For 40 years I lived for Hell. And when living like Hell I was in complete ignorance to sin and sinning against God. I did not know that what I was doing (sinning) – I was doing against God and was eternally separated. I knew things were wrong, but I had no clue I was wronging God. Until He enlightened my eyes, and for the first time, I seen who I sinned against, and that I was lost and going to Hell.
I know that I can never be a Bishop, Pastor, or Deacon. That is not my argument or why I am writing this. But, I can preach the word as a soldier, a teacher, or an evangelist; no matter if it is at home, behind a curb, or behind a pulpit – because God has called me to go out and tell the world the Gospel. Luke 9:57-62 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
We are all washed in the same blood. We are all forgiven and made new by Christ. The blood that washed your sins also washed mine away. My sins were completely washed and forgiven, as well as yours and therefore I was made a new creature. (2Co 5:17-21 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him). We are all forgiven by the same God and we are all his children (2 Corin 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty).
This is what God has done for Dale Morey:
If God does not hold my sins against me and has washed me in His blood - then why are those in this world holding my past against me and believe it is wrong for me to preach or teach the Word of God? There is no biblical backup that says that I am not able to teach or preach the Word of God.
What people fail to realize is that a pastor, deacon, teacher, evangelist, and preacher are NOT all the same offices.
A pastor (a bishop): is a leader of the church or flock with ALL authority:
A Deacon:
A Teacher: someone who teaches the Word of God
A teacher has no power or authority over the church or church members
An Evangelist:
An evangelist will travel from church to church. He also does not have power or authority over the church or church members
A Preacher: someone who preaches the gospel and the Word of God in churches…but it doesn't stop there. Preachers preach on the streets, in jails and prisons, in homes, and everywhere else doors are open.
A preacher has no power or authority over a church or church members.
As you can see from the Word of God these titles or offices are not one in the same. Although many call a preacher a pastor – technically a pastor can preach, but he is not a preacher. A preacher can preach, but is not a pastor.
Let’s take a look at a few men of God – called preachers in the old and new testament that were not able to be pastors (bishops).
In Ecclesiastes, Solomon is called a preacher. Clearly from the text and knowing Solomon’s life – we know he could never be a pastor (bishop) because he had more than one wife. Yet, he was used of God and called a preacher who taught and wrote some of the Word of God.
David, a king and man after God’s own heart (Act 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will), who also would not have qualified for the office of pastor (bishop). But God looked at him like no other, as a man of His own heart. Not only did David have many wives he also committed adultery with Bathsheba (Psalm 51).
Take a look at Paul in the New Testament – a man used of God to write most of the New Testament, but was called a preacher…not a pastor. Paul did not qualify to be a pastor (bishop) because he was not a husband of one wife (1 Tim 3:1-7).
Prior to Paul’s conversion, he slaughtered the Christians, beat them, and put them in prison. Although he was a Pharisee and knew the law inside and out – he was the Christian’s biggest enemy. However, God saw something in Paul that no human could ever have seen. God took a man who was a sinner, forgave him, and then sent him out to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. God forgave Paul and David as well as forgiven me.
I am in no way comparing myself to a Paul or a David – but this is why God has chosen me to preach:
Biblically I have shown that all of these offices differ one from another – they are not the same. Also, I have pulled up two old English dictionaries; one from the 12th, 13th, and 14th centuries and one from 1828 – which also show and prove that these offices are different; they are not one in the same. The bible makes it clear that they are not interchangeable.
See below for the definitions of Bishop, Pastor, Preacher, Evangelist, and Teacher
Definition from: 12th Century Old English Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Bishop: n 1. One having spiritual or ecclesiastical supervision: having authority to ordain and confirm, and typically governing a church
Definition from: 1828 edition of Noah Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language
Bishop: 1. an overseer; a spiritual superintendent, ruler or director; applied to Christ. 2. In the primitive church, a spiritual overseer; an elder or presbyter; one who had the pastoral care of a church.
Definition from 14th Century Old English Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Pastor: a spiritual overseer over a local church
Definition from: 1828 edition of Noah Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language
Pastor: 1. a shepherd; one that has the care of flocks and herds. 2. A minister of the gospel who has the charge of a church and congregation, whose duty is to watch over the people of his charge, and instruct them in the sacred doctrines of the Christian religion.
Definition from 14th Century Old English Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Preacher: a layman licensed by his church to preach
Definition from: 1828 edition of Noah Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language
Preacher: n. One who discourses publicly on religious subjects. 1. One that inculcates anything with earnestness.
Definition from 13th Century Old English Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Evangelist: a minister or layman who preaches at special meetings, an enthusiastic advocate
Definition from: 1828 edition of Noah Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language
Evangelist: 1. a preacher or publisher of the gospel of Jesus Christ, licensed to preach, but not having charge of a particular church.
