How should we overcome fear?

Fear is a universal subject that virtually everyone deals with.  It comes in every way imaginable.  Many of us dread the thought of facing the world the moment we roll out of bed in the morning.  Why do we have fear?  Many of us have experienced some kind of hurt at some point in our lives and we tend to avoid things that may potentially hurt us again.  Definition number one of Webster’s Universal Unabridged Dictionary (1996 edition) defines fear as – “a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined.”  According to Webster’s definition, you would have to wonder why some people actually attend their churches, since there are many pastors who spend a lot of time preparing messages just to stir up the consciences of their members…which listening to some of these messages could technically qualify as exposure to fear.

What kind of fears do we potentially face as individuals?  Our youth have pressures coming from all directions, be it their parents, teachers and peers.  How do they respond to situations where people may try to pressure them into compromising their morals and/or individuality...just to feel accepted?  As for unmarried adults, many of these people may face the fear of possibly being stigmatized or being treated differently – just for being single.  How do these individuals open their hearts and share their feelings with new people or strangers, knowing that someone may try to take advantage of them by playing with their emotions?  Of course marriage does not necessarily eliminate the problems of fear for people.  Rather, it can complicate the matters even worse by bringing in new fears, such as infidelity, the inability to support your family (i.e., job loss) or the loss of a loved one.  As for senior citizens, they have the fear of worrying about their retirements as well as wondering how the future state of the country may impact their children and grandchildren, due to the actions of Generation X, Y or Z.

What kind of fears may impact the local church?  Poor spiritual leadership may cause many churches to close their doors indefinitely.  Hypothetically, most churches want to stand up for the Great Commission of Jesus Christ by trying to embrace everybody in their surrounding communities.  Realistically, however, many people within local churches may prefer to have people walking through their doors who look and act like themselves.  Ask yourself, how many couples would feel comfortable having a person with a drug problem sitting next to them or one of their loved ones in church?  How many senior citizens would tolerate a Generation X, Y or Z person sitting next to them in church?  Would single people like to have their single groups used as prospective “watering holes” by outsiders who are looking for dates?  Do the young adults want a class busybody hanging out in their youth group and spreading rumors about all of their personal interactions? 

So the question remains, who is our biggest fear – ourselves, others, or God?  One of the most common things people fear is the world, especially since it has quite the reputation for being a tough, unforgiving place.  However, if we have God as the center of our lives, the Bible teaches the world is not our fear…although we should use wisdom when dealing with it.  Jesus Christ himself said we would have trouble in this world, but he also said we would have peace since he overcame the world. (John 16:33)

Look at the testimony of Stephen in the Book of Acts.  Stephen served God by ministering in the Jewish synagogues.  Stephen was extremely effective at stirring up the consciences of the Jewish elders.  So effective, that the elders later set up false witnesses who accused Stephen of blasphemy and had him stoned to death. (Acts 6:8-14; 7:54-59)  However, as Stephen was dying, he prayed the following words – “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” (Acts 7:60 NIV)  Stephen’s testimony tells us that we should not blame others for anything they do to us, but forgive them…no matter how terrible the act.

Basically, our biggest fear is likely ourselves, especially in how we react to any given situation.  We need to focus on having our will submitted over to the work of the Holy Spirit, by allowing him to act as a compass for our personal lives.  Otherwise, if we allow other people to guide our conscience, the direction for our personal lives can be easily swayed back and forth at the discretion of others around us.  There is still a need for fellowshipping with others.  In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he mentions the importance of building others up, by utilizing the spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit has given to each of us.  He also reminds us, as we mature as believers, “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. (Ephesians 4:14 NIV)    

Now if we have Jesus Christ as our advocate to God, then we can look beyond fearing God and others around us…even though, we still may suffer the repercussions from the actions of others.  If we consider ourselves mature, strong Christians, then the concept of reaching out to others – who may not act or look like us – should not be a question for our lives, but rather a living testimony of our personal walk with the Lord.  Do we focus on separating ourselves from the sinners of the world?  Or are we focusing on helping people separate the sin from their lives, by teaching them about Jesus Christ’s love for them.  Ultimately, we should reach out to all people, regardless of their walks in life, and share the love of Jesus Christ with them.  When it comes to overcoming fear, we need to reflect on the Apostle Paul’s words to the Philippians – “I can do all things through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13 NIV)

Should baptism be a condition for church membership?

Does it really make a difference if we require someone to be baptized, in order to become a member of a local church?  Jesus Christ gave us the following instructions in his Great Commission – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:20 NIV)  Are we teaching people to be disobedient if we do not require them to be baptized as part of church membership?  If a local church is a reflection of the one true holy apostolic, universal church, should it consist solely of a group of baptized believers who observe baptism or a group of believers who observe baptism? 

In the New Testament, we find many examples of people being baptized immediately after a profession of their faith.  On the Day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter responded to the crowd of people with the words, “’Repent and be baptized…’’ and those who accepted his message were baptized.  (Acts 2:38, 41 NIV)  After meeting with the Apostle Philip, an Ethiopian eunuch professed his faith in Jesus Christ and had Philip baptize him in water found along the road next to his chariot. (Acts 8:34-38)  At a jail where the Apostle Paul and Silas were imprisoned, the jailor and his family were immediately baptized after receiving the message of salvation. (Acts 16:29-33)  The question arises, although most people were immediately baptized after receiving the message of salvation, is baptism synonymous with church membership?

