Or, you are looking for a church to attend, and you want Jesus' choice.
Probably each decade has certain ways the devil is attacking Jesus' church.
The following are areas you may wish to think about as you choose a pastor.
1. Which Holy Bible does the pastor use?
In question are the modern versions like the New International Version, New American Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, etc.
What's the concern? Please look-up the following verses in one of the preceding perversions.
Matthew
Need an explanation?
http://www.freewebs.com/bibleteach/whichbible.htm
2. Has the pastor been divorced and remarried?
In the Old Covenant, adulters were stoned.
"And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery." Matthew 19:9
The only Biblical grounds for divorce is fornication.
3. What does the pastor teach on endtimes?
A new heresy is preterism. Many so-called Apostolics and I do mean many are believing and teaching this false doctrine.
Many pastors are teaching a post-trib rapture. I am not coming against a post-trib rapture.
One must believe in a pre-trib rapture. One is raptured based on ones faith! If one doesn't believe in a pre-trib rapture, then when it takes place he/she will be stuck here on earth to go through the seven years of tribulation. During this time will one deny Jesus causing one to end-up in hell?
4. Facial hair
There are Apostolics who believe a man must not have facial hair. So, does that mean if Jesus came into their meeting He would not be accepted because He has sideburns, a mustache, and a beard?
I don't have facial hair because of personal choice. If a pastor has facial hair, it is his personal choice. Legalism has no place in Jesus' church!
The point is it is not sin or anti-biblical to have facial hair.
5. True Salvation
There are so-called Apostolic pastors who teach that a sinner's prayer provides salvation. I know some who hold this view personally; I have spent time with them face to face. Two are graduates of a UPC Bible college. A different man was a UPC pastor for many years, now he is a pastor of an independent Apostolic church.
The point is the Bible clearly teaches the need for water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism as obedience to the gospel of Jesus. Easy believism is the devil's deception.
If you are reading this blog, and you don't know what I mean by the need for water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism, than you may wish to see the studies on salvation. One must look at all of the verses in the Bible not just the verses used for easy believism. Today is the day for your salvation. Jesus bless you.
http://www.freewebs.com/bibleteach/salvationtract.htm
6. An independent minded Apostolic pastor, a must
http://www.freewebs.com/acseminary/denominationsno.htm
Sometimes a man or a lady belongs to a denomination for whatever reason, but they must have Jesus as their boss not the denomination. If he or she looks at the denomination simply as a fellowship, than he or she maybe able to do Jesus' will.
7. The pastor's leadership style
These two leadership styles are opposite each other.
One style is to control everyone. The pastor is the boss. If a sheep disobeys, they are beaten. Since he is the boss, he believes he has the right to fleece the flock.
The other leadership style is when the pastor is the leader. He leads the flock to evangelize. If the flock is not going, he doesn't beat the sheep. Jesus is the Chief Shepherd, 1 Peter 5:4. The pastor is the under shepherd. He must be led by Jesus. If the pastor is led by Jesus, the people will follow.
Jesus is the Lord/Boss. Jesus should be every Christian's Boss/Lord. Jesus is the only boss/Lord in a church.
8. College, University, Seminary Degree
There maybe some value in a degree, but the value is limited.
A pastor can have a degree and not know Jesus! A degree does not help one to hear Jesus. A pastor must gain revelational knowledge and wisdom directly from Jesus!
A pastor should have a working knowledge of Greek and Hebrew. Since, the inspired Word of God is in Hebrew and Greek. There are plenty of helps (books & computer programs) available to be used in working with the Hebrew and Greek Bible.
My point, I believe to have as a requirement a Bible college degree to be a pastor is not Biblical. What degree did (Jesus) Peter, Paul, etc. have?
They had spent time with Jesus! A pastor must have spent time with Jesus!
In Jesus,
Brother Bruce Klein
http://brobruce.blogspot.com/
