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THE DESIGN AND STRUCTURE OF SPIRITUAL GOVERNMENT
For many years and for different reasons, it has been mistakenly believed in the church that the apostolic and prophetic ministries had ceased. As a consequence of this, the spiritual authority and the influence of the church in the world have been reduced. Having despised the vital function of these two ministries that work to equip, the church was left weakened and incomplete in important facets of its preparation for the dominion that God has destined for it to exercise on the earth. This situation can be compared to a person who is content with one of his hands having only three fingers, and considers it in this condition to be complete.
Added to the above, the Church of Jesus Christ in the world is victim of a great division due to postures and opposing diverse theological ideas within itself. This crisis caused it to become divided into varied sectors, today it finds itself unable to walk and manifest its self as «one Body», of Christ. This reality is contrary to the will of Jesus expressed in his prayer to the Father, when he said
The fact that today the world does not believe in Jesus Christ as its Lord and Savior is a consequence of a divided church. It is necessary to understand that Jesus Christ created the church as an indivisible spiritual organism and not as a religious organization. When the Church became fragmented it was no longer «one», and was no longer able to reach the fullness of its purpose on earth.
On the other hand, because the Church was divided as a cause of diverse theological thoughts or philosophies or theories, those at the front of each of the different postures of doctrinal interpretation saw themselves in need of creating organizations, institutions and denominations in order to group people according to their common beliefs and manner of service.
This error, product of “human invention”, brought at least two grievous consequences on the Church of Jesus Christ. The first is that the world can’t see the Church as one but sees it as many distinct churches, each with its own belief, doctrine and ecclesiastic practice. The second is that the local church thinks that if it does not “unite” with and depends on an established Christian organization it is outside the law and cannot function freely.
The inalterable truth is that there is only one Church of Jesus Christ in the world, which fulfills its function through an infinite number of local congregations in each country. Each local church has the right to obtain the benefits that are offered by the laws of that country in order to legally establish itself and to function adequately. At the same time, it is responsible for maintaining the legal requirements established by the government and must abide by them. This implies that no local congregation has to belong to an organization, institution or Christian denomination in order to keep the law.
To make matters worse, the directors of each organization are not only in charge of legal matters, but also exercise spiritual government over the sector of the church that they represent. This manner of operation has no foundation in the teaching established by the Word of God. Therefore, the structure of the government that has been implemented over the church is not only a human plan, but has replaced the government designed by God.
What we have just analyzed is evidence of a “fusion” between the legal and the spiritual governments. This “fusion” has given place to the establishment of all types of human government, rejecting the divine government.
According to scripture, God does NOT allow the spiritual government of the Church to be driven by human criteria. Jesus Christ has control over the spiritual government of his Church, through the five ministries that he established: Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (see Ephesians 4:11). This structure of government that Christ designed for his Church is defined as «theocratic government». Through this scriptural foundation, we understand that the directors of a Christian organization are not capable of exercising spiritual government in the church although they can do administrative work.
For all that has been said up to here, it is necessary to observe the great difference that exists between all systems of human government and the theocratic government.
When human government is exercised in the church it manifests a particular characteristic: The right to elect, to have a voice and vote. This is what the world knows as democracy. The majority of countries in the world make use of this system of government because they consider it to be the most adequate. When the same idea is transferred in lesser or greater degree into the church, a grievous sin is committed against what God established. In a democracy, the majority rules and the will of that majority is done.
The theocratic government also possesses a particular characteristic: The absolute guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit through his Word and his Voice. This form of government is defined as «theocracy», that is to say God is who governs and reigns, for that reason everything that He says is obeyed. This characteristic is completely opposite to what human government is.
Someone could ask: Are the five ministries “the only ones enabled” to hear the Holy Spirit? Wouldn’t this be “spiritual authoritarianism”? The truth is God lets all of the Church hear his voice, because the Holy Spirit dwells in all of the members of the Body, and he speaks to each one in particular. This is how the members have the right and the responsibility of transmitting to their spiritual directors that which the Holy Spirit speaks to them, with out interposing any kind of particular criteria or one’s opinion. Added to this reality, there is another truth that should not be forgotten and it is that the five ministries are «representatives of Christ as the head of the Church». This implies that they have a specified delegation of authority to preside and direct the church with spiritual wisdom according to what God speaks not only to them but also to the Body. If all of the members of the Body of Christ hear the voice of God and transmit it, it doesn’t mean that they are capable of leading the Church because those who have been capacitated to exercise spiritual government over it are the five ministries.
To summarize, democracy respects the will of the people;
in theocracy you do what God says.
For many years and for different reasons, it has been mistakenly believed in the church that the apostolic and prophetic ministries had ceased. As a consequence of this, the spiritual authority and the influence of the church in the world have been reduced. Having despised the vital function of these two ministries that work to equip, the church was left weakened and incomplete in important facets of its preparation for the dominion that God has destined for it to exercise on the earth. This situation can be compared to a person who is content with one of his hands having only three fingers, and considers it in this condition to be complete.
