God's Word is literally filled with fearsome WARNINGS to any and all who would presumptuously SET THEMSELVES UP as "teachers" of the people, when God has not specifically PLACED them in that office!
THERE IS NOT ONE SINGLE EXAMPLE — ANYWHERE IN THE BIBLE, WHERE A CALLED AND CHOSEN SERVANT OF GOD CAME FORWARD AND VOLUNTEERED FOR THE OFFICE!
Some, however, who are always looking for ways to GET AROUND the set and established ways of their Creator and RULER, want to "have their own way," and so try to achieve their wrong goals by wrong means!
Frequently, some will get a certain "feeling" they are being called to the ministry! Setting their heart on the ministry, they DECIDE God has called them to be His stewards — and try to maneuver THEMSELVES IN!
Frequently, some will get a certain "feeling" they are being called to the ministry! Setting their heart on the ministry, they DECIDE God has called them to be His stewards — and try to maneuver THEMSELVES IN!
Notice, they have NOT been trained — have NOT fulfilled the divinely imposed Scriptural qualifications, have NOT been observed, tested and proved by God's true ministers — they merely "make up their minds" and then VOLUNTEER!
Others have a "dream" and then come to the ministers, telling them God is calling them to the ministry! But WHO HAD THE DREAMS IN THE BIBLE? The one being called? Or the human instrument used in the actual calling?
God's true servants are not called by weird dreams and visions which God keeps HIDDEN from His already — called and ordained officers of the church.
A lay member will not be called to the ministry without the MINISTERS being the FIRST ONES TO RECOGNIZE IT — BEFORE THE LAY MEMBER EVER DOES!
But — as is nearly ALWAYS the case when a presumptuous person tries to USURP authority, he repudiates the office of the one in the already — established position, aid accuses that person of having arrogated the office to himself!
Satan "volunteered" to take over the office of God! All the FALSE prophets set themselves up, claiming to be the true Prophets of God!
Any person who tries to arrogate to himself an office of the ministry joins ranks with Korah, with Adonijah and all the false prophets, with Simon Magus and with Satan the devil himself!
-Garner Ted Armstrong
-Good News
-December 1964
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