CHURCH GOVERNMENT
OUR CHRISTIAN RESPONSE TO GOVERNMENTS
God appoints rulers: Throughout history, God appointed rulers, even tyrants and dictators, to work out His purposes through them. Daniel told the emperor Nebuchadnezzar that God gives it to whomever He will and sets up over it the lowest of men.” (Daniel 4:17, 25, 32).
We are not to criticize our leaders: “Don’t even think about cursing the king; don’t curse the rich, not even in secret. A little bird might hear and tell everything” (Eccl. 10:20).
“Everyone must submit to the governing authorities: For there is no authority except that which is from God. Pay taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due” (Romans 13:1-7). Of course, this is to be done within biblically permissible limits, some are negotiable while others like idolatry are not.
We must pray for our rulers and for those in authority: That they come to the knowledge of the truth (Yeshua) and be saved. In this way we will live in peace, and what is more, God likes it when we pray for wisdom, understanding, justice and their salvation (1 Tim. 2:1-4).
“God will set up an eternal kingdom: “The kingdom shall not be left to other people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all other kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” God will not allow non-believers to rule over His people (Dan. 2:44).
Saints will reign on earth: Soon, “The kingdoms of this world will become Kingdom of our Lord (Rev. 11:15). “The Law shall go forth from Zion” (Isa. 2:1-5). “The kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the saints of the Most High: His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him” (Dan. 7:18, 27).
Who are these saints who will reign on earth? Those who have been bought by the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 5:9,10) and made a covenant with God (soul savers), who offer sacrifices of repentant hearts, and thus have their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (Psa. 50:5; 51:17; Luke 10:20).
LEADERSHIP IN URGENT NEED OF CHANGE
All the mission agencies should be indicted with criminal charges for sending half-baked missionaries with bookish knowledge culture but without embedding the DNA of the Book of Acts discipling skills culture into them. This resulted in knowledge-based clergy took preeminence over skills-based field workers. Not surprisingly the missions failed throughout the world. Now that the process is being reversed by the house Ekklesia movement, we can see the global spiritual tapestry rapidly changing.
Yeshua practiced what he preached. Though he was Lord and Master, he completely overturned the leadership pyramid “bottom up” by washing His disciples’ feet. He replaced “top down” with an organic, relational, flat structure. Servant leadership serves others, so that they can pursue and fulfill their God given vision, calling and purpose. The stronger the “organizational culture” in a church, the less its creativity. The stronger the culture of the “Book of Acts” in the Ekklesia, the faster the Kingdom grows and multiplies. Yeshua releases people from the spirit of control.
NO BOARD OF GOVERNORS
There were no committees in the early Ekklesia, no presidents, chairmen or secretaries set over assemblies. Here dominant people like Diotrephes, love to have preeminence among ordinary believers (1John 1:9). The thief came so that we might have committees and have them abundantly, because that is the surest way to destroy the church (John 10:10). If Moses had had committees, the Jews would still be arguing in the wilderness. Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, advised him to appoint leaders over ten, fifty, one hundred and a thousand people. It was a good system, but it was a manmade system (Exo. 18:13-22; Deut. 1:9-18). Yeshua gives to His Ekklesia gifted mentors: apostles, prophets, teachers, shepherds, and evangelists (Eph. 4:11). He also gives gifted administrators who are meant to be helpers, not officials (1 Cor. 12:28). Sadly, we have replaced all of these with a multitude of committees who lord it over the gifted elders. We need to get back to the original form and function to regain our lost glory (Hag. 2:9).
