I have noticed a trend recently when it comes to power. If you look at history, often times the most corrupt regimes were and are run by the same family, generation after generation. We can see it in our own government as well. How many political families have been in power for decades, their children reaping the rewards simply because of their last name. God’s people are not immune from this problem either. If you look at the Levites in Scripture, you will find a similar issue. What had once been orchestrated by God Himself had become so corrupted by the time of Jesus, that their false teachings and pride had blinded them so much that they crucified the very Messiah they were looking for. Thousands of years of family run religion had turned into a ruling class that created nothing but fear and false teachings. Jesus himself accused the Pharisees of being responsible for every prophet that had ever been stoned and killed. (Matthew 23:34-46) Does the New Testament address this issue? I believe it does. In Ephesians 4:11-12 Paul speaks about something which is commonly called the Five Fold Ministry. Paul tells us that God gave us Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers for the equipping of the saints. These leaders are for the edifying of the Body of Christ. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12 that although we are all part of the body of Christ, we are each individual members, or parts that make up the body. He asks the Corinthian church “If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing?”. We all know that our bodies have many different organs and each one has its own function and importance. Just as our physical organs work together, the different gifts need to work together in the body of Christ. God ordained it that way for our own protection. Paul was teaching the Corinthians wisdom when he tried to help them set up their leadership. By allowing different gifts to flourish in a church body, it equips the saints and helps each member to mature and grow. Teachers help those with the gift of teaching to learn how to teach. Prophets teach those with that gift to hear and prophecy what God is saying to the congregation, etc. But it also keeps the different parts accountable to each other. It keeps the body and the leadership from becoming blinded and falling into deception and false teaching. Jesus is looking for a pure and spotless bride that He can bring home one day. That is the one and only goal that we each should have for both ourselves and for those around us.
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