THE LEAVEN OF PRESTIGE AND HONOR

There are many in ministry who love the titles that precede their names and the honor and "social perks" that accompany those titles. Many carry calling cards or introduce themselves as "Bishop", "Prophet", "Pastor", "Evangelist", "Apostle", "Deacon", "Elder", "Reverend", even "Minister". Some people may use a title to refer to a man or woman of God out of honor to the gift that resides in him or her. But when the "man or woman of God" insists on being called by their titles, it is evidence of the Pharisaical leaven that Jesus had warned us to beware of.

Mat 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

One may say, "But Paul and Peter prefaced their epistles by identifying themselves as apostles!" There is a difference between saying that you are an apostle and insisting on being called apostle. Paul did not write "Apostle Paul to the churches…" He wrote "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle," "Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God," "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God" "Paul, an apostle" "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God" "Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ" "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God," "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour…" In a few of his epistles he left off the designation of apostle, and referred to himself simply as a servant. The same applies to Peter, James and Jude. John referred to himself as "the elder" but never as "Elder John". Humility was the hall mark of these men of God, and all who profess to be men or women of God need to be as humble.

But this leaven isn't only about titles. Those who have a penchant for recognition by men also have a tendency to Lord it over the flock, and to be known as the "man of God for the moment". They jealously guard their pulpits, and become a one man church celebrity.

They may acknowledge the existence of the five fold ministry, but the other four have no viable part in the congregation, and the flock is reduced to a congregation of spectators who faithfully attend services to hear the pastor's oration and contribute their money to his ministry. Yet Ephesians 4:11-16 tells us that the five fold ministry (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers) is to be in operation so they can each participate in the perfecting of the saints, in order to equip the children of God for the work of the ministry. The goal of the five fold ministry is that each member of the body of Christ can be built up into a perfect man into the unity of the Faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, walking in the fullness of Christ. This scripture is plainly telling us that true Christianity is NOT about the hierarchal system that we find in most congregations.

The whole purpose of the five fold ministry is to train the rest of the congregation to minister as effectively as ourselves. The clergy-laity division is simply leaven that has carried over from the Pharisees and the Sadducees, who love to be recognized for "who they are!" You who desire to be addressed with a title by your flock, consider these words of instruction:

1Pe 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

These words written by Peter go well with the Words of Christ in His discourse concerning how Christian ministry should and should not be:

Mat 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

The leaven of Prestige walks hand in hand with:

THE LEAVEN OF EXCLUSIVISM

Mat 9:10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? 12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Another term for exclusivist behavior is a clique mentality, which is prevalent in the Church. Somehow the attitude of those who have been saved suddenly turns into a "us and them" mindset. Instead of going out and trying to bring others into the Kingdom of God, a great number of Christians in America behave as if the church they belong to is a social club with exclusive membership requirements. Actually this type of leaven fosters the attitude of the Pharisee that Jesus told about:

Luk 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

In many churches members are generally encouraged to invite their neighbors to come to the church, but there are very few pastors who encourage their congregation to go out into the highways and the byways to invite skid row bums, drug addicts and prostitutes to their church. The sad truth is that there is an element on the streets that not many Christians want to deal with. The neighbors of the church members are generally more productive and carry fewer problems than someone they may encounter on the city streets.

Someone may protest and say, "But that is what the downtown missions or the recovery programs are for! They are better equipped to deal with those kinds of people". That attitude is the very problem that is permeated by this type of leaven. Friend, read the Bible and find where Jesus designated special programs for "special needs" people. There is no such place. Jesus sat at meat with the sinners and the publicans, with the harlots and the lepers.

If you are a minister of the gospel, I entreat you to examine yourself and ask yourself if you are making Jesus your model of ministry. Honestly…when is the last time you sat at meat with the likes of these? If it's been a while, or if you never have, you have allowed that leaven of exclusivity to creep in, and I would encourage you to humble yourself and repent.

Even if you don't yet operate in a "designated ministry", and just consider yourself to be a "layman", you need to understand that this admonishment applies to you as well. God never intended for any of us to remain in the pews. Even though your pastor may not want you to realize this, you need to understand that the same Holy Spirit that is in the Pastor is in you, if you have been Born Again. That being the case, Acts 1:8 applies to all who profess Jesus Christ as Lord.

Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

What has happened? There are so many church meetings and so called revivals across this nation that are called "Holy Ghost" meetings. There are so many denominations that profess to be "Holy Ghost filled". Every Christian church in some way or another professes to believe in the Presence of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life. Yet because of this exclusivist leaven, very few members in the church are taught or encouraged to be witnesses for Jesus.

Despite the fact that Jesus commissioned those who believe in Him to "go into all the world and preach the gospel", the Church in America has opted to embrace a clique mentality and to isolate itself from those who are of the world, unless the sinners come to them.

The leaven of exclusiveness isn't only limited to the separation of Christians and non-Christians. It also applies to the "Clergy - laity" split…many pastors have luncheons with fellow members of the "clergy", but rarely with the "laity". They have corporate functions they call pastor's prayer meetings in a show of unity, but rarely are there any who freely share one another's pulpits! One might say: "Well, you have to be careful, brother! I don't want false doctrine being preached from my pulpit!" So there is no unity. Only a show of unity. You can't have unity with someone if you don't trust them. That's hypocrisy.

It was when the disciples were in one accord that the Holy Ghost fell upon them at Pentecost. The pastors bestow pretended honor on one another at these meetings, and give each other positive strokes, esteeming their position more honorable than that of the "common folk". Not all ministers are like this. But if your heart is bearing witness to this truth in you, you need to repent of this ungodly leaven.

Pastor's prayer meetings are good, if they are held without pretense, but corporate prayer meetings where everyone is welcome to pray are even better.

Mat 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

The other side of the coin is the denominations and the fellowships that forsake interacting with other Christians, because they are not part of their clique.

Mar 9:38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. 39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. 40 For he that is not against us is on our part. The bottom line is the Word of God, which declares: Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

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