Please be reminded that I live in Galatia in the first century. I have seen Paul’s miracles first hand and know of their legitimacy. Show me another miracle worker who is doing miracles of the same quality and with the same perseverance as I have seen done by Paul… then I’ll have a quandary. Until then, the “mark” indicated by Paul would seem to be sound, but feel free to argue against Paul…just produce some of your own miracles so you can enjoy a level playing field.
So, living in Galatia in the first century, you are able to recognize that miracles, signs, and wonders are marks of authenticity to establish that someone has been sent directly by God – and that there is even a Scriptural basis for this:
(Exodus 4) 1 “But,” objected Moses, “suppose they will not believe me, nor listen to my plea? For they may say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you.’” 2 The LORD therefore asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he answered. 3 The LORD then said, “Throw it on the ground.” When he threw it on the ground it was changed into a serpent, and Moses shied away from it. 4 “Now, put out your hand,” the LORD said to him, “and take hold of its tail.” So he put out his hand and laid hold of it, and it became a staff in his hand. 5 “This will take place so that they may believe,” he continued, “that the LORD, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, did appear to you.” 6 Again the LORD said to him, “Put your hand in your bosom.” He put it in his bosom, and when he withdrew it, to his surprise his hand was leprous, like snow. 7 The LORD then said, “Now, put your hand back in your bosom.” Moses put his hand back in his bosom, and when he withdrew it, to his surprise it was again like the rest of his body. 8 “If they will not believe you, nor heed the message of the first sign, they should believe the message of the second. 9 And if they will not believe even these two signs, nor heed your plea, take some water from the river and pour it on the dry land. The water you take from the river will become blood on the dry land.”
You also recognize that Paul is an apostle; in fact, being in Galatia, you probably also understand a little Greek, so you probably also know that the word “apostle” is Greek for “sent one.” With your own ears you may even have heard Paul say that preachers must be “sent.”
Now, what does “to be sent” mean, except that someone in authority over you has conferred the privilege and authority upon you? It should go without saying that the one who confers the authority must be superior in authority to the one being commissioned, since no one can confer that which he does not possess himself. Deep down, you even know that there is a Scriptural basis for this… when King Jereboam began to rule the northern tribes of Israel, it is noted that his sin was not dividing the kingdom, but dividing the Old Testament “church” by setting up alternative places of worship, and illegitimately appointing pastors:
(1 Kings 12) 30 This led to sin, because the people frequented these calves in Bethel and in Dan. 31 He also built temples on the high places and made priests from among the people who were not Levites.
…and as I have pointed out, both Christ and Paul could perform miracles to back up their claims to authority. What have you done to determine if the CC’s claim (that its teaching is free from error) is valid or not? …tossed a coin perhaps?
So, what happened between first century Galatia and twenty-first century Great White North? The Levites claimed their authority via succession (i.e. the ordinary method of claiming authority); Moses, Jesus, and St. Paul claimed their authority via direct calling by God – and they were able to back up their extraordinary claims of authority by performing extraordinary miracles.
Does your pastor claim his office by succession (i.e. can he demonstrate that he was called by a superior authority who himself had a legitimate claim to his office)? Or does he claim his office by extraordinary calling (i.e. can he show the required signs and wonders that authenticate his ministry)? If even Jesus submitted to this proof-test, how can any mere man exempt himself from this same test, unless he wishes to say he is greater than even Jesus? On a side note, are you certain that the man who shepherds your soul is a legitimate leader? Or are you following a self-appointed shepherd who is in rebellion against God’s appointed authorities?
Scripture does not speak well of those who illegitimately take this position upon themselves. In Numbers 16, Korah set himself up as an illegitimate authority against God’s appointed authorities, and was destroyed for his audacious act.
