NOTE: 
A word of caution: I reccommend that you carefully consider the material presented below, using discernment wherever opinion or undocumented claims may occur. I do not condone or agree with any brother in Christ who stands in judgement of or corrects the Holy Bible. Any criticisms, corrections, or suggested improvements of the KJV (AV 1611) are the author's. Please disregard any and all 'changes', 'corrections', 'criticisms', and so-called 'impovements'.
 
 
 

One of the surprises awaiting a person making an initial visit to a gathering of believers meeting after the New Testament pattern is the absence of an ordained clergyman who is the recognized leader of the congregation. The common custom throughout the denominational church world is for a congregation to "call" a pastor to serve them. He will usually be a seminary-trained man, who has been ordained by a bishop or a board, and who carries the title of Reverend or Doctor, the latter signifying Doctor of Divinity or of Theology. This man will be the recognized pastor of the church and will, in return for a stipulated financial remuneration, assume the leadership and be responsible for the preaching and visitation. He alone will have the authority to baptize, to perform wedding ceremonies, to conduct funerals, and to dispense the elements at the communion service. His tenure may be for a specified time, or until his discharge by the governing body of the church.

Such a person is a familiar figure in the denominational world, but he is conspicuous by his absence in the assemblies. Why? Simply because such an individual is unknown to the New Testament and to the apostolic church presented therein.

Let us gather the pertinent facts from Scripture.

Before doing so, it might be wise to determine exactly what we mean by clergy and laity. The definition of each from a dictionary of contemporary English will read like this:

Clergy:

A body of ordained persons in a religion as distinguished from the laity.

A class of men, who have received special training and have been ordained by their denomination to function as a pastor, baptizing, officiating at the Lord's Supper, preaching, marrying, conducting funerals, etc.

All others are classed as "laity," and are limited in their activities.

A body of religious worshippers as distinguished from the clergy.

Christendom has undoubtedly patterned its priesthood after the Aaronic one with its distinguishing apparel, special privileges, restricted areas in the building, and ritualistic services. But all this is contrary to the teaching of the New Testament where we learn that all believers are priests, and as such have perfect liberty to approach God through our Lord Jesus Christ, the Great High Priest, for prayer and worship.

Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 1 Pet. 2.5.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light. 1 Pet. 2.9.

Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests (a kingdom of priests) unto God and His Father . . . Rev. 1.5,6.

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Heb. 10.19-22.

When there is a resident worker in an assembly today, although he may be mistakenly referred to as "the pastor" by outsiders, he does not:

1. Usurp leadership from the elders .
2. Restrict in any way the priesthood of all believers.
3. Monopolize the preaching and teaching.
4. Do all the visitation.
5. Assume the position of the pastor.
6. Take the title of Reverend.
7. Enter into a contractual agreement as to his service.
8. Serve for a guaranteed financial remuneration.

Why then do the assemblies so adamantly refuse to accord the title of Reverend to their gifted teachers and preachers? Is it a matter of such great importance? There are two important reasons:

First: It is entirely unwarranted by Scripture teaching or precedent.

Second: It perpetuates and strengthens the error of clerisy

1. It resembles the consecration of the priesthood in Israel, as outlined in Exodus chapters 28-29, much more than anything to be found in the New Testament.
2. It stems from a confusing of priesthood and worship with the ministry of the Word. Worship is by the priesthood, and all God's people are priests, as already shown. The ministry of the Word is by the gifts given from the Risen Head of the Church, Eph. 4.10-14, and distributed by the Holy Spirit, 1 Cor. 12.11. This will be more fully developed under "Gifts."
3. It is based upon church tradition and ecclesiastical customs rather than upon New Testament instructions.

1. There are only four instances of ordination relevant in any way to our subject.
1. The twelve disciples were ordained by our Lord, Mk. 3.14.
2. The successor to Judas, Matthias, Acts 1.22-26.
3. Elders in the churches. By Paul and Barnabas, Acts 14.23, by Titus, Ti. 1.5.
2. 2. In none of these instances, nor elsewhere, is there the suggestion of the imposition of hands for ordination. With its penchant for the development of ritual, the professing church has, through the centuries, transformed the simple biblical custom of laying on of hands (which in both Old and New Testaments signifies only identification with) into an ordination ceremony, without the slightest Scriptural warrant.
3. 3. Nowhere in Scripture is human ordination indicated as the necessary authorization for preaching the Word. If reference be made to Paul's words in 1 Timothy 2.7 "Whereunto I am ordained a preacher," it is clear that he has in mind his divine appointment and not any human ordination. He refers to himself in this verse also as an apostle, and in Galatians 1.1 he declares that his apostleship was not "of" (from) man as to origin, nor "by" (through) man as to medium, but "by Jesus Christ and God the Father."

Whatever value may accrue from academic instruction, Bible School studies and/or seminary training (and there may be much), none of these nor all can compensate for the lack of divinely-given gifts. Evangelists, pastors and teachers are not the product of human education and instruction, but are gifts from the Risen Head of the Church, distributed by the Spirit according to His will. This is quite clear from the following passages of Scripture:

Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men . . . And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come into the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Eph. 4.8-13.

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. . . But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal . . . But all these worketh that one and self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will. 1 Cor. 12.4,7,11.

The assemblies believe that the presence in a local church of an ordained clergyman who alone is empowered to direct the service, administer the sacraments, preach the gospel, and teach the Word, effectively hinders the Spirit of God from controlling the activities of the various members of the Body who are all priests, and some of whom possess God-given gifts. Thus the Body is robbed of "that which every joint supplieth." Eph. 4.16.