LATEST POLITICS SPORTS GOSSIP WEDDINGS HAUSA NEWS FEEDBACK PHOTO NEWS BOKO HARAM FOOTBALL BUZZ ENTERTAINMENT NAIJ.COM TV 364 USD/NGN Bishop Oyedepo reacts to allegation of introduction of Islamic studies to curriculum OPINION: Today’s pastors are all fake; Jesus is the only true pastor Author: Wale Akinola UPDATED: 7 MINUTES AGO VIEWS: 441 Category: Local news, NAIJ.com Blogger Network SHARE ON FACEBOOK SEND VIA EMAIL SEND ON WHATSAPP SHARE ON FACEBOOK SEND VIA EMAIL SEND ON WHATSAPP Editor's note: Femi Aribisala, a scholar, international affairs expert and iconoclastic church pastor in Lagos, in his latest piece, explains why today’s pastors are all fake and that Jesus is the only true pastor. Mr. Aribisala is the NAIJ.com partner blogger. He could be reached through his e-mail faribisala@yahoo.com. You can also follow his blog: Femiaribisala.com. More details in NAIJ.com’s step-by-step guide for guest bloggers. "All those who call themselves pastors are not disciples of Jesus. Their authority is not from heaven, but from men." Frustrated by the magnitude of the miracles attending Jesus’ ministry, the chief priests and elders of the Jews challenged him in the temple. They demanded to know by what authority he was doing the things he was doing and who it was who gave him the authority. In his reply, Jesus presents a dichotomy between what is of God and what is of men. He asks them: "The baptism of John- where was it from? From heaven or from men?" (Matthew 21:25). ADVERTISING inRead invented by Teads READ ALSO: Oyedepo warns FG against forcing Islamic Studies on Christian students The question is loaded. By implication, Jesus maintains what is of God cannot be of men and what is of men cannot be of God. This dichotomy between God and men finds its most eloquent expression in Jesus’ categorical assertion that: “What is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:15). OPINION: Today’s pastors are all fake; Jesus is the only true pastor It is pertinent, therefore, to ask whether the ordination of pastors today is of God or of men. Fake pastors The answer is straight-forward: the ordination of pastors today is of men and not of God. It does not come from the commandments or teachings of Jesus. It comes from the writings of Paul. ADVERTISING inRead invented by Teads Paul does not say Jesus specifically instructs him to create ministerial positions in the church. Instead, he bases his authority for doing this on a messianic Old Testament scripture. With reference to psalm 68, he writes: “This is why it says: ‘When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.’” (Ephesians 4:8). Understanding that this scripture foretells Christ’s resurrection, Paul then says: “(Jesus) himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-12). However, on investigation it becomes apparent that Paul’s position misquotes and even distorts the original psalm. The psalmist says: “When you ascended on high, you led captives in your train; you received gifts from men, even from the rebellious- that you, O LORD God, might dwell there.” (Psalm 68:18). Can you see the difference? The psalmist says men gave gifts to the Lord. Paul, in quoting the psalmist, changes this to say the Lord gave gifts to men. Unauthorised ministerial posts Apparently, Paul wanted to create posts in the churches he established so as to bring them more effectively under his control. So he twisted an Old Testament scripture to make it seem as if it was the Lord who authorised it. As a result, there are people today who insist the Lord has called them to be pastors and teachers, not knowing that Jesus does not envisage any of these positions under the New Testament. This is what Jesus says: “I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes.” (Matthew 23:34). Nothing here about pastors and teachers. On his resurrection, he said furthermore: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to everyone.” (Mark 16:15). This means all believers are called to be evangelists, it is not a special calling for a select few. In creating unauthorised posts, which have since spawned many others such as popes, arch-bishops, and right-reverends, Paul enshrined the spirit of the Pharisee in the heart of Christianity, contrary to the teachings of Jesus. Jesus discourages honorific titles and warns that those who exalt themselves will be humbled. He mocks the pomposity of the Pharisees, insisting that we should not follow their example: “Don't let people do that to you, put you on a pedestal like that. You all have a single Teacher, and you are all classmates.” (Matthew 23:8). This show Jesus permits no differentiation among his followers. We are all equal. The pope is no different from the lay Catholic. The arch-bishop is the classmate of the members of the laity. None of them is greater in status than the other. So how come some classmates are now calling themselves teachers?
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