On the other side of the subject, the New Testament also includes many examples of salvation having more importance than baptism.  The Apostle Paul made this point clear by saying, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel….” (I Corinthians 1:17 NIV)  While Jesus Christ was nailed on the cross, a criminal on an adjacent cross asked Jesus to remember him in his kingdom and Jesus responded by saying – “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43 NIV)  Before being baptized by John the Baptist, Jesus Christ replied that baptism is a step of obedience – “’Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.’” (Matthew 3:15 NIV)  The Apostle Paul reiterated this point by saying our salvation comes though faith in Jesus Christ and not by any works of righteousness on our own part.  (Ephesians 2:8-9)  

The topic of baptism, and whether or not to make it a condition for church membership, is sometimes perceived as a point of confusion among various churches.  The reason many Christian leaders mandate baptism as part of membership is to ensure that people will be obedient to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.  Of course, baptism should be faithfully taught as an important step of obedience for all believers.  However, below are a few factors church leaders should consider in their decisions to teach baptism or mandate baptism as part of church membership.

1.      When a local church makes baptism a condition for membership, it contradicts the definition of the one true apostolic, universal church – all who come to repentance and acknowledge Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. (Romans 10:9-10)

2.      If a mandate for baptism comes across as contradicting the mission of the church, some people, especially strong-willed people, may end up leaving the church and possibly anything to do with organized religion – because they begin to doubt the credibility of the Word of God and/or the sincerity of the church leaders.  As for people, from this same group, who may remain in their respective churches, many of these individuals may end up sitting in the church frustrated or find themselves in compromised situations.

3.      Making baptism a condition for church membership often sets the precedence for people to be obedient to church leaders, rather than the Holy Spirit.  This is why you often find churches full of “baptized believers” sitting around and doing what appears as nothing, because they are waiting for the next command from their church leaders…not the Holy Spirit.  Some individuals may even find their spiritual act of obedience to the Holy Spirit quenched because they are manipulated or forced to do things in situations where they should be seeking God’s guidance.  Thus, you have the Apostle Paul’s warning to the church of the Thessalonians, “Quench not the Spirit.” (I Thessalonians 5:19 KJV) 

When local churches take a natural act of obedience and turn it into a rule, they may inadvertently set the wrong example to their surrounding communities and country by teaching people to turn natural acts of good behavior into excessive laws.  Obviously, there is a need for laws and order.  The Apostle Paul makes this clear with the words, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.” (Romans 13:1 NIV)  However, we need to take caution that a denomination or religious affiliation does not attempt to place church “into a box,” since excessive rules may end up trumping the work of the Holy Spirit.  As a result, many churches may end up being led by teachers and not necessarily leaders, because many of the potential natural leaders of the church end up leaving over their issues with organized religion…not necessarily God.  

If churches want to make a real difference in making a positive impact in their communities, then they need to ensure that people are being taught how to obedient to the Holy Spirit.  Since baptism is a step of obedience, and one of many steps of obedience, churches should use the baptismal ceremony as an opportunity for showing people how they should ultimately trust in the Holy Spirit and the Word of God for guidance in all areas of their personal lives.  Once people come to the humble realization that they cannot do everything on their own and God is the one who can actually change people, then we will have a better understanding of Jesus Christ’s Great Commission – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:20 NIV)

Do our actions quench the work of the Holy Spirit?

How serious are we for reaching people, regardless of their backgrounds, and teaching them to trust in the Holy Spirit?  Does the possibility exist that many of our churches may need an overhaul?  The Apostle Paul instructed the church of the Thessalonians to, “Quench not the Spirit.” (I Thessalonians 5:19 KJV)  The Prophet Isaiah used similar words to describe the passionate heart of Jesus Christ, “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.” (Isaiah 42:3 NIV)  Do our actions guide people to trust in the Holy Spirit for their lives?

What is the quickest way to kill a child’s natural desire in helping around the house?  If you are lucky enough to have a child that loves to help you with the housework, you should avoid taking advantage of the situation by turning his or her natural desire of giving and replacing it with a list of chores.  Even though your child may want to help you, he or she may become your worst nightmare because you possibly quenched his or her spirit.  This same analogy can be applied to the church.  There are many people who will dedicate a large amount of the time, talents and resources to the church because of the Holy Spirit’s work in their lives.  However, once the local church oversteps its boundaries…the work of the Holy Spirit may be quenched as a result.

If we are serious about reaching the lost, then it is essential that we do not quench the work of the Holy Spirit.  We should avoid trying to “change” people, but rather focus on making a difference in their lives by teaching how to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  In other words, we should make a difference in others and depend on God to make the changes.  Otherwise, we are depending on our own rules to change people.  We must have confidence that our Christian leaders are teaching by example, so we can listen to them for guidance in applying the Word of God to our personal lives.  

What are a few warning signs that a local church, denomination or religious affiliation may be overstepping its boundaries and inadvertently quenching the work of the Holy Spirit?  How would an outsider perceive Christianity based off our examples?  Ask yourself, does the local church represent a group of “baptized believers” who observe baptism and communion, or a group of “believers” who come together to observe baptism and communion?  Does our worship represent a true awe of God or has it become trite?  Do our prayers focus on real issues or are they just skillfully crafted words?  Does the sharing of our financial resources represent the systematic adherence to a legalistic standard or an expression of love by giving out of thankfulness and gratitude to God?

One of the key questions we must ask ourselves – how big is our God?  Or do we have God in a box?  Most of us believe that God is awesome enough to create our universe out of nothing.  We believe the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ can save the world from its sins.  However, do we believe that the Holy Spirit can change people or do we believe that we need rules to change people?  Is there anything we are doing that may be quenching the Holy Spirit’s work in others around us who desire to know Christ?  What can we do to focus our testimony on helping others around us?

For starters, the Holy Spirit has entrusted every believer with a spiritual gift, or gifts, to use in keeping the “spiritual flame” alive in everyone around us.  The local church is intended to be alive and we should feel a heartbeat.  People should want to seek out our local churches because of the Holy Spirit working inside each and every believer.  Someone may have the gift of encouragement for helping people get through their trials and tribulations.  Another may have the gift of mercy and help those who are unable to physically or mentally take care of themselves.  Yet another person may have the gift of helps and always be ready to help others, who in turn can have their time freed up to share their spiritual gifts and individual talents with other people more efficiently.  The gift of leadership or government is essential for motivating others and running things in an organized manner.  Likewise, the gift of discernment is necessary for protecting the church from internal and external problems as well as maintaining doctrinal purity.  The missionary gift, or the gift of apostleship, allows the gospel to be taught over cultural barriers.  The gift of teaching helps apply the Word of God to our lives.  The list goes on.  Whatever spiritual gift(s) you possess, the Holy Spirit will use your natural talents as an outlet for your gift(s) as an expression of God’s love for others.

