The Man Made Pulpit of Power- Part 1

Nehemiah 8:4,5

4And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

5And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:

Lets look at a common practice that pastors are using all across America. They are standing behind a pulpit and using it as a power and control tactic, and it's a man made tradition to do so. 

Matthew 15:3

“But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?”  

Why do you think these pastors like the pulpit? Again, it's all about power and control.  These pastors (bishops) stand up there and scream and make all sorts of gestures and it's all a show. This is not of God and they act like the pulpit gives them some sort of special authority to say and act how they choose. What if after the message was over I started yelling at people like the pastor did when he was behind the pulpit? The people would think I'm crazy and out of line, but yet  when someone gets behind the pulpit all of sudden it's ok to act out foolishly. They hoot and hollar and hack away as though God wanted them to do that. 

Proverbs 15:14

“The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.” 

Proverbs 19:3

“The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.” 

These lording over bishops are being foolish and God is going to judge them. 

In Nehemiah God told Ezra to stand on a pulpit of wood for this particular purpose of making sure the people heard him and I assure you it wasn't a show of foolishness. 

This one man behind a pulpit is so far from the truth of God and yet America is full of pulpit idolatry.

1 John 5:21

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” 

Corinthians 10:14

“Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.”

Again, the pulpit makes the ones behind feel like they have some sort of authority by God.

Matthew 28:18

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

2 Corinthians 2:9

“For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.”

1 Thessalonians 4:8

“He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.”

Elders are to rule well and that doesn't mean usurp your authority behind a wooden box (pulpit). 

1 Timothy 5:17

“Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.”

Acts 14:23

“And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.”

Acts 20:28

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

These same men who preach behind a pulpit also add extra biblical rules that are in fact, NOT biblical. 

Revelation Chapter 22

¹⁸ For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

¹⁹ And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book.

Deuteronomy 4:2

“Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.”

I hope you see that a one man pastor is not biblical nor does it line up with God's word. Every man and woman serving Christ should be held accountable by one another.

Romans 14:12

“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

Luke 17:3

“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.”

1 Thessalonians 5:11

“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”

Matthew Chapter 12

³⁶ But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

³⁷ For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

May this article encourage you to seek the truth and follow God and not man.