Pastor and Bishop

Titus 1:7, 8, 9 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

In the Catholic Church (Roman Catholic - the largest Catholic denomination) the church hierarchy goes as follow:

Pope - Chief of the Roman Catholic Church, who overlooks the Cardinals and the RC as a whole. He sits in Vatican City [which is a country /independent state in itself]. He is both monarch and spiritual head that is why has a religious crown. By the Catholic he is considered infallible and Christ in the flesh, he is also considered to have authority not only over people on earth but also over Angels in Heaven. He is final authority on all things and can change scriptures, as well as traditions of the RC Church [which overrule scriptures].

Cardinals - He is appointed by the Pope and there are 178 Cardinals [as of today]. He overlooks Archbishops, normally there is one Cardinal per country but that depends on the population of Catholics in that country or its political influence.

Archbishop - overlooks a diocese / archdiocese and has Bishops reporting to him. A Cardinal can also hold the post of Archbishop.

Bishop - is the actual ordained priest of the Catholic Church. He is a teacher of church doctrine, a priest of sacred worship, and a minister of church government.

Priest:  Is a minister ordained by the Bishop to administer most of the Catholic sacraments, including the Eucharist, baptism, and marriage. He is committed to serving the congregation [ordinary people / Catholics]. So he is a substitute or extension of the Bishop.

Deacon: A transitional deacon is a seminarian studying for the priesthood. A permanent deacon can be married and assists a priest by performing some of the Catholic sacraments.

In all this you will be surprised there is actually one post of Bishop. It is the Bishop of Rome who is anointed as Pope. All the other posts were made for administrative purposes. The Catholic Church tried to continue the Jewish format of Priest, High Priest and Chief High Priest.

Biblically according to OT all Levites were anointed to be priests and the one overseeing them was the High Priest. As they broke up and settled as per their various tribes each settlement had a set of Levites [who were not given inheritance so shared with others] and a High Priest, later they set one High Priest above all others and called him the Chief High Priest.

The Believer Church after the Reformation movement came out of the RC Church but carried many things from that church. Today we have the Believers having posts in their church that is of Bishop / Pastor, following the Catholic Bishop / Priest format.

Before the coming of Christ and the Holy Spirit being given to the Church [Callings are connected to the Holy Spirit] all the various Callings were not revealed therefore the Administration Calling was done by the High Priest / Bishop which the Greek word ‘episkopos’ means overseer. He is appointed as administrative head of a congregation and as per today’s message is a person of great responsibility therefore needs to be a person of sound character. The Church is a body thus worked and works as a corporation. During the time of Apostles there were 5 persons who over looked the whole Church namely Peter, John, James, Paul and Barnabas. This team was further divided into two with Peter, John and James looking after the Jewish origin Christians and with Paul and Barnabas looking after the Gentile origin Christians.

Coming to post of Pastor, any person who leads another in spiritual matters is known as a Pastor [shepherd], so any and every one who is ministering to others is a Pastor. It is not a title or post as made to be understood today.

The book of Revelation does mention the Jewish system of Nicolaitans [a system bought into Christianity by a Jewish heretic named Nicolas, who was active during the times of the Apostles] would dominate 4 stages / periods of 7 stages / periods of the Church.

Let us open our eyes for the time of change has come. We are moving for the 5th period of evangelism into the 6th period of all churches coming together as one body. Let us walk according the plans of God for it is only when we abide in it will it manifest the glory of God.

[Prayer Starter]
Lord You are Almighty God and even before when You created this creation your Word says You saw it. Lord everything You do is with plan and all your plans are good. We pray Lord we do not divert from your plans and comply with them. Help us Lord to bring correction and thus manifest your glory on earth as it is in Heaven...

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Reference System]
Revelations 2:6,15
6  But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
15  So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

Galatians 2:9  And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

Act 6:5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte (new comer) of Antioch:

Dated 13 Nov 2016
Bro Rollwyn