Clergy

Abraham, Moses, John the Baptist and Jesus were all appointed tasks and positions.
When Jesus appointed a kingdom to His little flock He was delegating a responsibility upon them. When He required them to "sell all they had" and follow Him, there was no such command to the general population.
While the ministers sold their property and owned all things common, the purpose of the Messiah was to set the captive free while returning everyman to his family and to his possessions.
Those called out ministers could be called a form of clergy, but their duties, responsibilities, and limiting criteria were defined by Christ and may not resemble modern forms of clergy. The engine that drives the kingdom of God, which is faith, is found in the heart and mind of the individual and it is fueled by the Holy Spirit.
Terms like clergy, laity, elder, father, wife, son, or daughter have their place when properly defined, but neither God nor the Holy Spirit are a respecter of persons.
Like the "Church in the wilderness"—which consisted of those ministers of a "Peculiar people" who were "called out" of the camp of the golden calf by Moses—those who were "called out" by Jesus played a pivotal role in serving the people of the early Christian community through the free practice of "Pure religion".
Certainly the early Church advocated a Daily ministration for the needy of the Christian community that was dependent on Charity only. It was not like the system of Corban of the Pharisees nor the free bread of Rome which compelled the offerings of the people. It was the practice of Pure Religion by the early church that brought them into conflict with Public religion and the Covetous Practices of the World. To understand the clergy of Christ it may be important to distinguish it from the clergyism of the Modern Church and the clergy of the world.
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Clergy defined

CLERGY. "the body of all people ordained for religious duties, especially in the Christian Church." All who are attached to the ecclesiastical ministry are called the clergy; a clergyman is therefore an ecclesiastical minister.

2. Clergymen were exempted by the emperor Constantine from all civil burdens. Baronius ad ann. 319, 30. Lord

Coke says, 2 Inst. 3, ecclesiastical persons have more and greater liberties than other of the king's subjects, wherein to set down all, would take up a whole volume of itself.

3. In the United States the clergy is not established by law, but each congregation or church may choose its own clergyman. Bouvier's Law Dictionary Revised Sixth Edition, 1856

Before you go on, you may also need to know what religion is and what religious duties include. One should also Understand what the Levites—who were the Church in the wilderness—were doing as the ordained ministers of God. Another key is to study the differences between Public religion and Pure Religion. Then ask yourself which one you depend upon and practice? One uses force and fear and the other operates upon charity and love. One makes the word of God to none effect, men subjects and merchandise, and curses children. The other returns every man to his family. In one, the clergy of the State makes choices for you. The other is a government of servants where the "greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve." It allows you make choices for yourself.

Etymology

"Clergy" is from two Old French words, clergié and clergie, which refer to those with learning and derive from Medieval Latin clericatus, from Late Latin clericus (the same word from which "cleric" is derived). "Clerk", which used to mean one ordained to the ministry, also derives from clericus. Latin clericus was "a priest," noun use of adjective meaning "priestly, belonging to the clerus".

Known Duties

The original clerks had duties and responsibilities of a religious nature, but religion was defined as the “real piety in practice, consisting in the performance of all known duties to God and our fellow men”. The duties of the ministers of God's kingdom and the early Church was to serve the community of the people, or be a society which takes care of its needy.

Therefore, the clerks of conflicting governments either served the God of heaven and those seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness through faith, hope, and charity or they served the gods many of the world which they have chosen for themselves through force, fear, and fealty. The #Clergy of Christ had the duty to feed His sheep and the people had the duty to sit down in love and charity as Christ commanded.

To understand who or what is clergy, you would have to understand who the "body" is, the requirements to be counted as "ordained", and what would a list need to consist of or include as "religious duties". If you are going to limit those characteristics to the "Christian Church" as legally defined, you would have to look to Jesus Christ for what qualifies as His "ecclesiastical minister" and not to Constantine and his "exempted" ministers.

The "ecclesiastical ministers" are those called out by Christ to be in the world but not of the world.

"CHRISTIANITY. The religion established by Jesus Christ." But also, "2. Christianity has been judicially declared to be a part of the common law of Pennsylvania;"

The term Clericalism is the application of the formal, church-based, leadership or opinion of ordained clergy in matters of either the Church or broader political and sociocultural import. There could be numerous distinctions between different forms of Clericalism such as the terms laid down by Christ and explained and exemplified by the Apostles and ministers of the early Church and those terms accepted by the ministers of the church established by Constantine's movement.

Then there is clergyism which is a much more modern term often used by those who reject the idea of any clergy of the Church established by Christ.

The term religion should not be merely what you think about God but, if we are going to be consistent with the Greek word Threskia, the term should be defined as the "pious performance of your duties to God and your fellow man" as it used to be defined. Pure Religion included the ones who preformed those duties without any tainting of those duties by benefactors who exercise authority, the [[fathers of the earth]], or the world in general. While the duties of the Church established by Jesus were clear to the early Church, the Church established by Constantine tainted the practice of its religion with contributions from rulers. Most of the needy today are again provided for by men who exercise authority while most modern Churches seem consumed with denominations, feelings, theologies and eschatologies.

Clergyism

"Is there a text that justifies clergyism?"

Neither clergy nor clergyism appear in the Bible translations. It will be important to define terms like these and how they are used for any serious study of the subject matter.

"Clergyism" is a new term that is often poorly defined. Some say "Clergyism Equals Elitism" with some being concerned that "creeping clergyism is too quickly leading to the inevitable ... conclusion that the only ministry that is recognized is that of pastor."

The term clergyism is often associated with Clericalism which has been defined as "a policy of maintaining or increasing the power of a religious hierarchy." Christ, of course, forbid His called out e.g. His Church, to exercise authority one over the other.

There has been a rise in anticlericalism during the reformation to the practices of Roman Catholicism. The opposition to the clergy born out of its real or alleged influence in political and social affairs, for its doctrinairism, for its privileges or property, or for many other reason.

Basically, clergyism is at least the view that a church and its ministers that puts the ordained clergy in the center or above the laity. The term is used to reject any kind of clergy, citing their existence as dangerous and in opposition to the teachings of Christ.

Clergyism could minimizes the importance of the people of God and their potential for ministering to each other. It weakens the body of the people by implying that what really matters is what the pastors, priests, and preachers do, say or think.

