2:17-18; Gal. 3:28,) not a king, [pope, ‘head’ elder, human high priest,] or a ‘special breed’ of ruling ministers [called ‘deacons,’ ‘elders’ and the bishops that supposedly outrank them.] True ministers were not called to rule, but to serve… [Therefore,] the act of serving is not an office, [and a ranking order;] it is not a clerical job, nor a seat of authority, but the labor of love, of a life laid down… “To the [physical replica of Jesus’ Spiritual priesthood,] a woman could not ‘hold an office,’ and the idea of serving being an office was what they were trying to justify… Throughout the entire New Testament, the word “office” is found nowhere in the Greek text in connection with the ecclesia, [the assembly of the sons, bride, and body of Christ.] Yet it is used five different times in the King James Version of the Bible… We do not deny that there were those whose lives were set aside to serve the [true Biblical] saints in the first century ecclesia [or assembly of believers, as it is still today.] However… true servants were [and are] simply following the example of Jesus Who ‘made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant…’ (Phil. 2:7.) “What in the world is a bishop… There is that word office again! ...It is amazing how much one little word can change the meaning of a passage of Scripture… [Jesus forbids His disciples to lord over one another, 1 Pt. 5:3.] Frank Daniels interpreted ‘presbuterion’ [the so called super spiritual ‘elders’ or ‘ministers’] as ‘the elderly ,’ [actually spiritually mature believers, called by the Holy Spirit Himself and equipped for service by their true knowledge of, and personal obedience to the real truth of His Word..] We recognize that being elderly does not necessarily make one Godly or fit for service in the body of Christ… The elderly in reference here are the Godly, elderly [or who laid down their lives for the flock, who followed in the footsteps of the serving Christ…” To be great and important in the sphere of religion is not a new aspiration. It stems from the fallen nature of sinful man without God. A religious mother once asked Jesus, (Matthew 20:21-28,) to seat her two sons in His kingdom, one on His right and one on His left. But Jesus replied, “You know that the princes of the [unbelieving] Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you. 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…” Jesus’ teachings on pride and ungodly ambition are unmistakably clear. He also demonstrated His humble ministry to all people and especially to His disciples by physically washing their feet AS AN EXAMPLE of His own humility. The sins of pride and self-centeredness are the essence of Satan, the mastermind of all religiosity without a personal relationship with God in Christ. As a result, reborn believers must die to their sinful love of self and religious aspirations to live in the true calling of God, (Gal. 2:20; 2 Cor. 5:17.) Different from those who are mere church members, Scripturally and personally born again leaders must be humble servants to believers and willing “slaves” to Christ, which is NOT a prohibition to better oneself as God opens opportunities for His gifts, (1 Corinthians 12:1-11,) as Jesus explained in the parable of the talents, (Mt. 25:14-30.) It is a ban on reckless ambition and the love of money and selfish and sinful control over people. The opposite attitude must reign in those who live in a Scriptural relationship with God, and especially in those who serve in His Kingdom just because they love His body of believers and strive to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, (1 Cor. 7:20-23.) So, Paul instructed in 1 Timothy 6:6-12, “Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out. Having food and shelter, let us be therewith content. [Because God, and not Mammon, the god of money and other materialism, must be our highest priority.] But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare… and pierce themselves with many sorrows.” We cannot serve God and Mammon. Nor can we serve God and idolatrous Kingdom-Now religion, and pretend to be humble servants of Christ while inwardly we are “ravenous wolves” who “lord over the flock” and control them to deceive, use, and abuse them — and worst of all in so doing, shift their focus from heaven to outward pretences of importance and other material things, (Mt. 6:24.) Hence, Paul drew our attention to Romans 12:3-5: “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, [do not be puffed up, arrogant, proud, unteachable, unapproachable, and sinfully ambitious,] but think soberly...” God’s grace does not differ from person to person, but His calling and gifts do, (1 Cor. 12:11.) Our calling and gifts do not make anyone ‘more important’ than another, as we receive everything by the grace of God. That’s why He Alone is worthy of all glory, honor and praise! Paul knew this, therefore he wrote in Romans 2:11: “God does not show partiality, undue favour or unfairness; with Him one person is not different from another.” The only place where so-called ‘importance’ among believers exists is in the religious system where arrogant people carry the spear of spiritual independence in their hands. Independence from God, fuelled by their idolatrous pride and haughtiness. “Be not called Rabbi… and Father, [religious titles of honor],” Jesus commanded the disciples in Mathew 23:8-12, “for One is your Master: Christ, and you are all brothers.”
