Well, the early Jews didn't see it that way. They wanted a mere mortal on their throne. Saul was chosen. After going through a series of good and bad kings, they finally reverted to their pagan ways, rejected the King of Kings, and were ruled over by the kings of Babylonia, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome, in that order.

And the church? Your church? Is the cry still out there? Give us something to "make us normal." Give us something to help us grow. Give us musicians that will draw attention. Give us a fiery-mouthed orator that will land us on TV weekly. Give us the best building there ever was. Give us a god to worship. As for our real leader, we don't know where he is...

Well, He's still at the top of the mountain. Waiting for His people to cry out for Him. And incredibly, some really do. And those individuals and churches that find Him also find that they do not need a "king." A dictating pastor. A salaried professional who is paid to do all the ministering in the church.

Did you know that the church in the Book is never described as having a single pastor? I don't mean un-married; I mean, alone. Pastors, or elders, or bishops (the terms are synonymous) were always spoken of in the plural.

Oh my, what have I said now? The truth, I think. Timothy and Titus were not pastors in the modern sense. They traveled with Paul in thge apostolic band. Until Paul said, Stay here awhile, build the church. Appoint a leadership, that is, elders, plural. When they are in place, join us again...

No career pastor mentioned in Scripture? Not that I know of.

But a flock needs a shepherd. Uh-huh, just what Rome has been saying to us. And what do we say? Jesus is the shepherd of the flock. That church, sir, is not yours after all.

What would happen if the pastors-plural- of a church got together and cried out to God for His leadership in such a way that He would lead! What if the decisions were made by His perfect guidance through the Spirit and the Word? What if the question, Who is the greatest in our church, never had to be dealt with?

Am I dreaming again? Thought sure it was a Bible idea I was getting. Your responses are welcome. Peppered with Scriptures and love, of course.

One afterthought. The guys really leading (and yes, they were all guys, sorry) that early church were the apostles. But of course we can't have apostles today.

Today, in those places where the Gospel is being introduced, we have missionaries. Hmmm. Where'd that word come from?

Answer: The Latin language. Put it in the Greek, then bring it back to English, and voila! you really do have apostles today.