John's letter (1 John 2:27 DOESN'T say we do not need leaders and instructors -- It does clearly infer that the final authority for each believer is the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit.
God may orchestrate our completed spiritual instruction from many and varied sources -- church leaders, teachers/mentors, counselors, a tape series or DVD -- or a divine appointment on a street corner. But ultimately -- we are disciples of Jesus Christ; each with gifts, ministries and appointments to fulfill the high calling.
Have you ever noticed that the terms "elder" and "deacon" are never capitalized -- and remain much more descriptive terms of character and duties -- more descriptive than they are designations?
This ESPECIALLY includes the doma ministry gifts you have listed from Ephesians 4:11 -- apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teacher...
These are mature spiritual gifts, and the completely configured gifts of the lives of men and women given for the ministries of the Kingdom of God (See Luke 4/Isaiah 61)
They are not inscriptions for anyone's T-shirt:
I am a(n) _______________ (fill-in the blank)
For all the zealous defense of "orthodoxy" and tradition here -- These same apologists seem to constantly:
1. Add to (or take away from...) the canon of Biblical truth,
2. Invent/re-invent more hierarchical religious offices,
3. teaxh and/or endorse un-Biblical (occasionally CLEARLY forbidden!) spiritual practices,... AND...
4. Additional rites, ordnances rituals and traditions that remain a very long way from and sound foundation in the simple Scriptural premises of the New Covenenant.
All of which begs the original question:
Oh? What is "marginal" and what is "circular" about it?
John's letter (1 John 2:27 DOESN'T say we do not need leaders and instructors...
No, it says "but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things..."
If something teaches you "all thing" you don't need anyone or anything else to teach you, do you?
we are disciples of Jesus Christ
Gnostics, Jehova's Witnesses and Latter-Day-Saints claim the same thing. So, do Arians and Nestorians for that matter. What does that mean "we are disciples of Jesus Christ?"
Have you ever noticed that the terms "elder" and "deacon" are never capitalized
Of course, because the original Greek text didn't use such orthodgraphic niceties as capitalization.
This ESPECIALLY includes the doma ministry gifts you have listed
I have no idea what "doma ministry gifts" are or how this applies to the fact that the New Testament establishes Church hierarchy.
These are mature spiritual gifts, and the completely configured gifts...
Huh?
For all the zealous defense of "orthodoxy" and tradition here -- These same apologists seem to constantly: 1. Add to (or take away from...) the canon of Biblical truth
Examples, please.
2. Invent/re-invent more hierarchical religious offices,
Examples, please.
3. teaxh and/or endorse un-Biblical (occasionally CLEARLY forbidden!) spiritual practices,... Examples, please!!!!
AND...4. Additional rites, ordnances rituals and traditions that remain a very long way from and sound foundation in the simple Scriptural premises of the New Covenenant
I suppose you have gotten the clue by now...please.
All of which begs the original [sic] question: Is following Jesus Christ through Biblical Christian faith more of a "religion" or a relationship?
Whose question was that?