This is not a serious problem until we redefine words like Elder, Deacon, ordained, or even Religion and church.

So, the question arises, is there a Clergy of Christ since the apostles and ministers of the early Church were a form of clergy serving the people.

To use the term clergyism to suggest there was no Clergy of Christ would do the scriptures an injustice and is a classic case of throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Their points may be examined for learning purposes because there are forms of clergy that would not measure up to the directives of Christ. Learning to distinguish those types can be important. 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.

Here are five claims of the anti clergy protestors:

• 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 - Addressing the false claim that marketplace work is "secular". Some claim that a receiving a salary is a rejection of 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, which the ministers collected and freely redistributed because the whole church was organized like Christ commanded. 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.

Colossians 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. At that time most of the people were subjects of governments of the world, but the ministers called out by Christ to serve the people who sought the way of Christ were not of the world and did contrary to the decrees of Caesar because they had another king. All Christians could not separate because of some of their entanglements with bondage.

It is true that ministers did not take a salary nor were they employees of local congregations or even the whole body of clergy. Paul makes it clear that he had every right to eat and be supported by the contributions of the people as he performed the religious duties of caring for the needy. He explains this in 1 Corinthians 9 where he who plants eats of the crop and he who is a shepherd takes the milk of the flock. Even Moses said "Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn". The called out of Christ, like the called out of Moses, had the right to eat of that which was given in sacrifice upon the Altars of God.

Paul accepted help from those in Phillipi, but not from Corinth. He pointed out that they did not give as much as other churches for the needs of the whole body. The vanity of Modern Christians causes them to think they are already saved while most of the needs of the people are met by the governments who exercise authority one over the other contrary to the teachings of the Bible, Christ, and all the prophets. They actually imagine that religion is what you think about God and not the "pious performance of your duties to God and your fellow man" as it used to be defined. And they even think that you can save yourself by what you say you believe. In their imagination they have become accustomed to living at the expense of others and depending for their livelihood on the property of others with no interest in practicing Pure Religion.

• 4. "Preach the word..." becomes lecture the word in perpetual dependency. While many ministers and pastor have become ear ticklers and comforters of the people, they are not preaching "the word" according to Christ. They have replaced the Holy Spirit with emotion, bringing the people under the strong delusion that they are already saved when they are actually workers of iniquity and lovers of those wages of unrighteousness.
• 5. Claim power to "rule". Reject Jesus Matthew 20:24-27. Of course they are right in thinking that the Clergy of Christ do not have the power to either rule over the people or to force them to contribute to their daily administration like the "clergy of the State" which cares for the needy of their society. Their gatherings are just about feelings of righteousness rather than doing righteously by one another. The early Church had a daily ministration provided by an appointed clergy of Christ that met the criteria of Christ and provided real services of welfare for an international community of Christians

The common denominator of all Christians was Christ and his sound doctrines and there was no need for thousands of denominations.

Persecution of those early Christians was due to the conflict between the public religion of the welfare state and the private religion provided for through the clergy of Christ and the elders of families in congregations in free assemblies.

Even in 1 Timothy 5:17-18 we see, "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer [is] worthy of his reward." This again should be clear once we understand that an elder is the head of their family and ministers should only be chosen and appointed for the real work of the Church when they have proved they could rule their families well. Of course, these words rule well are not about the normal word for rule which would be from "archo". Instead, the Greek word is proistemi which means place or set before. These workers of Christ were providing for all the needy of the Christian community which was no small task at times and certainly made the servant worthy of his hire.

The modern Christians and anti-clergy protestants—as well as deluded Catholics—have a hard time understanding the simplicity of the gospel of the kingdom. It may be harder for them than it was for the Emperors. Certainly Justin the Martyr around 150 AD gave it a good try when he wrote his Apology to the emperor Antonius Pius to explain how Christians took care of their free bread since they did not apply to the Emperor for his free bread or wine or cheese or anything else they distributed in their welfare system. In defense of the Christian faith and allegiance to Christ, Justin wrote:

• “And the wealthy among us help the needy ... and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need.” "Justin the Martyr's Apology" to the Emperor Antonius Pius in 150 AD, (Ch. 65-67)

If you understand the gospel of the kingdom and the mission of the Little flock which was ordained by Christ for His purposes and who they were, along with the restrictions imposed by Christ, then clergyism becomes less of a threat. The Church is spirit driven and no leaders in the Church have the right to exercise authority one over the other. The Holy Spirit is to dwell within every man writing upon his heart and mind. Since an elder is an office of the family and not of the Church, it is the Holy Spirit living in the hearts and minds of the people that is the driving force of the whole body of the people in [[free assemblies and amongst those who might be called the Clergy of the Church.

Christ appointed His ministers to do a job and provide the services of Pure Religion through charitable practices, freely giving what was freely received like the Levites who were the Church in the Wilderness. They were public servants of a free government of, for, and by the virtue of the people and the ministries of His Church. Providing welfare through the state where men may call themselves benefactors creates a social compact with a corporate body that exercises authority which makes the word of God to none effect and snares the people as surety for debt. They gave up personal wealth being "called out" and relied upon charity. They were not mendicant which would be contrary to the early Church. They were to be in one accord, One Body, as the true Church. 1000 years later in the days of Lady Godiva the Church would look to the Benefactors who exercise authority and the Fathers of the earth becoming entangled in the elements of the world. It is time to repent!

Clergy of Christ

It is very clear that Jesus called out individuals, trained them to perform certain duties in the practice of Pure Religion rightly dividing the free bread of Christ from house to house.

In order to have a daily ministration that provided social welfare in the form of benefits like their daily bread through charity alone, e. g. "unspotted by the world", instead of the free bread offered by Caesar or the Pharisees through their systems of Corban which depended upon men who called themselves "benefactors" but "exercise authority" one over the other. It was this use of forced offerings which "made the word of God to none effect".

Jesus made direct requirements of His appointed Ekklesia about not being of that world which at that time often practiced public religion like the Corban of the Pharisees had become with the ][Baptism]] of Herod and it's registration with his temples.

If a clergy is "the body of all people ordained for religious duties" then the clergy of Christ would be the body of ministers ordained by Jesus's appointment of a kingdom.