THE KITCHEN EKKLESIA
Today, 80 percent of all house Ekklesias in the 10/40 Window are being planted by ordinary housewives. In the early Ekklesia, there were no youth groups, men and women’s fellowships, Sunday schools for children, etc. They also did not need a worship or building committee. Believers met as families; worship and teaching took place along with women cooking food and children playing. Once, while Yeshua was teaching, Martha was cooking and interrupted Him. This is the beauty of the house Ekklesia; it gives freedom to everyone to participate actively (Luke 10:38-42). This would be difficult to imagine happening in our westernized, highly organized, sanitized, program- based churches. Thank God who has orchestrated the release of captives from the pews which are now lying empty. Yeshua commanded us to be His witnesses, which can be done even while cooking food in a kitchen. A formal church service is the last place where one could witness to anybody. In any case, those who need witnessing do not attend such “services” (Acts 1:8). Thank God that due to Corona pandemic, netizens can engage in solid teaching and meaningful fellowship, interacting with each other across the globe while wearing pajamas and sipping coffee.
WITNESSING HAS AT LEAST FOUR COMPONENTS
- Who or what you were your before?
- How had you encountered Yeshua?
- How were you transformed by this encounter?
- How many souls have been transformed because of your transformation?
Yeshua was focused on individuals, like love your neighbor (not the neighborhood), heaven rejoices when one soul is saved (Luke 15:7,10), but also on Households (Zacchaeus - Luke 19:1-10); communities (Samaritans - John 4) and making disciples of all nations - Matt. 28:19).
NO PROFESSIONAL PRIEST, RATHER PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS
When Yeshua died on the cross, the spirit of God left the temple, leaving it “Ichabod”, desolate (Luke 13:34-35), and the hereditary priesthood came to end. Nevertheless, ornate buildings, imposing ceremonies, clergy, liturgy, multi-colored gowns, holy altars, religious music, have all made a comeback. This is even though the curtain has been torn and believers now have direct access to God. Since the professional priesthood ended, it is unscriptural to treat salaried leaders as dignitaries, calling them pastors, fathers, padres, reverends, bishops etc. “for we are all brethren” (Isa. 42:8; Matt. 23:8). There is no provision for a special priesthood within the priesthood of all believers, and certainly no room for salaried positions and dignitaries. We are all to be co-laborers (2 Cor. 6:1; 10:17-18).
BIG CHURCHES ATTRACT BIG DEMONS
Religion is a set of dogmas, rituals and traditions created by men. Yeshua was angry with the Pharisees for holding on to the traditions of men over the commandments of God; “Making the Word of God of no effect through your tradition” (Mark 7:6-9; 13). Paul rebuked, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?” Even if we or an angel from Heaven preach another gospel beside what we preached to you, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8; 3:1).“ The Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Tim. 4:1-2).
Some statistics show that carnal sins are no less prevalent in the church today than in the secular world. “Lucifer has transformed himself into an angel of light and has a vast army of ministers who masquerade as ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works” (2 Cor. 11:14-15). God treats all such sins very seriously, as He did with Nadab and Abihu who tried to change the pattern and died instantly in the Holy Place in the Temple (Lev. 10-3). Hence, the urgency to removal of these sins as a part of good governance. Any procrastination in acting comes from cowardice, and cowards will not make it to heaven (Matt. 16:2123; 2 Cor. 11:14-15; Rev. 21:8).
MEGA CHURCHES PERPETUATE MEGA HERESIES
Mega churches like the multi-national companies hog all the hype and the cash but they hardly cater to even one percent of the market share in developing countries. Whereas small churches like the petty businesses, especially in the rural areas cater to the ninety nine percent of the population. American Mega churches (200030,000 attendees) are baby churches compared to the Giga churches - William Kumuyi’s church in Lagos Nigeria has 120,000; Cesar Castellano’s church in Philippines which has 250,000; Satish Kumars 300,000 in a Calvary Temple in Hyderabad India and David Yongi cho’s church in South Korea has 750,000 members.
There are many more who claim to be the fastest growing churches. All of them depend on little house groups for recruiting membership. These are baby churches compared to the exploding mega web of house Ekklesias in their countries.
Satish Kumar’s mega church has now been converted into a 500 bedded Covid facility. Christians are providing not only free treatment including medications, oxygen and even food etc, but also sharing the gospel. This is now a truly holistic church catering to body, mind and spirt of the hurting people.
