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Source: https://www.sermonindex.net/speakers/joel-portman/assembly-should-we-have-a-paid-pastor/
Now let's go beyond that because we run into other situations as well and sometimes believers ask the question Well, why should not we have in the local assembly? Why shouldn't we have a faith pastor?
Why should shouldn't we have one man that's really able to preach, you know? I don't know why I get so tired of hearing these people these brethren give up when they stumble around and like I do. And they don't say things very well, and they don't seem to have a good message and you can go on and on.
I sympathize with that because in a good measure, it's true because we're not polished preachers, are we? I hear some of these men preaching on the radio or if you ever look at a television now and then.
You'll see men that are really able to handle a message and deliver it wonderfully and. You know, we look at our local brethren and we say well, there's nothing like that I don't know. Maybe that that thing is so maybe better.
Of a one man that's really trained or the man that's really able to Devote his time entirely to the Word of God and to do all this work of visiting the saints and. To encourage the people and do all these things that are necessary.
And I believe that there are younger believers as well as. Maybe older ones as well. They look at that and they say well, why, why, why don't we have. Why isn't it possible that we could have just one man that would take that responsibility.
Because after all they would say, you know. Places that do that and they've got an attractive speaker and and he's able to preach real well. You know, they see growth and they see more people coming and they see numbers added to them.
And that might be well and good but the question is, is it right? I think that if you look at church history, and I think church history is interesting to read. Sometimes it's discouraging, sometimes it's disheartening.
When you look at the pathway and the development of practices that we have today. But if you look at church history, you'll recognize the fact that it was early on in the history of the church. That this kind of thing came in.
In fact, I take it that Paul was indicating to the elders in Ephesus when he called them to Miletus. That he anticipated that very shortly after his departure. These things would happen with men arising that would seek to gather men under themselves.
So it's been a tendency even from the first century, the second century. Right in the third and fourth century where it really began to blossom. And there was a hierarchy of authority that was developed in terms of local preachers.
And then bishops and archbishops and all the rest that eventually developed from it. So why don't we believe that we ought to have a paid pastor? One man or two men that would be supported by the contributions of the assembly or the church.
And they would be able to carry on that work and do it in a very excellent way. Let me give you five reasons why, six reasons actually I've got written down here. Six reasons why I believe that that is not according to the word of God.
I just read today, actually I just picked up Truth and Tidings magazine. And found out that there's a series of articles in Truth and Tidings. That has taken up the very subject that I'm speaking on here.
So I guess I could just encourage you to go home and read the magazine. And save you the trouble of coming to meeting. But nevertheless, I didn't read the article because I didn't want to just import that Brother's ideas and thoughts into what I have in mind.
So I left that aside, maybe I'll read it tomorrow. The first reason I believe that the practice of having a paid pastor is not right Is of course it's contrary to the word of God. Let's look in 1 Corinthians chapter 14.
I have a tendency to get started speaking here and forget to read The scriptures that I'm referring to, but it's good to read them together. This entire section commencing with chapter 11 and going to the end of chapter 14 I believe is a description of the order that prevailed in a local assembly meeting.
Possibly one meeting Due to the conditions that existed in that day. Possibly they were only able to come together one time a week. Possibly even in the evening of the Lord's day. We don't know that, but we do know that this is a description Of how a meeting of the assembly was carried out In the days of the New Testament.
But if Paul, as an apostle, has seen this assembly planted. And he's also giving instruction for how it should be continued in its practice. Now notice, in chapter 14 and verse 26. This is the chapter that deals with the exercise of gift in its profitability.
How is it then, brethren, when ye come together. And that expression always indicates a gathering of the local assembly. When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm. Hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation.
Hath an interpretation, let all things be done unto Edifying. And then we find that there are those who would speak one or two or three. And in verse 29 we have the prophet speaking two or three. It seems it's possible that in one meeting of the assembly there Might have been four or five different individuals that would have spoken.
Not just one, so the meeting might have gone for quite a while. So in this case, the apostle Paul, by the spirit of God Is telling these believers that they are responsible to come together With the anticipation of participating and contributing Something in one of these various forms.
