All Believers are Disciples

There is a theory in christendom that says “all believers are not disciples”. Those who repeat it are just the usual parrots. Always saying things they’ve heard their favourite preachers say or write without considering whether the statement has biblical support. You hear people talk about “discipling a believer” as if disciple is a greater level of Christianity. They are mistaken. Every believer is a disciple as every disciple is a believer (unless that believer is a false believer, or to put it another way, that disciple is a false disciple). Take time and read every where the word disciple is used in the book of Acts and you’ll discover it meant believers without exception. Disciples meant all believers irrespective of their level of growth. Even those who were saved the same day, where called disciples. Those who were saved earlier were called disciples. To categorize Christianity into believers (meaning all who believe in Christ) and disciples (meaning all believers who are willing to make sacrifice for Christ or those attending Sunday School or Bible Institute, or Bible College) is plain ignorance. You become a disciple as soon as you become a believer not at another invitation of an evangelist calling young men to join the Bible institute.

 

 Excepts:

 Acts 1:15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

 NOTE: Unless Peter separated the believers and only handpicked the Bible college students, the believers were all called disciples.

 

 Acts 6:1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

 NOTE: Where the believers separated into believers and disciples in this case? Not at all. All the believers were collectively called disciples.

 

 Acts 6:7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

NOTE: It was the general believers (called disciples) that increased, not a select few.

 

 Acts 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

 NOTE: Was Paul only persecuting the Sunday School students?

 

 Acts 9:26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

 NOTE: So the disciples did not readily accept Paul because they felt that he was yet to commence his Bible college training? No, the word disciple refers to a believer.

 

 Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

 NOTE: Are we to stop calling all believers Christians and start calling only disciples (Bible college types) Christians? That’ll be considered ridiculous.

 

 Acts 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

 NOTE: It would seem like the Apostles were only concerned with Sunday School students not the general believers if this unfounded theory is correct wouldn’t it? Thankfully, it is wrong..

 

 Acts 18:23 And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.

 NOTE: Wouldn’t it be ridiculous for Paul to go around meeting with Bible college students while neglecting the general congregation?

 

 Acts 18:9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

 NOTE: Paul separated those who were disciples from those who believed not. What happened to believers who have not decided to be disciples yet? By the way, notice that they just believed.

 

 Acts 20:1 And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.

 NOTE: Who was Paul embracing? The serious Christians right? He must have refrained from embracing the mere believers right? Yeah right!

 

 Acts 20:7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

 NOTE: Only Bible college student would be qualified if this theory was correct. But the theory, is wrong.

