____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ January 10, 1993 ____________________________________________________ More on "Titles" and Terms by Tom Edwards ``Priest'' There are some religious groups today who have a certain body of men referred to as ``priests.'' These men are viewed as being separate from the laity: they have special ``priestly'' functions to perform. In Catholicism, the priest is ``a member of the clergy of the order next below that of bishop....'' Does the New Testament, however, use the term ``priest'' in this way? The answer to this is ``No.'' Every Christian is spoken of as being part of a ``holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ'' (1 Pet. 2:5,9) and, therefore, there is no special group of ``priests'' within the blood-bought church of the Lord. And, furthermore, the Christian who marries does not forfeit his right to being a ``spiritual priest.'' ``Bishop'' Soon after the establishment of the early church with its God-ordained system of elders and deacons, the eldership was corrupted by exalting one of the bishops (or elders) above the others; and then each of these exalted bishops began ruling over numerous local churches or a diocese (a district that is supervised or under the jurisdiction of a ``bishop''). ``Bishop'' in this denominational sense has been defined as ``a member of the highest order of the ministry.'' As we considered recently, the term ``bishop,'' as used in the New Testament, is synonymous with ``elder,'' ``overseer,'' and ``pastor.'' In the early church there was to be a plurality of bishops that served in one--and only one--congregation. They were to ``shepherd the flock among them'' (1 Pet. 5:2; Acts 20:28) and, therefore, did not have the right to serve as elders in other congregations or have the right to take the oversight in more than one congregation at a time. We also noted that the bishop that the New Testament speaks of NEEDS to be the husband of one wife and have believing children (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). The Catholic concept of a ``bishop'' who oversees a diocese is foreign to the Scriptures. ``Saint'' In some religious groups, only certain persons among those who have called themselves ``Christians'' are given the title of ``saints''--which is authorized by the Pope after the death of such a one. These people are said to have then been ``canonized,'' which simply means they have been placed upon ``the list of saints acknowledged by the Roman Catholic Church'' in order that they can be venerated as a saint. The Bible, however, speaks of every person who has been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ as being a ``saint'' (2 Cor. 1:1; Eph. 4:12)--and never was any to be worshiped (Acts 10:25,26). ``Church'' The term ``church'' is never used in the Bible to refer to a building or to a denomination. It simply stands for those who have been bought by the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28). It comes from a Greek word that means ``called out''; and when speaking of God's people during the New Covenant, it is referring to those who have been called out of darkness into the light of God's glorious kingdom (Col. 1:13), which was all part of the Lord's preordained plan before the world began (Eph. 3:8-11). It's interesting to take a Bible concordance and look up some passages that refer to the church; by so doing, we will see that the church has ears (Acts 11:22) and can not only hear, but also speak (Matt. 18:17). It is made up of those who are saved (Acts 2:47). It can fear (Acts 5:11), be persecuted (Acts 8:1), pray (Acts 12:5), greet (Rom. 16:23), be offended (1 Cor. 10:32), be despised (1 Cor. 11:22), and be edified (1 Cor. 14:4). It is to teach the ``manifold wisdom of God'' (Eph. 3:10) and glorify the Lord (Eph. 3:21). It is to be subject to Christ (Eph. 5:24) who is the head and Savior of it (Eph. 5:23) and loves it intensely (Eph. 5:25), so that it may be holy and without blemish (Eph. 5:27). It is nourished and cherished by the Lord (Eph. 5:29) and referred to as being the body of Christ (Col. 1:24). It can be in a house (Col. 4:15). It can relieve destitute widows (1 Tim. 5:16). It can have elders (James 5:14). These are just some of the passages that speak of the church--and not one verse even alluded to it being a mere building or a denomination. Christ's church belongs to Him, and there is only one (Matt. 16:18; Titus 3:5; Eph. 4:4); and it is this church that is described as being the ``house of God'' (1 Tim. 3:15). ``Christian'' Often the question is asked, ``What kind of Christian are you?'' The inquirer is really asking, ``What denomination are you of? Are you a Baptist Christian, a Catholic Christian, a Methodist Christian, etc.?'' The Bible says nothing about a ``Baptist Christian,'' ``Methodist Christian,'' etc.; it speaks of simply the ``Christian.'' This word is only used three times in the Bible (once in the plural and twice in the singular)--and all in the New Testament. I have heard of one particular denomination that believes God's people were called ``Christians'' about a hundred years before Christ came into the world. The Bible, however, shows that the saints were first called ``Christians'' in Antioch (Acts 11:26), which occurred after the Lord's death, burial, resurrection, and ascension to the right hand of God. The child of God can be thankful to wear this worthy name. Peter writes, ''...if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.'' Again and again, we read of the early Christians doing just that--suffering for the cause of righteousness. It was Agrippa who said to Paul, ``Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian'' (Acts 26:28). This should be our desire as well--not to try to convert a person to become something in which he wears a denominational title for, but to simply be a Christian in belief and practice and, thus, wear that worthy name without corrupting it with blemish or stain. Are we using Bible terms in Bible ways? Or have we forgotten what they really stand for? Let us search for the correct meanings in God's word and allow Him to instruct us in these things and to give us the proper understanding. ___________________________________________ Points To Pander by Bob Buchanon A very practical man was known to confess: "I have too much religion or too little; I must either give up what I have or get more. I have too much religion to let me enjoy a worldly life, and too much worldliness to let me enjoy religion." He solved the dilemma triumphantly by a complete conversion to Jesus Christ as the Lord of his life. He put an end to divided loyalty and doubtful obedience. In order to realize the worth of the anchor, one must feel the stress of the storm. If you ever see a counterfeit dollar, are you going to throw away all of your good dollars? Why, then, would one want to reject Christianity because there are hypocrites or counterfeit Christians? ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________