SivartM Posted April 10, 2010 Posted April 10, 2010 Why do we ordain anyone? It seems to me to only be about the credentials, hence why men and women can do the same thing but only men can be pastors (but this is not just about women's ordination, this is about ordination in general). Why do we ordain anyone? Isn't God supposed to do the ordaining? And as far as I know all believers are ordained by God, not just pastors and elders. I think church organization is far from what the early church was like (no nominating committees to decide who God wants to do what, no conferences, unions, or divisions, no church manuals, no "junior deacons" (I always thought servants were servants whatever their age, but hey, I'm not going to complain), etc.). Not that that is a bad thing. I don't see anywhere in the Bible where it outlines an organizational structure which all succeeding generations were obligated to conform to. Which is sort of what I'm wondering, because people treat ordination and such things as if they were plainly set out in the Bible ("Thus saith the Lord: Thou must go to Andrews and get a certificate before thou may be called a pastor." - Albanians 4:13), but they're not. So... why do we act as if our traditional organizational structure was set in stone? I'm fine with conferences, unions, and divisions; deacons, deaconesses and juniors (though I would prefer they called them "servants", because that actually means something). But why can't we be more fluid? We're not in the OT priesthood anymore, where we have to be male and from a certain family (that's one you never hear in anti-WO arguments). I think it would be fun if we scrapped the whole thing and started over. Make a new hierarchy (maybe one where there's no hierarchy). Anyway, I think I just went off topic in my own thread, but that's allowed. You may begin picking my post apart now, but try to keep your posts under 500 words each or I probably won't be able to pay attention long enough to read it. :) Quote "Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde�Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets." - Jesus
Moderators Gerr Posted April 11, 2010 Moderators Posted April 11, 2010 While Christ commissioned everyone, He did ordain 12 to do a specific work. Quote
SivartM Posted April 11, 2010 Author Posted April 11, 2010 Can I see their credentials? Did they go to seminary? What churches did they pastor? Quote "Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde�Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets." - Jesus
Woody Posted April 11, 2010 Posted April 11, 2010 While Christ commissioned everyone, He did ordain 12 to do a specific work. Yes, but He didn't ordain them to be pastors. And I thought that that was what we were talking about. Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology.
Members rudywoofs (Pam) Posted April 11, 2010 Members Posted April 11, 2010 Jesus didn't ordain women to be pastors either. Quote Pam Meddle Not In the Affairs of Dragons; for You Are Crunchy and Taste Good with Ketchup. If we all sang the same note in the choir, there'd never be any harmony. Funny, isn't it, how we accept Grace for ourselves and demand justice for others?
Woody Posted April 11, 2010 Posted April 11, 2010 good point Pam Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology.
SivartM Posted April 12, 2010 Author Posted April 12, 2010 I don't think Jesus ever ordained anyone to be a pastor within the 3.5 years he was here... Quote "Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde�Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets." - Jesus
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