Some fear that small Ekklesias will go off track and teach heresies, and this is a valid concern (Titus 1:10-11). However, history tells us otherwise. All major heresies came from large, organized churches, and the Catholic Church, remains the prime example. They do not allow open dialogue whereas house Ekklesias, with their open format, search the Scriptures and implement the truth. Tragically, the personality-driven mega churches remain shackled to extra-biblical heresies. Big or small, the greatest need of the churches is openness and transparency to expose their fallen nature, and then recalibrate to get back on course. In God’s economy, He has sent the Pandemic to shut down the elephantine churches while the little Ekklesias continue to breed like the rabbit.
ONLY ‘SONS OF THE SOIL’ CAN HIRE AND FIRE
There is no provision in the Scriptures for “remote control” government. All decision making should remain in the hands of the locals.
In the NT, elders with different designations, such as bishop (overseer), deacons and brethren administered the local Ekklesia. None of them was a dignitary, for each labored along with the other saints. If anything, the saints ranked higher than the bishops (Phil. 1:1), who were merely caretakers of the flock (Acts 20:28). There is no comparison between the past and the present ecclesiastical structure of the church. In the past none was a hired worker while today almost all work for filthy lucre (1 Pet. 5:2). The criteria for their hiring and firing and for their functions are well defined in the Scriptures (Titus 1:5-9; 1 Tim. 3:1-15; 1 Pet. 5:1-5). Initially, a new Ekklesia can function without elders who can be appointed later (Acts 14:23; Tit. 1:5).
ONLY THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN ORDAIN
The present-day practice of “ordination” should be removed from the church vocabulary, for it smacks of superior ecclesiastical order and command authority. It grants malignant power to lord it over others, creating a clergy-laity divide that is foreign to the NT. Better terms include “choosing” “appointing,” “selecting,” or “identifying.” Such “naming” constitutes a covenant with Yeshua to “bring forth fruit that remains (reproduces)” (John 15:16). It has nothing to do with academic tags or with becoming a reverend. It is the prerogative of Yeshua, the head of the Ekklesia, to appoint and to lead every part of the body directly, not through an intermediary (1 Cor. 12:7, 11, 18, 27).
In a natural body, there are billions of cells, which are directly connected to the head. Only cancer cells do not obey, and ultimately kill the whole body. Every believer is directly connected to Yeshua, the head of the church, receiving instructions from Him, and is directly accountable to Him. A church dignitary who ordains, usurps the authority of Yeshua who clearly says, “You have not chosen Me but I have chosen you and ‘ordained’ (KJV) (appointed) you” (John 15:16). The Greek word “tithemi” for ordination, means “to place in a humble, horizontal position” for service. This is in complete contrast to ordination conferred by dignitaries, which elevates elite clergy whilst demeaning laymen.
PAUL’S CONSECRATION
It is true that Paul and Titus also appointed elders in the Ekklesias (Acts 14:23; Tit. 1:5), but this was not in an ecclesiastical or hierarchical sense. Paul uses the Greek word cheirotoneō, which means “raising or stretching of hands” in agreement for identifying someone assigned a responsibility. Later, Paul and Barnabas themselves were identified by the Holy Spirit to become missionaries, and the Ekklesia of Antioch laid their hands on them to consecrate them (Acts 13:1-3). Later, Peter and others stretched forth the right hand of fellowship to Paul and Barnabas for ministry among the Gentiles and the poor, the very thing that Paul wanted to do (Gal. 2:9-10). Dedication, identification, selection, appointment, etc., are variations on the same theme. Being elevated into the holy orders of the church to advance the kingdom of God among the lost is an exercise in futility.
Thus, ordination based on academic qualification is unscriptural. Ordination and appointment in the NT are almost always related to the apostolic ministry of “being sent”, just like Paul and Barnabas were consecrated and sent by the Ekklesia of Antioch. It has nothing to do with the salaried stationary post of a pastor (John 15:16; Acts 13:3). Yeshua, the owner of heaven and earth, is our chooser, appointer and sender (John 17:18; 20:21).
