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Post by stillfocused on Jul 30, 2006 12:21:02 GMT -5
In many churches we here the terms given to the women in the body of Christ and I have been wondering from where does this come from and how did they become symbols of status and prestige ? Is it a bibical thing, a denominational thing, or what ? I have found out that many are acknowledged by the title name of Evangelist..yet, they don't do the work of an evangelist; so why the title ?
First Lady Thisandthat
Lady Elect Thusandso
Prophetess Whosoever
Elder Johnboy
Evangelist Significant
Missionary Sunshine
Pop and Mother Johns
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Post by stillfocused on Jul 30, 2006 12:48:02 GMT -5
This came to my mind this morning; because so many times we're Toni Monday to Saturday then on the days we're at church whether during prayer, bible study, etc and Sunday we become Sis Toni..and to be honest there comes a change that is unreal; because we feel we to play the part. And being that we are called to make disciples; I believe that we should be to answer the questions of why we do the things we do.
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Post by Jasmine on Jul 30, 2006 21:07:00 GMT -5
Prophetess: Very much biblical, for Miriam Ex 15:20 was called prophetess, Judges 4:4 Deborah was called prophetess, 2kings 22:14 Huldah was a prophetess, Nehemiah 6:14 Noadiah was a prophetess, Luke 2 :36 Anna was a prophetess
Elect Lady: 2 John 1:1
First Lady: Not mentioned in the bible
Elder: very much biblical
Evangelist: Very much biblical
Missionary: Not mentioned in the bible, however we are all missionaries as we are commanded to Go out and make disciples. A missionary is a person who attempts to persuade or convert a person. A missionary is a person who is sent on a mission. To do religious work in a territory or foreign country.
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Post by stillfocused on Jul 30, 2006 23:35:21 GMT -5
Jasmine..thanks for the response.
Yet, I am talking about the use of those titles in our local churches and no one is going out and doing the work of a missionary. Definitions are fine; yet, why are Pastors wives called
First lady, the older mother of the church is called Evangelist. Yes, we are called to make disciples; yet, what is the purpose of the titles ?
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Post by krazeeboi on Jul 31, 2006 1:00:05 GMT -5
Catholicism. It's tight but it's right.
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Post by keita on Jul 31, 2006 12:08:05 GMT -5
BAM!!! Bro (  ) kb, I heard that axe hit that root from way over here! LOL! That's definitely where the practice came from. But perhaps we also need to consider where that spirit came from and why "the church" continues to operate in it. I think Sis ( ) Stillfocused is already there... Signed, Sis (LOL) Keita |
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Post by And Such Were Some Of You on Jul 31, 2006 12:48:03 GMT -5
BAM!!! Bro ( ) kb, I heard that axe hit that root from way over here! LOL! That's definitely where the practice came from. But perhaps we also need to consider where that spirit came from and why "the church" continues to operate in it. I think Sis ( ) Stillfocused is already there... Signed, Sis (LOL) Keita AMEN! |
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Post by Nikkol on Aug 1, 2006 9:21:23 GMT -5
I was just thinking about teachers. Many teachers while they are on the job will call each other Mrs./Ms./Mr. X. However although some do it all the time, there are others that just call each other by their first name out of the "school setting". I think that the same thing can apply in church.
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Post by And Such Were Some Of You on Aug 1, 2006 13:14:37 GMT -5
stillfocused,
I understand where you are coming from here. Many times people feel more important if they are called by a title, though they are not functioning in what they are being labeled. I am so grieved at the "Apostle this" and "Prophetess that", I mean if that is your call then fine but it should not be something that is demanded.
It is my belief that people will call you as they see you - if they respect the office and that which God called you to then they will call so accordingly. When one demands to be called by a title is when I wonder if one was even really called to that particular thing.
The question is: is their character lining up with that which they wish to be called?
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Post by krazeeboi on Aug 2, 2006 22:44:12 GMT -5
OK, I felt compelled to backtrack here. I hate it when we attempt to discredit or disqualify something simply by slapping a label on it (especially when it comes to politics; this whole "conservative" vs. "liberal," red state vs. blue state nonsense is making me sick!), so I'm trying to avoid doing that myself. My statement would imply that just because something has Catholic origins that that in and of itself means it's wrong or unbiblical and clearly that is not true. So allow me to further explain what I meant.
I believe that early in church history, as the Catholic church as we know it now was coming into being, the church was beginning to get away from its humble origins and drifting towards extravagance, among other things. The usage of titles was one sign of this, and it serves as the unbiblical basis of the clergy/laity distinction that exists even among us Protestants to this day. IMO, it is essentially a return to the OT system in which the priests served as the mediators between God and the people. Today, we have no mediator but Christ and we can ALL go directly to Him for what we need. The Spirit is given to all who belong to Christ, and not a select few. Furthermore, the NT church is concerned with functions, and not titles.
Hope that helps.
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Post by And Such Were Some Of You on Aug 3, 2006 5:30:45 GMT -5
The Spirit is given to all who belong to Christ, and not a select few. Furthermore, the NT church is concerned with functions, and not titles. Hope that helps. Helps a great deal; AMEN!! |
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G3
Full Member
Let The Holy Ghost Show You The Way
Posts: 158
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Post by G3 on Aug 3, 2006 11:07:47 GMT -5
Hey "DOC", this is one of those examples where Christ taught "NOT to SEEK AFTER" (Titles Matt.23:7-12) but yet we ignore His teachings or twist His Word to fit our preferences.
The church has elevated "IT SELF" from the 5 Fold Ministry to the 6 Fold Ministry with the 6th being the offfice of the "DOCTOR". The church has really personified chapter 23 in it's entirety wouldn't you say!?
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Post by giantsdodie on Aug 3, 2006 11:22:47 GMT -5
is the issue with people that seek after titles or people who have been appointed to specific ministry offices that represent the call and gift of God on their lives ??
Why do we have an issue if someone is called something ?? particularly if God has appointed them to it...
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Post by livinganewlife on Aug 3, 2006 11:28:06 GMT -5
Hey "DOC", this is one of those examples where Christ taught "NOT to SEEK AFTER" (Titles Matt.23:7-12) but yet we ignore His teachings or twist His Word to fit our preferences. The church has elevated "IT SELF" from the 5 Fold Ministry to the 6 Fold Ministry with the 6th being the offfice of the "DOCTOR". The church has really personified chapter 23 in it's entirety wouldn't you say!? Don't get me started!!!!!! Why is it that almost EVERY PREACHER has a Doctor (PhD.) in Divinity but yet they don't understand that neither"conversate/ conversating" nor "mand" is a Word..................... |
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Post by giantsdodie on Aug 3, 2006 12:04:04 GMT -5
Hey "DOC", this is one of those examples where Christ taught "NOT to SEEK AFTER" (Titles Matt.23:7-12) but yet we ignore His teachings or twist His Word to fit our preferences. The church has elevated "IT SELF" from the 5 Fold Ministry to the 6 Fold Ministry with the 6th being the offfice of the "DOCTOR". The church has really personified chapter 23 in it's entirety wouldn't you say!? Don't get me started!!!!!! Why is it that almost EVERY PREACHER has a Doctor (PhD.) in Divinity but yet they don't understand that neither"conversate/ conversating" nor "mand" is a Word..................... Because they dont have a PhD in English. |
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) kb, I heard that axe hit that root from way over here! LOL!
