Last week, I discussed the fact that I am not a pastor. A reader then sent me a great question. The individual read the qualifications for a pastor/elder found in I Timothy 3 and in Titus 1. After examining those passages, they concluded that I meet the qualifications and therefore ought to be a pastor. I am always thrilled to receive feedback like this that shows people reading and reasoning from the scriptures. Still, this also showed that more discussion on the topic is needed.

Being godly is not enough

It might surprise many religious people today, but the apostle Paul was not a pastor. The denomination I once was part of even referred to Paul’s writings as “Pastoral Epistles.” Just because he and Barnabas had appointed elders in churches did not mean they themselves were pastors (Acts 14:23). In fact, the Bible never refers to Paul as a pastor/elder - he does not qualify! Yes, an apostle of Jesus Christ was not qualified to be an elder! We are told that within the list of qualifications, one must be married and old enough to have believing children (I Tim. 3:2-5; Titus 1:6). Also note that one of the duties of an elder was to shepherd the flock they oversaw. How could Paul do this when he was traveling and gone for years at a time (I Pet. 5:1-2)?

Always a plurality of pastors/elders

As you read through the New Testament, you will note that whenever elders/pastors were appointed it was ALWAYS two or more. Paul sent for the elders at Ephesus (Acts 20:17). Acts 14:23 states that elders were appointed in every church. When Peter spoke about being  an elder (he was qualified), he spoke about elders being among the brethren (I Pet. 5:1). James mentioned to call for the elders of the church when a member was sick (James 5:14). These examples are not calling for elders from different churches – they are showing a pattern of multiple elders in every church. We even read in Hebrews that the members of the local congregation were to obey and be submissive to the elders who watch out for their souls (Heb. 13:17).

Not “once an elder/pastor, always an elder/pastor”

Just as men can become qualified, they can become unqualified. However, this is not really my point. Consider this – if a local church appoints two men as elders and one moves away, then that eldership is dissolved because there are no longer multiple elders. The church no longer has any elders until there are multiple, qualified men who accept the responsibility again. Also note that the man who moved away is not automatically an elder in his new town’s church. Local churches choose men they know are qualified and appoint them as elders (Titus 1:5). This principle is taken from Acts 6:3-5. The qualifications of being able to teach, having a good reputation within the church and in the community, practicing hospitality, etc. must be proven first. Only after this can he be considered for the role.

No set combination

As we already pointed out, being an apostle like Paul did not automatically qualify him to be a pastor/elder. Still, an apostle could be an elder like Peter was (I Pet. 5:1). The same is true with preachers. Not all preachers are qualified to be an elder/pastor. Some are not married, while others may not have children. He might also lack one of the other qualifications. Some preachers are qualified though and serve both roles (multiple elders are still required though).

The denominational concept of a pastor is nothing like what you read of in the Bible. Too many today use it as a title rather than a function within the church. I preach, but I am not “Preacher Chuck”. If one is an elder, they are not “Elder So-and-so”. May our understanding harmonize with scripture in this important matter.

Chuck

Many times I have found myself situations where I have let things go because I know the response or correction would fall on deaf ears. This article will try to clarify a few of those things. I want people to know, “I don’t want to be rude, but…

…I am not a pastor!

Yes, I have received calls from hospitals over the years which stated, “Is this pastor so and so? We want you to know that one your members has been admitted and is in room such and such.”  That brief time on the phone is not the proper time to explain this, but a “pastor” is not a synonym for “preacher” in the Bible. Anybody who doubts this should read Ephesians 4:11. The word pastor means “elder, bishop or overseer.” If you read I Timothy 3 and Titus 1, you will find the qualifications be a pastor. Also note that a local church needs two or more men fulfilling the office at the same time (Titus 1:5; Acts 14:23, etc.). A preacher could also serve as a pastor, but not all preachers are pastors. I hate to be rude, but I am not a pastor.

…I am not a reverend!

Just like the previous point, we need to be aware that our Lord does not want anyone to wear a title (Matt. 23:8-10). Peter, who was an apostle, told someone who was bowing down to him, “Stand up, I also am a man,” (Acts 10:25-26). There is no room for anyone to elevate themselves. The term “reverend” belongs to our God (Psa. 111:9). I do not want to be rude, but being called reverend is something that just cuts to the heart. Consider how Paul and Silas felt in Acts 14:14-15.       

…it is not my church!

Sometimes people ask me about the church I attend. Often though, the local church is referred to as “my church” during these conversations. I did not start the church – no man did. Jesus established it, and He is the head (Acts 20:28; Col. 1:18). The church belongs to Christ (Matt. 16:18). The local preacher does not own the church in any sense and did not go to the cross to establish it. People who refer to the local church as “my church” might now understand the significance of what they are saying, but Jesus had to sacrifice His life to build this spiritual body, the church. As a follower of Him, I do not want to steal His credit for that.

…I am not part of a ministerial group!

