2057--clergy-laity divide

            In December, 2010, when I posted 100 two minute commentaries on various issues that are connected by the common thread that they are practices within traditional, corporate Christian churches that do not have a basis in scripture.  One of those was #57 on the apparent division between clergy and laity as different castes within the Christian faith.  Below, I have added additional information for a five minute time frame.

2057—clergy/laity divide

            My name is Tom; this is Simple Church Minute.  At the time Jesus walked the earth, all beliefs had priests, laypeople, temples, and sacrifices, and many cities and occupational skills were set up in a manner similar to a religion and actually acted as a belief to that city or group.  An example is Paul and the riot of the idol makers’ guild in Acts chapter 19, where a business trade and the city’s religion and its deviance and its profit centers are somewhat joined and confused.   When Jesus died, arose, ascended into heaven, and sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in the people of his New Covenant, he made a chosen people with characteristics unlike anything seen before on earth.  He introduced to his followers spontaneity, worship and honor of God without structure and ritual.  Within each believer, male or female, Jew or Gentile, the desire was to honor Jesus with all that was in them, as worship was how one lived one’s life, as opposed to participation or observation of rituals by a separate caste of religious workers.  Leadership was informal, by experience, spiritual gifting from God, character, and obedience to the Holy Spirit.  Academic status and human certifications had nothing to do with it.

            How then did the church wind up with a structure like the other beliefs around it?  The apostles opposed it.  Third John verses 9 and 10 speak against a man who liked to have the preeminence.  Revelation chapter 2 verse 6 may also be a warning of such a division.  Our wanting official human leaders seems to be a human temptation, given that in the Old Covenant, God set up judges, but we see in First Samuel chapter 8 verse 19 that the people wanted a king, so God allowed it, with the warning that they would be unhappy with that choice later.  For many of us, the warning about preeminence guides some of us to avoid leadership, and others who are not careful about that and other warnings taking up an official leadership position on their own.

            There were elders, who meant experienced, mature believers, who were leaders with a group, but no one was over another.  Elder was not an office, as First Timothy chapter 3 verse 1 appears to imply. No word that means “office” is in the original Greek of the New Testament in that sentence.  Apostles, persons with a gift to start churches, did so and occasionally revisited those churches, and had others visit.  Also, we see Peter, Paul, and John sent letters, and the apostles and elders in Jerusalem sent a short letter than appears in Acts 15.  Those are examples of apostolic oversight. Notably, those letters weren’t sent to any head person, they were sent to all of the church.  Also, in opposition to the chauvinistic nature of ancient societies, the leaders were not necessarily male.  In Romans 16, Phoebe is mentioned in verse 1, Priscilla in verse 3, and Junia in verse 7 is called an apostle, which rankles certain people in authority today.

            Shortly after the legalization of Christianity by the Roman Empire, the church wound up with buildings, and people were needed to oversee those buildings.  Orators began to quote unquote convert, fill those jobs, then had a regular speaking place, and eventually formed a clergy class.

            The word laity comes from the Greek word laos, which meant people, which are God’s new chosen people by faith.  All believers belong to that class. Believers may have grown in maturity to function as elders, or be gifted in some way, but there is nothing in scripture that indicates that they were a separate class.  A clergy class was an idea imported from other sources.  The word clergy comes from the Greek word kleros, meaning an inheritance. Within the church, all believers, as a group, are the church, which is God’s house, the Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ, the temple of the Holy Spirit.  We are all, by faith, his inheritance.

            Today, we have some organizational church corporations that have supposed clergy class people who overtly admit to not believing the historic faith in Jesus, or avoid the subject to maintain their salary.

 You can reach me by email at simplechurchminute@yahoo.com or by phone at 757-735-xxxx.  You can read a transcript of what I just said on my blog, tevyebird.blogspot.com, at the blog entry for August 23, 2011.  You can find out more about believers in Jesus in this area being the church without corporation structures at www.hrscn.org .

For further background on this subject, including historical background footnotes, see Chapter 5 of George Barna and Frank Viola, Pagan Christianity.

Simple Church Minute 82--Simson's Thesis #8

82—WS#8

My name is Tom; this is Simple Church Minute.

            Recently we have been speaking about German writer Wolfgang Simson’s 15 Theses for Re-Incarnation of Church.  Today, we look at Thesis #8, Out of the hands of bureaucratic clergy and on towards the priesthood of believers.  On this idea, Simson has written, No expression of a New Testament church is ever led by just one professional holy man dong the business of communicating with God and then feeding some relatively passive, religious consumers, Moses-style.  Christianity has adopted this method from pagan religions, or at best from the Old Testament.