However, shortly after Jesus’ ascension, religion factions, titles of honor, rank and snobbishness sneaked in among believers. Still today, in the same church and denomination, so-called ‘importance’ divide believers into stuck-up groups that have little in common with one another. It all began with the Roman Catholic clergy who still believe they are spiritually, even intellectually and of course financially, so much more important than the “laity.” Therefore, they still pretend to be gods themselves. This haughty hierarchy was and still is justified by the ghastly abuse of Mt. 16:18-20, which the Vatican made into a mandate to adore their so-called ‘divine’ priesthood — but in the context of Scriptural truth this is not so. And let us not forget the Protestant “clergy” and their lofty pride and sinful control over their church ‘laity,’ because during the Reformation they simply inherited all the most important norms and forms of Roman Catholicism to apply to their own church systems. In Mt. 16:18-20, Jesus was not exalting Peter as the ‘god or rock of the church.’ He was showing Peter his own place in God’s Spiritual Kingdom, as well as the form and structure of the genuine body of Christ. The footnote in the Spirit Filled Bible explains, “The Rock is not Peter as an individual, since Jesus substituted petra, a foundation rock or boulder, for petros, a fragment of the petra,” for all believers individually are ‘bricks’ of that great dwelling of God: the spiritual temple of the Holy Spirit.” Though Peter was an ordinary member of His body, Jesus fulfilled this promise at Pentecost when He used Peter to turn the Gospel-key to unlock heaven’s door for 3,000 souls, (Acts 2:41-43.) Still, this great miracle says nothing about Peter the ‘most important elder-god’ of the Vatican. It says everything about Jesus the most important Christ! In the context of Scriptural truth, Jesus actually said to Peter in Mt. 16:13-23, “[You are the one that could say that I am not John the Baptist, Elijah, or any of the other human prophets, but the Christ,] because flesh and blood did not reveal that to you, but My Father Who is in heaven. [Therefore, you have nothing to boast about. If you want to boast, boast in God.] Your name, Peter, means ‘rock’ [and to you as an example of one of My spiritual New Covenant priesthood,] I give the keys of My Kingdom, [which means that I will delegate the spiritual authority of My Kingdom to you as an example of a priest of My New Testament/Covenant, Melchizedekian priesthood.”] Then Jesus must have pointed to Himself, saying, “For on this Rock, I will build My true bride and body of believers, [and you and all your descendants of sincere believers will be merely My instruments in achieving this,”] (1 Cor. 3:11; 1 Pet. 2:9-10.) Peter was only one of Jesus’ instruments in this world to establish His New Testament bride or body - a little rock of the Great Rock, a humble little temple of the Grand Temple, a trowel in the Hand of the Greatest Builder and Creator of heaven and earth, and everything that lives on earth and in heaven. These spiritual keys of authority to unlock the Kingdom of God for everyone who would sincerely choose to believe in Jesus and accept His Gospel truth, testify to our right standing with God through Christ Alone, as John explained in 1:12-13: “To those who received Him, He gave the power, [authority, privilege, spiritual right], to become the children of God.” The keys of authority do not prove human importance of any kind. It speaks of the Master Who trusts His servants with the keys of His house. It conveys Jesus’ commission to His disciples, “Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them, [the disciples], in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you…” - Mt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8. Nevertheless, during the church-building era of Roman Catholicism, Satan pretended that Jesus said the following, “O great and important Peter, you are the rock of your church and you will build your church. To you I give the keys of heaven, [not “the keys of the kingdom.”] You may allow entry to whomever you please, and you may send to hell whomever you choose.” Rev. 20:11-15. With this falsification, the devil promoted the humble Peter to ‘saint, god, and pope Peter, gatekeeper of heaven’. This false Peter is a Christian replica of the pagan god Janus who holds the keys to the underworld. This impostor also became the most important among the Roman Catholic priests, the ‘high priest’ or the pope; the head of the Roman Catholic Church and all her Protestant church daughters. Because only Jesus Himself is the Eternal High Priest of the New Testament Covenant, and the Only Head of the His spiritual bride and body on earth and in heaven, this idolatrous view of ‘pope or god Peter’ placed ‘saint’ Peter as a false christ on the stage of Christian religion.
