Leave Your Pastor - Андрей Викторович Шибанов

Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. – 1 John 2:18

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. – 2 John 1:7

By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. -1 John 4:2-3

Those positions derived from Catholicism. Catholics speak of pope as of a Vicar of Christ (from Latin “Vicarius Christi”) which means an earthly representative of Christ. Church leaders, pastors and priests pretend to be the representatives of Christ on earth. Why have you believed them? Church leaders charge those who confront them with rebellion. When loyal to church leaders people say, “Jesus Christ is in heaven, but church leaders are on earth,” they admit that they serve their leaders.

The Lord and Savior is not a church leader but Jesus Christ. Church leaders, pastors and priests are not for the good of believers. The only true position in the church is the position of an elder or overseer. They pretend to be elders but domineering over believers contrary to the will of God:

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge but being examples to the flock. – Peter 5:1-3

Elder must not dominate over disciples of Christ. Paul used to teach Timothy and Titus what qualities overseer must possess. It is important to note that the husband of one wife means not that an elder must necessarily be married, but that if he married, he must have only one wife. An elder can be single, just like Paul was unmarried too.

Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach… – 1 Timothy 3:2

Timothy and Titus used to visit churches to appoint elders. They did not appoint anyone on such awkward positions as a church leader, pastor, priest, deacon, chairman, evangelist and others:

This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you. – Titus 1:5

Elders must not appoint believers on the position of an elder. Elders are appointed by knowledgeable and trusted brothers in Christ from another city. A trusted believer must come to a town and look for those who are qualified for the position of an elder and only after that appoint one.

You must reject the authority of church leaders, pastors and priests. The elders must be the kind of servants who can easily be reproved if their teaching is not in line with the teaching of Christ and apostles. They should be mature, wise, kind and able to teach.

The elders must not collect money from believers and use this money as a tool to rule over people. The fellowship of believers is free of charge. When money is collected to help someone, other believers must take charge of it, not the elders. Elders must only oversee.

Small group leaders and “disciplers”

There are no such positions as deacon, small group, cell group or bible talk leader in the church. All these positions have been created by church leaders to dominate over believers. Small group leaders report to church leaders, creating a hierarchy among believers which Christ detests.

In the same way, the recently introduced by modern religious organizations position of a discipler aims to build up a hierarchy like never before. The doctrine of those organisations states that every believer must have a discipler. Discipler means a mentor or spiritual father who dominates over a believer and reports to the small group leader. You must reject the illegitimate authority of a discipler because the only authority over you is Christ:

And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. – Matthew 23:9

Being a slave to church leaders, pastors and priests is a heavy burden. They put a yoke on believers, requesting them to obey their ungodly burdensome commands. You must take the yoke of Christ instead:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. – Matthew 11:28-30

Different gifts

If you want to be more valuable in God's eyes then you must desire the greater gifts. For example, you can teach multitude of believers in different cities or speak the truth on behalf of the Lord; you can teach; you can even do miracles and healings; you can serve people with your skills or possessions. You can do all according to the gifts you received from God.

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. – 1 Corinthians 12:27-31

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