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NASB | 1 Timothy 5:19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Timothy 5:19 Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it is based on [the testimony of at least] two or three witnesses. [Deut 19:15] |
Bible Question: 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... |
Bible Answer: 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 |