Shepherds Not Pastors

We have covered extensively here that the pastoral system is idolatrous. It produces pride and greed in the men who call themselves pastors and it produces idolatry in God's people as they behold these "rock star" guru types who have assumed a mantle not based on God's word, but on the traditions of men.

We know that the word "pastor" isn't even in the bible. Correctly translated from a literal bible or lexicon the word "poimen" means a SHEPHERD. Of course todays "pastors" claim that they are shepherds but we should judge what they DO not what they say right?

Eph 4:11 and He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as proclaimers of good news, and some as shepherds (not "pastors") and teachers,

There are many functions within the body of Christ just like there are many parts of a human body. Using the Word of God to translate itself instead of accepting man's traditions might be a great way to find out exactly what the shepherds in the body should be doing:

1 Peter 5:1Therefore, as a fellow elder, a witness of the Messiah's sufferings, and one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I appeal to the elders among you: 2Be shepherds of God's flock that is among you, watching over it, not because you must but because you want to, and not greedily but eagerly, as God desires. 3Do not lord it over the people entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock. 4Then, when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the victor's crown of glory that will never fade away.

Here we see very clearly the NOT so rock star job of "watching over" the flock. It does'nt say teaching, it does'nt say preaching, it does'nt say administrating, its does'nt say uttering prophetic words it says WATCHING OVER the flock. Todays "rock star guru" brand of "pastor" has taken its form from the nicolaitan man made traditions passed down through the generations. Through the centuries this "pastor"/priest function has been used to enslave people to manmade organizations instead of the true body of Jesus.

If you want to know what a shepherd is NOT supposed to look like in the church, walk into any church building on any corner of any street in the western world. If you want to know what a shepherd does look like read your bible. The position of "shepherd" watches over the flock. What exactly does that mean? Think secret service here. The secret service "watches over" the president, they remain in the BACKGROUND watching over their "principle" --that's the actual word they use for who they are guarding. They guard their "principle." The shepherd in the church does the exact same thing, they guard the "principles" or doctrines in the church.

Another way of looking at this is as a group of parents "watching over" children playing in a room. They stand in the BACKGROUND while the children play to make sure nobody gets hurt. This position of shepherd is one that SHOULD exist IN THE BACKGROUND, not on a raised platform (above you) with a floodlight ON THEM and loudspeakers in our face.

Does this BACKGROUND position make sense in light of the fact that Paul NEVER mentioned a single "pastor" EVER in ANY of his travels? Yep, makes alot of sense. Does this background position make sense in light of the fact that even the KJV only mentions the word "pastor" ONE TIME in the entire new testament? Yep, makes alot of sense. Does this BACKGROUND position make sense in light of the fact that WE, US, THE SHEEP are supposed to be the ones ENCOURAGING EACH OTHER, which is the express purpose of assembling together mentioned HERE:

Hebrews 10:25
... not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

I wish there was alot more bible scripture I could quote about pastors but the fact is the bible doesn't say much about them yet we see EVERYWHERE like a plague of locusts all over the landscape of "christianity" today. Elders are mentioned frequently in the bible and todays "pastors" like to throw a lifeline over to that term and say "oh yea, we're elders!" Says who? Says you? That's not what the BIBLE says. If the Holy Spirit wanted to say "pastors" where the word "elders" is used then we would see alot more than ONE SINGLE INSTANCE of the word "pastor" in the bible don't you think?

The fact is that "pastors" have developed a system that cannot be justified ANYWHERE in the bible without hijacking legitimate functions within the body of Jesus. If the bible says "teachers" that doesn't mean "pastor." If the bible says "prophets" that doesn't mean "pastors." If the bible says "elders" that doesn't mean "pastors." A "pastor" according to the bible actually means "shepherd" and a "shepherd" stands in the BACKGROUND from the sheep. The shepherd stands in the BACKGROUND looking for danger to the flock.

The focal point within the true church is not some "rock star" guru man like today's "pastors" are presented to us. The focal point within the true church is JESUS CHRIST ALONE. Then we the sheep are to focus on EACH OTHER not stare at the back of each others heads while the "rock star" "services" us. Its kind of hard for me to encourage you when I'm staring at the back of your head and only one man "pastor" is allowed to do the talking. It's kind of hard to maintain the integrity of the faith when one man's opinion on doctrine carries more weight than the rest of the church combined.

Everything about todays so called christianity is wrong. I am convinced that the Holy Spirit still works among the apostate church in spite of it not because of it. We know from Rev 3:16 that even now the Lord works with the church of Laodicea but at some point they will be spued from his mouth. The Lord talks about "removing your candlestick from its place" and "spueing you out of my mouth" when speaking to the churches in Rev 2-3. I'm sure we could argue for days over what "removing your candlestick" actually means but the fact is I DON'T WANT TO FIND OUT.

Rev 2: 5 ‘Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.

Rev 2:16 ‘Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.

Rev 2: 22 ‘Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. 23 ‘And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.

As you can see from what the Lord says above, there are some pretty harsh consequences for not bringing yourself into conformance with the Lord's will. He is speaking to the churches there in Rev 2-3 and he is speaking to them today. Todays cotton candy christianity has no room for warning like that because it might mean someone gets a "spirit of fear" and we can't have that now can we! The Lord talks about removing lampstands and spueing churches from his mouth. If you still think you are "saved" after Jesus just vomited you out, well....you have bigger problems than we can address here.

The point of all of this is, what calls itself the church today is anything but. Centuries ago the term "christian" was hijacked, perverted, cloned and multipled into the babylonian religious spaghetti we see in the world today. The term "christian" is used loosely and freely. Self proclaimed "christians" with their attendant "churches" and clergy "pastors" dot every street corner in America yet darkness and rot continue to steadily advance in this world.

Was Jesus lieing when he said:

Matt 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The gates of hell are surely prevailing over what passes for christianity today so either 1. what calls itself "christianity" in this world is a lie or 2. Jesus lied when he said the gates of hell would not prevail against the church. Which is it? We know for a fact that Jesus cannot lie. We know that light ALWAYS drives out darkness both in the physical and spiritual worlds. So in order for darkness to advance to the place it is today, the "light" within "christianity" must BE DARKNESS.

We have been called to a simple faith in Jesus Christ alone. We have not been called to some man worshipping idolatrous system that we see in the world today. We have been called to peace and quietness, to time alone with the word of God which is also Jesus the person, our Lord. His yoke is easy and his burden is light so why do so few choose it? Come out of the harlot. Come out of the church that will have its lampstand removed and the one which will be spued out of our Lord's mouth. Keep the faith, encourage each other, perform the function thats not being performed today to WATCH over those around you. Check doctrines carefully. Read the bible and figure out what it means between you and the Lord alone. In the end thats what its going to be anyway. You standing before the Lord alone, that's where all this is going.

The best way I can think of to not fear that day when we stand before Jesus is to not wait for that day to stand before him. If you are on your knees before him DAILY do you think you'll need to fear the day when you see him face to face? I think not. Return to the fundamentals of the faith...faith hope love, patience perseverance, prayer, reading your bibles. You know these things already, these words are just to encourage you to keep doing what you already know you should be doing.

Every once in awhile I remind you that when I write things here to "you" I go back and read everything for myself so the "you" points squarely at me as well. There are few people left in this world who will bring to remembrance the FULL counsel of God, including all the warnings. I guess that's why these particular things you see repeated here never go away. If I don't say them the Lord will put donkeys out on the street corners to say them. He will not be silenced.

We are dearly loved and I am greatly humbled as the least of the brothers who are "in Christ"...grace and peace