HammerStone said:
Well, let's look at the other side of the coin for just a moment.
In the Bible, there were no universities/Bible colleges/credentialing systems, yes. I don't think anyone will make that argument, so let's chunk it by the wayside.
The problem with just any John or Jane Doe being able to step up totally of the Spirit is that there are a number of perfectly convincing people out there that claim to be lead of the Holy Spirit, but indeed are not. Looking quite clearly at the 12 Disciples, the Apostles, and Paul's letters about others, there is clear-cut disciple/apprentice type relationship ongoing. The Bible attests to this:
II Timothy 2:2 And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
(Emphasis mine.)
Jesus himself did not say - "Hey, you guys are all inspired now, so go make disciples of all nations." Instead, he brought the disciples through the rigors of discipleship (something we don't totally culturally understand), teaching them rather confusing and difficult parables at the time.
It seems ideal that we would know that so-and-so is empowered by God to teach/preach/pastor/etc. However, even in a church environment of volunteers, there has to be some measure of check on who is representing God. It becomes all the moreso with people who lead entire congregations. If someone is giving a blessing to preach, and that someone seems perfectly logical and inspired, but six weeks later they're teaching a lesson on God's little green men sent to bless us, that's trouble.
Ideally, a leader is taught the good traditions of the church (whole body). We Protestants tend to make tradition a dirty word, but the fact of the matter is that Scripture interpretations are interpreted to a large degree by tradition as a moderating force. For instance, we know that early church Fathers taught X, but the Rev.-Dr.-Bishop-Laureate Bob Smith teaches Y, which comes into conflict. X is probably closer to the mark because the believers in the immediate century after Jesus were privy to the details that we are not. All of the original Reformers understood this.
We need
deep relational discipleship from the Holy Spirit and fellow men of God. One big problem that I see today, is that programs, procedures, performance and Phd.'s have replaced these two important relationships. Clearly, the Early Church was deeply relational and this could be seen even in their preaching and relationships with the unbelievers around them. No "mass marketing" schemes for them.
Today, the world's methods of authenticating leaders has permeated the Church and that is no surprise since most church organizations are modeled after a Corporation with a top down, hierarchical structure, rather than a horizontal, relational structure of brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Since the Church structure is now modeled after a worldly corporate structure, it is also a given that the world's practices would govern the church such as "
paper credentials" instead of relationship with God, "
background checks" for those wanting to serve in ministry (instead of discernment), "
constant money raising programs", instead of living by faith and depending on the Lord, "
following the Pastor's vision", instead of the Church being led by the Spirit, "
Caring for inanimate things (for structures, parking lots, salaries, band equipments, mortgages), instead of caring for people, "
mass marketing", instead of....you guessed it....one on one relationships. And the list goes on and on and on. I'm sure you all could add many more things from your own experience.
All of these things together, speak loudly to the Lord. Here is what He hears:
"Ok Lord, we see how it is done and we'll take it from here". And what does He do? He leaves. His Spirit moves on looking for hearts in which He is welcome. You can see this in the great revivals of history. Once men got their hands on the "work of God", the Spirit moved on. After all, "we see how you do it Lord, and we'll take it from here."
Yeah, "we'll take it from here". No need to depend on the Lord's Spirit anymore because we have been to Seminary and have nothing new to learn and we know exactly how to "run a church".
And that's the problem!! "Running a Church". Apart from the Lord we don't know what to do and the carnage is manifested all around us, today.
Psa_12:1-8
Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the
faithful fail from among the children of men.
We need less "edumacation" and more Godliness and Faithfulness. These are the credentials you can only receive from God in the "school of the Spirit", not a classroom.
Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly;
and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
1Co_2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you,
came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
1Co_2:4 And
my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
By the way, this prideful attitude of "knowing everything" is not just confined to those who have had formal training. And, on the flip side, I know many that have had formal training (like Paul the Apostle) that are very "Godly" and "Faithful" men of God who realize they don't know everything and must depend on the Holy Spirit, minute by minute, everyday. It's the attitude "that we see how it is done Lord and we'll take it from here", that chases the Holy Spirit off, and no Spirit no LIFE!!
Axehead