As individual believers, as well as groups of believers coming together as local churches, our main concern should be teaching people how to submit their lives over to the work of the Holy Spirit …not necessarily any particular denomination or religious affiliation.  In the workplace, does your boss continuously coddle you…even after you have been trained and been with the company for a while?  The same applies to the local church setting.  Do you expect the church to keep on pampering to your every whim and woe after being a Christian for a long time?  Worse yet, does your church go out of its way to ensure you keep getting coddled, instead of helping you grow as a mature believer?

In summary, people must sense love in our lives as well as our local churches.  The Apostle Paul uses the words, “Love must be sincere…Honor one another above yourselves….” (Romans 12:9 NIV)  The passionate heart of Jesus Christ is evident with the words of the Prophet Isaiah, “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.” (Isaiah 42:3 NIV)  As Christians, we need to follow the example of Jesus Christ and avoid quenching the work of the Holy Spirit in others, by being proactive and utilizing our God-given individual talents and entrusted spiritual gifts to help restore the smoldering wicks in the hearts of people within our communities.  Ultimately, when we submit our will over to the Holy Spirit, we help other people understand the importance of depending on God for all aspects of their lives and bring glory to God the Father…not any particular religious institution.

How do our actions impact people around us?

In the New Testament, we find Jesus Christ describing the church as – “For where two or more are gathered in my name, there I am with them.” (Matthew 18:20 NIV)  If Jesus is concerned about the smallest group of people gathering in his honor, just think about how much he cares about reaching out to all people.  Too often people today say the church needs an overhaul or that it is lacking a heartbeat.  How serious are the leaders of our local churches when it comes to reaching out to all people, regardless of their backgrounds?  Conversely, are we personally taking time for others or do we find it easier to just let our church leaders do all of the outreach work?  What impact, if any, does our personal life have on others?  Do our individual interactions with others really have any implications on how they may view the local church as well as God?  

In the Old Testament, we find the Prophet Haggai telling the Jewish people to reconsider their ways, after they laid the foundation of the temple and then sat around for 16 years doing nothing.  The Lord Almighty speaking through the Prophet Haggai said, “… These people say, The time has not yet come for the Lord’s house to be built.” (Haggai 1:2 NIV)  The Lord Almighty continued with the words, “You have planted much, but harvested little.  You eat, but never have enough.  You drink, but never have your fill.  You put on clothes, but are not warm.  You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it…Give careful thought to your ways.  Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored….” (Haggai 1:6-8 NIV) 

In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he makes it clear that Jesus Christ is the only foundation of the one true holy church with the following words, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ."  (I Corinthians 3:11 NIV)  Likewise, the church is comprised of every single person who believes and follows Jesus Christ, each of whom has his or her own special purpose in the church.  The Apostle Paul uses rhetorical questioning to explain the following analogy of comparing the growth of the church to process of growing a plant.  “For when one says, I follow Paul, and another, I follow Apollos, are you not mere men?  What, after all, is Apollos?  And what is Paul?  Only servants, through whom you came to believe – as the Lord has assigned to each his task.  I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.  So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” (I Corinthians 3:4-7 NIV)  The Apostle Paul further elaborated how each one of us should be careful how we build upon the foundation of the church.  (I Corinthians 3:10)

The ensuing question remains, what are our motives for building this church of believers – our own motives or God’s will?  How a local church interprets Hebrews 13:17 can be considered one of the main factors in determining if it will ultimately end up flourishing, failing or plateauing.  Does the church decide to apply the Word of God in a legalist, permissive or authoritative teaching style?  The author of Hebrews gives the instructions, “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority.  They keep watch over you as men who must give account” (Hebrews 13:17a NIV)   A more accurate interpretation of this passage, based off the original Greek language, would be – Have confidence in them that have the rule over you, and be willing to listen, for they watch over your souls and must give account.  In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans, he explains how everyone must submit to governing authorities with the disclaimer…we are to do what is right in the eyes of God, since each of us must ultimately give an account of our own actions to God. (Romans 13:1-4; 14:12) 

Each and every person who calls him or herself a believer and follower of Jesus Christ has an important role in the local church, no matter how great or miniscule his or her contribution(s).  Therefore, each of us need to consider our own personal actions and how they impact others, be it in the church environment, our home, our workplace or any other place we may interact with others.  As fellow builders of God’s church, we should try to follow the example of Jesus Christ and honor him by avoiding any behaviors that may stifle the work of the Holy Spirit in another person’s life as well as our own.  In addition, our lives should emulate the passionate heart of Jesus Christ by finding ways to make a positive difference in others and ultimately bring glory to God.  As for a closing thought, if we were intentionally making friends with unbelievers like Jesus Christ did, would that change our approach for coming together as a church?

Does God reveal himself in everything around us?

Often people ask the question, if there is a heaven and we stand before God, can we plead ignorance of not knowing who God is by saying we never knew?  In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans, he says “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that we are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20 NIV)  What does this mean?  God has made it obvious to the entire world that there has to be a creator that created every living and inanimate object in this world of ours.  God has purposely left evidence of his handiwork on all of creation, in order that seekers will be able to search for him.

What difference does it make if God is the creator or creation, or he does not exist at all?  The author of the Book of Hebrews, presumably the Apostle Paul, explains “…without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Romans 11:6 NIV)  Basically, the text says that all who seek God must acknowledge that he is the creator who rewards all who diligently seek him. 

