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Originally Posted by Cassidy
ZNP,
As mentioned, I think you have brought some excellent points and thanks in advance for the opportunity to address them.
There are many ministries in service to God active today...
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Fair enough. The NT says that in the Body there are many members and they don't all have the same function. Since there are so many different ministries how can you discern the genuine from the fake? According to Paul the Ministers of the NT ministry have "renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully". This word means both in word and action.
Peter elaborates on this saying that this includes
1. Pernicious ways
2. through covetousness with fabricated words they shall make merchandise of you.
These are the things that disqualify a ministry. You can be in error, as Apollos was and still have a ministry, you just need correction. But, these things are what sink a ministry and cause it to be shipwrecked.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cassidy
To your second point, since God speaks through man we must audibly hear from a man but we must listen for the oracle of God spoken therein. If in listening to or reading messages by any minister, Witness Lee or Watchman Nee included, or any believer and we are not hearing the oracle of God then our listening or reading is pointless. For that matter, if we read the Bible without hearing the oracle in the reading it has little profit.
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Now this is where we disagree. This approach for "discernment" is seriously lacking. I don't care what you or I hear, if the person is not "commending themselves to every man's conscience" as Paul said, then they are not a minister of the NT.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cassidy
The last point you asked is why is it necessary for any minister to say they have the oracle of God or what they are speaking is the oracle of God. It is necessary at times for a minister to explain or even vindicate their ministry (more about this below). Paul did this on more than one occasion.
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True. But for what reason? If it is because of fraud, or adultery, or fabricated stories, fables, making merchandise of the saints, etc. then this person is not a minister of the NT, regardless of how they "explain or even vindicate".
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cassidy
It is God who appoints His servants to a work of ministry. With that work of ministry comes authority. God does not assign a work of ministry without the authority to carry it out.
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Fair enough, and with a ministry comes responsibility, ask Moses, Miriam, David, Eli, etc.