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<blockquote data-quote="vantexan" data-source="post: 4370204" data-attributes="member: 24302"><p>True, but here&#039;s the difference.&nbsp; The Bible specifies specific leadership roles.&nbsp; If you have a thousand members they can&#039;t all be those leaders.&nbsp; They can certainly talk to others but if they have employment a major contribution they make is to the collection so that the work of the Church can be accomplished.&nbsp; It&#039;s not necessary for all members to be leaders.&nbsp; It&#039;s fine to be a follower striving to lead the Christian life.&nbsp; But those who seek to hold office within the Church have responsibilities, and that&#039;s not to have million plus dollar monuments to ourselves built along with fat salaries for public speaking.&nbsp; The work of the Church is to preach to the lost that there is salvation in Christ.&nbsp; And to see to the needs of congregants in need.&nbsp; In that vein it is redistribution of wealth.&nbsp; That doesn&#039;t mean everyone is equal financially as the wealthy give away everything.&nbsp; It means to make sure widows and orphans have food, clothing, and shelter within reason.&nbsp; These days if a 25 year old lost her husband that might mean helping with funeral expenses or paying a month or two worth of utilities.&nbsp; I think the Bible generally is referring to much older women who&#039;s husband had died and she had no support.&nbsp; Different world back then and it&#039;s the elders&#039; job to do what&#039;s best for the congregation in today&#039;s circumstances.&nbsp; If the world sees the needy being taken care of by a congregation that cares it will draw them to Christ.&nbsp; Which is pretty much the point.</p></blockquote><p></p>

[QUOTE="vantexan, post: 4370204, member: 24302"] True, but here's the difference. The Bible specifies specific leadership roles. If you have a thousand members they can't all be those leaders. They can certainly talk to others but if they have employment a major contribution they make is to the collection so that the work of the Church can be accomplished. It's not necessary for all members to be leaders. It's fine to be a follower striving to lead the Christian life. But those who seek to hold office within the Church have responsibilities, and that's not to have million plus dollar monuments to ourselves built along with fat salaries for public speaking. The work of the Church is to preach to the lost that there is salvation in Christ. And to see to the needs of congregants in need. In that vein it is redistribution of wealth. That doesn't mean everyone is equal financially as the wealthy give away everything. It means to make sure widows and orphans have food, clothing, and shelter within reason. These days if a 25 year old lost her husband that might mean helping with funeral expenses or paying a month or two worth of utilities. I think the Bible generally is referring to much older women who's husband had died and she had no support. Different world back then and it's the elders' job to do what's best for the congregation in today's circumstances. If the world sees the needy being taken care of by a congregation that cares it will draw them to Christ. Which is pretty much the point. [/QUOTE]

Verification