            The heavy professionalization of the church since Constantine has been a pervasive influence long enough, dividing the people of God artificially into an infantilized laity and a professional clergy, and developing power-based mentalities and pyramid structures.  According to the New Testament (1 Tim. 2:5), ‘there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus’.  God simply does not bless religious professionals to force themselves in between Himself and His people.  The veil is torn, and God is allowing people to access Himself directly through Jesus Christ, the only Way.

            To enable the priesthood of all believers, the present system will have to change completely.  Bureaucracy is the most dubious of all administrative systems, because it basically asks only two questions: yes or no.  There is no room for spontaneity and humanity, no room for real life.  This may be all right in politics and business, but not the church. God seems to be in the business of delivering His church from a Babylonian captivity of religious bureaucrats and controlling spirits into the public domain, putting it into the hands of ordinary people whom God has made extraordinary and who, as in the old days, may still smell of fish, perfume, or revolution.

            You can read back or ahead about Simson’s 15 Theses at www.simsonwolfgang.de. You can email me at simplechurchminute@gmail.com.  On the web, you can find out more about simple forms of worship at http://www.simplechurch.com/ or locally at (local website).

Simple Church Minute 65--post-Reformation clergy wear

65—post-Reformation clergy wear

NOTE:  I originally wrote a segment for each of the 61 points Frank Viola and George Barna make in their book, Pagan Christianity, about traditions in the institutional church not based on scripture.  After writing it, I chose to not include this segment merely as I felt that in wouldn’t be an interesting radio commentary.

My name is Tom; this is Simple Church Minute

            When Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the Wittenburg church door, he had no intention of splitting the Catholic church.  Nonethless, like Nehemiah in the Old Testament, the deed happened at just the right time in secular politics. Those who opposed him had their own agenda which was disconnected with what was proper understanding of the Bible.  This controversy about right belief did not touch right practice (that is what this series of blips is about).  Therefore, it didn’t immediately effect a detail such as what clergy wore.

            Those Reformers who paid particular attention to the ideas of John Calvin developed an extremely intellectual understanding of faith, and so they eventually adopted the philosopher’s gown.  Some wore it all the time, and some reverted back to only wearing during the communion ceremony.    In the 16^th century, black became the traditional color for doctors and attorneys, and Calvin thought of himself as an attorney, not a theologian.  All the way up to the 1940’s, some flavors of the church saw clergy wear change from the gown to a black frock coat, and, shortly afterward, a black suit.  In other traditions, the change was to a clerical collar, which became the universal symbol for a clergyman.

            What does the Bible say?  Jesus and the disciples did not wear special clothing.  Jesus didn’t authorize special clothing because he didn’t authorize a clergy class. Colossians 1 verse 18 says Jesus is the Head of the Body, the Church.  The Holy Spirit dwells in his people, and is sufficient to direct spontaneous, living worship, and guide his people, moment by moment.  Today, we see the church is growing fastest where government oppression prevents human organization, and slowest where the money flows fastest.

            You…

Simple Church Minute 57--clergy/laity divide

57—clergy/laity divide

My name is Tom; this is Simple Church Minute.

            At the time Jesus walked the earth, all beliefs had priests, laypeople, temples, and sacrifices, and many countries and occupational skills actually acted as a belief.  An example is Paul and the riot of the idol makers guild in Acts 19.  When Jesus died, arose, ascended to heaven, and sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in the people of his New Covenant, He made a chosen people with characteristics unlike anything seen before on earth.  He introduced to his followers spontaneity, worship, and honor of God without structure and ritual, but within each believer, male or female, Jew or Gentile, the desire to honor Jesus with all that was in them.  Leadership was informal, by experience and gifting, character, and obedience to the Holy Spirit. 

            How then did the church wind up with a structure like other beliefs?  The apostles opposed it.  Third John verses 9 and 10 speak against a man who liked to have the preeminence.  Revelation 2 verse 6 may also be a warning of such a division.  Our wanting official human leaders seems to be a human temptation.  In the Old Covenant, God set up judges, but one sees in First Samuel chapter 8 verse 19, the people wanted a king.

            There were elders, people of experience, but no one was over another.  Apostles started churches, and on occasion revisited churches, had others visit, and Peter, Paul, and John sent letters, which are examples of apostolic oversight.  Notably, they weren’t sent to the head person, they were sent to all the church.  The leaders were not necessarily male.  In Romans 16, Phoebe is mentioned in verse 1, Priscilla in verse 3, and Junia in verse 7.  Within a couple hundred years, Cyprian of Carthage taught clergy was needed to intercede, even though the Bible teaches we no longer need an intercessor.

            You can email me at simplechurchminute@gmail.com.  For more info on organic church*, visit http://www.simplechurch.com/ or locally at (local website).