Added to the above, the Church of Jesus Christ in the world is victim of a great division due to postures and opposing diverse theological ideas within itself. This crisis caused it to become divided into varied sectors, today it finds itself unable to walk and manifest its self as «one Body», of Christ. This reality is contrary to the will of Jesus expressed in his prayer to the Father, when he said
that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You;
that they also may be one in Us,
that the world may believe that You sent Me”
(see John 17:21)
that they also may be one in Us,
that the world may believe that You sent Me”
(see John 17:21)
The fact that today the world does not believe in Jesus Christ as its Lord and Savior is a consequence of a divided church. It is necessary to understand that Jesus Christ created the church as an indivisible spiritual organism and not as a religious organization. When the Church became fragmented it was no longer «one», and was no longer able to reach the fullness of its purpose on earth.
On the other hand, because the Church was divided as a cause of diverse theological thoughts or philosophies or theories, those at the front of each of the different postures of doctrinal interpretation saw themselves in need of creating organizations, institutions and denominations in order to group people according to their common beliefs and manner of service.
This error, product of “human invention”, brought at least two grievous consequences on the Church of Jesus Christ. The first is that the world can’t see the Church as one but sees it as many distinct churches, each with its own belief, doctrine and ecclesiastic practice. The second is that the local church thinks that if it does not “unite” with and depends on an established Christian organization it is outside the law and cannot function freely.
The inalterable truth is that there is only one Church of Jesus Christ in the world, which fulfills its function through an infinite number of local congregations in each country. Each local church has the right to obtain the benefits that are offered by the laws of that country in order to legally establish itself and to function adequately. At the same time, it is responsible for maintaining the legal requirements established by the government and must abide by them. This implies that no local congregation has to belong to an organization, institution or Christian denomination in order to keep the law.
To make matters worse, the directors of each organization are not only in charge of legal matters, but also exercise spiritual government over the sector of the church that they represent. This manner of operation has no foundation in the teaching established by the Word of God. Therefore, the structure of the government that has been implemented over the church is not only a human plan, but has replaced the government designed by God.
What we have just analyzed is evidence of a “fusion” between the legal and the spiritual governments. This “fusion” has given place to the establishment of all types of human government, rejecting the divine government.
According to scripture, God does NOT allow the spiritual government of the Church to be driven by human criteria. Jesus Christ has control over the spiritual government of his Church, through the five ministries that he established: Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (see Ephesians 4:11). This structure of government that Christ designed for his Church is defined as «theocratic government». Through this scriptural foundation, we understand that the directors of a Christian organization are not capable of exercising spiritual government in the church although they can do administrative work.
For all that has been said up to here, it is necessary to observe the great difference that exists between all systems of human government and the theocratic government.
When human government is exercised in the church it manifests a particular characteristic: The right to elect, to have a voice and vote. This is what the world knows as democracy. The majority of countries in the world make use of this system of government because they consider it to be the most adequate. When the same idea is transferred in lesser or greater degree into the church, a grievous sin is committed against what God established. In a democracy, the majority rules and the will of that majority is done.
The theocratic government also possesses a particular characteristic: The absolute guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit through his Word and his Voice. This form of government is defined as «theocracy», that is to say God is who governs and reigns, for that reason everything that He says is obeyed. This characteristic is completely opposite to what human government is.
Someone could ask: Are the five ministries “the only ones enabled” to hear the Holy Spirit? Wouldn’t this be “spiritual authoritarianism”? The truth is God lets all of the Church hear his voice, because the Holy Spirit dwells in all of the members of the Body, and he speaks to each one in particular. This is how the members have the right and the responsibility of transmitting to their spiritual directors that which the Holy Spirit speaks to them, with out interposing any kind of particular criteria or one’s opinion. Added to this reality, there is another truth that should not be forgotten and it is that the five ministries are «representatives of Christ as the head of the Church». This implies that they have a specified delegation of authority to preside and direct the church with spiritual wisdom according to what God speaks not only to them but also to the Body. If all of the members of the Body of Christ hear the voice of God and transmit it, it doesn’t mean that they are capable of leading the Church because those who have been capacitated to exercise spiritual government over it are the five ministries.
To summarize, democracy respects the will of the people;
in theocracy you do what God says.
According to the truth
in the Word,
the Holy Spirit is restoring the five ministries to the Church
in the entire world to affirm the theocratic government over it,
according to God’s original plan.
the Holy Spirit is restoring the five ministries to the Church
in the entire world to affirm the theocratic government over it,
according to God’s original plan.
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Related topics:
Purpose & command I Churches under spiritual authority I Ministries of foundation
Related topics:
Purpose & command I Churches under spiritual authority I Ministries of foundation