More people than the Apostles were called out by Jesus to form this body but they are the ones who remained with him and were appointed a kingdom.

Jesus also appointed 70 who were his Sanhedrin.

Jews commonly gathered in groups of Tens forming congregations or synagogues connected by ministers and the early Christians were Jews. The Essene community also organized itself in a similar way with ministers forming religious orders because they provided welfare for their people through charity and shunned the welfare often offered by pagan emperors or even the Pharisees who set up new types of systems to care for the needy through Herod.

Couple these customs with the fact that Christ had commanded that his disciples to make the people organize themselves in the same groups of tens and you can see the pattern of the early Church. The ten heads of families were connected in a social network of charity by the ministers they chose in each group. Each group of ten ministers formed a congregation of ministers so the highest among them were the servants of all.

That would make the first Apostles and their successors part of an ordained body of servant ministers or clergy. Even the 120 in the upper room represented twelve groups of ten who were in one accord. These were the early clergy of Christ. As thousands repented of the old system that made the word of God to none effect and were baptized. As those numbers grew among the people the number of clergy also grew among those who were fulfilling the "duties of religion". So we need to know what was religion and what Pure Religion would be and the instructions to the apostles given by Jesus to know what those duties were.

Jesus clearly called out His little flock to serve the people without exercising authority one over the other. They were to be separate from the world with no personal estate owning all things common like the Levites before them. The oversaw a daily ministration that served the needs of their society rightly dividing bread and supplies from house to house and across borders of nations during economic dearths and famines.

Elders of the early Church were first of the laity and functioned as free souls according to the Perfect law of liberty. They could become a part of the clergy of Christ who like Christ only came to serve, not rule over the people.

Is the modern Church doing what the early Church did?

Without the Church in general which we may call the laity gathering in free assemblies or congregations of Tens and the Church specific which consists of the offices of Deacon, Bishop and Priest, There will be the temptations of Balaam and the Nicolaitan.

Both the Minister of the world and the Minister of Christ are forms of clergy when it comes to practice of providing for the needy of society. But the systems they may use to fulfill their duties of providing for the needy may be decidedly different. Providing for the needy was clearly a duty of the early Church and their daily ministration was considered a religious duty but they, like the Church in the wilderness, were limited to freewill offerings or what the New Testament calls charity.

Many modern Christians and especially the Modern Church are heavily reliant upon the ministers of the world and their public religion which is the welfare state systems that often make the word of God to none effect. Until they repent of their desire for the wages of unrighteousness served at the table of rulers who exercise authority one over the other they may need to put a knife to their throat if they are people of a wantonness appetite until they may earnestly seek the Kingdom of God in order to set the table of righteousness so they may eat with the Lord in that kingdom. Until they are doers of the word they may have need of repentance.

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Clergy of the world

Who is the Clergy of the world?

If we use the term world that Jesus said his kingdom was not a part of and that his minsters could be in but not of then the world includes the constitutional orders of men and their governments. That would be the same world that James says spots religion so that it is no longer pure Religion.

If we use clergy as the ministers of what was called public religion then the clergy of the world would include the employees of governments since that Greek word for world meant "a constitutional form of government". It is the the administers of the those systems of State Welfare who may be classified as the clerks or #clergy of the world that provide care for the need of society as well as those who collect the contributions of the people who are the resources of that public welfare system.

Are those who provide the services in modern government which was once the exclusive province of the Christian community in fact the "clergy of the State" providing the administration of welfare to the needy? That would be what is sometimes called "public religion" which is often doing what the early Church used to do. They are the administrators of your social welfare by the governments of the world.

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Laity

Someone wrote that "Neither the word clergy nor the word laity appears in the Bible." That is certainly not true in the case of laity. For laity are people.

The term Laity has come to represent the people of a religious faith as distinguished from its clergy.

The laity has played not only an important role in the function of the church it duties are an essential element of the kingdom of God. As a free people seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness, they do not hold any office in the institution of the appointed Church for they are returned to their family and their possessions as free souls under God.

The clergy and the laity must both participating in what was called The Way in order to bear fruit. As Christ appointed them they do not exercise authority one over the other. Unlike the benefactors of the world who are the Fathers of the earth, the natural fathers who are the elders of every family with the guidance of the Holy Spirit must choose The righteous way of the perfect law of liberty.

Unfortunately, many damnable heresies have crept into the modern Church that has lead many to become workers of iniquity while still claiming to be followers Christ.

The Elders of each family were both priests and kings within their own family and the Christian community but to come together as a nation required someone to act as a priest on a national level.

The people of the early Church were gathered in congregations of tens as commanded by Moses and by Christ but they shared what they produced with the national priests of their society in charity to help maintain the community and strengthen its natural bonds of society in a daily ministration of welfare by freewill offerings instead of by force.

The table of rulers which should have been for the welfare of the people was a snare and a trap but the living altars of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus help set the people/laity free.

Such systems of voluntary assistance in society require the people to be diligent in their practice of virtue and their duty to their fellow man in what James calls Pure Religion.

In the ancient text, we see terms like Altars of clay and stone which represented councils of friends and the people or laity they served. Together in love, they provided social welfare needs which strengthened the community without electing a ruler or falling prey to the error of the Balaam.

The Levites as a national priesthood were not originally meant to burn up animals on piles of dead stone but they were a government institution designed to serve the public as a medium for causing the transfer of the offered sacrifices to those truly in need as the deserving poor.

The Pharisees had it wrong but other religious groups reading the exact same Torah at the time of Christ would have little or nothing to do with the bloody mindless rituals of the Pharisees. They considered the Pharisaical interpretation of the sacred scriptures to be a fiction and a fraud.

The deeds of modern Christians today are hated by God and Christ because they have let themselves be conquered by greed and wantonness. As Nicolaitans they are entangled again under the elements of the world into the bondage of The Mire through covetous practices which makes them merchandise and curse children.

