Join in on a very important discussion between Gabe and Toby as they hit a key point of our issues in Prodigal America.
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But jmac said he doesnt have any authority over me!!!
The Corinthian church likely had leaders who fulfilled pastoral roles, but they may not have been referred to specifically as "pastors" in the same way we understand the term today. Instead, leadership in the early Christian communities often involved a team of elders or overseers who collectively provided pastoral care, spiritual guidance, and oversight to the congregation.
In Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, he mentions various leaders and roles within the church, including himself, Apollos, Cephas (Peter), and others (1 Corinthians 1:12). While Paul does not explicitly use the term "pastor" to refer to these leaders, their responsibilities likely encompassed pastoral duties such as teaching, shepherding, and caring for the spiritual well-being of the congregation.
The absence of the specific title "pastor" in Paul's letters does not diminish the importance of pastoral leadership within the Corinthian church or other early Christian communities. Rather, it reflects the diversity of leadership structures and terminology used in different cultural and theological contexts during that time.
It's worth noting that the term "pastor" (Greek: ποιμήν, poimén) is used in the New Testament to describe the role of spiritual shepherding and leadership within the church (Ephesians 4:11, 1 Peter 5:1-4). However, the specific titles and terminology used to refer to church leaders varied across different regions and communities in the early church.
Overall, while there may have been individuals fulfilling pastoral roles within the Corinthian church, they may not have been explicitly designated as "pastors" in the same way contemporary churches use the term. The emphasis in the New Testament is on the function and responsibilities of pastoral leadership, rather than on specific titles or formalized leadership structures.
In today's Christianity a "pastor" is a career minded salesman and marketer. And the product they are selling and marketing is the Gospel of Christ. Sermons are a sales pitch. Congregations are no longer look at as disciples, but as customers. The methods and techniques used in sermons today are the same as those used to sell any product. Today, the measure of a "successful ministry" is increased membership and increased income. "Christianity" today is a for profit BUSINESS. Welcome to post-modern, post-Christian, Christianity.
When Jesus preached from the boat, was he not an…oar-ator? I’ll see myself out
Come back, Knox!
Pastors don’t have authority over their congregation I thought. I distinctively remember MacArthur saying that when expositing the Word in a sermon…now you have me confused…which one is it? What is the difference? Help!
Not to be a stickler, but it'd be helpful to go over the nature of the authority, as I'm sure it's different depending on the sphere of influence/sovereignty. I'm not thinking that if a pastor says jump, someone says how high, but maybe I'm wrong.
Heard the comparison of lawyers to OT Priests more than once. Mediating the will of civil religion to the needy by way of the state's blessings.
Nope we got YouTube Zoom and social media. Who needs church? In fact we can create AI Robo-Pastors. So who needs em? 😅😂😂 Plus we have endless conferences to attend. 😂😂😂. Christianity today is outrageous and at its worst in my 40 years following Christ. This 21st age disgusts me all together. Come Lord Jesus!