We 'gracers' often sing,
"I’m gonna die on the battlefield,
I’m gonna die in the war ...."
I’d always thought of that song in a positive way, to say I’m willing to take a stand for the Lord and His holy word, even under pressure and ridicule from opposition.
With all the commotion swirling about the "pastor-bishop" issue, I find myself questioning, "What’s all the fuss?"
1) We have plain, clear KJV verses .... GOD’s holy, true word.
2) The verses are found in the epistles of OUR apostle Paul .... that tell us the name (or title, if you will) for the office we man-preachers in local congregations of churches hold. It is the office of a bishop:
1 Tim 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
3) This is a good work,
which we may abound in, by God’s all-sufficient grace (2 Cor 9:8),
which we might be fruitful in (Col 1:10),
which we may be stablished in (2 Thes 2:17),
which we should be ready to (Titus 3:1),
which we ought to be prepared unto:
2 Tim 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
Aren’t we the group who fearlessly proclaims, "The Bible says what it means .... and it means what it says!"? We bravely defend our grace fortress and insist to others, "Don’t change that word ‘dispensation’!" It appears to me like we won’t take our own medicine that we boldly cram down the throats of "born-again, Spirit-filled, tongues-speaking, faith-healing, (maybe even back-slidden) disciples."
When we are wrong about something, the best plan of action is to do the right thing, right away. We should admit our mistake, correct it, and go on. After all, that’s what we ask others to do, who aren’t "right-dividers" like us.
I can’t imagine why anyone would think ‘bishop’ is a ‘flattering’ title, and so avoid it .... but then think ‘pastor’ and ‘deacon’ are okay and acceptable titles. That is a double standard.
Job 32:21,22 Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.
22 For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.
I’ve listened to recorded messages on the ‘pastor-bishop’ issue. I’ve heard audio excerpts or clips on the subject being passed around over the internet. I’m aware that some grace ‘pastors’ want to continue to hold on to their Living Bible title (pastor in 1 Tim 3:1), by claiming the word ‘pastors’ is a ‘good KJV’ word (7 times in Jeremiah, 1 time by Paul).
Eph 4:8,11 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
11 And he gave some, apostles;
and some, prophets;
and some, evangelists;
and some, pastors and teachers;
It is generally understood that the super-natural gifts are not still being given today, however, there are some that insist their ‘work’ is still going on. So .... I can’t help but wondering, who are the apostles among us? Was it a prophet's prediction that everybody must choose the hill they’re willing to die on? Well, I personally think standing for the final authority of words in the KJV is as good a hill as any! So whether one is willing to live or die or be thrown under the bus .... right here is a perfectly good place. What better cause?
God knows I’ve tried to sound an alarm and wake up sleeping ‘pastors’ who, for years have been following traditions of religious denominations, maybe even unwittingly, instead of the pure KJV words. It is a dis-grace for ‘grace preachers’ who constantly teach the saints ‘who they are in Christ’ .... to be confused about the title of their own office. What nonsense!
What does all this have to do with being a servant? Let’s let the scripture provide the answer:
Gal 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
Rom 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
As servants of the Lord, I believe we are doing a dis-service both to Him and to those people we serve .... by not desiring the title of the office in which we’re serving.
Rom 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Paul stood on a hill and said some hard things to his audience:
Acts 17:22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
It is the office of a bishop (1 Tim 3:1). I’m standing on the word of God (the final authority). Wow! What a hill worth living on!
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