CHURCH DISCIPLINE
The church has no power to legislate (that is, make new laws), for she can only administer the laws found in the Scriptures. Sadly, history tells us otherwise. The church today is full of unscriptural laws and rules that we must jettison. The principle behind all discipline is to restore erring believers back into fellowship. “If your brother sins against you, rebuke him and if he repents, forgive him. Moreover, if he sins against you seven times in a day, and returns to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him” (Luke 17:34). Remind an offender that if he has something against anyone, then he should first be reconciled to him, then only his offering will be accepted (Matt 5:23-24).
However, if he is a gross offender and refuses to repent, then the Ekklesia as a whole, not an individual, should take the extreme step of delivering his body to the Devil for destruction, praying for the salvation of his spirit. To avoiding an unpleasant situation by leaving it in the hands of God, is dereliction of duty. Associating with such a person is misplaced sympathy (1 Cor. 5:5-13).
CHARACTER ASSASSINATION IS MURDER MOST FOUL
The worst form persecution in the modern church is character assassination, which is equivalent to lies and murder (1 John 3:15; 4:20). Never make an accusation against an elder without two others who have witnessed his offense (1 Tim. 5:19). Because all humans have been created in the image of the living God, no dominion has been given to any man over another. We must not boss it over others, nor must we exploit others. God gave us dominion only over the animal and natural world, including demons (Lev. 25:17; Gen. 1:26-28; Eph. 4:25-32; Luke 9:1; 10:17).
Yeshua came under the authority of God (John 20:21), just as a centurion was a man under authority. We, too, operate under the authority of Yeshua, so must submit to each other (Matt. 8:9; James 4:7-11; Eph. 5:21). The entire Ekklesia is authorized to act. In the OT, whenever the community stoned the guilty, his accuser had to cast the first stone (1 Cor. 5:4-5; Josh. 7:24-26; Deut. 17:7; John 8:7).
EKKLESIA HAS A GOVERNMENTAL ROLE
There are lawful and unlawful governments in the world where truth is manipulated, and justice can be bought or fought through clever and expensive lawyers. The poor cannot afford justice either way. Every member of the Ekklesia has a governmental role. It is not the same as a secular government ruler who wields the sword but by serving the people (Rom. 13:4).
The Ekklesia is a household of God with fathers, mothers, children, uncles, aunties, grand-parents and so on. Each one has a different role. The Father is a provider as well as disciplinarian, the mother is a homemaker who sets the ground rules, while older children supervise younger ones, and the grandparents act as models. Similarly, in the Ekklesia, which is the Household of God, each member has a governmental role and together wherever we make disciples and plant Ekklesias, we reign on earth (Rom. 5:17).
Yeshua shed His blood to make us kings and priests to reign on earth, while we are still living and not after we are dead and gone (Rev. 1:6; 5:10). As His royal priests we serve the King of kings (1 Pet. 2:9). His righteous kingdom brings love, joy, peace, prosperity and justice for all. The Ekklesia is an assembly of kings who serve their nation as viceroys of the King of kings (Isa. 9:6-7; Dan. 2:44; 7:27).
The Jews rejected Yeshua as Messiah so, “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit” (Matthew 21:43). “Reign” (mālak), that is, to be and exercise functions of a monarch.” Not all Christians but only those who produce fruit worthy of the Kingdom shall reign in eternity with Christ.
Isaiah prophesied, “Unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulders… and of the increase of His government there shall be no end.” Yeshua is the head of the Ekklesia, and He is seated in heaven. We are His body here on earth. We are His hands, legs and shoulders. Thus, the government is upon us. He has bestowed on each one of us a kingdom (Luke 22:29).
The Lord has even appointed the territories of our kingdom, be it our city or nation (Acts 17:24-26). Since we are territorial creatures, we must first expel the territorial spirits that illegally inhabit our domains. If we make good use of our God given talents, He will say, “Well done good servant. Because you have been faithful in very little, have authority over ten cities” (Luke 19:17). Failure to recognize our kingly role has resulted in the Devil usurping entire governments, local, national, secular or otherwise.
