Leave Your Pastor - Андрей Викторович Шибанов

This scripture clearly says that there is one body, that means one church. The church is composed of disciples of Christ, where every believer is a member of the body of Christ. Church is a spiritual entity, hence it must not have its own name such as Catholic, Baptist, International Church of Christ, Church of Christ or any other name, it must not have its own building, bank account as well as a church leader, pastor and priest. Elder is the only position which was approved by apostles.

Do you think that Roman Catholicism, Baptist, ICOC and other religious organizations are the body of Christ? No, the body of Christ is the church.

And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. – Ephesians 1:22-23

The teaching about members of all religious organizations getting united into one universal church is false. The truth is that all those churches are rejected by God because each religious organization has its own doctrine contrary to the doctrine of Christ.

“To leave” the church

When a believer leaves an organization such as Roman Catholic, Baptist, ICOC or any other, it does not mean he leaves the body of Christ. To leave a human-made organization is not a sin. What a shame, you have entangled yourself with the membership! You must denounce your membership in the religious organization in order to preserve a freedom in Christ, otherwise you will be led astray by organization’s doctrine which is always contrary to the doctrine of Christ. It is better to loose your friendship with the members of this organization than to serve another god in form of a church and its doctrine.

“To move” to another church

In the same way, if someone moves from one organization to another, it does not mean a person changed a church, but an organization only. No one can change the church because there is only one church, one body. Either you belong to it or not. Don’t be deceived! The membership in any religious organization doesn’t make you a part of the body of Christ, but opposite, through membership in the religious organization you forfeit your part in the body of Christ.

Disciples of Christ must abhor the title member of a religious organization. You must not belong to any religious organization because you belong to God alone. Do not follow their sinful doctrines but follow the doctrine of Christ.

“To start” the church

How dare are you to assume that a mere man can start a church? Don’t you know that Jesus has already built His church?

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. – Matthew 16:18

If you start your church, what value in God’s eyes will it have? Neither your church nor you as the head of it will have any value. The church is a spiritual body of Christ, so neither you nor anyone else can open it up or shut it down. Some individuals indeed started such religious organizations as Catholic, Baptist, ICOC but these are not the churches.

Church leader, pastor and priest positions

Apostles referred to believers as leaders when they spoke the word of God to others:

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. – Hebrews 13:7

Anyone is free to speak the word of God, so anyone can be a leader. Do not call anyone a leader, pastor, priest, father, evangelist, deacon, preacher, etc. All these titles are synonyms of instructor and teacher:

And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. – Matthew 23:9-10

It derived from Catholic positions of priest, pope, cardinal, deacon and others. You should call each other brothers, friends, saints, believers or disciples of Christ:

But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. – Matthew 23:8

Being a leader is a gift from God, not a position:

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. – Romans 12:6-8

A leader of a small group, family group, cell group or bible talk group

Some modern religious organizations have introduced new positions of a small group leader, family group leader and bible talk leader. These positions derived from Roman Catholic deacon position. The purpose of this position is to build up a hierarchy and keep believers under control. The church leadership is getting live reports from small group leaders about what is going on in their organization. Church leaders turned a fellowship of believers into a corporation with the help of those who are called small group leaders.

Neither Jesus Christ nor apostles ever spoke about the position of a small group leader or creating such kind of hierarchy. Jesus Christ denounced the hierarchy among believers:

But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant – Matthew 20:25-26

This is an illegitimate position which is aimed to protect the interests of the organizations, not of Christ, hence you must denunciate it.

Government authorities

When church leaders have a grievance against another person, they often request government or private authorities to restrict the person's access to a meeting place. Church leaders even request building security staff to drag out those who