Why Church Tradition Eventually Fails Us

It was a sad day in the spiritual history of Israel when they rejected God’s rule over them through the priesthood, and chose to have a king over them like other nations. In one way it appeared to be the inevitable result, necessitated through corruption in the priesthood, and as early as the prophet Moses we find instructions for Israel when this time came, for such a king was not to be a stranger, nor should he attempt to take Israel back to Egypt, nor multiply wives to himself, but was to copy out the law by hand and be careful to obey it. (Deut. 17:14-20.) Though it was not God’s direct will for them to have a king like other nations, yet He warned them that they should seek His choice of a man to rule them. It all sounds very contradictory, but on the contrary was rather very gracious.

Human selection

That it was not God’s direct will for them to have a human ruler is clearly revealed in what God said to Samuel, ‘they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me, and I should not reign over them’. What does all this mean? While there was a Moses, or a Joshua, God was able to reign over His people, and the men remained untitled and fully subject to God’s revelation and will, which was then carried out in the nation. Neither Moses nor Joshua had any titled position: both had an anointed ministry. But Israel rebelled against an unanointed priesthood, for there was no deliverance. The next best thing was a king, but he still needed to be God’s man. He still needed God’s power and direction, but he was KING over the nation - instead of God!

Then we come to the church period. Christ Himself is Head of the church, our Great High Priest, and our King. What did He leave behind Him? He gave gifts to the church, raising up, or setting ministries in the church, through which He Himself reigned over His people. None of the apostles bore a title, but were anointed men, and for a period we see the brilliant light visible in the church, as Christ Himself reigned among and ruled over His people through these anointed ministries.

But alas, what happened? The power of the anointing began to disappear. Church leaders would no longer seek God for anointed ministries of the Holy Spirit. As with Israel, leaders, or potential leaders, would no longer pay the spiritual price involved in being dominated by the Holy One. The result? ‘Kings’ began to appear. Instead of Christians operating a priestly ministry, ‘priests’ were appointed, or elected. These men were given the authority which the Book accords to Jesus only. Human selection replaced divine appointment, and organization replaced the Holy Spirit. This has been the greatest of church tragedies.

Even in these 20th century days, when we claim to possess so much divine revelation, the position persists, even in the most ‘free’ denominations. Instead of allowing these ministries to function, we have elected kings over us, to rule us, and seem to love to have it so. Oh yes, we pray about their selection, but they are nevertheless kings, because we, His body, the church, continue to fail to pay the price of seeing these ministries raised among us.

Divine appointment

In Eph. 4:11, five ministries are mentioned. In I Cor. 12:28-30, a further six are added to the list. Some of them can be seen to function spasmodically as manifestations (I Cor. 12:8-10), but what we need is the settled ministry. The purpose? ‘For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ ...’ It was our Lord Jesus who said, ‘I will build MY CHURCH; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’ The only One who can say, ‘My church’, will do the building Himself! How does He do it? Through anointed ministries!

But what have we done? Instead of paying the spiritual price involved, that these ministries may be ‘set’ amongst us by the Head of the church, we have elected kings over us. When God gives a man a pastoral ministry, we almost throttle that ministry by lifting him up into a position of rulership, and call him ‘The Pastor’. Mind you, that is only the humblest title ever given. There are much more sophisticated titles available! Oh brethren, we wait for the abdications to begin! But can this be expected before we are willing to pay the price of seeing God raise anointed ministries amongst us?

How the flock need the ministry of the bishop, or overseer. But what have we done? We have made Bishops and even Archbishops over us, with kingly authority. The greatest qualification of an Apostle was to become the very off-scouring of the world, so be complete with patience in tribulation, and to produce signs, wonders and mighty deeds. How we need this ministry today. But some make apostles with unbearable authority of rulership. This did not the Lord! He wanted deacons to take care of administration, and elders who would give themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word. How miserably far we have strayed from His gracious will and faultless plan.

What shall we say to these things? To form a new denomination would be ludicrous. To have the local church, endowed with ministries which the Head of the church has set therein, is vital. Abdications of positions are called for, but not until we see the true ministries emerge. Shall we seek the Head of the church about this? Why do we tarry? Let those who have the vision see it through in prayer.