ArchivedA House DividedLuvly1 wrote:I Timothy 3
1 This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
Clearly God has extremely high standards for an officer of the church. This entire issue is about accountability. Anyone who is a leader in the local church (i.e. the accountant responsible for the budget and the board of directors) must be accountable to God's standard of expected behavior. Of course all individual Christians in a ministry are responsible for serving the community, but those individuals are not a part of the budget process or any decision-making activities revovling around the money they are pouring into these congregations for that matter. Therefore, the churches---leadership, that is, not buildings---are going to be held accountable for funds not used in satisfaction of 1 Timothy 3's instruction.
Absolutely correct. This gets back to getting things set in order. God is a God of order. The Church needs to get into God's order of things not man's order of things.
Luvly1 wrote:Aineo stated:
"...the Lord will judge and reward the individual not the institutional church."
God rewards/rebukes specific "institutional churches" for being/not being obedient towards his commandments according to their actions in scripture (i.e. Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea in the book of Revelation). Those in authority for all of our local churches indeed will be accountable for the service made in their respective offices. This does not, however, relieve each individual from a call to righteousness.
Absolutely correct again. The first thing to get in order is the Headship of Jesus Christ and then the order of those God has annointed and put in authority. Accountability and responsible stewardship of the things of God is vital. God will not bless and congregations will not grow or worse decline if God's order is not followed. Your points are well on the mark.
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