When it comes to science, the Laws of Thermodynamics prove that there has to a creator who created our universe.  The Second Law of Thermodynamics tells us that the amount of usable energy in a closed system, such as our universe, will slowly be transferred into unusable heat.  If the energy floating around our solar system has always existed and never had a beginning, then why, after an infinite amount of time, does our solar system still have such vast amounts of usable energy?  If this law is not true, then why do people keep trying to find ways to conserve our resources…unless they are limited?

God also revealed himself through the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.  Consider how the Bible consists of 66 books written by over 40 different authors during a period of approximately 1500 years.  These books have stood the tests of time in their historical, doctrinal and spiritual accuracy with one another as well as the overall theme of the Bible.  The Apostle Peter explained how the Bible is the inerrant, infallible text of God with the words, “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation.  For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.  (II Peter 1:20-21 NIV) 

In addition, according to the teachings of Christianity…the only religion that believes the entire Bible is inerrant and infallible…God revealed himself to the world in the triune nature of three persons – God the Father, God the Son [Jesus Christ], and God the Holy Spirit.  Jesus Christ was born of a virgin birth, walked among our forefathers as a man, and chose to live a life of perfect holiness and obedience while enduring suffering, persecution, and ultimately crucifixion on the cross, as an atonement for the sins of the world in fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah.  Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and mankind.  He has promised to return visibly and personally for the purpose of fulfilling his redemptive promises.

In summary, God did not spare his chosen people – the Jews – for their unbelief. (Romans 11:20-21)  Why should he treat us any different?  Repentance and faith in Jesus Christ are synonymous with one another.  The Apostle Paul explained to the church elders in Ephesus that he “…declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.” (Acts 20:21 NIV)  People naturally try to seek out answers, whether trying to fill a void in their own personal lives with things of this world or by searching out and reasoning with God.  If someone is really searching for answers, God can send that person a missionary, a vision, an angel or even a Bible.  God has revealed himself through creation and his inspired, inerrant and infallible word…the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.  If we have never tried to search out God and seek his fellowship, then we are the only ones to blame because we are “...without excuse.” (Romans 1:20 NIV)

What is the importance of Jesus Christ?

Jesus Christ?  Most creator-based religions use the Bible as a source for their faith, while Christianity uses the Bible as the source for its faith.  Likewise, these religions recognize the existence of Jesus as an important religious figure.  However, there are various views on the importance of Jesus.  In the Bible, we find Jesus asking Peter the question “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15b NIV)  This same question remains today among religions – who is Jesus Christ?  The main creator-based religions are Judaism, Islam, Christianity, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Jehovah’s Witnesses and The Baha’i Faith.  Some of these religions teach Jesus Christ was a prophet, a teacher or a false messiah.  Others refer to him as the archangel.  Yet some believe Jesus is a person who became a god.  While others believe Jesus Christ is God. 

Judaism teaches that Jesus Christ was a false messiah who was merely a prophet or a teacher.  In the Old Testament, the Prophet Isaiah predicted that the messiah, or the “anointed one,” would be a descendent of King David (the son of Jesse [I Samuel 17:12]) with the words – “A shoot will come from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit…In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the people; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious.” (Isaiah 11:1, 10 NIV)  Additionally, Isaiah prophesied about a deliverer who would come from a virgin birth – “Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14 NIV).  Judaism believes this prophecy has already been fulfilled by the deliverance from the Israel-Syria coalition during the invasion of Jerusalem around 735 B.C., rather than the prophetic birth of Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 8:3-4)

Islam teaches that Jesus was a prophet who served as a Messenger of God to guide the children of Israel with a new message.  The virgin birth of Jesus is referenced in verses 16-21 of the chapter of Mary (Maryam) in the Quran.  In verses 19 and 20 of the Book of Mary, Gabriel tells Mary "I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy." and she responds with the words, "How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?"  In verse 21, Gabriel responded back with the words, "Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, 'It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us.  And it is a matter [already] decreed.'"  Further on in verse 30, Jesus speaks the following words as an infant, "Indeed, I am the servant of Allah.  He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet….”  (Quran 19:19-21, 30.  Sahih International Translation) 

Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ is God, the Son, and that there is only one true holy God of love eternally existing in three persons – God the Father, God the Son [Jesus Christ] and God the Holy Spirit.  The three persons are equal in all divine perfection with one another.  Jesus Christ is the Messiah of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the deliverer who would rescue the people from their sins.  In the Book of Genesis, after God created the earth, the concept of a triune Godhead is inferred with God’s words, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness….” (Genesis 1:26 NIV)  The Prophet Isaiah later spoke the following words of the Lord, “…I am the first and the last; apart from me there is no God.” (Isaiah 44:6 NIV)  In the Book of Matthew, Peter responds to Jesus, “You are the Christ [or Messiah], the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16 NIV)  Isaiah’s prophecy that the Messiah would be a descendent of King David is fulfilled through Jesus’ lineage. (Isaiah 11:1; Matthew 1:1, 6, 16)  Similarly, the virgin birth of Jesus Christ is considered the spiritual fulfillment of the Prophet Isaiah’s prophecy concerning a deliverer called Immanuel who would rescue the people from their sins. (Matthew 1:18, 21-22)  In the Book of Revelation, Jesus Christ equates himself to God with the words, “…I am the First and the Last.  I am the Living One….” (Revelation 1:8 NIV)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) teaches that Jesus Christ was the begotten son of God who became a god.  In the Book of Genesis, the Lord refers to the people as “the sons of God.”  (Genesis 6:2 NIV)  In the Book of John, Jesus apparently reiterated this point when he responded to the Jews with a quote from Psalms 82:6, “I have said you are gods?” (John 10:34 NIV)  According to Section 131 of the LDS book – The Doctrines and Covenants – a man must be married in the temple in order to become a god.  “In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees; And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage]; And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.”  (D&C 131:1-3)  In Section 132, the following conditions must also be met in order to become a god – “And verily I say unto you, that the conditions of this law are these: All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations…” (D&C 132:7)  Further along, verse 20 of Section 132 explains what the highest degree of heaven is for men who meet these aforementioned conditions, “Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them.” (D&C 132:20)

Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus was Jehovah God’s archangel – Michael.  According to New International Version of the Bible, Jesus is “…the firstborn over all creation.” (Colossians 1:15 NIV)  However, the New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses corrected version of the Bible) of the same verse reads, Jesus is “…the firstborn of all creation.” (Colossians 1:15 NWT)  In Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul describes how Jesus “… will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel…” (I Thessalonians 4:16 NIV)  The New World Translation has also corrected this verse to say, “…the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice….” (I Thessalonians 4: 16 NWT)  In the New Testament, Jude refers to “the archangel Michael.” (Jude 9 NIV)  In the Book of Revelation, while there was a war in heaven, “Michael [the archangel] and his angels fought against the dragon….” (Revelation 12:7 NIV)  Therefore, by deductive reasoning, Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus and the archangel Michael are synonymous with one another.  

The Baha’i Faith teaches that Jesus Christ was an important religious leader, equivalent to other leaders such as Moses, Buddha, Confucius, and the prophet Muhammad.  According to the writings of Shooghi Effendi, the Guardian and appointed head of The Bahá'í Faith from 1921 until his death in 1957, he lists Jesus Christ as one of the prophets of God with the following words:  “The divine origin of all the Prophets of God—including Jesus Christ….”  (The Promised Day is Come, p. 107, 1980 revised edition)  Baha’u’llah, the founder of The Bahi’i Faith, also wrote that God revealed himself through different persons, to include Muhammad and Jesus – “As to the matter of names, Muḥammad, Himself, declared: ‘I am Jesus.’ He recognized the truth of the signs, prophecies, and words of Jesus, and testified that they were all of God.” (Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 21, 1990 pocket-size edition)     

Overall, there are major differences among the creator-based religions concerning their answers to Jesus’ question, “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15b NIV)  The one thing all of the creator-based religions, other than Christianity, have in common is that they teach you must do good works to earn your salvation, because they believe Jesus was only a prophet, a teacher, an archangel or a man who became a god.  Conversely, the key factor that distinguishes Christianity from all other religions is everything is done out of thankfulness and gratitude to God, since it teaches salvation is a gift from God through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.  The Apostle Paul clarifies this position with the words, “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV)

How do various world religions view the Bible?

The Bible – consisting of the 66 Books of the Old and New Testaments – is an important part of various world religions.  The basic world religions are Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Christianity.  In addition, there are many offshoots of these religions, to include The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the New Age movement, The Baha’i Faith, the Church of Scientology and many other religions.  Do all religions view the Bible in the same way?  Several of these religions view the Bible, or portions thereof, as a basis for their religious tenets.  The very first verse of the Bible…Genesis 1:1… tells us God created everything.  Which religions believe that a god or a creator formed our universe?  What are the major distinctions between the various religions?

There are several religions that disregard the Bible as the Word of God, because they do not recognize the existence of a god or a creator who is separate from the creation itself?  Buddhism denies the existence of a god, since it teaches that people can become one with the universe by removing the karma from their lives.  Hinduism teaches that god is part of everything – not separate from the creation – and that people’s souls may be reincarnated into new human bodies, animals or plants.  Atheism, though not deemed a religion, denies the existence of a god (unlike Agnosticism which highly doubts there is a god).  There are also many other religions and movements which believe that god and creation are one, to include the New Age movement (a mixture of Buddhism and Hinduism), Transcendental Meditation, the Church of Scientology, Christian Science, Hare Krishna, and the Unification Church (aka, the “Moonies”).     

What are the religions that believe in a god or creator?  Judaism, Islam, Christianity, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Jehovah’s Witnesses and The Baha’i Faith all believe in the existence of a god separate from the creation.  What do these religions have in common?  Basically, they all use the Bible, or portions thereof, as a source of their faith and they believe in a god separate from the creation.  However, not all of these religions use the Bible as their key source.  Many of these religions believe that the Bible is corrupted and they use other writings as their main sources, while others believe that the Bible is inerrant and the sole source for their faith. 

What are the major differences between the religions that teach the existence of a creator and use the Bible as a source for the tenets of their religion? 

Judaism believes that only the Old Testament portion of the Bible is the inerrant inspired Word of God for their faith since they are still waiting for the Messiah to return, which they believe the New Testament teaches to the contrary. 

Islam teaches that the Bible is corrupted as they depend primarily on the teachings of the prophet Muhammad found in the Quran, although they reference the Old Testament to support the prediction of the prophet Muhammad. 

Christianity believes that the original text of the Old and New Testament portions of the Bible are the inerrant inspired Word of God and the sole source for their faith, with nothing added or taken away. 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints believes that the King James Version of the Old and New Testaments is the inspired Word of God, however, they believe the Bible is a “living document” which is superseded by the Book of Mormon with the teachings of its founder Joseph Smith, Jr. as well as any new prophecies revealed to the church by its denominational presidents. 

Jehovah’s Witnesses also use the Old and New Testament as a source of their faith, but they believe the Bible has been corrupted by improper translations and they have rewritten the Bible according to their prophetic leaders at the Watchtower Bible & Tract and called it the New World Translation of the Bible.

The Baha’i Faith teaches that the Bible must be interpreted spiritually according to the key writings of Baha’u’llah, the founder of the religion in the 1800s, who taught that god was revealed through such religious leaders as Moses, Buddha, Confucius, Jesus Christ, the prophet Muhammad and ultimately Baha’u’llah himself.    

In summary, most of the religions that are “creator” based use the Bible, or portions thereof, as a basis for the tenets of their faith.  The question remains, if God is capable of creating a universe out of nothing, would He use additional writings from men who believe that there are discrepancies found in His original, inspired Word?  Or would God reveal Himself through an inerrant, infallible text that could pass the tests of time – the Old and New Testaments of the Bible?    

What does science say about God and creation?