The "Clergy/Laity" Distinction of Zens

The washing of the feet of the Apostles as we see in John 13 has set the pattern for the appointed ministers of Christ.
Many have asked the question did Jesus want a two tiered church.
The concept of a separately ordained or appointed ministry is not new to the kingdom. But the "present form" in churches seemed to emerge in the third or fourth centuries after Constantine.
Many argue that the two-class structure that has emerged does not correspond to what Jesus did and taught.
A Church structure as tiers or classes typically produces a hierarchy of authority in the form of a pyramid, with a ruler at the top, with offices like ordained bishops, priests and etc. and then laity at the bottom. This would be the reverse of what Christ seemed to appoint and certainly the opposite of Abraham blessed by the priest Melchizedek and Moses's Levites. The present common clergy seems similar to the governments of the world like Nimrod, Pharaoh, Saul, and Caesar. The idea that Christ created tiers of authority of one over the other would be obviously false by Jesus own directive to His disciples. The acceptance of a tiered hierarchy of authority seems to have had a negative effect on the function intended by Christ.
In truth the Church established by Christ is Spirit driven and that spirit needs to be driving the laity in their heart and mind or their ministers will soon be corrupted by the sloth and avarice of the people.

A Help or a Hindrance to the Body of Christ? By Jon Zens

In the article February 1996 he says “Christian leaders” hosted a "Clergy Conference" in Atlanta.

Who are the real “Christian leaders”?

Zens says this idea is “an unhealthy division of God's people into two classes: the "clergy" and the "laity"”

When he says that this particular version of a "Clergy/Laity" “totally without biblical justification” is right?

So, I agree that Jon Zens is right about the modern Church's clergy/laity paradigm. But nothing in his article leads me to believe he understands the clear rolls of the minister/people paradigm of the Early Church community.

To simply criticize one person's confusion or error without offering something constructive would be unchristian.

Unholy caste

Zens asks, 'Does the New Testament teach that there is a separate caste of church leaders designated as 'clergy' who are over the 'laity' ?' It does not.”

The "Clergy/Laity" paradigm among the Pharissees where they put heavy burdens on the people but did not help lift them was real. And the same was true of the Imperial Cult of Rome.

The problem is not the term "clergy" with Latin origins nor laity which means people. We must look deeper into scripture and ourselves in order to find the message and the meaning.

The "Clergy/Laity" paradigm of Christ is not the same as the "Clergy/Laity" paradigm of the world or the Modern Church.

A New Testament pattern

He may be right that the “traditional "clergy/laity" practice would have to be jettisoned in favor of the New Testament patterns.”

But what was the New Testament pattern?

Zen writes, “You admit in Men of Action (Nov. 1995, p. 4), "Pastors are worn out, discouraged, and in need of affirmation. In fact, poll after poll reveals that most pastors are battling isolation, depression, and loneliness. They are so beaten up by the ministry . . ."

I wrote and article years ago that explains some of what we call Ministry Burnout.

The solution is not “to stop being ‘’clergy’’”, clerks, or ministers but to start being the Clergy of Christ.

Zens imagines that “By assuming that the "clergy" category is correct, your conference actually is perpetuating an unbiblical system that is to the detriment of those who attend.” but it is not the category of ‘’’Clergy’’’ but the defining nature of what they think is the ’’’religious duties’’’ of their form of clergy.

When Zens defines these “two classes - pulpiteers and pew-sitters.” he is clearly not talking about anything that Christ appointed.

A hierarchy of service

There was a hierarchy in the called out, ekklesia, or Church appointed by Christ. But it is not like the "Clergy/Laity" as described by Zens or seen in the Modern Church.

Matthew 23:11 “But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.”

Luke 22:26 “But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.”

They had authority over the what the people freely gave not over the people themselves.

Why did the people give to them?

Were those contributions given so they could rightly divide the free bread in the daily ministration by the ministers of the Church from house to house in the practice of those ‘’’religious duties’’’ through pure Religion?

Zens is correct when he says the pattern he sees in the modern clergy of the [[modern Church], “certainly reflects the hierarchical patterns of the world, but which does not square with New Testament teaching.” But he seems to want to do away with the word "clergy" and has no idea of what the real "religious duties" in the early Church were nor the essential role of the laity and what it was in the ministry to determine if it was fruitful.

I fully admit that the apostasy of the modern Church is a far cry from the historical activities of the early Church before Constantine ushered in the seeds of a strong delusion concerning many things including the position of the clergy of a church funded by him much in the same way as Julius Caesar funded the temple of Jupiter.

After Constantine there seemed to be two historically different groups of people calling themselves Christian and claiming to be followers of Jesus using many of the same words but operating by different means and methods.

This new church was happy to enjoy the gifts of those benefactors "who exercise authority one over the other".

Real Christians would not eat of nor touch the dainties of the tables of those rulers.

Again this was the Christian conflict with Rome which many modern Christians will not what to see.

Daily breads

But who will provide the daily bread for the people?

The truth of the problem is not just with the Modern Church but also with the Modern Christians. The Modern Christians are dependent upon the "clergy/laity" relationship with what can be called the public religion of Rome which was and is today like the Corban of the Pharisees.

Rome also divided free bread from house to house through the Imperial Cult of Rome that provided legal charity as a form of welfare that Paul and David said was a snare and a trap and Peter says would make you Merchandise and curse children.

Early Christians would not eat at their tables of social welfare provided by the government of the gentiles who exercise authority one over the other which is why they were persecuted. This was the Christian conflict with Rome.

Zens seems to have no understanding of this nor how the Church was able to provide a daily ministration in Jerusalem and for the Greeks miles away during the dearths that rolled across the Roman Empire in those days.

Does his anger toward the apostasy of the Modern Church and their “caste” division of "clergy/laity" keep him from seeing The Way of the early Church and the Free assemblies of the people. But he is not alone in this discontent. Often the problem is not much different when the Pharissees wor making the word of God to none effect with their Corban. They had perverted the Corban of Moses which had been a freewill offerings into a system of legal charity through their appeal to the government of Herod.

Unless we address the Sophistry and hypocrisy of the scholars at the time of Christ we may fall prey the the same strong delusions.

Iron and sparks

Zens' article correctly states that:

“Before we examine the historical and biblical evidence, consider the following three examples of the kind of teaching that has influenced this "clergy/laity" thinking:”

On this office [of Pastor] and the discharge of it He has laid the whole weight of the order, rule, and edification of His Church.

[The Pastor] is like the cerebellum, the center for communicating messages, coordinating functions, and conducting responses between the head and body . . .The pastor is not only the authoritative communicator of the truth from the Head to the body, but he is also the accurate communicator of the needs from the Body to the Head.

