#7 What did Jesus have to say about relationships between his followers?

The two brothers James and John wanted to have important positions in Jesus’ kingdom so they sent their mother. She asked Jesus that James and John be allowed to set on his right and left hand side in the kingdom. This made the other disciples indignant and upset. This was probably because they had not asked themselves and had been beaten to the draw. (Mathew 20:20-28)

Jesus then teaches his disciples an important lesson and says that they are not to Lord it over one another or exercise authority over each other as the Gentile’s do. They are to be brothers or family. He goes on to say that the one who would be greatest of all must become the servant of all. Notice he did not say the ruler of all. Jesus said he did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as ransom for all. (Mark 10:45) Jesus wants his followers to serve one another not rule one another.

Jesus taught that amongst his followers there was not to be one person in control of another person. Yet that is what goes on day after day and year after year in traditional churches? Why? That is what Constantine the Roman Emperor instituted way back in 300 A.D. It also has to do with human’s desire to trust man rather than Jesus or God.

In 1 Samuel 8:5 the nation of Israel rejected God from being their king. Instead of an invisible King they wanted a visible king like the nations around them. So God reluctantly appointed them a King named Saul and when that didn’t work out King David.

Man by his fallen nature would rather trust a fallible visible leader rather than an invisible leader they cannot see. The apostle Paul instructed his congregations to learn to walk by faith and not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)

Learning to trust in the invisible Jesus to be present in his church meetings requires faith. No two services are alike because the spirit of Jesus is like the wind and it blows wherever it wills and no man knows where it comes from or where it goes.

Sadly, most people would rather trust a fallible man who is visible to lead them in worship than rely on the perfect Jesus. It is much easier to walk by sight rather than by faith. Ironically it is also so much more mundane and spiritually lacking. The attendee at such a service only has to listen and consume. One does not have to participate, exercise their gifts, and become responsible to Jesus and the body of Christ.

Jesus also taught in Matthew 23:8-12 that his followers where not to call one another teacher or father. Why? Because Jesus was to be their teacher and his followers have but one father in Heaven. He states that they are to be brothers and nothing more or nothing less to each other. Again he stresses that the greatest amongst them will be a servant.

What servant tells those he is serving what to do? None that I am aware of! Servants by their very nature don’t give instructions but they do receive instructions from those they serve. Sadly most leaders in traditional churches almost certainly call themselves servants but by their very position make themselves Lords over their congregations and not servants. Week after week clergy stand in the pulpit telling people what they should be doing. How is that being a servant?

In the New Testament there is a word adelphos which is translated brothers. It is primarily used to mean all believers including men and women. The most recent NIV translations will use brothers and sisters when translating the word. This word occurs 346 times in the New Testament. Paul uses the term 134 times. Paul only mentions elders 5 times and overseers 4 times and pastor one time. It is obvious that the majority to the New Testament is addressed to laity and not the leaders in the church. The New Testament emphasis is upon God creating for himself a people, the laity and not leaders. Among God’s people they are to be family to one another and view one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.