Yeshua cannot rule as King of kings unless we function as kings. If we do not function as kings and establish Godly governance, then we are dummies and the Devil will happily take over and establish his evil kingdom. As viceroys of the King, we must colonize kingdoms usurped by the Devil and turn them into kingdoms of our Lord (Luke 22:25-30).
WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD WITH DELEGATED AUTHORITY
We have been praying for the past two thousand years, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” but we have done little to bring His kingdom here on earth. It is time we took our kingly role seriously. Although there were under authority, Joseph, Daniel, Esther, Mordecai, Nehemiah and others were de facto rulers. We are kings, so unless especially called to do so, we do not have to take part in political elections, for we can reign through intercession, prophetic proclamation, disciple making and apostolic Ekklesia planting.
The Lord has promised, “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then from heaven I will hear their prayer and forgive their sins and heal their land”. God promised this to Solomon only after he had offered 22,000 bulls and 120,000 sheep as sacrifices (2 Chron. 7:5, 12, 14). We can change any nation by intercession whilst standing in the gap (1 Tim. 2:1-4; Ezek. 22:30). But as servant kings, we must first offer myriads of all those lost sheep (Acts 21:20; Col. 1:26-27).
As kings with delegated authority from the Lord Himself, we are to reconcile the entire creation (2 Cor. 5:17-20). “The whole creation is travailing for the manifestation of the sons of God” (Rom. 8:19). We must restore of our heavenly Father’s creation. We should participate in environmental, eco-friendly, Greenpeace-style, tree planting movements etc. The goal of the Ekklesia is not to rule by commanding but by serving others. We must put an end to all demonic rule, authority and power, by releasing humans out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once we have finished that task, then Yeshua will deliver the kingdom to God the Father (1 Cor. 15:24-25).
THE CHOICE MAY PROVE COSTLY
Bondage to traditions can prove so oppressive that many are unable to step out of the box for fear of vilification, reprisal, ostracism from the community and the possibility of the church refusing to marry and bury them. Unless you make the right decision, Yeshua says, “You leave aside the commandments of God and hold the traditions of men.” He further said, “He who loves Me will keep My commandments” (Mark 7:6-7; John 14:21- 24). When confronted with the problem of whether to obey the temple authorities or to obey God, Peter and the other disciples clearly opted for the commandments of God (Acts 4:18-20). Messianic Jews in the Jerusalem Ekklesia had to suffer severe persecution at the hands of family, friends and other Jews.
ISRAEL MADE A WRONG CHOICE AND PERISHED
Ten out of twelve spies sent by Moses made the wrong choice, opting for short term security, and perished in the wilderness. Only Caleb and Joshua bravely stood up for the truth and crossed the Jordan and possess the land. Jews felt secure in the temple, and their rituals while despising Gentiles. However, God rejected the temple, the Sabbath, the rituals and finally many Jews themselves, appointing Gentiles to inherit the kingdom. We also may feel secure within the four walls of our church, but this is a false sense of security. The right decision may result in your humiliation and persecution, but we ought to persist, for “he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin” (1 Pet. 4:1).
EMERGING TRANSHUMAN AGENDA
With millions of hypersexualized young people suffering from gender dysphoria, and others implanting microchips in their hands (sign of 666), the agents of Anti-Christ are busy trying to merge our physical, digital and biological identities. Biotechnology and AI are redefining what it means to be human. This will also change who we are. It will affect our identity and all the issues associated with being in the image and likeness of God. It is rooted in the belief that humans can be enhanced by the masculinizing and feminizing procedures, hormonal therapy, genetic engineering and information technology of today, as well as anticipated advances, such as bioengineering, molecular nanotechnology and AI. The result will be an enhanced or augmented super Homo sapiens, but still human. They are hoping to have virtual bodies with digital immortality. However, contrary to all these, many are going into depression and committing suicide. (Rev. 13:18)
Where is the world going from here? “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” We know that the leaders of the world continue to plot and plan, but in the end, it is God’s will that will prevail (Proverbs 19:21).
