Vocations within the church
https://followerofthewayforever.wordpress.com/2019/10/02/vocations-within-the-church/
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Vocations within the church
A few days ago, I checked my facebook feed and I noticed that the administrators of a page that I follow stated that the titles of Bishop and Pastor are unbiblical. They are biblical, yet they are described to be vocations within the church to which people have been called. In addition to the Pastor and Bishop, other vocations are Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, and Teachers. These vocations are discussed in Ephesians 4. The qualifications of a Bishop and Deacon are listed in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. These vocations were created for the edification of the church to make certain that GOD’s Word is being taught correctly, clearly, and concisely so that its members won’t be misled or deceived by incorrect teachings of GOD’s Word. These vocations were not created to build a hierarchy of idolatry for the worship of those performing in those vocations.
GOD chooses who he wants to perform in each vocation. Therefore, we are not to be high-minded nor haughty as if we have the power to perform in these vocations on own our. The ability to perform in the function in which GOD has assigned to you was given to you by GOD. Paul speaks about these vocations in Ephesians 4:1-16, in which he states:
Ephesians 4:1-16
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
The qualifications for the offices Bishop and Deacon are described in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.
Bishop Qualifications
1 Timothy Chapter 3
1 This [is] a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his
children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of
God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and
the snare of the devil.
Titus 1
1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me
according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or
unruly.
7 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;
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
Deacon Qualifications
1 Timothty 3:8-13
8 Likewise [must] the deacons [be] grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not
greedy of filthy lucre;
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 And let these also first be proved; then let them ussse the office of a deacon, being [found]
blameless.
11 Even so [must their] wives [be] grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Follower of THE WAY Forever 