Making titles out of religious functions

Making titles out of religious functions. Introduction: Today we address church leaders by various titles like Pastor, Bishop, Reverend, Holiness, Venerable, Teacher, Cardinal, Master, Prophet, Apostle, Evangelist, Deacon, Father, Daddy, Priest, Pope, etc. What is the bible position on this? In our fundamental churches we claim that the bible is our only rule of faith and practice. But how biblical are our fundamental churches in our practices, especially concerning the organization of the local church; including church leaders titles? The first thing that will shock any careful reader of the bible is that there are no such titles for God’s servants in His word. Every time (no exception) a function is mentioned in association to a name in the bible, an article is included: Paul the apostle, Paul an apostle, Peter an elder, the elder, the prophet Gad, etc. You won’t see Apostle Paul, Apostle Peter, Prophet Agabus, Evangelist Timothy, Pastor Titus, etc. How then did this practice become prevalent in our churches? The answer is traceable to the church of Rome. A very careful study of our church organization, in comparison to the bible pattern and the church of Rome, will quickly reveal that we resemble that harlot church than the New Testament example of churches. One such area is title for church leaders. Now, did Christ say anything against this, oh yes! He did. The text for this study is Matt 23:1-12 A –Christ’s condemnation concerning religious titles: 1. Christ condemns the hypocritical exaltation of religious office: Matt 23:1-4 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. Christ condemns lordly pastors who give instructions to members but they don’t do the work. These would include pastors who have the members doing the work like soul winning (open air and personal), mowing the lawn, cleaning, etc but they themselves don’t; even when they are not debilitated. 2. Christ condemns the hypocritical advancement of religious officer’s identity: Matt 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, Christ condemns lordly pastors who want to broadcast their service to people for praise purpose and accolades. These would include pastors who work and count numbers for announcement purposes so that people can see what GREAT work they are doing. Christ further condemns lordly pastors who wear clothing that mark them out or identifies them to people as religious functionaries. These would include Bishop collar, Bishop Robe, Cassock and other ecclesiastical coats and garments. 3. Christ condemns the hypocritical solicitation by religious officers of recognition: Matt 23:6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, Christ condemns lordly pastors who love the “big man” identity. These would include pastors who at social gatherings and occasions seek recognition and what we call bigmanism in Nigeria. 4. Christ condemns the religious officers quest for titles: Matt 23:7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. Christ condemns lordly pastors who love making titles out of their service for identity purposes. These would include church leaders who use the title pastor, bishop, reverend, holiness, venerable, teacher, cardinal etc. Christ’s commandments concerning religious titles: Matt 23:8-10 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. Christ now instructs His church leaders not to be “called” by the titles of their functions because the titles belong to Him and rightly so. This does not mean that we should not describe the function, eg Paul an apostle, or Peter an elder. Christ’s commendations concerning religious titles: Matt 23: 11-12 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. Church leaders are called to serve in lowliness. We are brethren not masters or lords over Christ’s flock. Drop the title, drop the garments, drop the identity and imaging and serve Christ by serving one another. I believe when we get to heaven, these so called great men of God would become least men of God. Conclusion: Why the fragrant disobedience to this clear instructions and commands of Christ? Why do leaders persist? I submit that it has to do with that five letter word spelled P-R-I-D-E. What should we do? Repent from this disobedience and desist from it. In Matt 23:8-10 God commands are directed to the three people involved in this deed. 1. Instruction to leaders concerning themselves: Matt 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. God instructs the leaders not to give themselves titles. Don’t add a church function as a title to your name. You can inform people of what you are and what you do, eg “my name is O’buluwa; I am a pastor.” “I am Samuel, the pastor of Fundamental Independent Baptist Church.” “This is Simon, the bishop of Bible Baptist Church.” 2. Instruction to leaders concerning others: Matt 23:10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. God instructs the leaders not to let the led and others give them titles or call them. Stop others from calling you by the title. Tell them to call you brother. This title is biblical because it was used as such in the bible (see 1 Cor 16:12, Heb 13:23, 1 Pet 3:15). 3. Instruction to leaders concerning themselves: Matt 23:9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. God instructs the led and others not to give their leaders titles. Don’t call church leaders by such titles. ESA O’buluwa (1 Cor 9:16)

Francis Bacon, the Illuminati and the King James Bible

Sir Francis Bacon the editor of the King James Bible was a member of illuminati. I’ll like to state however that Bacon was never in the 54 selected King James bible scholarship committee nor was he among the 51 (some people say they were 47 but they were 51) who actually participated in the translation. The translators had finished their text in 1610 before Bacon took possession of it for one year before the print in 1611. He did not edit the text because six English translations were already in existence and the King James Bible Translators were all alive and would immediately recognize any addition. But the intention of King James (yes he was involved) and Francis Bacon was never to edit the text but to insert rosicrucian symbols into the Bible. When the King James Bible was published in 1611, the puritans immediately rejected it with a terse “wicked …. Bible from that wicked King!” The natural question that would result from my post would be “what were King James and Francis Bacon trying to achieve with this? Two things: 1. Popularization the new Elizabethan English with the common people. For this, two special tools were employed. The Bible and Entertainment. For entertainment it was Shakespearean plays. (By the way, most of Shakespeare’s plays and poems were actually written by Bacon). 2. The circulation of the Luciferean symbols (it is known that symbols attracted ‘spirits’ which they felt would provide access to the people. In all of these, the Sovereignty of God and His providence stood clear resulting in the rejection by Pilgrim and Puritan leaders immediately and even Anglican Bishops of the published bible until all the symbols were completely removed and a new edition was published in 1650. The bible verses that stand out in all of these are: Gen 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Ps 12:6-7 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.