[Pastor Hamman] likened the total church to an army. The army has only one Commander-in-Chief, Jesus Christ. The local church is like a company with one company commander, the pastor, who gets his orders from the Commander -in-Chief. The company commander has lieutenants and sergeants under him for consultation and implementation, but the final responsibility for decisions is that of the company commander, and he must answer to the Commander-in-Chief . . . The Pastor has the power in a growing church . . . The pastor of a growing church may appear to outsiders as a dictator. But to the people of the church, his decisions are their decisions.

It is telling that, “The pulpit monologue precludes dialogue” and does not seem to match much of what we see in the Biblical text.

Paying for what

But when Zens says, “we pay the "clergy" to do the necessary religious activities” where does he explain what he thinks religious activities are.

Without accepting that religion was providing all the welfare for fellow Christians through a system of charity so that no one has to covet the benefits and dainties of rulers which Paul says is idolatry Zens rant about the clergy/laity paradigm seems to fall very short of the gospel of the kingdom.

Zen rightly questions the idea of a salaried clergy and what he calls pulpeteers. Ifall they do is tickle the ears of pewsitters I would not want to finance such fruitless apostasy.

"As long as "clergy" are paid to do religious duties why should the body develop its "one-another" ministries? Paul testified to the elders at Ephesus: "I coveted no one's silver, gold, or costly garments. You yourselves know personally that these hands ministered to my own needs and those of others with me. In everything I have pointed out to you that, by working in this way diligently, we ought to support the weak, being mindful of Jesus' words, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive' (Acts 20: 33-35)".

Zens may not and the modern Church clergy clearly do not understand that all the social welfare of the Early Christian community, locally and internationally, was provided through a network of full time minister.

They would not eat of the tables of Caesar and were persecuted for that moral choice of obedience to Christ.

Modern Christians have developed an appetite for the dainties of rulers and a myriad of benefits from the governments that exercise authority against the command of Christ.

From John the Baptist to Justin the Martyr, who wrote his Apology to Antonius Pius the emperor to explain how Christians took care of their own system of free bread for the needy, true Christian lived by faith, hope, and charity and not by the force, fear and fealty offered by the "Fathers" of the earth.

Since Christians did not apply to the Emperor through their government temples for his dainties of free bread or wine or cheese or anything else they distributed in their welfare system... Justin was inspired to write the emperor in defense of the Christian faith and their allegiance to Christ:

• “And the wealthy among us help the needy ... and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need.”

But ever since, Constantine the idea that we can morally go to men who exercise authority for our daily welfare has crept into our thinking.

It is time to repent and seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

We have already addressed in our writings of what the Clergy of Christ consisted of and what the responsibility of the Laity was and go into much more in the audio files.

Keys of the Kingdom podcasts

Download Recording of second Podcast

https://hisholychurch.org/audio/20240604clergy2.mp3

God is no respecter of persons partly because a "Person" by definition is a "member" and salvation is an individual pursuit, not a collective one.
But the apostles did come into one "accord" and were a "body" and received an appointment of a kingdom but as doers of the word they became the provider of all social welfare for the early Christians through faith, hope, and charity and not by force, fear, and fealty like the world of Rome and the "modern Christians".
Abraham, Moses, John the Baptist and Jesus and the early Church appointed by the Christ advocated a Daily ministration that was dependent on Charity and a network of servant ministers working in groups of tens only and it was not like the system of Corban of the Pharisees and Rome.

Appoint

The word "appoint" appears in the Bible at least a 167 time. Of the Twenty-five times it appears in the New Testament eight times it is seen in the Gospels.

In the English language it can be defined as:

1. . To select or designate to fill an office or a position.
2. . To fix or set by authority or by mutual agreement.
3. . To furnish; equip.
4. . To direct the disposition of (property) to a person or persons in exercise of a power granted for this purpose by a preceding deed.

Tithemi

The Greek word tithemi appears 96 times but is only translated appoint 6 times which is first seen in Matthew 24:51.

The first place we see tithemi in the Greek text of the gospel it is found in the parable about putting a light under a bushel basket and is translated "put".

Matthew 5:15 "Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house."

This Greek word tithemi appears to be best associated with the English definition of "4. To direct the disposition of (property) to a person or persons in exercise of a power granted for this purpose by a preceding deed."

In Luke and Matthew the word appoint is the result of the "preceding deed" of hypocrisy and unbelief after claiming to believe.

Peter speaks of a stumbling block and rock of offense being appointed because of the deeds of disobedience.

1 Peter 2:8 "And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, [even to them] which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed <5087>."

Suntasso

The next two times we see the word appoint is in Matthew 26:19 and Matthew 27:10 and translated from the word suntasso which only appears in Matthew.

Both times it is used by Christ to prescribe, appoint something.

Tasso

The next word we see in Matthew 28:16 is the similar word tasso commonly translated as appoint and ordain appearing only eight time in the Bible it also appears in other forms as we may observe.

In the Gospels we see tasso used twice:

Matthew 28:16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed <5021 etaxato assigned> them.

Luke 7:8 For I also am a man set <5021 tassomenos appointed,> under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth [it].

It does also appear in Matthew in the form of tassomenos (I appoint) but is not translated:

Matthew 8:9 For I am a man under authority, (tassomenos) having soldiers under me: and I say to this [man], Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth [it].

The first time the apostles seem to be sent to a mountain as if "to station" them and the second time in Luke it is describing soldiers "put in order" under authority.

In the Epistles it is translated appointed twice with its primary meaning being "to put in order, to place in a certain order, to arrange, to assign".

Acts 22:10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed <5021 tetaktai it has been appointed> for thee to do.

Acts 28:23 And when they had appointed <5021 Taxamenoi Having appointed> him a day, there came many to him into [his] lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and [out of] the prophets, from morning till evening.

Tasso is even translated ordained in both Acts 13 and Roman 13:

Acts 13:48 "And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained <5021 tetagmenoi appointed> to eternal life believed."

Romans 13:1 "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained <5021 tetagmenai having been instituted> of God."

It is translated determined in reference to appointing Paul and Barnabas to go to Jerusalem to get the answer from the apostles to a question that was in dispute:

Acts 15:2 "When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined <5021 etaxan they appointed> that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question."