On the recording, at this time, it says, “house churches.”  While that phrasing is OK, to say “organic church” is better.  I comment on that in blip 94.

Simple Church Minute 53--tax exempt status

53—tax exempt status

My name is Tom; this is Simple Church Minute

            One potential criticism of house churches/simple churches is that, if one doesn’t have a legal form, donations are not tax deductable.  This is true, and it is not necessarily a sin to do all the governmental red tape.  Still, how did special tax exempt status for churches get started?  Once again, this goes back to the Roman Empire.  Rome had given special tax exempt status to the pagan temples and priests, so after Constantine’s quote/ unquote conversion, he gave tax exemption to Christian clergy in 313 AD and churches in 323 AD.  Rome fell, centuries have come and gone, but tax favored status has passed through many countries from this historical precedent.  In ours and many western cultures, it has bred a whole class or corporations, the not-for-profit sector.

            This has its problems for the church today.  The government considers institutional churches and professional clergy as normal.  That makes it very easy for everyone to consider it to be normal.  I came to faith in Jesus in high school. After being a believer about ten years, I realized that the meetings and people around me that the Holy Spirit use to help me to grow up in faith the most were the least structured, informal times.  I didn’t understand why.  Now, I know why—to a huge degree, the Holy Spirit goes where he wills, and he specifically chooses to not work to the same degree where we humans choose to control the agenda.  Jesus wants to direct our worship, and any one of us, no matter how well trained, organizationally approved, or devout, is an insufficient substitute. Tax exempt status implies a corporation, officials, and, at worst, an empty shell maintaining a few jobs, trying to do good, as opposed to God’s direction.  We should be using our money to glorify Jesus, without regard to what any government wishes to favor it or not.

            You can email me at simplechurchminute@gmail.com. For more info on organic church*, visit http://www.simplechurch.com/ or locally (local website).

On the recording, at this time, it says, “house churches.”  While that phrasing is OK, to say “organic church” is better.  I comment on that in blip 94.

Simple Church Minute 48--on the modern pastoral position

48—why the modern pastoral position is wrong

THIS IS SPOKEN AT A REALLY FAST PACE

My name is Tom; this is Simple Church Minute.

            Today, 16 reasons why the modern concept of the pastoral office is scripturally and ethically wrong.

1.  The distinction between clergy and laity is unscriptural.

2.  One man ministry prevents mutual edification

3.  It contradicts scripture on the priesthood of all believers.

4.  It prevents Jesus from being Head of the Church, directing worship

5.  If all the above, then God’s eternal purpose for everyone is hampered

6.  The pastor is expected to be corporation CEO, director of strategic planning, the one who identifies and trains leaders, head fundraiser, manager of staff and volunteers, mediator of conflicts, in charge of discipline, casting of corporate vision, speaker, counselor, head administrator, and public face of the organization.  This person, therefore, is a high candidate for burnout, depression, stress, emotional breakdown.

7 & 8.  They are under pressure to have a perfect family and perfect marriage.

9.  Most work the long hours of an executive.

10.  Most don’t have a close friend, and many are under orders to not make one within the church.

11.  Half feel inadequate for the job.

12.  The position demands a higher ethical standard of ethics than doctors, lawyers, politicians, and teachers.

13.  It is expected that one is entertaining, friendly, well-dressed, of good behavior, and the person and his family are popular.

14.  The pastor is expected to shoulder the “one another” exhortations by himself for the whole church

15.  Denominational pastors have to maneuver with organizational politics, run in many organizations by officials who are not believers.

16.  Because of all of the above, the position creates pressure toward dishonesty and private destructive behaviors.

            You can email me at simplechurchminute@gmail.com. For more info on organic church*, see http://www.simplechurch.com/ or locally at (local website).

On the recording, at this time, it says, “house churches.”  While that phrasing is OK, to say “organic church” is better.  I comment on that in blip 94.

Simple Church Minute 22--congregation stands, somber attitude

22—congregation stands and somber attitude

My name is Tom; this is Simple Church Minute.

            Today, a quick trip over two traditions not hinted at in scripture.  First, in many churches, there is a tradition of the congregation standing and singing as the clergyman walks in to be seated.  This just may come from the same place as, in a modern court, the bailiff announcing “all rise” as the judge walks in. That’s because, in the judicial tradition of the Roman Empire, those in the court room rose and sung for the entry of the judge.  As with many Roman court customs, similar traditions became a part of Roman pagan temples, and after the Empire started (quote) helping (unquote) the church, a similar custom began in 4^th century basilica worship.  It continues in almost all of the institutional churches to this day, except for the Pentecostal/charismatic branch.