You might be familiar area preacher/pastor/reverend groups. They get together for breakfasts and have “fellowship.” Again, I do not want to be rude, but why would I want to be part of a group whose members promote false, non-Biblical doctrines? Some might construe this as arrogance. But the truth is that we are not to have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness (Eph. 5:11). Certainly we are to love all people as our Lord does (Mark 12:30-31; John 3:16). This does not mean we should condone unlawful behavior though.

…no person(s) sent me here to preach

People wonder how long I will be working in this area before I am reassigned somewhere else. It is even implied that I was sent here by some board to Newburgh. Many do not realize the Bible mentions no organizing body higher than a local church (Phil. 1:1). There is no hierarchy system in the churches of our Lord. Christ is simply the head. If a man wants to preach at a place and he is invited, it’s between him and that local church. I do not want to be rude, but preachers can work wherever they want and the local church can accept or reject whomever they want.    

 My goal in sharing these clarifications is to help us all follow God as He has called us to. Are these distinctions made in the local church you attend? Consider these things.

Chuck

We are told in the book of James that God does not tempt anyone (James 1:13). This is a very important principle to keep in mind.  It is commonly said by religious people “that God put this or that in front of me to strengthen me.” We know that God does not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to resist (I Cor. 10:13). The James passage goes further and explains that our God does not tempt us at all.

Are we to conclude that if a person is mugged or robbed that the Lord did this to help the victim’s faith? Certainly not. Things that happen to mankind can come as a result of bad choices, freak accidents, wickedness or just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Consider those in Luke 13:4.

No matter what happens in our lives, Satan is working on us (I Pet. 5:8). As our adversary, he can even tempt us when nothing bad has happened. We can become complacent or take blessings for granted and become unthankful. The burden is on us to avoid these pitfalls.

When challenges arise and are overcome, Christians might be tempted to say, “God knew what I needed and put that before me.” The Bible states otherwise. Look at Paul’s thorn in the flesh as recorded in II Corinthians 12. Paul said that this affliction was given to him to help him not to exalt himself above measure (verse 7). But notice in that verse the apostle stated it was a messenger of Satan. God did not send this affliction. Nor did God take it away. Paul used this as an opportunity to lean on the Lord (verses 8-10).

The faithful do not need their Father to tempt them in order to grow. Our God allows the devil to tempt. God’s people will either allow it to strengthen them (James 1:2-3) or allow it to cause them to stumble. Because we are being tempted with so many things daily, there is no question that God will provide a way of escape whatever we face.

The next time you are faced with temptation and triumph over it, recognize that you succeeded because you leaned on the Lord. May we all walk by faith.

Chuck 

This article continues our recent series on alcohol. Please take note of the bulletin from two weeks ago as we continue this study. Recently, someone argued that it was impossible to keep grape juice from fermenting in Biblical times, hence everyone always drank alcohol. God’s  people were commanded to drink the fruit of the vine. If fermentation was truly inevitable, then this would be a valid conclusion.

But is that true? Not only was it possible to prevent fermentation, there are historical records of it being done. Please read the following article written by Ryan Hasty, a preacher of the gospel.

Wine in the Bible – how fermentation was prevented

Wine in the Bible is spoken of as a blessing in its unfermented state and as an intoxicant in its fermented state. Many do not realize that those living in Biblical days were able to keep their wine from fermenting and in fact did so regularly. How did they accomplish this in an age without refrigerators? There were 3 primary methods.

First, they boiled their wine down to thick syrup. Boiling grape juice causes the water to evaporate leaving behind a concentrate with such a high level of sugar that fermentation was impossible. Syrup in this state could be preserved for year. Whenever they wanted to drink this unfermented wine, they would mix a small amount of this syrup with water much like we do with Kool-Aid. Different ratios were used depending on the type of grape, the age of the syrup, the temperature of the water, and even the season.

Proverbs 9:1-5, “Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars; she has prepared her food, she has mixed her wine, she has also set her table; she has set out he maidens, she calls from the tops of the height of the city; ‘Whoever is naïve, let him turn in here!’ To him who lacks understanding she says, ‘Come, eat of my food and drink of the wine I have mixed.”

The above verses refer to the mixing of wine as “wisdom” whereas Proverbs 20:1 refers to a person intoxicated by wine as not being wise. The contrast is clear. Boiling grape juice to prevent fermenting and then mixing with water to enjoy as a beverage is incumbent of wisdom and was a blessing from God.

Aristotle – “The wine of Arcadia was so thick that it was necessary to scape it from the skin bottles in which it was contained and to dissolve the scrapings in water.”

Horace – “There is no wine sweeter to drink than that of Lesbos, it was like nectar…and would not produce intoxication.”

Second, those living in Biblical times had developed methods to filter wine and remove its strength. While pressing out the grape, they would use a bag called a “sacco” that captured the fermentable substances, allowed the juice from the pulp to flow through, and then collected it in a vase below the bag. Several historians mention this method as being in use during Biblical times as well as the fact that one of the primary reasons they did this is because unfermented wine tastes better.