Now, that indicates that there was the opportunity to do it. That indicates that there was not one man that was going to do all the speaking. But there was going to be. There were going to be contributions.
There was going to be the participation of all these different individuals. And it's all going to be done unto Edifying. I think that in the first part of the book of In the first part of Acts chapter 13 If you look carefully there, you'll notice that I believe anyway If I remember right, there are five brethren In that assembly in Antioch that took the primary responsibility For guiding that assembly.
They might have been the elders of the assembly. But nevertheless there was a plurality Of those that were ministering unto the Lord And engaged in the work of the Lord in that particular assembly. So what we find in the New Testament is a teaching That indicates very clearly that God intends That a local assembly will be supported It will be maintained by the ministry Given by all of those that are qualified All those that are exercised to take part in it.
It's a matter of being open Under the control of the Spirit of God Under the control of the elders of the assembly. So that if we look at this situation Just in the New Testament, bring it into our day to day.
We recognize that that's the way God intended An assembly to function. The second reason why I believe it is wrong To have a paid pastor is that Following on what I've already been saying It quenches the Holy Spirit.
Turn over to 1 Thessalonians chapter 5. Where we have that expression. 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 He's giving very brief, succinct Instructions to the believers here Seems to go in groups. But starting in verse 19 we have a group That has to do with the exercise Of spiritual gift or spiritual exercise.
Chapter 5 and verse 19 Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesying But prove all things Hold fast that which is good. So that you put these three verses together Because they do seem to indicate a sequence That first of all The Spirit of God is not to be quenched.
That means The purpose that he has And the work that he would accomplish Is not to be suppressed Is not to be hindered in any way. And that's in the context, he says Of despising not prophesying. I take that in two ways.
We could quench the Spirit by Refusing or not allowing The exercise Of the Spirit of God in a brother In a form of public participation. Or we could also quench the Spirit And not be willing to listen to what The Spirit of God has given him To deliver to the saints.
But he says there's a necessity that we Do not quench the Spirit. We do not despise prophesying. But he says we Prove all things, we put them to the test And we hold fast That which is good. So of course it indicates that There must be intelligent listeners And there must be the ability To understand what is being said And tested in light of the word of God.
Turn with me to 1 Peter chapter 5 For another development On that same theme Chapter 4 rather 1 Peter chapter 4. And we'll read from verse 10 As every man hath received the gift Even so minister the same One to another as good stewards Of the manifold grace of God.
If any man speak Let him speak As the oracles of God. That is, as one who has a message from God Himself As being delivered to the saints. If any man minister Or serve, let him do it As of the ability which God supplieth That God in all things May be glorified through Jesus Christ To whom be glory Our praise and dominion forever And ever.
So Peter again is saying basically the same thing That there was to be The liberty Afforded the spirit of God That he might direct That he might use Instruments that are qualified To take part in that public way So quench the spirit.
And one has said I believe accurately That the one man ministry In our Religious world today Is perhaps the sin Against the Holy Spirit of God Contrary to the mind of God entirely Very quickly because time is going.
But One man ministry also assumes That one man has all The needed gift And assumes that he has all the gifts That are needed to be able to minister To the Lord's people adequately. There's a need for certain Kinds of gifts And God has given diversity And has given them to different individuals.
That's not to say that one person might not Have more than one gift. They might have the gift of an evangelist. They might also have the gift of a teacher. And they might have other gifts as well. But when we assume That one man Was going to have all the gift that is Needed we're denying the fact That 1 Corinthians chapter 12 Indicates that the Spirit of God Gives gift to every man individually Dividing it Severally or individually As he will.
So he is the one that determines that And he knows the need In any particular company. And so he is the one who would Direct and he would enable us That we might use that in a proper way. So we recognize The fact that if there are Different brethren and they have different gifts And different abilities Different ways of presenting truth Different manners in which They can be used of God In a local assembly capacity.
Then those all working together Are more effective And more helpful If it's being carried out in a proper way. So that's the third reason I believe that That would be a mistake. The fourth reason is that one man ministry Prevents spiritual Exercise and development In the brethren of an assembly.