Probably the strangest translation is when we are lead to the meaning of the word to be addicted. It certainly does not mean addicted as the word is commonly used today.

1 Corinthians 16:15 "I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and [that] they have addicted <5021 etaxan they have devoted> themselves to the ministry of the saints,)"

Diatasso

Luke uses four different words that are all translated appoint. In Luke 3:13, Luke 10:1, Luke 12:46, and Luke 22:29 each verse containing respectively diatasso, anadeiknumi, tithemi and diatithemai.

The word has a meaning of commanding as we see in Matthew:

Matthew 11:1 "And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding <1299> his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities."

We see this idea of commanding also in Luke:

Luke 8:55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded <1299> to give her meat.

Luke 17:9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded <1299> him? I trow not.

Luke 17:10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded <1299> you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

And again in Acts this sense of commanding is prominent:

Acts 18:2 "And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded <1299> all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them."

Acts 20:13 "And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed <1299>, minding himself to go afoot."

Acts 23:31 "Then the soldiers, as it was commanded <1299> them, took Paul, and brought [him] by night to Antipatris."

Acts 24:23 "And he commanded <1299> a centurion to keep Paul, and to let [him] have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him."

Even though the word is translated appointed we can assume those verses also include the idea of commanding:

Luke 3:13 "And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed <1299 diatetagmenon having been appointed> you."

Acts 7:44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed <1299>, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.

1 Corinthians 7:17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I <1299> in all churches.

1 Corinthians 9:14 Even so hath <1299> the Lord ordained <1299> that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

1 Corinthians 11:34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order <1299> when I come.

1 Corinthians 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order <1299> to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

Galatians 3:19 Wherefore then [serveth] the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; [and it was] ordained <1299> by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Titus 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed <1299> thee:

Histemi

In Acts 1:23 we see histemi) which appears 158 times but is translated stand 116 times out of 158 times

The list goes on including other words.

Jesus said he would appoint a kingdom, which was a form of government to His apostles and we see him do just that in Luke 22:29. He also ordered them to not be like the other governments of the world who exercise authority over the people to provide benefits.

From the book The Free Church Report

To Appoint and Ordain the kingdom and the Church

In the New Testament there are 14 different words translated into the word appoint or appointed. Five of those words are also translated or defined as ‘to ordain’. In one quote we see where Jesus is appointing a specific group of seventy and then sent them out two by two. He uses the word anadeiknumi.

“After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.” Luke 10:1

The word anadeiknumi is defined as: “1) to proclaim any one as elected to office 2) to announce as appointed a king, general, etc.” In the Bible it is common to find government terms. This word, meaning appoint, again appears during the election of a new Apostle in Acts 1:24, but is translated as ‘shew’.

“And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all [men], shew [appoint] whether of these two thou hast chosen”.

Another place we see the word appoint is in Luke 22:29: “And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;” Here the author chose the Greek word ‘diatithemai’ which contains the word ‘tithemi’ defined as, “1) to arrange, dispose of, one’s own affairs 1a) of something that belongs to one 1b) to dispose of by will, make a testament 2) to make a covenant, enter into a covenant, with one.”

Jesus is entrusting the Kingdom that His Father had entrusted to Him. He is appointing certain responsibilities to a few. This means that particular people were appointed in trust by covenant to serve and maintain the kingdom in service to others. We continue to see this same word ‘diatithemai’ in reference to covenants throughout the New Testament such as:

“Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made [diatithemai] with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.” Acts 3:25

“For where a testament [is], there must also of necessity be the death of the testator [diatithemai].” Hebrews 9:16 [See also Hebrews 8:10, Hebrews 9:17, Hebrews 10:16.]

Jesus goes on to explain some of the limitations of this appointed office of trust in Luke 22:25-26, Mark 10:42, and Matthew 20:25. As the rightful king of Judea, the remnant of Israel, with All power given unto him in heaven and in earth, Jesus had foretold this coming appointment in Luke 12:32, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

Jesus, from the beginning, made a distinction between that little flock that was called out and the rest of the people who he loved, healed, preached to, and blessed. It is clear that those called out received special instructions for a specific work and task.

“He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” Matthew 13:11[See also Luke 8:10]

Those chosen by Christ to be His ministers are not better or more important. It certainly does not mean they may exercise authority over the people or crown others to exercise authority, as we have seen some Churches do in the past. It is clear that Jesus appointed specific tasks to specific men, using words like suntasso or tasso meaning ‘put in order with or together, to arrange, to constitute, to prescribe, appoint’ or ‘ordain’.

In the Church it is clear that the ministers are not given an exercising authority over the people like other governments, but this does not mean that it has no authority or order. We see tasso used in Luke 7:8:

“For I also am a man set [appointed] under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth [it].”

Jesus did not disagree with that soldier, but found his understanding to be of great faith. When Jesus appointed Paul in Acts 22:10, we see that word used again:

“And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.”

All governments appoint men to offices of authority, and this is no less true in the Church. The Apostles and Paul were ordained of God by Jesus the king. The difference lies in the fact that the Church cannot ‘exercise’ authority. The Roman centurion treated his servant as a son and undoubtedly treated his men as brothers. Although he could exercise authority they obeyed him out of love and respect. The original Roman army was not established by an oath of supremacy but by mutual trust and respect. It eventually evolved into that centralized despotic government the same as Israel did when the voice of the people called for a central authority during the time of Samuel. But brotherhoods are far stronger unions.

“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you.” Hebrews 13:17

Many ministers believe that this gives them authority to rule over the people. The word obey in Hebrews is peitho and is translated “persuade, trust” or “have” or “be confident in” over 40 times and obey only 7. It is defined 1) persuade 1a) to persuade, i.e. to induce one by words to believe 1b) to make friends of, to win one’s favor, gain one’s good will, or to seek to win one, strive to please one.”