Definition from 14th Century Old English Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Teacher: one whose occupation is to instruct
Definition from: 1828 edition of Noah Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language
Teacher: 1. an instructor; a preceptor; a tutor; one whose business or occupation is to instruct others. 2. One who instructs others in religion; a preacher; a minister of the gospel. The teachers in all the churches assembled themselves. 3. One who preaches without regular ordination.
Citations:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/
http://1828.mshaffer.com/
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As Paul states in Gal 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ so I should not worry about being a man pleaser.
I believe if by me preaching was going against God’s will, He would have put an end to it. It is only by the grace of God since I have been behind the pulpit at the Black Creek Baptist Church that lives are being changed. People who would not step in the church are coming. People who left after one service are staying for the next session. Youth who would rather sleep in after staying out all night are showing up at 10 am on Sunday mornings and coming to Wednesday night services. Ex-cons, drug addicts, alcoholics and ex-gang members are coming to the church and seeing someone standing up there that used to be like them and understands them. I believe (2Co 1:3-4 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.) says this would be one of the purposes I went through the things in my life so others would see the hope in Christ.
It says in Exo 3:5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. The holy ground that is spoke of in Exodus no longer exists. So whether I am preaching behind a pulpit, street curb, or behind prison bars, it is no longer holy ground. It is not a sacred thing for God – though it should be respected … the pulpit is not holy ground.
I do not agree a man living in open sin should be allowed to preach. But, I do believe a man who lived a life full of sin – that got gloriously saved and washed in the blood (the same as blood that every pastor, deacon, preacher, evangelist, and myself got washed in) and forgiven (a forgiveness that was also given to all pastors, deacons, evangelists, and myself) of all these sins, should be allowed to preach the Word of God. I did not get saved because I was a good boy and knew I needed to be saved. I lived a life full of hell and God had to open my eyes to why I needed to be saved. I got saved to a new life and beginning – an eternity in heaven – just like all my brothers and sisters in Christ. Those who are forgiven much, love much (Luke 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little).
This is not intended to stir any bad emotions or feelings or to gain any power or authority over a church, church member, pastor, etc., but to gain the acceptance of other brothers that when the Lord puts a word in our hearts whether it behind a pulpit, on the streets, or in a jail we should be able to preach to a lost and dying world.
I know that I can never be a Bishop, Pastor, or Deacon. That is not my argument or why I am writing this. But, I can preach the word as a soldier, a teacher, or an evangelist; no matter if it is at home, behind a curb, or behind a pulpit – because God has called me to go out and tell the world the Gospel. Luke 9:57-62 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
We are all washed in the same blood. We are all forgiven and made new by Christ. The blood that washed your sins also washed mine away. My sins were completely washed and forgiven, as well as yours and therefore I was made a new creature. (2Co 5:17-21 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him). We are all forgiven by the same God and we are all his children (2 Corin 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty).
This is what God has done for Dale Morey:
- Psa 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
- Isa 38:17 Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.
- Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
- Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
- Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace
- Rom 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If God does not hold my sins against me and has washed me in His blood - then why are those in this world holding my past against me and believe it is wrong for me to preach or teach the Word of God? There is no biblical backup that says that I am not able to teach or preach the Word of God.
What people fail to realize is that a pastor, deacon, teacher, evangelist, and preacher are NOT all the same offices.
A pastor (a bishop): is a leader of the church or flock with ALL authority:
- 1Ti 3:1-7 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
- Tit 1:7-9 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; Tit 1:8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
A Deacon:
- 1Ti 3:8-13 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
A Teacher: someone who teaches the Word of God
- Eph 4:11-12 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:
A teacher has no power or authority over the church or church members
An Evangelist:
- 2Tim 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
An evangelist will travel from church to church. He also does not have power or authority over the church or church members
A Preacher: someone who preaches the gospel and the Word of God in churches…but it doesn't stop there. Preachers preach on the streets, in jails and prisons, in homes, and everywhere else doors are open.
- Ecc 12:9-10 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
A preacher has no power or authority over a church or church members.
As you can see from the Word of God these titles or offices are not one in the same. Although many call a preacher a pastor – technically a pastor can preach, but he is not a preacher. A preacher can preach, but is not a pastor.
Let’s take a look at a few men of God – called preachers in the old and new testament that were not able to be pastors (bishops).
In Ecclesiastes, Solomon is called a preacher. Clearly from the text and knowing Solomon’s life – we know he could never be a pastor (bishop) because he had more than one wife. Yet, he was used of God and called a preacher who taught and wrote some of the Word of God.
- Ecc 1:1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
- Ecc 1:12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
- Ecc 12:8-10 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity. And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
David, a king and man after God’s own heart (Act 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will), who also would not have qualified for the office of pastor (bishop). But God looked at him like no other, as a man of His own heart. Not only did David have many wives he also committed adultery with Bathsheba (Psalm 51).
