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?

by Thomas Hohstadt

A terrible virus has spread through today’s church—the cold sickness of a faith that simply "thinks"—a "thinking-man’s" religion. Mere words, hard facts, and the trivial surface of language hardly suffice in a world of deeper realities. So it’s no surprise that today’s "spiritual leaders" seldom claim "spiritual awareness." They fly blind in the Spirit, yet still expect changes in the "flesh." Indeed,

The spiritual and social implications of Pentecost, which define the relationship of the human spirit to the Holy Spirit, have yet to be explored for the age in which we live.1

So today’s faith is more passive than empowered, more anemic than energized. It’s more an inert mass of doctrines—a group of dormant ideas—a collection of lethargic labels than anything else. As a result, its Milquetoast believers pretend beliefs they don’t even have.

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 Tom Sparks 

The rule of Plato

Over the years, as a former participant in Christendom’s Traditional Church approach, I found myself working hard at squeezing the bible into nice neat theological categories, with all the appropriate proof texts to support those categories.  But, for me, with the passing of time, and changes in perspectives, I’ve come to doubt the legitimacy of forcing the bible into a tight systematic theology, and I no longer believe the bible was given to us for that purpose.

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 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.

Quite recently, I have done a back-flip with my end-times theological stance. This eschatological repentance is no minor detail in God’s grand scheme of things, as it aligns with our prophetic future and dovetails the current reformation. The reason that this postmillennial/preterist doctrine is so important is that, unlike pre-millennialism with its pre, mid and post raptures, it aligns with the biblical timeline for history and provides real hope for the kingdom. This is in stark contrast to the pessimistic eschatology that many modern saints hold to. As I am only relatively new to the largely suppressed, yet wonderfully bible-based world of postmillennial/preterist eschatology, I will give just an appetiser in this book. I must add that I don’t agree with everything that postmillennialists teach, just as I would expect nobody to agree outright with all that I say.

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.

The Kingdom of God is a kingdom of progressive increase, beginning with Christ the seed and consummating in the matured victorious body. Isaiah spoke of Christ’s Kingdom in this manner:

For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government [misrah – empire] and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever [owlam – eternity, perpetual]. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (Is 9:6-7)

by Tom Sparks

I remember, back in the summer of 1970, when I had just graduated from High School, and I attended a rock festival at a park near our city.  There were thousands of people there, from all over the country.  It was a weird experience to say the very least.

That evening, I made my way to the back of the park, where some Christians were gathering to help feed the multitudes, and it was there I experienced the baptism in the Spirit, and several words from the Lord. 

As I left that weekend the Lord spoke to my heart that He was placing a prophetic call upon my life, though at the time I had little idea of what that meant.  I just remember thinking “cool,” that should be exciting.  Little did I know that it would not be near as exciting as it would be challenging.

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 Thomas Hohstadt

Most would-be futurists cling to the "Holy Grail" of postmodernism. They blindly adhere to every novelty of this philosophical fad. In fact, the very definition of the "emerging church" includes this philosophy—or, what many now consider, this failed philosophy.

No doubt, something needs to challenge the harmful excess of modern thinking. Something needs to question the manipulating self-interests of our small worlds. Something needs to expose the distortion of our rhetoric, the slant on our slang, the leanings of our lingo. And, something needs to refuse the arrogance of our "God in a box."

But, with too many gullible postmodernists, "One enormously precious baby was tossed with tons of unpleasant bathwater."1

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.

Chat 1. Testimonies from the journey

The ‘Discussions along the way’ posts are to provoke dialogue between those who are walking a similar path: one that embraces a fuller reformation of heart and structure. Please post your thoughts and interact with others via the comments option at the bottom. All comments must be presented in a loving manner or they will be deleted.

For the first post of ‘Discussions along the way’ I thought we should keep it both simple and encouraging. This is why I’ve called it ‘Testimonies from the Journey’. I will usually post a brief article on a certain topic which will simply be enough of a thought to provoke further dialogue on the matter. This time though, I would like to hear some uplifting testimonies from people who have been moving with God on a reformational journey from crumbling Christendom further into the heavenly Kingdom of Christ. So please leave a response, even if it’s only brief. Perhaps you could tell us how God has bent, stretched, fixed, reformed, revived, matured you, or something along those lines.