What difference does it make if God is the creator?  Or just part of the creation we see around us?  Or does not exist at all?  Most of us take for granted that God has created everything, but what drives us to believe this notion?  Is it faith?  Or is it common sense?  Not everyone believes this though.  There are many scientists who try to prove God does not exist.  However, the only thing science has proved is that there has to be a god who created everything. 

For starters, look at Darwin’s Theory of Evolution.  In simple terms, the theory teaches that we evolved from apes prior to evolving from lower life forms, which originated after our world was formed from massive concentrations of energy floating around the universe (the Big Bang Theory).  These theories are great explanations, but they still have information gaps nonetheless.  For example, people have always had difficulties trying to explain where all of that energy came from that has been endlessly floating around the universe, especially the concept of how that same energy has been able to exist for infinity without ever running out of usable energy.

According to the Laws of Thermodynamics, the Big Bang Theory has a flaw in that it contradicts the Second Law of Thermodynamics.  What do the Laws of Thermodynamics have to do with science?  Basically, they are proven laws of science that have maintained true through the tests of time. 

The original law, better known at the Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics, was established in the 1600’s.  Prior to this time, the measurement of heat was estimated by the touch of the finger.  This law proved that instruments, such as a thermometer, could accurately and consistently measure the amount of heat in any given object or space.  Today, we still use the thermometer as an accurate way of measuring heat.  Thus, the Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics has passed the tests of time and modern technology.

The First Law of Thermodynamics states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed.  However, energy can be transferred from one form to another (e.g., kinetic, potential, etc.).   This law has definitely passed the tests of time.  During the past century, Albert Einstein has proved this law true with his formula – "E=mc2" (Energy = Mass times the Speed of Light squared).  He also proved that you can split apart atoms and bring about nuclear fission – better known as the “atomic bomb.”

The Second Law of Thermodynamics tells us that the amount of usable energy in a closed system, such as our universe, will slowly be transferred into unusable heat.  This is why it is impossible to create a perpetual motion machine, since there will always be a small portion of usable heat that becomes transferred into unusable energy or heat causing the system to wear down.  This law has been proven by the Third Law of Thermodynamics, known as the Law of Entropy. 

In summary, if the energy floating around our solar system has always existed and never had a beginning, then why, after an infinite amount of time, does our solar system still have such vast amounts of usable energy?  The Laws of Thermodynamics prove themselves true in our universe as people continuously find innovative ways to conserve our limited resources of energy.  Deductively, science guides us to the fact that there has to be a creator involved in the creation of our universe.  Likewise, this creator would have to be separate from the creation, as well as being infinite in that the creator has no beginning or end.  The very first verse of the Bible summarizes this same concept – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1 NIV)

How should people prioritize their lives for healthy relationships?

People are always looking for ways to find peace in their lives.  There are endless books available on how to find the perfect husband, how to find financial security, how to find happiness, and so on.   A lot of people will give you different answers to happiness, be it trusting in God, having a good church home and/or being part of a family.  The question remains though – how should you prioritize your life for finding peace?  How you prioritize your life will determine a lot about your future happiness in regard to relationships, especially your relationship with God.  Prioritizing your life, according to the precepts found in the Word of God, is one of the most important things you can do to find true peace and happiness.  Thus, you will set the groundwork for establishing healthy relationships.

The most important priority is honoring God by putting Him first in every part of your life.  God spoke the Ten Commandments through Moses, to include the First Commandment – “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3 NIV)  Moses later spoke the following words of encouragement to his predecessor Joshua and the people of Israel as they prepared themselves for their journey into the Promised Land.   “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV)  Jesus Christ further reassured His disciples with the words, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:26-27 NIV)  In other words, if you place God first and follow His instructions, you will have the security of knowing that God will be by your side, helping you persevere through your lifetime of challenges as well as accomplishments.

The second most important priority is honoring God by fulfilling your family commitments.  In the Fifth Commandment to the people of Israel we find the words – “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12 NIV)  In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the believers in Colosse, he outlines the following instructions for Christian households.  “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.  Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.  Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.  Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.” (Colossian 3:18-21 NIV)  As a believer, you have an obligation to take care of your family, and your responsibilities change as you go through various stages of life.  As long as you place God first in your decision making process, your family will reap the benefits of having someone grounded in something bigger than him or herself…they will have a loved one grounded in the teachings found in the Word of God.

The third most important priority is honoring God by helping others to learn about His grace.  The words of the Fourth Commandment say, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” (Exodus 20:8 NIV)  The author of Hebrews instructs believers to continue coming together as a group of believers, or as a church, for the purpose of glorifying God. (Hebrews 10:19-25)  In the Apostle Peter’s first epistle, he leaves the following instructions on how we should live for God and help others learn about His grace, especially within a church.  “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” (I Peter 4:10)  In the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the believers in Corinth, he uses several chapters for describing how the Holy Spirit has entrusted believers with spiritual gifts for serving others. (I Corinthians 12-14)   Jesus Christ has instructed us to love our neighbors as ourselves. (Matthew 22:39)  As a believer, you should bring glory to God by utilizing your God-given individual talent(s) and spiritual gift(s) as a means of sharing your faith with others. 

In conclusion, prioritizing your life for healthy relationships coincides with you finding peace.  First and foremost, you have to take care of your individual relationship with God by placing Him first and foremost in everything.  As for a second priority, once you figure out how to prioritize your own life, you can take the Godly principles you live by as an individual and apply those same principles to better fulfilling your familial commitments.  As for the third most important priority, once you begin to understand how the Holy Spirit works through your own life and family, you can better help others learn about God’s grace by serving in a church and sharing your faith through your own personal testimony.  The Apostle Paul makes it clear that a Christian leader needs know how to manage his or her own family before taking care of other people, with the rhetorical question – “If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church? (I Timothy 3:5 NIV)   Overall, the initial step for starting healthy relationships rests with each of us, as we seek God’s will for our lives.

