Misled

Recently, few weeks ago, I knew one of my friends wanted to rule the members of the church he is pastoring; even the time another friend used to her devotions and time for fasting. When this pastor told me that, I said at his table: You are a nut! You are becoming crazier... How come you think she needs you to fast or in her personal devotions?...

That is not FREEDOM! He wanted to control her freewill, but he said I was wrong because I am against that moment "many" think they are todays apostles, just interpreting VERTICALLY that "teaching" Shaul Paul left on Ephe 4:11... While he sees it vertically and hierarchically, I see it horizontally, because Jesus´teachings told me so...

Just allow me to quote the Lord´s words, so you can see the way I see it:

Mat 23:8 "But you must not be called 'Teacher.' You are all equal as brothers and sisters. You have only one Teacher.

Mat 23:8 But you may not be named Teacher: for one is your teacher, and you are all brothers.

Mat 23:8 But don't make others call you Rabbi, because you have only one teacher, and you are all followers.

Mat 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

Jesus never meant hierarchical degrees in His Spiritual Church. He never planned hierarchical structures, except men´s, to rule and control people´s life.

Jesus came to abolish the hierarchical system Jewish had established up to His earthly ministry. How come Paul (St. Shaul Paul) came to take it over?

The pastor laughed at me! But, soon after, I knew he wanted to control her life because he liked her (and he is actually married).

Is any married man (or woman) trying to mislead another person from the BASIC and essential relationship ALL Christians had to build up and seek first?

I came to realize that, if any letter contradicts the Lord´s sayings, those are not spiritedly written. If any of those letters I have considered inspired and part of the Scripture comes along with a teaching denying the Old Testament and Jesus´words, I will put my trust in Jesus and in God´s words, but not in man-made ideas or traditions.

Here is another clear example I see. Jesus said in Matthew:

Mat 23:9 And don't call anyone on earth your father, because you have only one Father, and he is in heaven.

Why is this custom so widely spread inside the Catholic Church? God knows it... (I guess Paul´s ideas were twisted).

Yet, by inferences, I know Paul wanted to be loved and called as a “father”... Have a look on these things he wrote:

1Co 4:14 I am not trying to make you feel ashamed, but I am writing this to counsel you as my own dear children.

2Co 6:13 I speak to you as if you were my children. Do the same as we have done--open your hearts also.

Phm 1:10 I am asking you for my son Onesimus. He became my son while I was in prison.

Tit 1:4 To Titus, a true son to me in the faith we share together. Grace and peace to you from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

1Ti 1:2 To Timothy, a true son to me in the faith we share. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

2Ti 1:2 To Timothy, a dear son to me. Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord.

There´s nothing wrong when loving people so dearly but, if my loving or feelings would mislead others into a new “teaching” contradicting Jesus´ I wouldn´t keep my mouth shut. It´s OK Paul longed to love and be loved, but some of his teachings were misleading into celibacy and, I´m quite concerned when he would be contradicting Jesus in the sense of being called “father”, because he saw -himself- alike to those apostles Jesus chose, before him.

Was he wronged when he compared equal to former apostles? (2Cor. 11:5, 11)

Have a look on this ( 2Cor. 12:12 ) and make your decision.

2Co 12:12 When I was with you, I patiently did the things that prove I am an apostle--signs, wonders, and miracles.

Let´s say he did those things he did. Let´s agree he was ALSO sent as an apostle but, what I like most, it is when he said:

1Co 4:9 But it seems to me that God has given me and the other apostles the last place. We are like prisoners condemned to die, led in a parade for the whole world to see--not just people but angels too.

At this extent he is quite right with Jesus´teachings:

Mat_23:11 Whoever serves you like a servant is the greatest among you.

Mar_9:35 He sat down and called the twelve apostles. He told them, "Whoever wants to be the most important person must take the last place and be a servant to everyone else."

The Twelve were discussing who would be the first after Jesus´ death (Mar 9:34). That was coping with the hierarchical religious system He came to abolish.

In His holy life time he saw how we human are. We are so used to this worldly system of hierarchies that He intended to teach we are all equal (as sinners, as human beings and having same spiritual rank He can only level up).

Read this, please:

Mar 9:33 Jesus and his followers went to Capernaum. They went into a house, and Jesus said to them, "I heard you arguing on the way here today. What were you arguing about?"

Mar 9:34 But the followers did not answer, because their argument on the road was about which one of them was the greatest.

Mar 9:35 Jesus sat down and called the twelve apostles to him. He said, "Whoever wants to be the most important must make others more important than themselves. They must serve everyone else."

