Bruce Lyon Elder: Restoration Fellowship Assembly

Why some church require college degrees in order for someone to be a minister is totally beyond me. No amount of college education qualifies anyone to be a minister, pastor/teacher, overseer, evangelist in the called-out Assembly of the living God of which the lord Messiah Jesus is the head. 

Only Jesus can appoint on to be a minister in his Assembly, and he does so by giving them the holy spirit gift of prophecy, preaching to do so. No college can do that. It should be obvious to Christians gathered together those who are led by the spirit of God to serve the Assembly. It is all of the lord Jesus and nothing of man.

So a college D.D. qualifies no one to be a minister in the Assembly of God, the ekklesia. We all are priests in the lord Jesus and some of us have been given the gift to preach and teach or to oversee or organize or to have the gift of healing, etc., it is all under the direction and control of the head of the Assembly Jesus the anointed one of God.

December 28 2013 • 9 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Bruce Lyon Elder: Restoration Fellowship Assembly

I have ongoing discussions with N.T. Wright to name one of many on topics covering the Trinity, going to heaven when you die, etc. I do so with absolutely no college training in a biblical college and outside of any church training whatsoever. If one has the spirit of the lord Jesus and studies diligently the scriptures using the vast literature that is available now for free on the internet and purchasing books written by recognized experts in various biblical studies that is all one needs to gain an complete understanding in order to minister to others. We of the Abrahamic Faith has great resources available through various leaders who have written vast amounts on every aspect of the scriptures. 

For those who are scattered and not able to attend a church the Internet can provide all kinds of various web sites that will educate one in Greek, Hebrew, the Scriptures, etc. If a local church has leadership programs by all means take advantage of them. In the final analysis if God has called you to serve him in the ministry He will provide the means for you to do so by and through the power of His spirit. He never asks anything of us without providing the means to accomplish what He gives us to do. 

Peter was not well educated yet he was used mightily to advance God's salvation program. He learned the Hebrew scriptures for the Synagogue he attended every Sabbath and he learned the things about Jesus directly. We can learn about Jesus by reading the scriptures that reveal him from beginning to end.

If you are not guided by the spirit of God you will never understand the truth contained in the Scriptures. If you allow the traditions of men to blind your eyes to the truth revealed in the Scriptures you will not be able to come to a true understanding of God's revelation. Unfortunately that is the condition not only of the Jews but also of most Christians today.

July 31 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report