Pliny The Young – “The most useful wine has all its force of strength broken by the filter.”

Plutarch – “Wine is rendered feeble in strength when it is frequently filtered. The strength or spirit thus being excluded, the wine neither inflames the brain nor infests the mind and passions, and is much more pleasant to drink.

This is the testimony of two non-Christians Gentiles confirming that filtration causes wine to taste better because its strength has been

removed. But they are merely confirming what we already know. Beverages like grape juice begin fermenting when they are going bad, not when they are getting better. Alcoholic beverages are an “acquired taste” purely for the effects produced in the body by the alcohol and not because it tastes good.

Third, they were able to refrigerate and seal wine. Grape juice kept at 45 degrees or less cannot ferment. If it is kept cool long enough, the yeast settles at the bottom and the juice can be skimmed off the top where it can never ferment even if warmed. We know from archeology that they stored this kind of wine in caves, under water, and in the ground where it was cooler. So even without refrigerators, they still had the means to keep wine cool. They also kept their containers air tight by corking the bottle and then sealing it with pitch. The Jews also poured olive oil on top to seal the juice from the air. In the 1960’s, a sunken ship was discovered at the bottom of the Mediterranean that had containers of wine dating back to the Roman Empire. The containers were sealed so well that water from the sea had not penetrated them.

With multiple ways of preventing fermentation, this is further proof that wine of Biblical times was not necessarily alcoholic but could easily be preserved and enjoyed as a refreshing alternative to water and a blessing from God that provided joy and not intoxication.

______________________________________

I cannot not add anything to brother Hasty’s main argument, but I will mention something that I shared in a sermon a couple of weeks ago. A fourth way to prevent fermentation is by dehydrating grapes. Many of us like to eat raisins. These are simply grapes that have been dehydrated. Brethren in many places today who lack access to grape juice often take raisins and rehydrate them by putting them in water. Then they take the grapes and mash them to produce grape juice for the Lord’s Supper.

From this short study, we can see clearly that the fermentation of wine was preventable even during Biblical times.

Chuck 

The title of this article comes from praise the Psalmist uttered to our heavenly Father (Psa. 139:14). Throughout this chapter, the majesty of God is brought forth. Here is a list of things man ought to acknowledge about our Creator.

Psalm 139:1-6

The Lord knows everything about us, even things as simple as when we sitting down or raising up (verse 2). There is nothing we can think of that our Father does not know (verse 3). The same goes for every word that we utter – everything is heard by Him (verse 4). Realizing that He observes and knows us so well should cause admiration for His knowledge and a realization that we could never attain this ourselves (verse 6).

Psalm 139:7-12

Knowing the unlimited power of God, there is no place anyone could go to hide from Him. If into heaven, He is there. If into the depth of the grave, He is there (verse 7-8). The same is true if one goes into the depths of the sea – the hand of God is there (verse 9-10). It does not matter what time of day it is, for He is light even in the darkness (verses 11-12).

Psalm 139:13-16

Our God creates us in our mother’s womb (verse 13). When our bodies were stitched together at conception, we were not hidden from

Him (verse 15). Yes, each life has substance and is seen by the Creator even in the womb (verse 16). This is a reason why we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Many people might not see anything of worth when we are barely formed, but God does!

Psalm 139:17-18

When all of this is realized, it ought to cause us to value the thoughts of God and to desire to know all we can from Him (verse 17). The Psalmist spoke wisely when he stated that the thoughts of God are like the sand (verse 18), meaning, there is so much we can learn. Problems will come when we foolishly think we are so smart, especially those who think they know better than God. Before we think of ourselves too highly, we need to stop and consider the overwhelming might and wisdom of God.

Psalm 139:19-22

A natural outcome of such devotion to our Lord is a distaste towards those who disrespect our Father in heaven. There is a longing to be away from such people (verse 19). God’s children cannot stand hearing anyone speak His name in vain as this is wicked (verse 20). This feeling is not rooted in a lack of love for the lost. Rather, it is a perfect hatred for those who hate God (verse 21-22). Therefore, those who are enemies of the Lord are our enemies (verse 22).

Psalm 139:23-24

In the end, the faithful followers will cry out to the Father asking that He search us and know our hearts (verse 23). We want to make sure He knows that we do not want any wickedness in us or any sin held against us. We also want to express our desire to be lead in the right way (verse 24). This makes sense as the goal of His people is to be able to spend eternity with Him.

Yes, we are all fearfully and wonderfully made. Let us realize and appreciate what this means. God recognizes and cares for each of us individually. He has known us from the womb and loved us before we knew Him (Romans 5:8). His knowledge and strength stretch far beyond anything we are capable of. May this knowledge cause each us to be the kind of people the Lord wants us to be by faithfully following his commands every day of our lives (John 14:15).

                                                                                              Chuck