In Acts 20, of which I have pointed to time and time again, receiving a collective yawn on this sight, there is sound proof that the 'lone wolf', no pun here, single 'pastor' concept is utterly foreign to the NT!
vs. 17 'and from Miletus he (Paul) sent to Ephesus, and called the elders (presbyteros) of the 'church'(
Now watch real careful. In vs. 28 Paul is still talking to the presbyteros, 'Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers (bishops), to feed (poimainein: shepherd, pastor) the 'church'(ekklesia) of God......'
vs. 29 and 30, Paul warns that after he is dead, wolves would rise up and change the dynamic of the assembly, garnering followers after them.
There is only one example given to us concerning the single executive pastor scenario and it's in 3John.
Diotrephes climbed the ecclesiastical ladder to the top with a single bound. He already quit his job and even had an office ready with a shingle hanging on the wall and a card made up reading Pastor Diotrephes. This last part was in jest. But you get the point.....I hope!
Oh how he loved the preeminence. Has it changed any? Yes. It's gotten worse. At least there's no indication that he brow beated the sheep into tithing!
So scripture is clear. Elders, bishops, deacons, and pastors were all synonymous. A multitude of shepherds. No single one above the others.
Paul never wrote one letter to Pastor So and So! Don't take my word for it. Check it yourself.
Acts 20 is the word of God and the final death knell to this heresy!
vs. 17 'and from Miletus he (Paul) sent to Ephesus, and called the elders (presbyteros) of the 'church'(
Now watch real careful. In vs. 28 Paul is still talking to the presbyteros, 'Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers (bishops), to feed (poimainein: shepherd, pastor) the 'church'(ekklesia) of God......'
vs. 29 and 30, Paul warns that after he is dead, wolves would rise up and change the dynamic of the assembly, garnering followers after them.
There is only one example given to us concerning the single executive pastor scenario and it's in 3John.
Diotrephes climbed the ecclesiastical ladder to the top with a single bound. He already quit his job and even had an office ready with a shingle hanging on the wall and a card made up reading Pastor Diotrephes. This last part was in jest. But you get the point.....I hope!
Oh how he loved the preeminence. Has it changed any? Yes. It's gotten worse. At least there's no indication that he brow beated the sheep into tithing!
So scripture is clear. Elders, bishops, deacons, and pastors were all synonymous. A multitude of shepherds. No single one above the others.
Paul never wrote one letter to Pastor So and So! Don't take my word for it. Check it yourself.
Acts 20 is the word of God and the final death knell to this heresy!