How should people balance their lives for healthy relationships?

Relationships are a vitally important part of society.  It seems many people are often trying to find an ideal balance in their personal lives, whiles others will compromise who they are just to attain a certain goal.  In today’s world, most people interact with others on a regular basis during the course of their routine activities.  However, when it comes to close personal relationships, there tend to be certain traits (or lack thereof) that brings friends and family together as well as push them apart at times.  What can you do to find that even balance in your life to help ensure healthy relationships with others?  Below, you will find three areas of your life that are essential for making you a better person as well as have better relationships with others.  In like manner, you will need to find an even balance between these three areas in order to find a true peace within yourself.

For starters, you must make God the center of your life.  Otherwise, you may be setting yourself up for a disaster.  Without God as your firm foundation, where do you find stability in your life?  By being dependent on others?  Following the current trends?  In the New Testament, we find James describing how confused people can be when they are not grounded in the Word of God.  To describe this confusion, James uses the analogy of a man looking into a mirror who immediately forgets what he looks like after stepping away. (James 1:23-24)  The Apostle Paul also describes confused believers as individuals who are “…tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.” (Ephesians 4:14 NIV)  In the Book of Proverbs, King Solomon does a great job at explaining how you should make God the center of your life.  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV) 

The second thing you need to do is find a well-suited niche and/or occupation where you can become a functional part of your community.  Otherwise, you may become co-dependent on others.  Throughout the Word of God, we find that people were generally an active part of their communities…be it tradesmen, farmers, wives, and so on.  Of course there were others who were less fortunate such as the widow, the fatherless, the alien, and the poor. (Zechariah 7:10)  In the Apostle Paul’s letter to Timothy, he gave certain provisions for believers to provide for their relatives who are truly in need, in order that the church can help those who are truly in need. (I Timothy 5:16)  On the contrary, the Apostle Paul gave a harsh warning against idleness in his letter to the church of the Thessalonians.  “We hear that some among you are idle.  They are not busy; they are busybodies.  Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.” (II Thessalonians 3:11-12 NIV)  In other words, you need to take an active role within your community, whether you are working in an occupation or profession, being a “stay-at-home” parent, dedicating your time to taking care of a loved one, going to school or just plain enjoying your childhood or retirement.

The third thing you need to do is take time for yourself, otherwise, you may self-destruct.  Jesus Christ often withdrew himself from the crowds and went to quiet places and prayed. (Luke 5:16)  The author of Ecclesiastes tells us not to forget the rewards of our work and labors with these words.  “I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.  That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil – this is the gift of God.” (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 NIV)  Your life does not revolve around just working and/ or serving others, but it also entails taking care of yourself.  Essentially, you need to have hobbies and/ or interests that you take the time to enjoy, regardless if your friends or family members take any pleasure in them.  Your own personal hobbies and/ or interests are what make you unique…they make who you are as a person.  Conversely, losing your individuality and a sense of being who you are could easily lead to many personal problems, such as depending on other things or people for happiness and/ or disconnecting from others.  Therefore, remember to relax and take the time to do things you enjoy in helping ensure you maintain your sanity.   

In closing, remember to keep an even balance in your life for your own benefit as well as others within your sphere of influence.  The three key areas that require equilibrium with one another are having God as an integral part of your life, finding a niche where you can be a functional part of your community and taking time for yourself.  Embrace the things that make you unique as a person.  Similarly, maintain your integrity, and avoid compromising your character, by remaining grounded in the Word of God.  Once you find that even balance in your own life, you can have healthier relationships and friendships with others by ensuring you have a well-balanced life that brings out your own unique qualities as well as emulates God’s peace.

How do spiritual gifts and individual talents relate to the position of a pastor?

Spiritual gifts and individual talents are sometimes downplayed as being of secondary importance when it comes to the selection of a pastor.  Just read many pastoral job descriptions and you will find that the requirement of a college degree often trumps many of the other prerequisites, to include spiritual gifts and individual talents.  Many times the college degree does not even need to be related to the church or the ministry…just a degree is needed.  What could be the reason behind this?  For starters, churches normally want competent leaders and a college degree can be easily quantified.  On the contrary, spiritual gifts and individual talents as well a person’s character are more difficult to measure.  What kind of messages do many churches send to the world by requiring secular standards for a religiously-oriented vocation?  Is the ministry limited to white-collar workers?  Should blue-collar workers not even bother applying?  So what importance does the role of spiritual gifts and individual talents play in the selection of pastors and church leaders?   

What are spiritual gifts and individual talents?  Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit baptizes a new believer at the point when he or she acknowledges Jesus Christ as his or her personal Lord and Savior.  When the Holy Spirit baptizes the new believer, commonly known as the baptism of the Holy Spirit, He uniquely gives to each believer a spiritual gift or gifts for the common good of the overall church. (Matthew 3:1-2, 11; I Corinthians 12:3-7)  In similar manner, people are born with individual talents, or skills, that they normally use for the betterment of society.  As people grow older and are given opportunities to try new things, they will normally gravitate toward certain hobbies, professions and/or interests where their natural-born skills can be applied in a constructive manner.  Often times, people seek out mentors who help them find their God-given talents as well as their niche in life.  As a result, we should have a much better world full of people who are passionate about doing things they love, be it working in a trade/profession, raising a family, helping others or some other contribution to society.   

How do spiritual gifts relate to pastors and church leaders?  In the Apostle Paul’s instructions to Timothy, the overall theme for an overseer’s qualifications focuses on a person’s character being above reproach.  In addition, the text indicates that the overseer should possess the spiritual gifts of shepherding, teaching, and leadership. (I Timothy 3:1-5) What is the importance of a pastor possessing all or part of these spiritual gifts?  The spiritual gift of shepherding, or guiding others, is when the Holy Spirit guides a believer to watch over the spiritual welfare of others and bring them into fellowship with one another.  (Ephesian 4:11)  The spiritual gift of teaching, or instructing, is when the Holy Spirit guides a believer to help others learn about the Word of God and applying it to their lives. (Romans 12:7; I Corinthians 12:28-29; Ephesians 4:11)  The spiritual gift of leadership, or governments, is when the Holy Spirit guides a believer to diligently guide others and/or an organization by perseverance and adherence to the Word of God. (Romans 12:8; I Corinthians 12:28)  In other words, spiritual gifts have nothing do with anything we can accomplish our own (e.g., training, schools), but rather the Holy Spirit empowering our lives as vessels of God’s work. 