TRUE MINISTERS ARE STEWARDS, SERVANTS, AND SLAVES WITHOUT PAY, RANK OR PREFERENCE, EXCEPT IN THE UNBIBLICAL “RISE OF THE BISHOPS” When Jesus cried on the cross, “It is finished,” He became the One and Only High Priest of all His true believers. At that moment, He fully annulled the physical, Old Testament temple order (Heb. 8:13) with its physical Levitical priesthood to inaugurate His spiritual New Testament nation, His royal priesthood, as His only everlasting, spiritual temple, (Heb. 9:8; 8:1-6; 10:19-22; Eph. 1:22-23; 1 Pet. 2:9-10.) Since that day, every sincere believer is a king of the King, a priest of the High Priest and a Scriptural saint or a holy, spiritually and personally born again child of the Most High God, (Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2.) The New Testament priesthood of Christ has no rank or preference among them. Together, they “are His chosen generation, royal priesthood, holy [spiritual] nation, and His own special people, that they may proclaim the praises of Him Who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light,” 1 Pt. 2:9-10. By sincerely accepting the full atonement of Christ in their place, (Jn. 3:16,) “they were qualified to be partakers of the inheritance of the [Biblical believing] saints in the light. [For] He has delivered [past tense] them from the power of darkness and conveyed them [at the moment they sincerely believed and accepted Jesus, Jn. 1:12-13,] into [His spiritual] Kingdom... In Whom they have [present tense] redemption through His blood; the forgiveness of sins,” (Col. 1:12-14.) God did not submit His blood-redeemed spiritual nation to human lords or merciless commanders; all His believers must submit to the Scriptural authority of God above all else — and then to real Godly, human authority in the marriage and in other personal relationships, as well as in the assemblies of believers, (the ecclesia not the church, Eph. 5:21.) Jesus’ calling on the lives of His “elderly or servants” is a stewardship of the people who belong to Jesus, where they “watch out for their own souls and the souls of believers as those who must give account [of everything and everyone God had entrusted to them,]” Heb. 13:17. For far too long, believers have followed false doctrines and unscriptural church authority; justified by uncontextual and twisted Bible verses and passages that intend to substitute the truth of God’s Word and His Scriptural servant-elder(ly,) to lead His body into deception and to “make utensils” of them for their own private use. God’s Word is found in the entire Truth of Scripture, not just in a verse here and a passage there, taken out of context by wolves in sheep’s clothing.
The function of “ministers or servant-slaves” in the body of Christ In the context of Scriptural truth, the spiritual priesthood of Melchizedek (1 Pt. 2:9-10) only has the ‘elderly,’ (the spiritual ‘older’ or more mature servant-leaders,) to shepherd, teach, and thus ‘equip’ the body of Christ for servanthood, (Eph. 4:11; 1 Cor. 12:1-31.) Jesus Himself is the Only High Priest and Head of His body or spiritual priesthood. So, it seems practical that the other members of the body of Christ should do physical chores among the believers; falsely termed “deacon posts” in the church system. They can collect and distribute money, etcetera, for charity, (not collected by false extortion such as ‘tithing” but by giving freely,’) wait tables, and do other physical chores while also taking physical care of one another as members of the same body to assist the spiritual ‘elderly’ in their spiritual ministry, or servant-slave service. The spiritual ‘ministry’ or the shepherding of the assemblies is the task of truly God-called and equipped elderly - all hierarchical, ruling, church “ministers, pastors, etcetera” excluded. Thus, the servant-ministers or “elderly,” just as the ‘deacons’ or other serving members of the body of Christ, must live Holy-Spirit filled, consecrated lives as examples to one another to glorify the Name of their Chief Shepherd Jesus, to be His instruments in building His blood-redeemed body of believers, (1 Tim. 3:8-13.) It seems logic that God may call those who teach the Word, visit the sick, preach, lead the congregation in prayer, or shepherd home-assemblies, to first serve the body on a physical level until they are spiritually mature enough to form part of the servanthood of elderly. “For those who have served well as [servants or elderly] obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus… (1 Tim. 3:13.) Thus, the [elderly] must not be... double-tongued, given to much wine or greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith [the true Gospel of Christ] with a pure conscience. But they must first be tested, [proving that they are faithful to Jesus and dedicated to serving His body; growing in Godly wisdom, Holy-Spirit leading, and real Scriptural truth,] then, let them serve as [elderly,] being found blameless…” · As God’s spiritual Kingdom is a Theocracy, (a completely God-reigned Kingdom,) He Alone chooses only proved, truly Spirit-filled servants and handmaidens (the male and female elderly,) who live clean, moral lives, (1 Tim. 3; Acts 2:17-21; 13:2-4.) Above all, this elderly should be “doers of the Word” and disciples who “rightly divide the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15.) They must be faithful stewards, who understand the truth of the Word contextually and constantly apply its commandments and principles to their own lives first. · True, Scriptural ‘elderly’ are completely different from the hierarchy of ‘elders’ in the Christian church, which is a democratically elected top-structure. Real Biblical elderly, chosen and ordained by the Spirit Himself, function from the ‘bottom’ or from among ‘ordinary’ members of the body of Christ, (being ordinary members of the body themselves,) where all the elderly [spiritually] “wash the feet,” or humbly minister to their fellow believers in conjunction with one another: Jn. 13:14; 1 Cor. 4:1-2. This is so because the kingdom of God is a spiritual Kingdom where Jesus Alone reigns as High Priest and King. Paul explained this important principle in 1 Cor. 4:8-16: “We, [the servant-elderly], are looked upon as fools on account of Christ, but you, [the glitzy religious church ‘elder’ clergy], are supposedly so amazingly wise and prudent in Christ! We, [the servant-elderly], are weak, but you, [the religious hierarchy of elders], are so strong! You are highly esteemed, but we are in disrepute and contempt! [While you are being kept in luxury through your abuse of the Old Testament ceremonial temple Law], to this hour… we still toil unto weariness for our living, working hard with our own hands…”
Where did the words “bishop” and “deacon” come from, and do these separate posts or offices differ from that of “elder?” Peter wrote in 1 Pet. 5:1-4, “The elderly [not ruling elders but spiritual mature servants] among you I exhort, I who am a fellow [elderly or servant, not an exalted ‘elder,’] a witness of the suffering of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed. Shepherd [and do not drive or rule and oppress] the flock of God which is among you, [you are not exalted above them. Thus, you must] serve as overseers, [not rule as prison guards, but guide and protect as stewards;] not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples [not commanders] to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd [and High Priest]] appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.” A human ‘chief or head elder,’ ‘high priest,’ ‘bishop,’ ‘cardinal,’ ‘archbishop,’ ‘pope,’ or other exalted ruler does not exist! John the Beloved also called himself a mere elder[ly] (not an important ‘elder,’) in 2 John verse 1, and 3 John verse 1. Even more horrible than the haughty ‘elder’ distortion, are the so-called ‘higher ranking’ office or post of “bishop,” and the alleged “lower rank” or post of deacon, which sinful, religious men deliberately installed into the Bible to justify this unscriptural ‘ruling priesthood.’ The following was partially extracted from Wikipedia and explain the Christian word BISHOP. “The Greek word for bishop is ‘episkopos,’ which was translated as “overseer” or “bishop” in the Bible; supposedly outranking even the ‘head elder’ deception. However, from the true context of Scripture, the compound notion of “servant-slave” should have been used here. “Episkopos” cannot be interpreted, (as paganism and Christianity do,) as someone as harsh and important as the director of a prison, but as a loving shepherd, steward, or care giver.” All Protestant and other followers of this Roman Catholic Church doctrine use the word “bishop” to establish the false perception that this “higher ruler” heads the “authority” of the “elder” hierarchy. So, the word “bishop” was deliberately written into Scripture to “legalize” the unbiblical, hierarchical structure of male priests in the churches. The Roman Church even added the “high priest” of the “bishops,” the “archbishop,” as well as the “cardinal” or “prince of the church,” and the pope” or the “holy father” of the church to this blasphemous deception. As all these unholy Roman additions, the use of the word “bishop” is unscriptural and forces an “office” of superior, elite, male domination upon the biblical “elderly” or servant-slaves of Christ. The use of “bishop” or “overseer” (and not steward, servant or shepherd-slave) in Acts 20:28, sanctioned this man-made church office, which supposedly ‘heads’ or ‘outranks’ the so-called ‘reverend’ or ‘godly elevated’ “elder” hierarchy. It is said that the word ‘minister” appears 34 times in the King James Version of the Bible. The word “minister” too, was historically used in the Roman Catholic Church to mean a ‘reverend god-man’ or clergyman, not a servant-slave of Christ. So, where one finds the word “minister” in the Bible, one can know that the church meaning of this word actually suggests a ruling ‘elder’ or a ‘bishop.’” In all churches the word “minister” was twisted to mean “master” or “manager,” while the Greek text and context of Scripture imply exactly the opposite. Leaders in the body of Christ are servants and not masters or lords (1 Pt. 5:3). Through all these distortions of the servanthood ministers of Christ, Bible translators have confused the form and function of the true body of Christ and their “assembling together,” the “ecclesia,” to further and maintain their great importance and highly paid ‘jobs’ in the church system. “The Greek word “diakonos” means “servant,” and specifically refers to the context of menial work, which all ‘servant-slaves’ of Christ or the true “elderly,” [not speaking of unscriptural, haughty church ‘elders,’] are supposed to do. Bible translators got the word “diakonos” right where they translated it as “servant.” But they also changed its meaning to understand the word as the important ‘office’ or ‘post’ of “deacon,” while they also translated it as “minister,” to refer this ‘post’ to the same context as a ‘reverend leader.’” By adding all these pagan notions of religious leadership to Christianity, Bible translators canonized their doctrine of the clergy/laity, hierarchical-priestly divide in both Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.
AS MISOGAMISTS, [HATERS OF WOMEN] THE “DEACONS, ELDERS” AND SO-CALLED “BISHOPS” EXCLUDED WOMEN FROM THEIR RULING, ALL-MALE HIERARCHY OF FALSE “PRIESTS” Misogynists argue the truth, but it is clear that in the home assemblies, (the ecclesia,) there were elderly (“elders”) prophet-teacher-leader servants among women as well. One example is Rom. 16:1 where Paul wrote, “I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant [minister elderly] of the assembly in Cenchrea.” The true meaning of “I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh... [and] on My ‘menservants’ and on My ‘maidservants,’ and they shall prophesy… [or preach, teach, pastor, build assemblies, etc.]” (Acts 2:17-18,) is as follows: Footnote, 1991 Spirit Filled Bible on Joel 2:28-29, “All flesh refers to true believers from every race, class, age, and gender,” because salvation can only be found in personal acceptance of, and obedience to Jesus Christ, (Jn. 3:16; 1:11-13.)” Gal. 3:28, “Spiritually in Christ, there is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, male nor female; for in Him you are all one [body and bride.” Hebrew Strong’s Concordance, no. 5650 and 8198 clarifies, “Men and maidservants are men and women [ministers]...” That’s why Paul could write in Gal. 3:28 & Eph. 4:24 that the spiritual body of Christ is completely without nationality, social class, or gender. Therefore, “put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the Image of Him Who created him, where there is [spiritually] neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, [male nor female, Gal. 3:28,] but Christ is all and in all [Scripturally and sincerely born again believer-followers,] (Col. 3:9-12.) Menservants and maidservants are therefore willing male and female ministering members of the same body, (Eph. 4:11.) This is the unchangeable, contextual truth of New Testament, New Covenant truth in our Lord Jesus Christ. · However, all misogynists refuse to read the Scriptures in context, and use very strange passages that Paul supposedly commanded to discriminate against women on all levels of life. To them, every woman who fulfills the Holy Spirit calling of “elderly” in her life, is supposedly possessed by the Jezebel spirit! However, this is simply misogynist witchcraft. The spirit of Jezebel, according to New Testament truth, has nothing to do with women per say, or with women teachers and preachers in the Kingdom of God - just read this whole passage in Rev. 2:20-29 in context. In fact, misogynist male witches have the spirit of Jezebel in them, according to the truth of God’s Word, for they “call themselves |