Spiritual Leaders

 "And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" ~Ephesians 4:11-12 

Do you know how that reads in the Greek manuscript?

"And He gave MEN (some) apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers"

No matter how you interpret that verse, it still indicates that there were FEW of each gift given to some men. And they were not "leaders" or other offices of authority, but rather they were themselves the gift… given to the churches for "the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…the CHURCH."

 Obviously… not everyone was an apostle, nor a prophet, nor an evangelist, nor a pastor or teacher.

And today we have neither Apostles (unless you know someone who has seen, been with, and been taught of the Lord); nor do we have prophets of old, since we have the completed will of God revealed to us in His Word (contrary to erroneous expositors).

 "How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, EACH of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification." 1 Cor. 14:26
This is not being done in the churches of today. Why? Two reasons...
1. The pastor runs the show (he is the show) and,
2. Precious few are prepared to participate.
The rest are there just to make an appearance. Do you know there are people who show up just for social or business reasons? I've known salesmen (automobile and real estate) who go to church to interact (schmooze) with potential clients.

"For you can all prophesy ONE BY ONE, that all may learn and all may be encouraged." 1 Cor. 14:31
Prophets, today, in the assemblies of Christians, are men moved by the Holy Spirit to speak, having power to instruct, comfort, encourage, rebuke, convict, and stimulate their hearers. But not predict future events that are not already given in scripture, nor disagree with scripture.

"you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:5
Every individual has direct access to God without ecclesiastical mediation and each individual shares the responsibility of ministering to the other members of the community of believers. But in today's churches, all the service of OUR priesthood has been consigned to pastors. In the local churches, they run the show…literally. The Church is supposed to be led and guided by a plurality of Spirit filled elders, who would actually oversee pastors, teachers and probably evangelists…

"until 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 fullness of Christ" (Eph. 4:13), Who is Head over all things to the church, which is His Body (Eph. 1:22-23), But we, speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in ALL things, which is the Head, even Christ (Eph. 4:15).

 The pastor (man, not woman) is NOT your spiritual leader! Neither is the pope. The Holy Spirit is.