A most excellent and truthful point made here by this brother!
This blog is designed to make you "think". Also to encourage,exhort,edify and "Warn" the saints of God as we see the day of The Lord on the horrizon.
Friday, September 17, 2010
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3 comments:
Interesting video. On one hand he is correct in that we as people have the tendency to construct a systematic way of hiearchy in which somebody is elevated over the many. Making God's Church in the same mold is mostly a human invention and fails. What I didn't hear addressed is the roles of deacons and bishops (or elders). I would like to hear what his views on these positions clearly pointed out in I Timothy as well as other passages. Who has authority to decide error in the doctrine taught by Jesus? How is church discipline carry out? I would like to hear his view on this.
Yes I would like to hear him answer that also anon...perhaps I could post your question on u-tube for him to answer!
Anon...here is the response I received from Jon Zens, the maker of the video:
"The purpose of that video clip was to briefly explore the pervasive problems connected to the clergy/laity distinction. I do not have time here to detail the NT perspective on elders and deacons. Several pieces on this subject can be found on our website under "articles" ( www.searchingtogether.org ). Here, I would just note that Jesus' ekklesia is a family, and it is natural for the older ones to help the younger ones, and all that this entails. All believers are called "deacons" in the broad sense, and some may be recognized for their specific areas of service to the body and others.
The writings of the NT were addressed to the believers, not the leaders. In Matt. 18 the final arena of taking care of a problem is the body -- "take it to the ekklesia." Jesus has given the keys of the kingdom to his people. They have his blessing to carry out his will on earth. I Cor.5 gives an example of how church discipline occurred at the last stage -- the body would assemble and turn the unrepentant person over to satan. In this case, he was later restored to the body.
In a broad sense, all the brethren have the Spirit and are capable of discerning truth and error (1 John 2:20,27). All believers are to be involved, as necessary, in testing the spirits (1 John 4:1). Of course, the more mature believers will help in this process, but at the end of the day the body has the authority from the Lord to deal with error and affirm the truth as it is in Jesus. -- Jon Zens" end quote
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