AN OLD PASTOR’S POINT OF VIEW
It has been told, many years ago, the Nicotani a religious priestly group among the Cherokee American Indians were a mystical group of whom the people stood in great awe. No one seems to know how they came to power, or how long they maintained it, but over a period of time, they became haughty, impudent, and overbearing to an intolerable degree. Finally, the priestly cult went too far.
A brave young warrior who was well liked by the tribe was married to a young lady of remarkable beauty. While the warrior was away hunting, his beautiful wife was forcible taken and sinfully violated by one of the Nicotani.
When the hunter returned to find his wife abused, he gathered the people together and they were in great anger to what had happened while he was away. However, many had suffered summarily but had done nothing for fear of the religious priestly cult that ruled over them. Therefore, nothing was ever done until this aroused this young warrior who encouraged the rest to stand for what is right and not allow this to happen ever again. He became a voice of opposition to how this great priestly group was harming the people.
Under the leadership of this brave warrior the people rose up and killed every NIcotani. Thus ended a hereditary secret society, (a priestly cult through family ties). After this, no hereditary privileges in the priesthood were tolerated among the Cherokee Indians. Therefore, the priestly functions were assumed by individual Medicine Men with a spirit to help the people.
Geronimo an Apache Indian was such a Medicine Man and a real warrior for his people.
WHAT ABOUT THE CHURCH TODAY?
Today in the church, the pulpit is not passed on by natural genealogy, but by a call of God. Otherwise, it will become another cult like the Nicotani who ruled the people religiously by fear. To lead the church by biological birth is the leadership of man and not the Holy Spirit. This reflects Catholic doctrine and is rebuked by scripture as the doctrine of the Nicolaitans which God hates. It is placing the priesthood between man and God, giving the clergy certain rights and all the while denying the common people their God-given rights. Nicolaitanism leads to the doctrine of Balaam which is denominationalism and substitutes other things in place of the Word of God. It is wrong no matter how gifted the leadership may be and God clearly hates it and so do those that follow His Word (Revelation 2:15).
THE CHURCH IS NOT CONTROLLED BY A FAMILY PRIESTHOOD.
Churches are not to be controlled by a certain family, politics, money or the strength and ability of a man or his family. We do not believe in Apostolic Succession. The church leadership is not to control the people by fear or political authority but by the Word.
The truth is that GOD, NOT MAN has set His leaders in the church to guide the people by the Word of God. God chooses them, the nobodies, the weak and the unschooled. That is the reason He chose the shepherds. The shepherds understood lambs, they could understand the God-lamb in their midst, the Word made flesh.
GOD HAS ALWAYS CHOSEN THE WEAK TO LEAD HIS PEOPLE.
Out of weakness and humility God chooses Pastor’s and ministries to build up and strengthen the Saints of His Kingdom. It is those that have been weak and rejected and cast out by the world, and the know-it-nothings. That is why the Lord chose twelve ordinary men as the foundation for His Church, men that were different naturally and unlikely to be spiritual leaders. Yes, some of them were family and working partners, others were publicans and sinners, but none belonged to a priestly family.
William Branham speaking of Moses being called to deliver the children of Israel from Egypt’s bondage had to meet God in a burning bush experience. It had to be more than a job, hobby or a call from grandma but something burning like a fire in Him. He first ran from it with all the qualifications to succeed and failed. But when he met Christ on the backside of the desert he could go and succeed.
Pastor Bill Ivy, Living Word Tabernacle, Campbell Missouri www.livingwordtabernacle.com