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Friday, September 28, 2012

What Jesus Taught a Minister Is






Jesus taught us what a minister is.






You do not know many of them, and chances are the hired pastor or priest is a far cry from what Jesus taught a minister to the church was to be.
- He was not to be a hired, Titled, administrator with an organizational flow chart, himself at the top, served by Assistant pastors, Associate pastors, deacons, Elders, Church Boards, and the recipient of tithes, a salary, parsonage, benefits, etc.
- He was never to be a CEO of a business recognized by the State as a "non-profit" organization.

What follows is a shocking breakdown of what Jesus taught His disciples as it related to position and authority in God's kingdom.

Mark 10:42:  (ASV)
42 And Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they who are accounted
        to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great ones exercise authority over them.

Three words in that verse are worth examining as to what the church is NOT to imitate:

rule        757     a primary verb; to be first   (in political rank or power): - reign (rule) over.
lord        2634    to lord against, that is control, to subjugate: - exercise dominion over (lordship)
                                  be lord over, overcome.
authority 2715   to have (wield) full privilege over: - exercise authority.

He described first how the world exercises authority, 
and next He instructs the apostles who would bring us the Christian Covenant: 
43 But it is not so among you: whosoever would become great among you, shall be your minister;
44 and whosoever would be first among you, shall be ***servant of all.

Let's see if Jesus minces words here, and define those terms:

*     "NOT":    3756    absolutely negative; no, not: neither, never, none, nothing special
**   "MINISTER":      1249 diakonos:  to run on errands; an attendant, that is, as a waiter (at table or other menial duties); a Christian teacher and pastor (technically a deacon or deaconess): - deacon, minister, servant.
***  "SERVANT":     1401 doulos:   a slave (literally or figuratively, involuntarily or voluntarily; frequently therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency): - bond (-man), servant.

Matthew 20:25
Jesus called them to him, and said, Ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over  them,  and their great ones exercise authority over them.
26 Not so shall it be among you:  but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister;
            "not so among you":    the absolutely negative, no or not: neither, never, none,  nothing, + special,
27 and whosoever would be * first among you  shall be your   **servant
     *first:   4413: protos,  foremost (in time, place, order or importance): -before, beginning, best, chief first (of all), former.
** servant:  a slave   (literally or figuratively, involuntarily or voluntarily;   frequently therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency): - bond -man, servant.

28
even as (just like)  the Son of man came not to be ministered unto,

        but to minister, and to give his life  (to "give", not sell or exchange for a price) "their  "GREAT ones"
Strong's definition, 3173, Megas (it is where we get "MEGA")
Definition:
great,  the external form or appearance of things (or of persons) 
of number and quantity: numerous, large, abundant 
of age: the elder  violent, mighty, strong ==> predicated of rank,
as belonging to persons, eminent for ability, virtue, authority, power 
things esteemed highly for their importance: of great moment, of great weight, importance 

a thing to be highly esteemed for its excellence: excellent
of God's preeminent blessings 
of things which overstep the province of a created being, proud (presumptuous) things, full of arrogance, derogatory to the majesty of God


Used in King James- Total: 195: as great 150, loud 33, miscellaneous 12
Now shake off the notion of a man with a Title behind the pulpit ruling and exercising power and authority over God's people, and farming them for personal gain and support.  Read again what Jesus taught and let us wake up to the fact that the modern clergy system does exactly the opposite of what Jesus taught. The "system" does what He "hates" in Revelation 2:6 and 15..

Jesus did not promote His Ministry, build cathedrals, raise funds, sell religious trinkets or " God-stuff"...

No bake sales, he did not develop a staff, hire bodyguards, preach for pay..., give flowery homage to the leaders of Denominational Judaism, He did *not* minister for tithes or accolades... He did not wear Italian suits or Papal robes...
Chances are you have not seen many, if any, who are really like Him. 

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