            The second custom is acting serious and somber in church.  This comes from a Frenchman named Jean Joubert, but more commonly known by the anglicized version of his name, John Calvin.  Calvin saw himself as an attorney—he left his legal studies at the University of Orleans to flee the Inquisition, and went to Geneva, Switzerland.  There, he created a liturgy which was heavy on theology, and which necessitated pastors needing significantly more theological training.  To this day, churches following his ideas require pastors to have a masters degree minimum, and go give sermons more similar to seminary lectures than other branches of the church.  Calvin eliminated music, and encouraged a sense of feeling guilty before God.  Martin Bucer introduced reading the ten commandments in each service.  The New England Puritans went further yet to fining children for smiling, and having a person to poke people who were falling asleep.  From this came the tradition in the US in the 1800’s of the pastor being the most highly educated person in town.  First Thessalonians 5 verse 16 says, rejoice always.

            You can email me at simplechurchminute@gmail.com.  For more info on simple worship, visit http://www.simplechurch.com/ or locally (local website).

Simple Church Minute 10--clergy salaries

10—clergy salaries

My name is Tom; this is Simple Church Minute

            Paul was the human writer of much of the New Testament.  In Philippians, chapter 3 verses 5 and 6, he tells us of how exactly he lived his life as a Pharisee before his salvation.  He was part of the Jewish religious system, and had become will known due to his education and zeal.  Historically, the Levites were dependent upon the tithes of the rest of Israel for their living.  Israel many times walked away from God’s direction, and failed to support them.  As such, the Pharisees instituted a tradition that every Pharisee was to learn a trade, just in case.  Paul came from a rich family, and didn’t need a trade, but as part of the process, learned to be a tentmaker.  When Paul came to faith in Jesus, had time to grow to Christian spiritual maturity, and prepared to spread the truth of Jesus to Gentile lands, he was prepared to not need financial help to live.  The church of that time had no professionals.  Paul taught that the church should support those who went out to spread the Gospel, and in later parts of his ministry was voluntarily supported.  It is even more amazing what God did through Paul, given that he could only minister part-time during the earlier part of his journeys.

            Today, many church leaders expect a salary.  The most extreme offense is from some denominational leaders and professors who do not believe, teach new leaders to not believe, and expect believers giving to support their salaries, to administrate against the true church.  Further, many traditional pastors are under pressure to avoid teaching all of God’s Word, as there is a person who potentially has a finger on his salary, that is offended about some point in the Word.  The pastor has no idea how to support his family if he loses his job, and doesn’t have a skill, even if he has a graduate degree.

            This is one of the results of one unscriptural practice after another.  What can they or you do now, if somehow tomorrow the traditional church was no longer allowed to exist, as has happened in other countries?  Few traditional churches have a plan.

            You can email me at simplechurchminute@gmail.com.  For more info on organic church*, see http://www.simplechurch.com/ or locally, (local website).

On the recording, at this time, it says, “house churches.”  While that phrasing is OK, to say “organic church” is better.  I comment on that in blip 94.

An excellent book on the role of vocation in the Christian life is "The Other Six Days" by R. Paul Stevens.  While I do not believe I quoted Stevens in this blip, his thoughts have definitely affected mine on this subject.

Simple Church Minute 2--clergy wear, pre-Reformation

2—clergy wear, pre-Reformation

NOTE:  I originally wrote a segment for each of the 61 points Frank Viola and George Barna make in their book, Pagan Christianity, about traditions in the institutional church not based on scripture.  After writing it, I chose to not include this segment merely as I felt that in wouldn’t be an interesting radio commentary. 

My name is Tom; this is Simple Church Minute

            In Mark chapter 7, the scribes and Pharisees accused Jesus of not following their traditions, which were based on, but not part of Tanak, what the church now calls the Old Testament.  In verse 5, Jesus calls them hypocrites, which wasn’t sensitive to their feelings, but then, Jesus knew men’s hearts.  (Note:  I considered substituting Mk. 12:38 for this paragraph).

            The early church did not have a distinction between clergy and laymen; you can’t find it in the New Testament.  Shortly after the death of the apostles, some men started taking such positions in churches.  Most were orators, and they wore white, an idea they may have borrowed from Plato.  When Roman Emperor Constantine made Christianity legal, clergy changed to match that of Roman officials, as Roman pagan priests had done earlier.  Later, the color changed to purple, and the designs on the robes became more elaborate.  Next came the idea that clergy were never to be seen in public wearing normal clothing, and after that, the idea that these special clothes had mystical and symbolic meanings.  By the 7^th and 8^th centuries, vestments were accepted as sacred objects inherited from the Old Testament Levites.  It must be remembered that, by this time, the average person had no access to the Bible to know what it said.  Paul wrote in Colossians 2 verse 8, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the traditions of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.”

            You…