Ordination by God is an unseen act of a calling, and acceptance of that calling. It is God and man in a communion of faith and hope. The governing of that union is by revelation, faith, and obedience. These things cannot be seen by eyes of the flesh or by the blind of the world. The outward demonstration of ordination of men by men is simply an acceptance of a mutual belief, trust, and brotherhood. What the Church calls ordination is simply the outward sign that can be seen by the world, that men ordained of God recognize the spirit of the ordination of God in others. It is a public proclaiming of that recognition and has no power of itself without God’s blessing, yet by two or more witnesses let all things be established. It is a way that men mark the boundaries of the kingdom, as they see it in the hearts and minds of one another through love and trust, charity and hope, by faith in God.

Because Christ preached a Kingdom, appointed it, and defined the manner of its ministry, any group, society, church or government that does contrary to those teachings is anti-Christ no matter what they may proclaim or postulate to the world or the people. It may serve God’s purposes by oppressing the people so that just like in the days of Egypt, they pray to return to His Way.

Here is the spirit of choice given to all men. Shall men seek to live of, by, and for the authority of the kingdom of God and its righteousness under the perfect law of liberty by faith, hope, and charity? Or shall people choose to live of, by, and for the exercising authority of the kingdoms or governments established by the hands of men, eating of their entitlements but becoming their human resources, subject to the will, desire, and whims of tyrants and their mob.

Acts 5:29 “Then Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”

God is giving and forgiving, He is just and merciful, He is forthright and patient, He is industrious and fruitful, and His ordained ministers strive to be as He is, seeking His righteousness in sacrifice and in service. They recognize that Spirit in others, and proclaim that recognition to the world in a brotherhood of one accord, publishing their witness for all to see.

2 Timothy 2:24 “And the servant of the Lord must not strive [ fight]; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”

An Appointment Ex Officio

In Acts 6:3, the Greek word kathistemi is translated ‘appoint’ as well as ‘make’ or ‘made ruler’ and ‘ordain’. This word is defined: “to set one over a thing (in charge of it) 1b) to appoint one to administer an office.” Here in Acts 6:3, the appointment to administer this office took place after an ‘election’ by the people of men to carry out the daily ministration. The daily ministration in the temple of God’s government on earth included many duties, and among them was the care of widows, orphans, and the needy of society who were in want of assistance through the charity of the kingdom.

There was still adequate welfare available in the Roman system of sacrificium, and the Corban system of the Pharisees’ temple run by the Jews who rejected Christ. The followers of Christ were banned from those entitlement programs of the treasury of the Pharisees.The Christians were not only cast out like in the days of Egypt, but they would not apply, i.e.. pray, to the Fathers of Rome or the Hellenized Judean Pharisees for any of their Nicolaitan benefits. Christ said to pray to Our Father who art in Heaven.

Understanding the concept of an appointment of those who were already elected is the key to maintaining a free Church, or any large body of people, without centralization of power. It was used by the Apostles, by David, by Samuel, by Moses, and even earlier, Abraham.

This ancient system included some essential safeguards. If the Ministers Christ appointed could exercise a direct authority over the handling of the funds needed to manage these duties of the church government, they would have a power similar to what corrupted the Pharisees and all other governments of power and authority. An office of power and authority, which such administrators held, would soon attract men greedy for gain and “lovers of soft things”.

In order for the government of the people, by the people, and for the people to not perish from the earth the power of consent must continue to rest with the people individually, from contribution to contribution, and day to day. Men may not be chosen and appointed from the top down to rule over the contributions and the people. Nor can the people be the sole electors of those titular ministers. If that were true the Church would be established by the people and not by the appointment of Christ.

All ministers need to be appointed, but only by someone who is at least believed to be Christ’s ordained minister already. Their titular office must also fall within the job description criteria given by the Messiah, the Christ. The apostles had three years of intensive instructions on the mysteries of the Kingdom and the manner of its service. They began to understand what the Pharisees had forgotten, whether by choice, or neglect, or deception.

By the time of Christ, the Pharisees were forcing the collection of contributions of the people by taxation. If you did not contribute the prescribed amount to their governing body, the scribes, accounting clerks of that government, would turn the matter over to the courts. The right hand of government could fine or imprison you for not paying your fair share into what had become a central treasury.

Christ had instructed that in the Kingdom, if you were to pay what you believed you could afford, it could be marked “paid in full,” whether a penny from a widow, or a vast sum from the wealthy.

In one system there was guaranteed grants, bestowed benefits, and social security. But in these schemes of authoritarian benefactors, there was an effort to placate the poor with self-indulgent welfare which weakened the poor.

The benefactions of every person could be forced as contributing members. Through covetousness, the people became human resources for the whim of the benefactors of the government. The idea of the compelled Corban (or sacrifice) came from Greek and Roman influence.

After the porters of the temple (called moneychangers in the Greek) took their generous commission, the funds of that central royal treasury was supposed to care for the social needs of the people. This could include everything from welfare for the destitute, retirement supplements for the aged, or even large work projects like roads or aqueducts to bring water into the city. But corruption, pork barrel projects, and extravagance, for ministers often put more emphasis on their stone buildings and robes than the needs of the people they were called to serve.

For any government to function, there must be participation by the people in the supply and demand of services. The titular leaders of a free government cannot be given power to exercise authority over how much or when the people entrust their ministers. Christ commanded that His appointed ministers not "exercise authority”. When the people lose their daily right to choose, they are made subjects.

What is given is given completely, like a burnt offering or bread cast upon the water, but the free will choice to give must remain with the people. The choice and manner of service provided by that gift must remain entirely with the minister, who is a servant of God. In essence, this form of sacred purpose trust, with the minister as the steward (a kind of trustee), is at the foundation of His Church.

It has been customary that another group oversee the ministers. Of course in truth the actual overseer of the Church is the Holy Spirit or what is sometimes called the Comforter. The Apostles met the requirements laid down by Christ. They were prepared to represent the Holy Spirit, and when they had received the power to do so from that Spirit, they were able to go out and preach the Kingdom as the physical representatives of that Comforter. They exercised no authority by their own hand over the people, but relied entirely upon the power of that Holy Spirit.

The ordination requirements of the overseeing ministry of Christ are extremely controversial today, but have been a tradition both at the time of Christ and before. They are well documented in the Biblical text, but neglected by many modern ministers. The Levites did not belong to themselves as freemen, like those in the congregation of the people, but they “belonged” to God. They were His firstborn servants, appointed to minister to the people according to the Holy Spirit as it moved in them and in the people. They had no right to hold a free dominion offered by God to all men. They had no inheritance in the land as a personal estate. The same was clearly true at the time of Jesus’ appointment of His ministers.

