“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi’, for only one is your Teacher and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth your ‘Father’, for only one is your Father and He is in Heaven. Nor are you to be called ‘Master’, for only one is your Master, the Christ.” Matthew 23:8-10).
Make no mistake – all believers are subjected to only One Leader – Jesus Christ. There is no other – certainly no man or woman in existence. Jesus has made this abundantly clear, as well as Paul, and other writers in the New Testament. Jesus took away the authority of the High Priest and assumed that role upon Himself. God’s Word now tells we are all priests – and no person is any longer under the law. The days of the Levitical Priesthood and their dominion (and separation) over God’s people is long gone. When did this change? It changed with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. Heb:7:12
1Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Starting with the Roman Catholic Church, church leaders have appointed men in positions of authority over other believers. The Protestant Church, steeped in its own ignorance, has incorporated many of the rules, concepts, and traditions of the Catholic Church. It is ironic that the Protestant Church is contemptuous of the Catholic Church, when in fact it is the illegitimate offspring of Catholicism and of course – the manmade church system. Indeed, the Protestant Church is indebted to the Catholic Church, for bringing into fruition its own version of an idolatrous and counterfeit church system.
The same bondage that Jewish leadership held over men in Jesus day, is still in place by church leadership today. Why is it so hard to fathom that man’s nature has not changed? We misuse and abuse God’s Word for traditions and rules established by men as if they are part of God’s Will. Jesus warned us about this repeatedly. The world thinks following Jesus is about the law and religious traditions, and sadly so does most believers. Jesus took away the authority of the High Priest and assumed the role Himself. But we reject His gift, and have relinquished that authority back on to man. And hast made us unto our God kings and priest. No longer any person, religious act, thing, or system stands in the way of our having direct access to God as in the Old Testament.
Christ unequivocally states that He alone is the Head of the Church – there is no other. Jesus said, “Where two or three gather in My name” – Jesus stated He would be in the midst of them. The church system today manifested into being when Constatine, Emperor of Rome established the Catholic Church. By the year the KJV was transcribed, the Catholic Church had already been in power for over 1,300 years. These works of the law which is at the heart of the institutional church were so deeply ingrained in believers, that after so much time passed, people simply did not questioned it. NO ONE who truly understands and follows Jesus example would ever hold a position over another Christian.
Jesus is our only spiritual authority, but for most that is not good enough. Most believers listen to one man or woman to interpret the Word, instead of relying on the Holy Spirit. That’s not to say all the words of a priest or pastor have nothing to offer. But this man-made rule that one must go to “church” was birthed out of Roman Catholicism. They formed the first organized, institutionalized churches and were the first to mandate to believers that they must attend these churches built by the hands of man. We should be followers of God – not followers of men. Jesus said: You know that the lords of the Gentiles have domination over them, and they that are great, exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. Only men put other men in authority over believers.
The New Covenant priesthood is decentralized and universalized, it is not restricted to the “ordained” and the church traditions of men. The purpose of Hebrews 10:25 is grievously misused by pastors, and is not even fulfilled by one attending man’s church. Man’s “church system” whom most believers revere over the truth in God’s Word is indebted to the Catholic Church, for coming up with the misnomer that God desires us to be part of two churches – His and man’s. The idea that a believer is subjected to a pastor or priest is simply IDOLATRY – for they are simply mere man like all other believers. Jesus said we are to be only subjected to Him. Church leaders have scared believers and guilt them into thinking that by not following their rules traditions, they are displeasing God. The Pharisees did the same – whom Jesus warned us about such men.
Hebrews 13:17, has been used by church leaders as a hammer to subject their followers to submit to their authority. The true message behind the scripture means to be persuaded and adhere to the Word of God – not men themselves – as told by others but only in truth (they did not have Bibles when Hebrews was written). The word “office” as in a position, did not exist in any form in the original Scriptures. Again, elders did not exercise authority over any believer – they guided others and served. Paul himself said: “Not that we are trying to dictate to you what you must believe; but are fellow workers and helpers of your joy, for by your faith you stand.” Do your pastor or priest claim to be greater than Paul, by overriding what he clearly taught in the Scriptures?
Hebrews 13:17 is not a license for men to dictate, rule, control and otherwise exercise authority over others. The Bible clearly teaches against authoritarism among believers. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. We are to be under the leadership of One – Jesus. Men are forbidden by Jesus Christ to hold titles or positions of preeminence among other men. Only with diligent study of the scriptures, or by studying their original Greek translations will you see this. But if one study God’s Word in context (even KJV) – and be receptive to the Holy Spirit, you will come to know the truth. We must find out what the whole Bible teaches about a particular subject. We cannot just lift verses out of context and apply them to whatever we want.
We will be addressing this issue more in our strategies of church leadership articles upcoming in the near future. But make no mistake – if you are under the authority of any man or woman other than the Lord Jesus Christ, than you are guilty of idolatry. Only people allow men to usurp Christ lordship in their lives. Through Jesus death on the cross, we are only subjected to Him, and Him alone.