The Right Reverend Ryan Hoover:

Defender of Truth and Justice

It’s been a while since I last heard from my friend, Ryan Hoover. We had started out studying together online then he got sidetracked with his wife and child. Then I got this e-mail from him:

Ryan: Good news, Chris! I’ve become an ordained minister online so I can baptize my daughter, Rachel. Now with your help I can be Rev. Ryan Hoover, defender of Truth and Justice.

After almost choking on my soda, I wrote back this response:

Chris: You forgot to add “The American Way” to your superhero title. That’s exactly what you sound like. First off, I myself had become an ordained minister online for the same reason, baptizing my daughters. Before you mention teaming up let me explain further. The ordaining of myself became a kick-start for me to read the Bible so I could write sermons. In the process, I came across a site called “Truth for the World” which gave me an extensive study on the truth of the scriptures. I learned that baptism was for those who believe in God (Mk. 16:16) and those who are sinners (Acts 2:38). Your daughter is not old enough to believe nor does she understand sin. So she does not need to be baptized. I also found the congregation that I attend through the website and it has shown me I do not need to be a pastor to preach.

Secondly, the use of titles before one’s name is for those who think themselves better than the rest. If you read Matthew 23, you’ll learn that Jesus condemned the use of titles. Scribes and Pharisees used them to get what they wanted. Verse 11-12 says, “11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

“For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. 27. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ. 28. There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one `man' in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3: 26-28) No one is greater than another. To use such a title is to elevate you above all others. Paul, Peter, Timothy and the others were apostles and preached the gospel but none of them used a title such as Reverend or Pastor or even Priest. God is the only one who should be shown reverence, “He hath sent redemption unto his people; He hath commanded his covenant for ever: Holy and reverend is his name.”(Ps. 111:9) And Jesus is our high priest, “5. So Christ also glorified not himself to be made a high priest, but he that spake unto him, Thou art my Son, This day have I begotten thee 6. as he saith also in another `place,' Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek.” (Heb. 5: 5-6)

A couple days later I got this response:

Ryan: Oops!! I guess I made a big mistake! Thanks for pointing this out before I made a fool of myself. I got carried away because we are planning on moving upstate and Regina’s father doesn’t want us to. He’s been pressuring Regina to have Rachel baptized by him into his church so we have to stay. When I found I could be a minister online, I jumped at the chance to do it so I could baptize her myself.

Here’s my reply:

Chris: Being that Regina’s father is a pastor and that he baptizes children, he doesn’t fully understand the scriptures. Look at my article entitled, “Sin is not hereditary” on my website. When a person is baptized, they are not automatically a member of that church or ANY church except that of the Body of Christ. Look at Eph. 1: 22-23, “22. And he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, 23. which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” You are added to the Lord’s church, the Kingdom of God. Read Acts 2 for Peter’s first gospel sermon. After you are baptized, then you choose the congregation you want to be a part of. Just because you are baptized at one location doesn’t make you a member there. Also remember that there will be divisions between you and Regina’s family. From her father’s point of view you aren’t doing the right thing. But if you stick with the scriptures and follow them then you will be fine.

Ryan’s next reply was that he and his family (wife and daughter) were moving up to the suburbs of Cleveland, OH. He explained what I told him to Regina’s father only to fan the flames. Jesus said, “34. Think not that I came to send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35. For I came to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law: 36. and a man's foes `shall be' they of his own household. 37. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matt. 10: 34-37) Not all families agree with what the scriptures say nor do they all agree with each other on beliefs. This is the very reason why there are so many denominational churches in existence. Only one church was originally built in which Jesus paid for in blood. (Matt. 16:18; Acts 20:28)

NOTE: Ryan Hoover is a fictitious character created and loosely based on my personal experiences. These articles are to show life of those outside of the church who learn the truth.