Or at least, it shouldn't be. We treat it like that sometimes, don't we, though? We take the truth of 'the priesthood of all believers' - the idea that we all have equal access to God through Jesus - and make it mean that we all have equal say in the direction of our churches.
Not so.
Just as there is authority in the family, so there is in the Church. Consider God's words in Hebrews 13:17: "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls as those who will have to give account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you."
Something in us reacts against those two words I italicized, doesn't it? Maybe it's our American individualism; our democratic ways; an overextension of proper views of humanity; fear of abusers of authority...
Maybe it's just damnable rebellion, though.
Note God's reasons for our submission to church authorities: they are guarding our souls. Or in Peter's words (from 1 Peter 5), they are shepherding God's flock until the Chief Shepherd comes back. They are acting as Jesus to the rest of us, as they explain and execute God's words in the churches.
Of course they will fail to do so perfectly - indeed, entire institutions that were true churches have crumbled into stupid, self-promoting, heresy-spewing cesspools. And much less every true church - every church which proclaims the gospel - has some error in it, taught and practiced.
That, however, does not negate the command. We are under the authority of a King. He tells us to obey those he's put in charge. Let's do it - for his glory and his kingdom.
That is so true Derek. I think that people can get so caught up in a whirlwind of speculation. Sometimes we think we know how to run a church better it seems but these people are here, designated by God to lead us and Shepard his Flock. People get tripped up by every detail all the way down to what kind of music needs to be played during worship service. In reality, shouldn't we all just be glad to be worshiping Christ?
ReplyDeleteMy church is run like a democracy. In fact, the people in MOST churches have the right to fire their pastors.
ReplyDeleteAs long as the majority of the church wants it.
Brian, I seriously doubt that the Journey is congregational in its government. The membership having some recourse against potential pastoral heresy is much different from the congregation being the decision-making body.
ReplyDeleteThe question we'd need to ask is this: what sort of recourse does the typical congregant have Scripturally?