Part 4 of 6

by David Orton

Confusion of terms - Elders, Bishops, and Pastors

Consequently, the Western church’s traditionally inherited structures have confused three important terms: elders, bishops, and pastors. Traditionally, they have been seen as three distinct layers of church office: the bishop originally presiding over one congregation but in time over many, and, therefore the pastor of each congregation, who in turn presided over the elders. It is important to note that Paul in his address to the Ephesian elders used all three terms inter-changeably, for one category of person. In verse 17 of Acts chapter 20 he called the presbuterous or ‘elders’ of the church to meet with him. In verse 28 he also referred to them as episkopos - as ‘overseers’ (NIV, NASV) or ‘bishops’ (NKJV, NRSV), reminding them that it was the Holy Spirit who placed them in this role. And in the same verse he exhorts them to poimainein (to feed and rule) or ‘shepherd’ (NASV, NRSV) the flock, which is the verb form of poimen, translated ‘pastor’ in Ephesians 4:11.

This post, called Talking Tithes and Other Money Issues, is in three parts. The first is a small article form Heaven’s Underground Blueprint concerning money amongst true New Testament communities. The next part is a lengthy dialogue/disputation between myself and my now friend Tom Sparks which was in response to my article some time ago. The third part is a link to an article of Tom’s called Provisioning the Minister of God which he has recently posted on his sight. (In my opinion, his article is insightful, balanced, clear, and biblically anchored).

Which Kingdom Do You Inhabit?

by Brett Jacobsen

There are many prophetic shadows in the Bible which display what God has done and will do in the New Covenant season of His Kingdom. One such biblical illustration of the current transition from old wineskins to new, from flesh to faith, from Christendom to Christ, is the relocation from Sinai to Sion. This shift from mountain to mountain: from kingdom to kingdom, is very instructive for all those who wish to live “in Christ”.

Which Mountain?

The writer of Hebrews has done a great service to the Kingdom of Christ in drawing a bold line between the carnal kingdom and Christ’s:

An excerpt from Chapter 9 in David Orton's book,
"Snakes in the Temple: Unmasking Idolatry in Today's Church" 

Part 3 of 6

by David Orton

How did the Apostles function?

So, how did the apostles function, and who led the local congregation?

Christ anoints and appoints apostles, but apostles appoint elders.176  While the former were mobile ministries planting and caring for multiple congregations, functioning according to their relationships and the leading of the Spirit, the elders were the local resident shepherds of one congregation, functioning as a team of general overseers. However, the latter, while free, never operated independently of their relationship with the apostles.177

How did the Apostles relate to the Churches?

An excerpt from Chapter 9 in David Orton's book,
"Snakes in the Temple: Unmasking Idolatry in Today's Church" 

Part 2 of 6

by David Orton

Apostles and Prophets replaced by Senior Pastors!

Tragically, as Israel did, they opted for a king, for human government. As the church transitioned into the sub-apostolic era, the ascension-gift ministries of apostles and prophets were gradually replaced by the office of the bishop.167 It was believed that this office was the only legitimate continuity of apostolic authority and teaching (apostolic succession)168; thereby addressing the two-horned dilemma of heresy – the crisis of continuity in apostolic teaching – and division – the crisis of apostolic authority.

by Brett Jacobsen

This article is an excerpt from the author's book Heaven's Underground Blueprint which is available here - http://www.christisall.org/hub-book.

The Secret Place of Underground Power
 
You could go to a new church-growth seminar every week for the rest of your life and learn how to build “your church”. However, you cannot escape the fact that biblical principles (which many of these seminars are virtually void of) not only work, but they glorify God rather than man. It is very clear who God wants in the limelight and, sorry to all the famous preachers and “worship leaders”, it’s not you. We all know the victorious place that Psalm 91 has available to the saints, but have we missed the key that unlocks that victory? It lies in the first verse: 

by T. Austin-Sparks

“It pleased God… to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him” (Gal.1:15,16)

1. Everything Tested by Inwardness

by David Orton

An excerpt from Chapter 9 in David Orton's book,
"Snakes in the Temple: Unmasking Idolatry in Today's Church" 

Part 1 of 6

“They set up kings without my consent; they choose princes without my approval.
With their silver and gold they make idols for themselves to their own destruction”
Hos 8:4 NIV
“A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way…”
Jer 5:30-31 NIV 

by T. Austin-Sparks

We realize, with intense sorrow of heart, that all is not well with that which ostensibly represents the Lord here… and that there is a state of things widely prevailing which does not truly accord with the revealed desire of God.

We live in a time of more than usual dearth spiritually - the state of things may well remind us of Ezekiel's valley of dry bones. We have not merely to cope with evils which have characterized bygone ages, but also with the matured corruption of a time wherein the varied evils of the Gentile world have become connected with, and covered by, the cloak of Christian profession; and when we turn to the state of those whose knowledge of truth and high profession might naturally encourage the expectation of more healthy and vigorous Christian action, we find, alas! in many - yea, in the majority of cases - that the knowledge is but cold and uninfluential theory… and the profession but superficial.

by Brett Jacobsen

This small article is an excerpt from the author's book Heaven's Underground Blueprint which is available here - http://www.christisall.org/hub-book.