How come Paul (St. Shaul Paul) wanted to twist Jesus teaching on Eph 4:11?

I´m sure Paul didn´t want to be misunderstood. He was right when saying: “But it seems to me that God has given me and the other apostles the last place.” (1Co 4:9) But he seems doubting and unsure.

Just compare it with Jesus´ words and please, be assured of the MASTER´s principle, not men´s ideas:

Luk 22:26 But you must not be like that. The one with the most authority among you should act as if he is the least important. The one who leads should be like one who serves.

Paul, inside his letters, said:

1Co 12:29 Not all are apostles. Not all are prophets. Not all are teachers. Not all do miracles.

He was right and still being right because GOD´s always right and perfect. How come this hierarchical church structure has been modeled after misunderstood Paul´s ideas?

Ephesians clearly says that it is Christ gift (not Paul´s or any other man).

Eph 4:11 And that same Christ gave these gifts to people: He made some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to go and tell the Good News, and some to care for and teach God's people.

I see these gifts at the same level or rank.

Here, on Paul´s teachings, I see no other master, no other father and no other LEADER, except Jesus Christ´s leadership.

Mat 23:8 "But you must not be called 'Teacher.' You are all equal as brothers and sisters. You have only one Teacher”.

Mat 23:9 And don't call anyone on earth 'Father.' You have one Father. He is in heaven.

Mat 23:10 And you should not be called 'Master.' You have only one Master, the Messiah.

If you feel the need to be seen or called “leader” you have a problem with self-esteem. Did you know that?

Mat 23:10 Don't make others call you a leader, because you have only one leader, the Messiah.

Just look at the Pharisees´visible attitude:

Mat 23:5 "They do everything to attract people's attention. They make their headbands large and the tassels on their shawls long.

I have seen people like that. I was called “teacher” in the Sunday school I was serving our Lord, but I didn´t know it was feeding my selfish ego.

Here are more examples:

Mat 23:6 They love the place of honor at dinners and the front seats in synagogues.

Mat 23:7 They love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have people call them Rabbi.

Aren´t these things linked to the selfish ego and its low self teem?

Just imagine how Jesus dealt with it inside His own working team...

Presently, I see how several people are seeking others to be followed. I have received text messages from those who want to be heard or believed and, of course, that are problems of low self esteem.

We want to be loved -it´s quite normal- but you have a problem when you want to be followed, unless you are seeking a woman´s attention. What is it sought when you´ve called people´s attention?

Jesus called people´s attention to do His Father´s will.

Paul called people to do Jesus´ will (and not his personal loving will).

I will insist on not more hierarchical church structures. Some will feel I want to seize their roles, their positions, but I have read Ezekiel 34, John 10, and part of their fears reminded me this, in John´s gospel:

Joh 11:48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."

Joh 11:48 If we let him continue what he's doing, everyone will believe in him. Then the Romans will take away our position and our nation."

I have felt these words Jesus spoke, during his lifetime:

Mat 23:28 So on the outside you look as though you have God's approval, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

How hypocritical I have been largely in my life! No doubt I´m a sinner.

But, as long as I´ve lived, How many heads are there in a house? How many fathers (or mothers) took care of one family and their children?

The church has only ONE Father, and these are very well mentioned by Paul´s letters:

1Co_8:6 yet for us there is ONE God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

Eph_4:5-6 ONE Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over everything, through everything, and in everything.

Why do I have to believe on the new apostleship movement?

Why do I have to believe apostleship is “restored”, when I know He has sent all who want to serve Him in worldly fields?

Mat 28:20 Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. "And remember that I am always with you until the end of time."

So, each time you´ve heard “I am an apostle” you might feel what I have felt: Boasting + low self esteem.

Paul, as a man sent by the church and the Holy Spirit (along with Barnabas, Act 13:2) who also believed Jesus chose and sent him to preach the Good News, will he contradict his Lord´s teaching? If not, who are twisting his ideas? Just men!

Backing up Paul´s ministry?

Apostle Peter said:

2Pe 3:15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,

2Pe 3:16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.

I don´t care whom you called “leaders”. I have one Lord and LEADER.

Mat 23:10 Don't make others call you a leader, because you have only one leader, the Messiah.

If you wanted me to believe Paul´s letters above Jesus´ words, I know whom I chose (because He chose me first).

I disbelieved any other person than Jesus could bring more information about God, and His business, so I will not be misled.

If you are seeking GOD and His will, you already know what it is needed: Scriptures are His, not other´s men.

A.T.