Do Ministers Have Authority Over Their Flocks?
Posted December 22, 2004
Updated November 2, 2010
I used to go to a Pentecostal church but stopped recently, because I didn't like how the church was being run - the way they preach the Word of God, the way the people acted, how they treated the un-believers or those who are new in Christ or those weak in faith (social standings), etc., etc. The last time I went to the Pentecostal church was last week. I went there with a friend who was staying with me that day. She is a member of that church. So that explains why I went to their church this past week. I wanted to ask you something about what the preacher at the church preached about that day and to ask you some questions about something else. I think that the preacher was talking about that he has authority over the people at the church or something like that. Also, I think he said that he has the authority to send anyone that is repeatedly disobedient to the Word of God to Satan - I think that was what he said. I think what he meant is that if that person is someone going against the Word of God or anyone that is not of God or something - I am not sure of what he meant - but I think he meant to those unbelievers who are against the Word of God or those who are repeatedly disobedient to the word of God. That he has the authority to send them to Satan. Is that true? I am not sure if any preachers or anyone on this earth have any right to do that. I think he also said he has the right to rebuke anyone in front of the church, to those who are disobedient to the Word of God, and other things. I was bothered by this because I don't think that anyone has any authority over men - not even preachers. I am not sure if any preachers or anyone on this earth has any right to do that. Please help me with this? I hope you understand what I am trying to say? Please help?
Also, my Pentecostal church believes that a person is required to have the Holy Ghost in order to be saved. Is that true? They said the sign that you have the Holy Ghost is when you speak in tongues. Please help. They also believe in dress code - that women should wear dresses and men should wear pants - that it is more proper. I don't like to wear dresses - it's not my style - you know? I can just wear something that is feminine - like wearing nice ladies' pants, etc. I think the reasons they want to stick to their dress code are because they believe that dresses are for women to wear- and men to wear pants and the other reason is because that is how people identify women and men by their clothing. For instance, bathroom signs - they have two signs to identify women and men - by their clothing! And someone from the church explained that women used to wear dresses till sometime in the 1940's. So they see men's pants as a man's clothing and dresses as a woman's clothing. Please help. I think somewhere in the New Testament explains that we are not to try to be better than others, and I feel that if I try to do all this - dress code, etc - I may be breaking that spiritual law. Please help.
Thanks for taking your time to read this and write back.
Again, thanks
D____
Hi D____,
I hope I can be of some help. You seem to be interested in what the scriptures say as opposed to what the churches teach, so I will try to show you just what they do say in regards to the questions you ask. I am going to refer you to the articles and letters on my page to answer a couple of the questions you ask.
Here is your first question:
I wanted to ask you something about what the preacher at the church preached about that day and to ask you some questions about something else. I think that the preacher was talking about that he has authority over the people at the church or something like that- Also, I think he said that he has the authority to send any one that is repeatedly disobedient to the Word of God, to Satan- I think that was what he said? I think what he meant is that if that person is someone going against the Word of God or anyone that is not of God or something, I am not sure of what he meant- but I think he meant to those unbelievers who are against the Word of God or those who are repeatedly disobedient to the word of God. That he has the authority to send them to Satan. Is that true?
Let me assure you, neither I nor this minister, nor anyone else, has dominion over your faith. Here are the scriptures:
Mat 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
Mat 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Mat 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
And again, Paul also makes this same point:
2Co 1:23 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
2Co 1:24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.
Paul tells us that he had no "dominion over your faith." If Paul had no such dominion, where do today's ministers believe that they have any such authority? Well, there are a couple of egregious and very harmful mistranslations in the book of Hebrews, that have produced many a Christian dictator, both in the political and the ecclesiastical fields over the centuries. Nothing has changed. It is the same today. The spirit of the Nicolaitans is as alive and healthy right in today's church as it has been from the first century. To answer this question in depth, I am forced by my own time constraints to ask you to read the papers on my site that answer questions concerning the Nicolaitans. If you use the Google search feature we have on the site, and type in 'Nicolaitans', you will see a list of articles that will give answer to your questions on this group whose ways God says He hates. If you can see the truth therein, you will never again be brought under the dominion of anyone other than the one and only head of the church, Jesus Christ Himself.
On the other hand, there is scripture that admonishes a bishop to safeguard his flock from those who have no respect for, or fear of the Words of God as revealed in scripture. The fornicator of the Corinthian church was expelled from fellowship in that congregation "because a little leaven leavens the whole lump". This is not a matter of a minister having dominion over a flock. It is a matter of God's Word as shown to the congregation by the bishop, having already condemned fornication in the churches of God. The bishop or minister is simply commissioned to reiterate what the scriptures say in such cases. This then becomes an action taken by the entire congregation to purge itself of the corrupting influence of such shameful behavior. This is an entirely scriptural function of a humble servant minister.
Your next question has to do with the so called 'gift of unknown tongues.'
Also-My pentecostal church believes that a person are required to have the Holy Ghost, in order to be saved? Is that true? They said the sign that you have the Holy Ghost is when you speak in tongues? Please help?
I deal with this subject in depth in a series of letters in the Tongues section of the letters on the site. These letters will answer any question you may have on this subject. Read these letters. If you still have a question, then get back with me. Click on the above link and check out all these letters on this subject.
Your last question has to do with a dress code in God's church. I have not written specifically on this subject. It is true that scripture tells us that "it is a shame for a man to have long hair," and that "if a woman is going to have short hair she might as well be shorn." It should be obvious from these scriptures that a transvestite is not interested in seeking the mind of God on the subject of how a Christian should appear in public and as a representative of Christ. It is universally declared throughout the writings of the scriptures that those in whom Christ dwells are dying daily to this world and the things that are in it. Those who have Christ in them are never attempting to draw attention to themselves for the purpose of glorifying themselves. It will always be the goal of any who are truly seeking to please their creator, to glorify Christ and be an example of humility and obedience to the words of God. To take these principles of scripture and draw from them exactly how long a woman's hair must be is not the concern of a minister. To take these principles and say that a woman's slacks are equal to being a transvestite is absurd. Women's slacks are both feminine and far more practical and modest than is a dress under certain circumstances. Modesty in dress and in all things is indeed a Biblical principle that has been thrown out the door in many churches desiring to look like the world today. Just because fashion now dictates that all young girls should show as much flesh as human law will allow, is no reason why anyone with the mind of Christ should either dress immodestly, or allow their children to do so. We can neither dictate to one another nor can we pull the wool over the eyes of our Creator. He isn't even looking on the outward man or woman. He reads our hearts. We should, as his ambassadors, strive to represent Him in all humility both in our relations to one another and in our appearance as those in whom Christ dwells.
I hope this is of some help to you. Let me know if I can be of any further assistance to you.
I will close with two scriptures that I hope bring some balance to this subject:
2Co 10:7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.
But also be aware of this truth:
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
May God give you a whole-hearted desire to seek only to please Him.
Mike
