But does not Acts 13, afford some authority for ordaining a minister or pastor over a church? Is it not often quoted for that purpose?
Read the whole passage; now is there such a thought in it as ordaining a clergyman or minister over a church, or parish? These dear devoted men were already fully recognized teachers – Barnabas and Saul: And these were appointed by the Holy Spirit to a special work, or journey; and, as such, solemnly commended by the church at Antioch. It is very strange that so many take this matter for granted, without ever searching the Word of God.
Is there no other scripture that seems to favor the practice of ordaining one person, to he the minister over a church?
There cannot be one. It is impossible for God to contradict Himself, and if we own the constitution of the church which is of God; that is, the Lordship of Jesus and guidance of the Holy Spirit, as we have seen, and the distributing severally as He will; those gifted to speak to the edification of the assembly, to speak two or three, the rest to judge, etc.; the moment you introduce the clergyman, or a minister, having the Reverend pre-eminence over the assembly, you immediately set aside both the presence of the Holy Spirit and the godly liberty of the gifts of Christ to speak two or three. In fact it is utterly impossible for God’s order, according to His word, and man’s order set up since, to stand together. One man cannot have the pre-eminence, and the Holy Spirit be free to use whom He will.
Well, all this is amazing; but do the upholders of the clerical or episcopal system really know that it has no authority in the Word of God?
Strange to say, they do; and the best and latest writer on episcopacy fully admits that it is nowhere found in scripture.
Then where is it found?
In tradition; the traditional history. Some say it must have begun just at the close of apostolic times; some, later.
But if there be no evidence of it in apostolic times, then what of apostolic episcopal succession?
All vanishes. How can there be a succession of what did not begin?
But some say it began before the death of the Apostle John, in Asia Minor; and that he must have approved of it.
But does the scriptures say this system of one man having the pre-eminence over the assembly began in the days of John? that is the question.
It does, it does. John wrote an inspired epistle, on account of this, and on the very subject. We shall therefore soon see whether he approved or not of the first person that assumed the position taken by the clergyman or minister over a church (3 John). Truly John approves of the well-beloved Gaius, found walking in the truth. He has no greater joy than that the children of God should walk in the truth. He says, “Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren.” These brethren were such as went forth for Christ’s name sake, taking nothing of the Gentiles, and they had borne witness of the charity of Gaius before the assembly or church. Now if you bear in mind the truth, and the constitution of the church, the sovereign guidance of the Holy Spirit in sending those brethren, gifts of Christ, in His name, in keeping with the truth as to this, Gaius had gladly received the visit of these ministering brethren, in the charity inculcated, as to this very thing in 1 Corinthians 13. Walking in the truth, he owned the order of God. And John says, “We therefore ought to receive such that we might be fellow helpers to the truth.” Oh, how sweet is this fellowship in the ministry of the truth! “Let the prophets speak two or three” had long been the command of Christ, and so we ought to receive these dear gifted brethren who come in the name of Christ, and have fellowship in the truth. This was Christian ministry as instituted of God: “We therefore ought to receive such.”
(To be continued.)