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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | I can use Galatians 4:16 as a support. | 1 Tim 5:19 | TTime | 184377 | ||
Where are scriptures to support having to confront leadership or authority? I recall I believe there was a time when Peter had to confront authority... | ||||||
2 | I can use Galatians 4:16 as a support. | 1 Tim 5:19 | jonp | 184386 | ||
Hi You have asked a difficult question :-))). Presumably you are referring to confronting those who have been set in authority over the church. One problem clearly is that most of our information is provided by those who were in authority. Paul spoke as one who was set over the churches mainly because he established the churches. He did not tend to exercise his authority outside those churches. We must be very careful how we undermine authority. 'The powers that be are ordained of God', whether civil or ecclesiastical (Romans 13.1-10). Undermining them can have serious consequences. Of course both Jesus, and the Apostles in Acts confronted religious authorities, but they did it not by rebelling against them, but by positive proclamation of the truth. Jesus was always careful to support 'the establishment' as such, but not at the expense of truth. What He spoke up against was hypocrisy and teaching contrary to the Scriptures. The same was true of the prophets. We must beware of causing splits or disharmony over secondary matters which may seem primary to us but are not really so. Of course where there is open sin, then the course is clear. It must first be dealt with on a personal level, then by consulting with others, especially those respected in leadership, and then finally by consulting the church (Matthew 18.15-17). It is salutary to recognise that your very question indicates the difficulty of genuinely finding Scriptures to support your case. The great reformers of history did not usually set out to attack authority as such but to win authority over. It was the authorities who caused the schism by throwing them out. Of course we can find individual exceptions, but on the whole this was true. (And the fact that a man was greatly used of God does not necessarily mean that he was always right. There are many cases of those who acted and regretted it later). Yet there can be no doubt that situations can arise when some kind of action is necessary, although even then the answer is often better found by approaching some other authority, and must certainly be accompanied by much prayer. We must not be seeking our will but His will. What we do have to consider is the long term effects of what we are doing on others besides ourselves. What we must ever remember is that love is the fulfilment of the Law. Best wishes Jonp | ||||||
3 | I can use Galatians 4:16 as a support. | 1 Tim 5:19 | TTime | 184464 | ||
Greetings Jonp, I believe that as with Moses, we should ALL strive to walk up right according to the word of God...and as Moses job was to sanctify God in the eyes of the people and therefore, as a parent I strive to represent Christ and set an example for my children. I guess I would best describe how my children would feel if they heard there parents who represent Christ was caught hanging out in bars with their peers, not witnessing, but socializing. Also, I think that one should not try to condemn or change, correct the word of GOD just to try to justify themselves. I find that the most conflict I run into is folk who simply want to do what they want to do. God Bless! |
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4 | I can use Galatians 4:16 as a support. | 1 Tim 5:19 | jonp | 184484 | ||
Hi Thank you for your note. I had read you original question as signifying that you had problems with the leadership of your church as a whole. Later notes have revealed that you had one particular person in mind whose life was inconsistent with his profession of the Gospel. That is clearly a very different issue, and I actually agree with what you say :-))). Your course in that case would be to follow Jesus' instructions in Matthew 18.15-17, keeping in mind 1 Timothy 6.17-20. Best wishes Jonp | ||||||
5 | I can use Galatians 4:16 as a support. | 1 Tim 5:19 | TTime | 184499 | ||
Greetings Jonp, I appreciate your words, completely. Again, there have been several faithful people, who truly love the Lord leave the ministry, because in their words, they were getting off the "merry-go-round. It has been utterly difficult to try to invite people to come to the ministry, because they use "blatant hypocrisy" as an excuse. Now I have been this way for a long time, and I realize that folk will always use excuses, but my thing is as a previous real estate agent...I use to tell my landlord, if the tenant is complaining about the leaky faucet, as a reason to not pay rent...."FIX THE LEAK"! Again, I just think we should all try to represent Christ and his word at all times.... God Bless |
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