One of the biggest issues with the institutional church is the hierarchical system that is in place. Jesus never instructed, nor intended, there to be a hierarchical system of leaders. Hundreds of years ago, however, men in the church who wanted to gain power and then retain that power copied a religious hierarchical system within the institutional church systems. Ultimately, this became a tragic flaw of the church hierarchy that we experience today.
But Jesus summoned them, and said, “You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It will not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you must be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:25-28 NHEB
Jesus never intended a hierarchical structure within His Body, at least one with rulership and honorific titles we experience today. Leaders were to be servants. However, in most (if not all) churches, local and denominationally, there is a top-down leadership pecking order that is not part of God’s design.
Jesus’ biggest issue while on earth wasn’t the horrible sins of the common people. It was the horrible sins of the religious leaders who were in charge. Just a quick read of Matthew 23 clarifies that He did not favor hierarchical leadership within Old Testament worship, nor was He interested in copying that model in the New Testament Ekklesia.
“The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.
Matthew 23:2-7 NLT
“Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels. And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.'”
The words listed above are those of Jesus. He is not a fan of religianity and leaders lording authority over the people. But while most preachers will point out that Jesus was not a fan of this, they ignore the next section that applies to the New Testament believers.
“Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your Father. And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah. The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.“
Matthew 23:8-12 NLT
Many of today’s church leaders are guilty of what Jesus condemned. The hierarchical system is full of honorific titles. People with business cards go by every name possible: Pastor, Bishop, Evangelist, Apostle, Doctor, Reverend, Father, Rabbi, and many more.
Today’s church services are little more than local productions, with green rooms, titles, and personal assistants (armor bearers) to the leader extraordinaire. The weekly program centers around a sermon and its presenter, often held off-stage until the warm-up band finishes its show.
The Bible clearly states that we are all priests and kings, yet when was the last time anyone other than the designated pastor, bishop, or other entitled person was allowed to operate in that capacity at a Sunday morning event in your local congregation?
Where Did This Come From?
The hierarchical structure was not established in the Bible. It was established through church history by men who wanted to gain and retain power and authority. As early as 100 AD, men began to promote a false idea of the separation of laity and clergy. It was fully in place by the mid-third century and has remained for 1700 years.
While the first reformation helped correct several errors, it did nothing to correct the hierarchy. Today, instead of one or two denominations, we have over 45,000 worldwide, each with its own top man, pecking order, and corporate ladder for aspiring preachers to climb. This hierarchy not only exists within the denominational setting but is also active within local assemblies and independent, non-denominational churches.
Unlike the apostles, known for “having been with Jesus,” religianity has replaced spiritual, biblical leadership with “having been to seminary.” The more degrees you have, the better you are equipped to climb the corporate ladder of churchianity, but you are not necessarily better equipped to serve in His Kingdom.
Even in congregations where leaders have titles but no advanced degrees, there is strong control over who can do anything. Most believers are delegated to be servers, making coffee, carrying the pastor’s Bible, moving equipment, or parking cars. But the really important stuff is left for Pastor Know-My-Name. Certainly, no one is allowed to have the microphone and be on stage unless approved by the designated hierarchical leadership.
The hierarchal system is strictly against Jesus’ teachings because it stifles the individual believer and hinders the body from developing into the mature Ekklesia that Jesus wants. Instead of every believer functioning as God created them to function, they are limited to some role approved by a self-appointed apostle, prophet, pastor, or other leader.
When you meet together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation (disclosure of special knowledge), a tongue, or an interpretation. Let everything be constructive and edifying and done for the good of all the church.
1 Corinthians 14:26 AMP
Scripture shows that everyone is called to serve and has something to share. Jesus created no pecking order of power for His Body. He, and He alone, is to be the head of the Body.
Unfortunately, 1700 years of hierarchical instruction have blinded most people from understanding their position as believers. Everything has to be done within the confines of religianity, and pastors, bishops, apostles, or whatever title has been bestowed upon them must approve everything to maintain control and power.
Today, most lay people, congregants, and churchgoers are taught to honor (even worship) the pastors and leaders. We give them titles, special seats on the platform, green rooms, personal assistants, and more. We are told that whatever the pastor says is the word of God; however, most sermons are honestly just someone’s opinion of what someone told them in seminary, read in a book, or heard someone preach on Christian TV.
Not Seeking A Title
Before someone thinks I’m jealous of a title, please know this is untrue. I believe the Body of Christ should be empowered so every part can function, not just some spiritual leader placed on a pedestal.
For over seventeen years, I served as a pastor of a local congregation. During that time, I always told people, “Please don’t call me pastor. I’m no different from you. Just call me by my first name.”
Unfortunately, many would tell me they couldn’t do that. They had been trained for so long that you have to revere a pastor, and no matter how I tried, they wouldn’t stop. Even when I shared a scripture that forbids it, they kept calling me pastor. Some would even say, “I know you don’t want to be called pastor…, but pastor…”
The Tragic Flaw
Tragic flaw is a strong descriptor, but I truly believe the church hierarchy within churchianity is tragic. It has done more to damage the body of Christ than just about anything I know. It has drawn a wall of separation between “Us” and “Them.” It has created a religious caste system of spiritual leaders and followers. It has enforced the erroneous separation of clergy, laity, and the haves and have-nots.
In John 17, Jesus prayed that we all be one, as He and the Father are One. However, the church system has done little to unite the body. Not only are there 45,000 different denominations worldwide, but the division goes down to the pew or chair, separating everyone into various classifications, from spiritual leaders to volunteers, team leaders, ministry leaders, pastors, and executives, all the way down to the lowly-pew-warming attendee.
Everyone stays in their place while a pastor is elevated and surrounds himself with those who will perpetuate his or her position. The rest of us are told to stay in our seats and watch the pros. Much like a Sunday afternoon football game, the pros play the game while the rest of us watch and shout from the sidelines. We may claim a position with the team, but we are simply spectators of someone else.
Sadly, this is the churchianity system, but that is not how Jesus intended. Everyone is called a priest and king.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9 NIV
Empower The Saints
Most believers have a sense that there is something more they are called to do for Christ’s Body; however, because churchianity has defined ministry as what happens when someone stands on a stage and preaches, thousands of people go and start their own churches. Instead of the gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers empowering all believers to do the work of ministry that God has for them, most are stifled and told their ministry is to show up on Sunday, give an offering, and live a peaceable life.
It’s time for every believer to be involved in Kingdom ministry. That’s not just inviting someone to church but finding God’s call for each of us and fulfilling it; however, this will not happen as long as the top-down authority structure permeates every part of the Body.
Jesus is the head, and each believer is a priest and king. We each hear His voice.
I have spoken with numerous people who felt called by God to step out and do something outside of the church box. In each case, some leaders tried everything to stop it. In my case, the pastor of my church tried to dissuade me from doing so. Looking back, I realized it wasn’t for my protection as much as their self-preservation. It is, however, difficult to find good help these days.
Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers are gifts to the Body, and their role is to serve, not be served. It is to equip the saints, not elevate themselves to a high position.
It is time for a change in trajectory within the church system. It is time for a reformation of form and the equipping of the saints with more than invite cards. It’s time to empower the saints to change the world, disciple nations, and bring heaven to earth.
Empower The Saints!!!