At that time the Levites were unlawfully allowed to own land in their own name, and some had become wealthy thanks to the Hasmonean corruption some 175 years before. Corrupt men were drawn into what was once an office of service. What once had been an appointment of leadership and respect had become an office of rulership and power. What had once been a government of public servants had steadily become a government that required the service of the people. Freewill offerings had become legislated taxation imposed without proper daily Consent. God’s kingdom of Judea was becoming merged into the world of Rome, as the centralized leaders fornicated with the benefits of that power and authority.

In James 4:4 we see a warning where the word ‘kathistemi’ is translated ‘is’ rather than ‘ordained’.

• “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is [ordained] the enemy of God.”

The word ‘world’ in this text has nothing to do with the planet and is one of the five different words translated into ‘world’ in the New Testament; it is defined as “an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government.”

James’ warning had to do with the constitutional order or government of which Jesus’ Kingdom was not a part. This included Rome and those Jews who denounced Christ, claiming they had no king but Caesar. They had appealed to Caesar to be the protector of their system of Corban and appointer of their priests as Pontifex Maximus. Rome was more than willing to commission and license the ministers of that government, ex officio. But this Pontifex of power was not only appointing, but electing the replacements to those offices that once rose up through the “courts and villages” of the people.

The kingdom of Heaven gives and maintains the power of choice to the people, and the Ordained ministers have the power to accept or reject, appoint or withdraw their election. The Kingdom of liberty is the Kingdom of God on earth. It is a Kingdom that only works amongst the virtuous people who seek the righteousness of Christ and the love of the Father. It only functions under the perfect law of liberty. It is a place where men are as concerned about maintaining their neighbors’ rights as much as they are concerned about maintaining their own. It is not one place or one city, but it is a nation of peculiar people, who as brothers have learned to live in the world, but not of it, by following the ways of Jesus the Christ.

Allegations of Authority by reference

"Civil law is the law that men make for themselves." “Law is generally divided into four principle classes, namely; Natural law, the law of nations, public law, and private or civil law. When considered in relation to its origin, it is statute law or common law. When examined as to its different systems, it is divided into common law, common law, canon law.” “‘Civil Law,’ ‘Roman Law’ and ‘Roman Civil Law’ are convertible phrases, meaning the same system of jurisprudence.”“The civil law reduces the unwilling freedman to his original slavery; but the laws of the Angloes judge once manumitted as ever after free.”The Church is formed under the will of God. “The Law of Nature is the will of God as to human conduct, founded on the moral difference of things, and discoverable by natural light (Rom. 1:20; 2:14, 15). This law binds all men at all times. It is generally designated by the term “conscience,” or the capacity of being influenced by the moral relations of things.”

In one sense, “The canon law is a body of Roman ecclesiastical law, relative to such matters as that church either has or pretends to have the proper jurisdiction over:” And in another sense, “Canon law, the body of ecclesiastical law adopted in the Christian Church, certain portions of which (for example, the law of marriage as existing before the Council of Trent) were brought to America by the English colonists as part of the common law of the land.”

In fact, Canon law should only be defined as the “will of God”. Any deviation from the Law of Nature in the written or applied canon laws is void. As a system of law, true Canon Law must operate differently than the laws of many other nations that depend upon benefactors who exercise authority one over the other. Since it is the will of God that all men be free souls under God, true Canon law, by its nature, sets men free by restoring both responsibility and rights to those who seek the Kingdom of God. If the Church, ordained by Christ, is the Body of Christ, then in a non civil sense the body or corpus of Christ is the incorporation of Christ, and therefore it is God who is its ruling judge and no other gods.

Most corporations we see today are created by the States instituted by men. These States or STATES are nothing more than the creation of men who vest in those institutions certain privileges and rights which they themselves have chosen to delegate or vest in that body or corpus. That body exists as a corporation of men or as an individual corporation sole, or both. A portion of the rights of its members remain in the control of the body (congress, parliament, etc.) or by a king or other executive office (president, Emperor, or commander in chief).

These institutions or creations of men can be formed by the voice of the people or by their application, apathy, and avarice. While these institutions have no life of their own, they depend on the life of their members to maintain an existence.

One definition of “Incorporation” is “The act or process of forming or creating a corporation; the formation of a legal or political body, with the quality of perpetual existence and succession, unless limited by the acts of incorporation.”The documents used by His Holy Church to verify its existence will appear by their nature to be different than those of the world, and they should be, for the Church is commanded not to be like other governments, as expressed in Article 10 of its Polity, i.e. to be in the world, but not of it.

Also, it could be said that these documents are new and do not date back to their origin. The Church has been in existence at least from the time of Christ, almost 2000 years. While the body of Christ is endowed with the quality of perpetual existence, alas, paper is not. In Black’s Law dictionary we see several concepts related to incorporation and their making:

“The method of making of one document of any kind become a part of another separate document by referring to the former in the latter, and declaring that the former shall be taken and considered as a part of the latter the same as if it were fully set out therein. This is more fully described as ‘incorporation by reference.’ If one document is copied at length in the other, it is called ‘actual incorporation.’”

It has been said that:

“An allegation that a corporation is incorporated shall be taken as true, unless denied by the affidavit of the adverse party, his agent or attorney, whether such corporation is a public or private corporation and however created.”

The brothers at His Holy Church have written these documents and all other supporting documents with at length reference to the ancient text both in English and the more original Hebrew and Greek. There are many other similar writings in other ages and places. Identical documentation does not make the Church one body, but the precept upon precept found in the spiritual fruits of the similar rituals and ceremonies do. Paper and documents are only one form of evidence of the faith and allegiance of the brotherhood of God to the ways of their Father.

“Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:7)

In one sense the whole kingdom of God is one Family which no man can judge from any pedestal rooted upon the earth of His creation. As each man and woman seeks to know and do the will of Our Father, they draw near to Him like prodigal sons and daughters. They seek His house and dwell in His cities. They are steadily, through application and participation in faith, merged with His domain under His authority through a chain of authentication before the witness of the people, by the people, and for the people as an expression of God’s will, who is the Father of the people.

Luke 11:2 “And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.”

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