I hate to sound repetitive but when you are trying to proof text your false theology you often make mistakes like this. Mattera is so focused on this world that he forgets the coming reign of Christ, which a great many scriptures deal with. Our being called priests and kings is referring of course to our status as heirs to the kingdom. Priests do not bring people to God. They dedicate their lives to Him. Did the Levites bring people to God? No, they served Him. Mattera's conclusions here are all related to his NAR dominionist belief structure. Just look at the Romans verse he cites:
For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. - Romans 5:17 (ESV)
Is this verse encouraging us to reign as kings in the marketplace or comparing the curse of death through Adam and life in Christ? To misuse this important salvation verse as Mattera does here is criminal.
"4.Most of the miracles took place outside of the synagogue. Just a cursory reading of the Gospels illustrates that most of Jesus' miracles were done outside the synagogue. Jesus preached on boats, sitting on mountains and walking in the streets. In the book of Acts, many people were saved, healed and delivered before they went into the temple or house church meeting (Acts 3:1-8; 8:1-5; 14:1-10; 19:1-23). Paul reasoned with people in the marketplace when he was in Athens, and as a tentmaker, he made friends with other tent makers and discipled them (Acts 17; 18:1-3)." - Joseph Mattera
Really. Jesus entire ministry was outside the synagogue! Not because of choice but because the powers that ran the synagogues wanted to kill him! To extrapolate that out and infer that miracles today will likewise take place outside the church should be anathema to all believers. Paul generally taught in teaching locations. I believe in the marketplace he found himself arrested. This is just absurd. Acts 17 shows Paul preaching in a synagogue in Thessalonica!
"5.Jesus told us to pray for His kingdom to come on earth. What is His kingdom? His rule emanates from the throne of God (Ps. 103:19). What is the earth? The earth includes not only every geographic area but also every sphere of life; hence, there is no separation between the church place and workplace in The Lord's Prayer." - Joseph Mattera
Jesus did NOT tell his disciples any such thing. In the Lord's prayer He prays "thy kingdom come", which is a reference to the second coming of Christ. Not this cheap imitation of setting up Christian marketplaces. His conclusions here are so obviously false. The workplace and in fact the church place are not even mentioned in the Lord's Prayer. Mattera keeps focusing on the wrong life and the wrong world.
"6.Jesus called his church to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matt. 5:13-16). Jesus did not call believers the salt and light of the church. We are called to bring God's truth to every aspect of creation. History has shown that the greatest scientists, composers, universities and hospitals came out of the church. This is why the church is called the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15)." - Joseph Mattera
Yes, we are to be salt and light to this dying world. That does not mean however that we need to establish a theocracy and conquer our workplaces for the Lord. It means we represent Christ as I outlined earlier. When the unbeliever tries to cause trouble for you, turn the other cheek so that when they need God - they will come back to you! THAT is salt and light.