Take a look at Paul in the New Testament – a man used of God to write most of the New Testament, but was called a preacher…not a pastor. Paul did not qualify to be a pastor (bishop) because he was not a husband of one wife (1 Tim 3:1-7).
- 2 Tim 1:11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles
Prior to Paul’s conversion, he slaughtered the Christians, beat them, and put them in prison. Although he was a Pharisee and knew the law inside and out – he was the Christian’s biggest enemy. However, God saw something in Paul that no human could ever have seen. God took a man who was a sinner, forgave him, and then sent him out to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. God forgave Paul and David as well as forgiven me.
I am in no way comparing myself to a Paul or a David – but this is why God has chosen me to preach:
- 1Co 1:25-31 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Biblically I have shown that all of these offices differ one from another – they are not the same. Also, I have pulled up two old English dictionaries; one from the 12th, 13th, and 14th centuries and one from 1828 – which also show and prove that these offices are different; they are not one in the same. The bible makes it clear that they are not interchangeable.
See below for the definitions of Bishop, Pastor, Preacher, Evangelist, and Teacher
Definition from: 12th Century Old English Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Bishop: n 1. One having spiritual or ecclesiastical supervision: having authority to ordain and confirm, and typically governing a church
Definition from: 1828 edition of Noah Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language
Bishop: 1. an overseer; a spiritual superintendent, ruler or director; applied to Christ. 2. In the primitive church, a spiritual overseer; an elder or presbyter; one who had the pastoral care of a church.
Definition from 14th Century Old English Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Pastor: a spiritual overseer over a local church
Definition from: 1828 edition of Noah Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language
Pastor: 1. a shepherd; one that has the care of flocks and herds. 2. A minister of the gospel who has the charge of a church and congregation, whose duty is to watch over the people of his charge, and instruct them in the sacred doctrines of the Christian religion.
Definition from 14th Century Old English Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Preacher: a layman licensed by his church to preach
Definition from: 1828 edition of Noah Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language
Preacher: n. One who discourses publicly on religious subjects. 1. One that inculcates anything with earnestness.
Definition from 13th Century Old English Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Evangelist: a minister or layman who preaches at special meetings, an enthusiastic advocate
Definition from: 1828 edition of Noah Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language
Evangelist: 1. a preacher or publisher of the gospel of Jesus Christ, licensed to preach, but not having charge of a particular church.
Definition from 14th Century Old English Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Teacher: one whose occupation is to instruct
Definition from: 1828 edition of Noah Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language
Teacher: 1. an instructor; a preceptor; a tutor; one whose business or occupation is to instruct others. 2. One who instructs others in religion; a preacher; a minister of the gospel. The teachers in all the churches assembled themselves. 3. One who preaches without regular ordination.
Citations:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/
http://1828.mshaffer.com/
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As Paul states in Gal 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ so I should not worry about being a man pleaser.
I believe if by me preaching was going against God’s will, He would have put an end to it. It is only by the grace of God since I have been behind the pulpit at the Black Creek Baptist Church that lives are being changed. People who would not step in the church are coming. People who left after one service are staying for the next session. Youth who would rather sleep in after staying out all night are showing up at 10 am on Sunday mornings and coming to Wednesday night services. Ex-cons, drug addicts, alcoholics and ex-gang members are coming to the church and seeing someone standing up there that used to be like them and understands them. I believe (2Co 1:3-4 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.) says this would be one of the purposes I went through the things in my life so others would see the hope in Christ.
It says in Exo 3:5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. The holy ground that is spoke of in Exodus no longer exists. So whether I am preaching behind a pulpit, street curb, or behind prison bars, it is no longer holy ground. It is not a sacred thing for God – though it should be respected … the pulpit is not holy ground.
I do not agree a man living in open sin should be allowed to preach. But, I do believe a man who lived a life full of sin – that got gloriously saved and washed in the blood (the same as blood that every pastor, deacon, preacher, evangelist, and myself got washed in) and forgiven (a forgiveness that was also given to all pastors, deacons, evangelists, and myself) of all these sins, should be allowed to preach the Word of God. I did not get saved because I was a good boy and knew I needed to be saved. I lived a life full of hell and God had to open my eyes to why I needed to be saved. I got saved to a new life and beginning – an eternity in heaven – just like all my brothers and sisters in Christ. Those who are forgiven much, love much (Luke 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little).
This is not intended to stir any bad emotions or feelings or to gain any power or authority over a church, church member, pastor, etc., but to gain the acceptance of other brothers that when the Lord puts a word in our hearts whether it behind a pulpit, on the streets, or in a jail we should be able to preach to a lost and dying world.