Cheryl

Don,

You said:

3. I have heard that the lots MIGHT have been votes by the 11. Even if it was a random device, the Bible says “The lot is in the hands of the Lord.” so for me, the question is whether the 11 did it in faith, and I believe they did.

I too believe that the disciples did it in faith. I do not believe that God told them what to do hence their decision to cast lots (whether it was a vote or not isn’t the important thing since they were looking for guidance and a vote or a casting of the lot would have been interpreted as guidance) was not God’s choice. I sincerely believe that God allowed this example so that we could have a first-hand example of the difference between God’s choice when it comes to gifting and man’s choice. God has also given a clear indication that there was only 12 apostles so that just as you said when the actual apostles died there was no replacement for them only for the one who was not a faithful apostle, because in Revelation there are only 12 listed.

I also believe that God has given this example for us so that we can have confidence in our gifts. If we know that God has gifted us for an area but no one has voted us in, we can still pastor. I actually have been doing that for many years. For 16 years I hosted a support group for ex-JW’s in my home and I supported them in their difficult journey out of a cult and I taught them how to distinguish between true doctrine and false doctrine. This is a shepherding work and I didn’t need anyone to give me approval to do this work. We did submit to our church leadership and had the pastors in to the group to observe from time to time, but the work was being done not because any man put me in this position. I did it because I have a heart for the lost in the cults and I was compassionate with them and fed them with the truth of God’s word. This feeding and shepherding is what a pastor does and God’s calling can be followed even without a so-called church setting.