I never forget When I was not very long married I don't know how long ago that was. I know when I was married Sorry, 41 years ago If you want to know. But I don't know exactly when this particular event took place.
But I remember The brethren of our assembly I was in Seattle Washington at the time In Woodland Gospel Hall The brethren encouraged me To take a part in the Ministry of the Word of God Which we had on Wednesday night We had the Bible reading on the Lord's Day During the Sunday school.
And on Wednesday night We had prayer meeting first. And there was 30 minutes for ministry at the end. I'll never forget What I first spoke on either. It still sticks in my mind. And what I spoke on then is what I'm still trying to learn now In relation to what it was.
But nevertheless That was the beginning In a sense They not only recognized some measure of ability I hope they did anyway for some reason. But they encouraged us to take part. And they encouraged us to participate.
And they were a great help to us. Brother McNichol And Brother Hale. And Brother, what was his name I can't remember now. But anyway, Brother Hostenick The three brethren that were responsible in the assembly They joined together to encourage younger brethren To participate And to develop their gift.
I've said this before here in Blue River I don't mind saying it again That I really believe every assembly needs to have a minister meeting. And that's one of the reasons Because it allows brethren to develop The gift that God has given them.
And there is a necessity to put it into practice. So that If you have a one man ministry Or a paid pastor That prevents individuals from developing that gift. Because how are they ever going to use it.
They have to put it into practice. You know I remember as I grew up I was one who was so Timid that You wouldn't believe this now would you. I was so timid that I was afraid of my own voice. It was terrifying For me to hear my voice publicly.
It's not terrifying It just sort of bothers me now and then. But nevertheless I remember when I was a 15 year old boy And I'd asked to be baptized. And there's a little assembly Only about 12 in fellowship down there in McColl Mississippi.
And Brother Crawford. Dear brother Crawford He said As they announced that I was going to be baptized The next Lord's Day if all goes well He said It would sure be nice to hear him tell how he got saved.
And so there after the Lord's Supper I was expected to tell how I got saved. And I I only remember the fact that I was Shaking in my shoes you know Because it was so difficult. But you know God gives help.
And the more we exercise ourselves in the things of God The more we're accustomed And to be able to Communicate we hope anyway We try to do that. And it needs to be developed and it needs to have the opportunity.
And along with that I would say that if there's going to be Public participation by brethren We need to make sure Dear brother that we do everything we can To prepare a message That is profitable And suitable for the saints of God.
We have no excuse For giving poor Ministry to God's people Within the limits Of what we're capable of doing. So it prevents that Two more things and I'll sit down. The fifth thing is that it removes The safeguards against failure In a man.
You know there are sad results when A brother Or even a sister as well in the assembly Fails Because of either sin or wrong doctrine Or whatever it might be in a local Assembly capacity It's a moment of sadness, it ought to be And great distress to God's people.
But you'll understand how Severe the results can be. If there's one man that is leading The gathered Gathered the saints Doing all the preaching, they all look to him For leadership and guidance And he falls.
And you know the results that have been Seen in many different places when that has Taken place. So it's a Safeguard against that By preventing An individual from teaching wrong Doctrine or from Leading the saints astray or Even against the Effect of an individual falling Morally into sin.
It's a preservative I'll just say last of all That A multiplicity of Ministry In a local assembly Is a preservative in times Of persecution. It's interesting That in countries where Christians are persecuted and when their Gatherings are More difficult To carry on, in different countries They almost always revert back To the New Testament pattern And go back to A principle which the brethren In the local gathering Carry on the responsibility.
Why? Because you know the government can Attack and take away the one Man that has the responsibility. But if there's A participation by all the brethren It's more difficult And there's more preservative Preservation for God's people.
So these are two things The issue of participating In interdenominational activities. Whether it's right or not I trust that I've given you Sufficient reasons Why I believe that it is not. And I don't want to be negative About that but just simply to show what we Ought to be doing as well as why We do not have a paid pastor.
And God willing we'll look On another assembly tomorrow night In relation to local assembly I want to teach Something having to do with why We believe In the head covering In relation to our sisters And different aspects In relation to the gathering of God's people I trust God will bless His word And help us in our practice For Him.