There is a spiritual principle in operation throughout every aspect of the Kingdom of God, from the personal to the corporate, from the least to the greatest; it is the ‘seed to cedar’ principle. We have previously observed how “the kingdom of God, [is] as if a man should cast seed into the ground; […] and the seed should spring and grow up” (Mark 4:26-27). This principle not only applies to personal lives, but also to the overall Kingdom of God as it is outworked in history. Yes, the early church presented a fairly thorough demonstration of the kingdom, and many moves of God since that time have restored certain spiritual elements, possibly in a more broad and potent application. However, the end of the ages will surely manifest the fuller exhibition; the proverbial cedar compared with the earlier seed. Jesus said: 

by David Orton

 
“…And he has not been emptied from vessel to vessel…”
 
Jer 48:11

by T. Austin-Sparks

If we go on with God, the Cross leads us immediately to the House of God. The Cross opens the way to the House of God, and the House of God depends for its full meaning upon whether the Cross has done its work.

A great many people think that the Church, the House of God - or whatever you may term it - is a doctrine, a part of a system of Christian truth. Have you thought that? Well, let me say that you are wrong. What is the House of God? We may first name a number of things which it is not.

Brett Jacobsen's book Heaven's Underground Blueprint is now available. The book has a twofold thrust: it is a prophetic work that paralells church history with Old Testament Israel, presenting insight into current happenings and great hope for the future. It also is instructive in the current reformation of the church into underground community. Some of the main topics covered are: How the church spiralled down into the Dark Ages (and largely remains there), How God is changing the guard of church leadership, How to do New Testament community, What is New Testament leadership instead of hierarchical humanism, Biblical unity rather than ecumenical compromise, God's proccess of reformation, de-construction or destruction, Promised Land Christianity, Reformation of eschatology, and more.

by Edwin Hatch

(The following is an excerpt from a book by Edwin Hatch [1888]. Thanks to Jon Zens for connecting me to this great author. What I found very helpful was to realize that the troubles with "church-as-we-know-it" did not start with Constantine but can be traced back even earlier, to the 2nd Century.) - Jeff Gilbertson

It is impossible for any one, whether he be a student of history or no, to fail to notice the difference and contrast between the Sermon on the Mount and the Nicene Creed.

- It’s Christendom that Makes Me Cringe

by Brett Jacobsen

It has been the assumption of some that people, like myself (ones who have left behind Christianity’s crumbling institutions), “hate the church”. In fact, any who venture out from the status quo of contemporary Christendom are usually alleged to be church hating heretics by those who remain planted on the pews… or parading in the pulpits. Then we have the crazy Christians who are called and graced to speak biblically and prophetically into the church as God, “according to His eternal purpose,” reveals, reforms, and subsequently revives THE church in order to reflect His glory. These apostolic “antagonists” and prophetic “perpetrators” are more often than not categorised as trouble makers and rebellious, loveless thugs, despite the fact that they are usually motivated by “Love” Himself (1 John 4:8, 16).

by Frank Viola

In virtually every city where I’ve spoken, I have been asked the question, “Frank, do you believe in ‘the five-fold ministry?’ And do you believe that God is restoring ‘the five-fold ministry’ mentioned in Ephesians Chapter 4?”

In this article, I would like to answer that question.

My answer is largely hinged on what one means by “the five-fold ministry.” That is, what “five-fold ministry” are we talking about? Are we talking about the 200-year old doctrine of the restoration of “the five-fold ministry?” Or are we talking about the ascension gifts that Paul had in mind when he penned Ephesians 4:9-16?

The Five-Fold Ministry: The History of a Doctrine

by David Orton

"These were the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he was banished from the presence of Saul … warriors who helped him in battle."
1 Chronicles 12:1

Before every historic visitation of the Spirit God has sent forerunners.

John the Baptist set the pattern. As a voice crying in the wilderness he prepared the way for the ministry
of Christ.

Likewise, John Wycliffe, the ‘morningstar of the Reformation’, blazed the trail for Martin Luther. Frank
Bartleman, as a prophetic intercessor, for William Seymour and the Azuza Street outpouring. The Latter
Rain and Healing Revivals of the late 1940’s prepared the way for the Charismatic Renewal of the 1960’s
and 70’s.

by Jeff Gilbertson

If you can stand it, I would like to ask you all one more time to look at the Lord's Supper through the lens of the New Testament and see if you would not agree with me that this may be one of the biggest blind spots for the church around the world in the last 2000 years!

It's a supper, stupid!

First and foremost, if you look at all the texts that describe what we now practice and call "The Lord's Supper", you will notice that it was in the context of Jesus and His disciples sharing the Passover meal together.

Mtt. 26:26  And while they  were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples.

by Frank Viola

My friends Andrew Jones and Brian McLaren have written about something they call “deep ecclesiology.” This phrase appears to be derived from Noam Chomsky’s linguistic theory of “deep semantics.” Chomsky said that underlying the “surface structures” of the statements we make there lies a deeper and simpler structure that is ingrained in the human capacity for language.

Andrew and Brian have said that in a similar way there lies underneath our varying models of church a basic underlying reality that is manifested in our historical and social settings. This notion has been coined “deep ecclesiology.”

I resonate wholeheartedly with the concept that there is a reality of the church that is higher and deeper than what typically occurs in many modern church structures. To wit, a “deeper” ecclesiology.

by Jon Zens

Four Tragic Shifts In The Visible Church
180-400 A. D.

Most professing Christians do not realize that the central concepts and practices associated with what we call 'church' are not rooted in the New Testament, but in patterns established in the post-apostolic age. While there are a legion of disagreements among serious students of church history concerning various issues and details during the period of 50 A.D. to 325 A.D., they all speak as one voice in affirming the four undeniable shifts that will be examined in this article. Church historians of all theological and ecclesiastical backgrounds observe in their writings the following four shifts: