|
A "good heart" without a good
Spiritual sword arm makes one qualified to be a Vet but not
a Shepherd. On page one of the Belmont paper
the following astonishing statement is made; Don
Finto: "We
began to see that biblically there was not only an
eldership in the local church, but there were
apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (Eph.
4:11) in the body of Christ and that the FULL work of God
COULD
NOT be
realized until this five fold gifting was
recognized,
whatever that meant" (Yes, indeed, whatever that means).
1. Historically, the first step was
for one elder of a local assembly to see himself elevated
above his brother elders as THE "lead elder."
Don
Finto: "Most
of you remember that in my sabbatical about two years ago,
the Lord convicted me that I had been running away from
leadership, that though I was to be a man in
submission and not to defend myself, that I was
HIS leader AMONG the leaders at Belmont"
(Belmont Paper, pp 1, 2).
While the term steward, overseer,
shepherd, elder clearly seem to be the same worker
performing his several responsibilitess, one of the first
rejections of the NT pattern was to see one of the elders as
"Bishop" or overseer of the flock or city and the "elder"
(presbyter) as simply the shepherd of the spiritual affairs
of the local church. 2. In time, an elder who had
"missionary zeal" went out looking for lost sheep and to
evangelize his part of the world and began to see himself as
having "global" authority while the stay-at-home
pastor-teachers or elders had authority over just the local
assembly. Don
Finto: "I
began to believe on the basis of scripture (and confirmation from other leaders who were restudying this whole
issue around
the corner)
that apostles function wider than just the local church,
that pastors are stationary" (Belmont p. 2). Does ANYONE know
who was JUST AROUND THE CORNER? "Lord, Belmont needs
more than me, but I am ALL that they have and I accept it" (Belmont
Paper, p. 2) "By this time I had
seen that in the New Testament, elders were appointed by
apostles...by Paul and Barnabas...by Titus" (Belmont p. 2). "The book of Timothy
were written so that Timothy would know how to set elders in
order in the churches. God has used me to do that in other
churches"
(Ibid. p. 2) The Belmont writer fails to see that
while men like Paul had the title of apostle, the work which
he performed was to model the responsiblity of the
evangelist who would continue long after the apostles
were gone. In his work with Timothy and Titus he continually
pushed them on to teach new churches, set them in order, and
then move on. Titus, for instance, if he was to follow
Paul's demand in the literal sense of "all" the cities of
Crete had over a hundred churches to teach. His "function
wider than just the local church" was not to "oversee" these
churches but to complete the "work of an evangelist."
One of the early tests of a true
evangelist in the post-apostolic period was that if he
stayed over two weeks and asked for money he was a false
preacher. 3. Later, one bishop began to see
himself as the chief bishop or chief apostle of Christ with
total church-wide authority. He had the authority to develop
a "college of cardinals" as somewhat equals but he was "a
bit more equal" than the others. "...and later they were
regarded as successors of the
apostles" (New Schaff--Herzog Religious Encycl.,
Deacons, p. 370). a. Establishing THE
leader. Don
Finto: "What I
am saying to you is that even though there is a plurality of
leaders, I am
THE leader..."
(Ibid p. 2). b. Establishing a "college" of
approved apostles or prophets. Don
Finto: "I
began to see that Jim Bevis was also functioning as an apostle
across the body
of Christ,
possibly also as a prophet" (Ibid., p. 2). "I believe that
two recognized
apostles are
in the Belmont church (Bevis and Finto) and that God has called us to walk
together." (Ibid p. 3). c. Eleminating "insubordination" of
the other leaders. By reading the Belmont paper, it can
be seen that the writer used the claim of supernatural
revelation to lead the unstable to allow him to fire all of
the existing elders and then appoint or approve the
appointment of all new elders. He then builds his college of
apostles who "can walk together" and a group of elders who
will not have the problem of "the eldership at Belmont"
which the writer sees as: Don
Finto: "The
insubordination to the authority of Jesus Christ which god
has placed in me "In this
church, this pastorate, this apostolic ministry, as a fellow elder, but also as
your
leader'
(Belmont p. 4). Did I type that
correctly? 4. Being the chief-apostle, the pope
began to be seen as the Vicar of Christ: meaning that "since
Christ can't be with us, I will function on his behalf." The
Belmont writer makes two astounding claim: a. Christ, of course, was
head of the body (the writer says 'I am THE leader')
b. Christ was husband of the
bride--the church: Don
Finto: "I see
my role of apostolic/pastoral leader much as the
husband-wife
relationship.
I submit to the elders as a husband to her wife (mutual
submission) and you to me as a wife to her
husband."
(Belmont p. 4). 5. If one is THE leader and
sees himself (however dimly) as "the leader in a
husband-wife relationship" and even if he claims that he
must be in submission, the apparent justification for such
an astounding claim is the strange need to have
power. While the apostles never lead by
domination, in order to be THE LEADER, one must elevate
himself to the position of Christ. The pope did not see
himself as being just Christ's ambassador but God's actual
replacement of Christ upon the earth. As the "Vicar of
Christ" the pope began to exercise domination over all of
the other apostles (cardinals and bishops). This is shown
from the following quotation: This sounds familiar:
Don
Finto: "Brothers, I dare to tell you that I believe
a big part of the disunity of the eldership at Bellmont is the... "INSUBORDINATION to the authority of Jesus
Christ
"that GOD HAS
PLACED IN ME "in this
church, this pastorate, this apostolic ministry, as a fellow
elder, but also as your LEADER" (p. 4). "By God's grace I
shall pursue with all my heart a life of godliness and
holiness and become a strong man of authority, ---as dominant as the lord wants me to be."
(P. 4) (Se. Luke 9:46-48). The writer apparently feels that if
he can establish that if there were more than twelve
apostles then this extends the authority for the office down
to the twentieth century. Don
Finto: "We began
to realize that there were many 'apostles' in the New
Testament other than the 12. Paul, Silas, Timothy,
Andronicus, Junias, and others were called apostles."
(Belmont paper) However, the Holy Spirit, knowing
that there would be false christ, false prophets, and false
apostles, clearly prescribed the qualifications and powers
of the apostles so that we can easily refute those who do
not accept the original work of the apostles as adequate.
These true apostles: Narrative Theology and Post
Modernism spewing out of the once-Christian colleges become
secular universities would agree with Finto Totally. Since
the Bible has been utterly Shelly Sifted through Greek
philosophy and the personal agendas of men like John, and we
are left with the CORE GOSPEL of
only seven facts ABOUT Jesus then apparently there is a
demand for latter day apostles to exercise their
"apostolate" if we are gonna keep on the "professional track
of seeing godliness as a means of financial
gain." A short review of the apostles show
them to be a unique group of disciples personally chosen by
Christ to ratify the gospel message and to be channels
through whom the Holy Spirit would reveal God's will in an
inspired form. 1.The term disciple is often
synonymous with the term apostle and appears so in the
following: He appointed twelve, that they might
be with Him (Mk. 3:14) He sat at table with the
twelve disciples (Matt. 26:20) He called his disciples and
chose...12, whom he named apostles (Lk. 6:13). He said, "Did I not myself choose you,
the 12" (John 6:70) He said, "I chose you" (John 20:19,
24) "But Thomas, one of the twelve" (John
20:19, 24) 2.The twelve were the intimates of
Jesus (Matt. 28:10, 16; John 2:12) "No longer do I call you
slaves...but friends" (John 15:14, 15) 3. Jesus revealed Himself to the
Apostles (John 21:1,2, John 21; 2:14) 4. The promise of power was made to
the apostles (John 20:22; Acts 1:2, 6-8, 11; Acts 2:1-4;
8:14-18; 19:1-6; Rom. 1:11; 2 Tim. 1:6) 5. The twelve apostles were
specifically instructed (Matt. 10:5; Matt. 11:1; Luke 24:44,
45). 6. The twelve apostles were the ones
given the authority (Matt. 10:1; Lk. 9:1; Mk. 16:20; The 70
had powers but when the apostles were sent out the powers
were regiven showing that the power was for the duration of
the mission. 7. The apostles were the ones Jesus
specifically appeared to after His resurrection and gave
further instructions (Acts 1:3; Mk. 9:1). 8. The apostles were the ones who were
given commandment prior to Pentecost (Acts 1:2). 9. The eleven were the ones whom Jesus
verifies as having been given commandment to wait in
Jerusalem. 10. The eleven (later twelve) were the
only ones promised the baptism of the Holy Spirit. (Acts
1:5). 11. The apostles, and not the masses,
were given the promises (Matt. 13:11; Acts 2:33).
12. The apostles were to be the
revealers of new truth and have divine memory (John 14:26;
Acts 2:33). 13. The 12 were to be the unique
co-witnesses of Jesus' life and resurrection along with the
Holy Spirit because they had been with Him from the
beginning (John 15:26, 27; Acts 1:2, 8; Luke 24:48,
49). Evangelism: A Gift to Some. Also better look at the
Grace Centered or
Charismatic
concept before you "name it and claim it." Grace and
Charismatic speak almost exclusively of USING Sodomy or
Pederasty or "teams" to, as a heretic, arouse or lift up
YOUR property and soul. Euaggelizo (g2097) yoo-ang-ghel-id'-zo; from 2095 and
32; to announce good news ("evangelize") espec. the gospel:
- declare, bring (declare, show) glad (good) tidings, preach
(the gospel). g32 aggelos: means
an "angel" or messenger sent out. That task was
temporary and demanded that the people be individually
trained so that THEY could resist the NAVIGATING THE WINDS
OF CHANGE being huffed and puffed to blow Christ's house
down. That we
henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and
carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of
men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to
deceive; Eph 4:14 But
speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all
things, which is the head, even Christ: Eph 4:15
Christ defined his
"Sonship" roll by speaking ONLY what He heard from the
"Father." Paul as an apostle and evangelist spoke only what
he heard from Christ the Spirit. Paul demanded that the
churches use "that which is written" to teach one
another. Therefore,
the demand that one is a Spirit-Gifted Evangelist, and he
speaks that WHICH HAS NOT BEEN WRITTEN and exercise command
authority the he is anti-Christ and not Christ. A located evangelist
is like a "located traveling salesman." Don't miss the point
that this list includes apostles and prophets. But, whoa! No preachers! The elders are the
pastor-teachers of the local flock. Rubel
Shelly: He gave
those gifts
and challenges to George Miller, Ron Joyner, and Mark Thompson.
Rubel Shelly has
the supernatural gift: If he had wanted
them to do what I do, he would have given them different
gifts and life tracks. If
he had wanted
you to have the gift of evangelism, he would have given it to
you.
If you have that gift,
it is our responsibility to help you
surface it and
to help you find a place in the life of this church to use it for God's
glory. But, an evangelist is
a herald. He is a Paul Revere and not "administratator of
the cult of the social gospel." Why would God
predestinate one to be an evangelist without letting them in
on the secret? What about all of those people who never had
the Cult-like "gift discernment course?" Rubel Shelly: Evangelism as with every other spiritual gift ranging
from healing the sick and raising the dead in the first century to
showing
mercy to the
sick today is a gift
that God bestows by his sovereign grace. It is not everyone's
gift, not everyone's calling, not everyone's assignment in the church. This is the buzz word
of Blackaby and King who believe that one can get
their own personal assignment and more power than a Moses or
a Jesus who HAD their assignment for their day. They speak
like those who believe that they are the end-time "manifest
sons of God." Too Bad "Father god
family member" didn't know that when He (a Shelly Joke) and
the spirit god let little son god get tricked into dying for
the sins of the world. So, family, what do you do when a
Koresh attacks you because they can claim to be Christs and
Apostles and at the same time scatter the flock?
What do you do when people cower you
like craven worms by the use of music and hand clapping
which has always been a way to mobilize the troups into
"daring to go where no Christian has gone before?" The
smirks from the musical agents and the hand claps are just
hissing you as you abandon your home bought with the widow's
mites and the grand gifts now being stolen from under your
nose like crows stealing my sweet corn? Why, you bail out and say: "I think I
will go fishing." Shame for being defeated by superstitious
fear that these people are supernatural agents. I have typed out only a few quotations
but isn't this enough to grasp that this is the end product
of efforts which received too much aid and comfort from
Madison many years ago and the agents are all still in high
place even though Jubilee as one jab dies down and another
attack is mounted. They will never give up trying to
facilitate the resurrection of the end-time Babylon Harlot
religion.
| |||||||||