TIME TO DEMOLISH UNGODLY STRUCTURES
Yeshua came to destroy the works of the Devil (1John 3:8). He and His disciples systematically violated manmade Jewish laws (Acts 4:5-13) in synagogues (Luke 13:14-17) and in the temple (Matt. 24:1-3). God touched the lips of the young prophet Jeremiah with fire, to boldly demolish ungodly structures. The young Ekklesia in Jerusalem boldly disowned Jewish traditions offensive to Gentiles (Acts 15:1-21). Equally Gentiles suffered untold misery when they gave up their families, community, culture and religion (Col. 3:5). In the same way, saints must debunk manmade traditions and structures that hinder the salvation of perishing souls. We need people with Jeremiah’s courage who will boldly uproot, demolish and tear down ungodly structures, building NT “models of hope”. But be realistic and expect brickbats instead of bouquets (Jer. 1:5-10).
SAINTS SHALL REIGN ON EARTH
From the beginning God designed men and woman to “be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth, subdue it and have dominion over it” (Genesis 1:28). God blessed Abraham, promising “Your descendants will possess the gate of the enemy” (Gen. 22:17-18). Yeshua said “I am the vine, and you are the branches” (John 15:5). The Spider Vine throws out roots in the soil every so often, which sprout up and nourish new branches. The vine keeps growing even when cut and transplanted elsewhere. Yeshua shed His blood and appointed us as priests and kings to reign on earth (Rev. 5:10). As His saints, God has given each one of us a domain to throw down spiritual roots and multiply His kingdom. We need to have the audacity to claim like Paul, “I have fully preached the gospel with mighty signs from Jerusalem to Illyricum (Macedonia) and there are no more places left here to preach” (Rom. 15:19).
Satan knows that his time is short and so is working overtime to destroy as many souls as he can while he can. The man-made church does nothing significant during the week to rescue lost souls and takes a weekly rest. In reality, it is the people of God who should be working overtime, all day and every day, to save as many perishing souls as they can, while they can. Thus, preparing Planet Earth for Yeshua’s return to establish His righteous kingdom (Rev. 12:12; Psa. 2:8; Rev. 21:3).
FRUIT-BEARING WORSHIP
Offering up repentant souls whilst praising and praying “to the Lord of harvest” makes dynamic worship, guaranteed to bring in a mega harvest and the healing of the nations. God says, “My house is house of sacrifice,” and Yeshua says, “My house a house of prayer for all nations.” Our patriarchs worshipped God by offering sacrifices. Moses told Pharaoh over ten times that Israel needed to go out and worship God by offering sacrifices. Peter said, “Like living stones, you are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Paul says that as a priest of Yeshua, his ministry is to offer Gentiles as living sacrifices. As Royal Priests we are to add lost souls to our songs and prayers as spiritual sacrifices, to make our worship ‘in spirit and in truth’ (2 Chron. 7:12; Mark 11:17; Exo. 8:22-25; Rom. 15:16; 1 Pet. 2:5, 9).
GEMS:
- While the world is cracking up, it is tragic to see the world’s sole superpower (Eph. 1:20-23), the church’s apathy and silence following outrageous events taking place all around. She seems totally paralyzed, unequipped and uncaring about the fellow pilgrims on the road to the coming apocalyptic catastrophe. Instead of hiding her head in the sand like an Ostrich, she should be mounting credible counterattack against the reign of terror, violence, corruption, exploitation and deception being brazenly perpetrated by the deceiver. All she is fighting for his own survival rather than being a prophetic voice to the world outside.
- God reigns over nations through His apostles and prophets. Sadly, Israel rejected His reign when they asked for a king. Churches do the same when they allow clergy to rule and roost over them. God consoled prophet Samuel, “they have not rejected you but Me” (1 Sam. 6:7).
- Early Christians were the only people in the world that had no temples, no priests, no tithing and no sermons. They met in homes, had fun and food, where the main item in the menu was “the Lamb.”
Copyright © 2023 Dr. Victor Choudhrie
All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in whole or in part, in any form, by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission of the publisher.
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