Template talk:Clergy

There is a term of clergyism used to reject any kind of clergy citing their existence as dangerous and in opposition to the teachings of Christ and even the apostles who were a form of clergy. This sometimes is a classic case of throwing the baby out with the bath water. There points may be examined for learning purposes because there are forms of clergy that would not measure up to the directives of Christ. But anyone who claims there is no clergy of the Church is often relying on the "clergy of the State" for those duties and provisions once provided exclusively by the early Church.

1. There are churches that "hold to elevated titles" but that would be a rejection of Christ's statement in Matthew 23:8 "But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, [even] Christ; and all ye are brethren."

In Matthew 23:9 "And call no [man] your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven." When Jesus made this statement everyone in the crowd understood who the Fathers of the earth were and should have understood why He said it. The Fathers of the earth were like the Patronus of Rome and other states of the earth who provided welfare and free bread for the people. Those Fathers provided benefits through their state run temples because they had an exercising authority where they took from some to give to others. The Clergy of Christ were not to be like the "clergy of the State" who worked for the governments of the gentiles who exercise authority. Any Church or individuals who depend upon men who call themselves benefactors but exercise authority to provide welfare for the people are not followers of Christ.

Matthew 23:10-11 states "Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, [even] Christ. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant." The "clergy of the State" do exercise authority to administer their systems of welfare much like the Pharisees and their system of Corban which we know makes the word of God to none effect. When Jesus appointed or ordained His little flock He specifically told them not to exercise authority or hold positions that made them greater.

2. Claims exclusive offices of authority - reserve ministries for only themselves. Rejects Jesus Luke 6:40 "The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master."

Of course a disciple is merely a student and the word master here is the word teacher. It is the word perfect that may be causing some confusion. When Jesus uses this Greek term it is more often translated "mending" as in mending nets. Jesus says we should "strive", "persevere", and "seek" the kingdom of God and His righteousness. We are also told that the Holy Spirit is to be our comforter and write His laws upon our hearts and minds.

3. Expect a paycheck - False claim marketplace work is "secular". They will claim that a salary is a rejects Jesus because of Matthew 10::8 "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." This of course is a misapplication because the power to "cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils" is given by God and should be given freely. Any other work done should be compensated for because a laborer is worthy of his hire as we see in Luke 10:7 "And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house." The daily ministration of the early Church was often a full time job for the clergy of the early Church who took care of the needy of their society through Pure Religion by that faith, hope, and charity of the people, by the people and for the people. Most of the people who claim the Church has no need of Clergy of the Church depend upon the clergy of the State for their daily welfare and the care of the needy even in their congregations. They look to men who exercise authority and take from their neighbor in those covetous practices where people bite one another to obtain what the Bible calls the wages of unrighteousness.

Colosians 3:23... is actually instructions to the people who may be servants or even slaves of others. The clergy of Christ are the bond servants of Christ and are not servants to other men.

4. "Preach the word..." becomes lecture the word in perpetual dependency. Rejects Jesus Luke 6:40 "The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master."

5. Claim power to "rule". Reject Jesus Matthew 20:24-27. 1 Timothy 5:17-18 on elder rule is a bogus translation that also rejects Jesus.

There is MUCH more scripture on the corruption of clergyism but I'm keeping this short. Do you have a text that justifies clergyism? I know the ones they twist and falsely translate. I can untwist them. The reformers did not clean up clerghyism coming out of the Roman Catholic church. They just carried it in and no one has contested it. I do.