Who Should You Receive from—Official Ministers or Independent Ones?

I remember an occasion where I went to the hospital to visit someone. It was in the heat of the summer and so I naturally wore shorts, sandals and a t-shirt (with cut-off sleeves). By happenstance, the woman in the elevator with me was clearly a member of some religious sect in light of her apparel.

Official ministers tend to wear some outward sign that they’re a minister, like a clerical collar; not always, but more so than independent ministers. The latter tend to take the more casual approach in order to fit in à la 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. Despite our polar opposite approaches, both of us were at the hospital for the very same reason, to visit the sick and minister accordingly.

So who do you receive from — official ministers or independent ones? Why not both since the Bible includes each type in the Old and New Testaments? Learn to “eat the meat and spit out the bones,” whether you’re receiving from an official minister or an independent one. This is a modern rephrasing of something encouraged in the New Testament (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21).

Be aware of the strengths and potential weaknesses of both official and independent ministers. Reject the problematic or dubious, but receive the good. If you’re not sure something is scriptural put it on the back burner, so to speak, until you acquire more detailed information in order to draw a proper conclusion.

But don’t just blindly accept whatever your camp/sect/assembly says is true, because it might not be. Keep in mind that all fivefold ministers are human beings with individual quirks. All of them have a downside, all of them. There’s no such thing as a perfect minister, just like there’s no such thing as a perfect church/camp/sect.

However, the minister should be free of sin as a lifestyle and it’s important that they show evidence of the fruit of the spirit on a consistent basis (Matthew 7:15-23 & Galatians 5:19-23). They must be completely freed-up from major sin and, when they miss it in smaller areas, they should be humble enough to admit it and spiritual enough to quickly ’fess up, receive forgiveness, and move on (1 John 1:8-9).

If you sense in a minister an abusive, accusatory or rigidly legalistic spirit with little evidence of fruit of the spirit, head to the hills, whether it’s an official minister or an independent one. This is what Christ instructed us to do (Matthew 15:14). Since pride is sin numero uno, arrogance is the worst indicator (Proverbs 16:5 & 8:13). I’m talking about a pompous, boastful, condescending spirit that refuses to ever admit they’re wrong and loves to manipulate.

The starkest evidence of arrogance is when a supposed minister insists that only he/she and their particular group is the “one true church” and every minister/assembly outside their group is false. These types are quick to call anyone a “false teacher” who happens to disagree with their conclusions on any jot or tittle of Scripture. Of course they justify such rash pomposity under the guise of “spiritual boldness.” It’s both eye-rolling and cult-ish.

Needless to say, if you come across one of these types flee for your spiritual welfare. Even if they’re right on a particular issue, so what? Everyone is right about something. Their gross arrogance tells you everything you need to know. Leave them (Matthew 15:14).

Lastly, the doctrines (teachings) a minister teaches/preaches should be as biblical as possible because the Holy Scriptures are the LORD’s blueprint for authentic Christian doctrine and practice (1 Corinthians 4:61 & 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Ministers should be held accountable to what God’s Word teaches based on sound hermeneutics.

For biblical evidence to support both official ministers and independent ones see this article.