How do individual talents relate to pastors and church leaders?  Basically, individual talents can be used in conjunction with spiritual gifts.  Take for example, God chose David while he was a youth tending sheep and the Spirit of the Lord empowered him in applying his skills (or talents) for becoming the king of Israel.  (I Samuel 16:1, 10-13)  In the New Testament, Jesus Christ chose two fishermen – Peter and Andrew – and used their fishing skills with the words, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19 NIV)  The same applies today, someone may have natural carpentry skills and God may empower that person with the spiritual gift of apostleship, or being an ambassador, for the purpose of spreading and relating the message of the gospel to individuals in different areas of the world.  As a result, the person may decide to be a missionary carpenter building churches, hospitals, or like manner in another region of the world.  Apply this same scenario to the function of leading a church and you will find an unlimited number of ways God can empower pastors with spiritual gifts via their individual talents, be it God-given natural talents and/or learned trades/skills.  

In summary, one of the primary goals of the church is teaching people how God can change lives through the power of the Holy Spirit.  In keeping aligned with this premise, we need to remember the importance of the example that the pastor sets for the congregation, in that the qualifications of the pastor tend to set the precedence for various supporting roles within the church.  Therefore, we should avoid pigeonholing people based off their occupations, especially whether they are white-collar or blue-collar workers.  Look at how the people in the synagogue judged Jesus Christ’s wisdom, referring to Him as a blue-collar worker – “What’s this wisdom that has been given him…Isn’t this the carpenter?” (Mark 6:2-3 NIV)  Instead, we should try following the standards that God spoke through the Prophet Samuel concerning King David.  “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7 NIV)

How does church governance impact the choice of a pastor?

One of the commonly overlooked aspects for hiring a pastor is the impact a church governance style can have on the hiring process.  Just take a look around at the churches within our communities and country.  Some churches have lifelong pastors while others seem to have a different pastor every few years.  In churches with a hierarchical system, the same situation often occurs as some overseers are appointed and/or hired into lifelong positions while others serve only for a set period of time.  So how does church governance impact the choice of a pastor as well as the potential candidates who may apply for the position?  What are the likely scenarios when you apply the pastor selection process to the three major church governances, be it the papal, presbyterian or congregational style?  Basically, whose vested interest is at stake – the church, the pastor, or both?  Additionally, how does this impact the overall direction of the church?

In regard to the papal system, the pastors and/or church leaders often fall into two different categories, depending on whether the church is completely independent or part of a hierarchical body.  In regard to the independent church model, many of the pastors and/or senior pastors of these churches are the actual founders of the church, or the predecessors who have been appointed by the original church founders.  Many of these individuals attain the pastoral positions as a result of the merits of their efforts applied in initially founding and establishing the churches.  Likewise, pastors selected and/or appointed into a hierarchical system often follow the same pattern of progression for attaining their respective leadership positions.  Overall, one of the major drawbacks to the papal system is the reality that some church pastors and leaders may be susceptible to the temptation of choosing future leaders based off their own personal agendas, rather than God’s will.  Conversely, pastoral leaders in a papal system often have a long-term vested interest in their respective local churches, which provides leadership stability for the congregants.  Furthermore, the church leaders have the freedom to cast long-term Biblical visions for their respective churches, without the impending fear of being dismissed or removed from their pastoral position by a disgruntled board member or group of board members. 

Concerning the presbyterian system, pastors and church leaders are often appointed and/or hired by a presbytery or group of church elders.  The great thing about the presbyterian system is that the group of elders usually consists of well-rounded believers who have a concerted interest in safeguarding the direction of their respective churches, especially from local perspectives.  In similar manner, many pastoral candidates may appreciate the opportunity to discuss a church’s long-term vision with a core group of elders, rather than the whole congregation, in order to prevent disruption within the church.  On the contrary, many churches may be limiting themselves by trying to choose “perfect candidates” from outside the congregation through the prism of their church elders’ religious views, instead of waiting for the Holy Spirit to work in the lives of possible future leaders from within their churches.  Likewise, many pastoral leaders may find themselves compromised when they try to cast long-term visions for their congregations, since the long-term fate of their pastoral positions lies with the very group of elders who appointed and/or hired them.

As for the congregational system, pastor candidates are often selected by a pastor hiring board and the congregation later comes together to cast their individual votes for approving/ disapproving the selected candidate.  On the surface, the congregational system seems to allow for everyone to get their vote on who they prefer to lead their church.  However, the reality of the matter is that most church members only get to vote during the final selection process of the pastor, not the entire selection process.  On the positive note, church members have the opportunity to participate in decisions concerning the welfare and direction of the church. Ideally, as a result of every member being allowed to vote on church matters, the vested interests of the congregation should remain preserved.  Realistically, many congregational-style churches have encountered the opposite results – church splits.  What happens to hired pastors in these scenarios?  Unfortunately, some church members may potentially fall into the trap of choosing a pastor who teaches what the congregation wants to hear, rather than a pastor who teaches what the congregation should hear.       

In conclusion, church governances can have broad impacts on the type of individuals churches choose for its pastors, be it lifelong pastors for their congregations or different pastors every few years.  What message are our churches sending to our communities?  Do pastors represent the short-term, disposable needs of our churches or do pastors play an integral part in the long-term vision of our churches?  We need to take heed to the Apostle Paul’s words to Timothy – “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” (II Timothy 4:3 NIV)