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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Being a dictator ? | Jer 5:31 | DocTrinsograce | 199560 | ||
Hi, Brad... I've had to take courses on church administration. Although they were never particularly enthralling, one thing is clear: Believers have been thinking about polity for a long, long time! Scripture does not spell out every jot and tittle, consequently, the Lord has seen fit to allow us to design polities according to our best understanding of Biblical principles. (Most particularly, those come from the Pauline epistles.) It is interesting, though, how people have worked through the problem, designing synods, presbyteries, bishoprics, congregational autonomies, etc. Another thing is clear: Church polity was never designed because God's people were holy and righteous. Church polity was designed because accountability and transparency are essential in order to protect against all the corruption that arises from the human heart. An unaccountable pastor -- no matter how good his intentions -- is a recipe for disaster. Evangelicalism has countless examples of this sort of thing -- everything from churches folding, to disentanglements requiring lengthy litigation. These churches that sprout out of nowhere, eschewing church history, manifest this sort of thing all the time. They also evidence only the slimmest hold on orthodoxy, frequently, promulgating false doctrine. My opinion may be simplistic, but I suspect that all this reflects an inadequate grasp of Scripture from the onset. Dismounting the soap-box now... In Him, Doc PS Didn't we talk about something along these lines in the forum recently? Or perhaps I'm remembering a recent conversation with someone? The older I get the more it all sort of melds together! :-) |
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2 | Being a dictator ? | Jer 5:31 | BMyers | 199566 | ||
Hey Doc, I agree, without checks in place, a pastor, board, or congregation could easily run astray. It is hard for me to speak outside of my own church, because my first hand knowledge of other churches is limited. I have attended the same church for almost 38 years. Good checks and balances need to be in place. Yet I attempt to error on the side of caution when it comes to challenging the leadership of the church. Not because I'm afraid, but because these people, pastor included, have accepted the responsibility for the position. At the same time, I'm constantly comparing their actions to the Bible to make sure they are following Biblical standards. I have seen my own church struggle over what I would term "silly" things (yes I know they were important to the people involved, but in the grand scheme of things, they truly had no eternal value and did nothing to build up the kingdom of God). This is why I always tell anyone to pray and then prayer some more before dealing with a conflict. I'm one of these head strong people that will fight you tooth-n-nail just to prove that I'm right. I've had to pray a LOT to ask the Lord to work on softening that extreme. There are times and situations that call for immediate and direct action, but most call for pray and allowing the Holy Spirit to work first before I open my big mouth. Well time to head off to work. God Bless, Brad |
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3 | Being a dictator ? | Jer 5:31 | DocTrinsograce | 199578 | ||
Dear Brad, Yes, you're right that we have to be exceedingly careful when resisting authority. Given the penchant of the human heart for rebellion, we must be very wary. Only the very immature fail to always be suspicious of their own motives! On the other hand, no pastor or elder has the authority to bind our conscience beyond the explicit instruction of the Word -- although they must never neglect binding anything less! I think you are expressing the same truths as that of the old Historic Baptist divines. Chapter 26 of the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith is a full discussion of the nature of the church. Paragraph 10 states the following: "The work of pastors being constantly to attend the service of Christ, in His churches [autonomous local congregations], in the ministry of the Word and prayer, with watching for their souls, as they that must give an account to Him; it is incumbent on the churches to whom they minister, not only to give them all due respect, but also to communicate to them of all their good things according to their ability, so as they may have a comfortable supply, without being themselves entangled in secular affairs; and may also be capable of exercising hospitality towards others; and this is required by the law of nature, and by the express order of our Lord Jesus, who hath ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel. (Acts 6:4; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Timothy 5:17, 18; Galatians 6:6, 7; 2 Timothy 2:4; 1 Timothy 3:2; 1 Corinthians 9:6-14)" If you are interested, you can read the whole chapter here: http://www.vor.org/truth/1689/1689bc26.html In Him, Doc |
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