January 23, 2014
Democracy
Last year Colorado legislators
passed stricter gun control laws and people who were angered by the
restrictions responded with a first ever recall of two of the legislators. One
of the recall organizers is quoted as saying, “If the people had been listened to, these recalls wouldn’t be
happening.” I love seeing democracy being played out right before my eyes;
however, we believers sometimes drag elements of democracy into the church. Aaron
fell victim to such a predicament during the golden calf incident when he
listened to the voice of the people, rather than following God through the
voice of Moses. Church leaders today are no different than Aaron, in the sense
that they too can be pressured and burdened by the will of the people. “Obey
your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who
must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden,
for that would be of no advantage to you.” (Heb 13:17 NIV)
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Gail;
-----There is no argument that Christ is the head of the church. History owns a plentiful stash of church leaders demanding obedience, pronouncing judgments, insisting on theologies, commanding the use of church funds, property, and even congregational efforts, activities, and social events as if the entire affair is their own battalion, complete with boot camp and barracks. So, where does Jesus get to come in?
-----I suppose the most refined estimate of Jesus’ entry into the whole sordid affair is in the Holy Spirit. Of course, the Holy Spirit gave through some hearts command to other hearts. But we generally call that the Bible, for simplicity. I am sure it was a very interesting time when the New Testament was being written and accepted as Scripture. It’s like the same guys who wrote stuff for you and me to obey were there in person to speak stuff for them to obey. (Hm? Heb 13:17?) I more than chuckle at some of the wit voted into eldership and ordained into the ministry today which thinks the Holy Spirit is thusly connecting through them to command everyone else. My question to their sort is, “When are you going to pen the next chapter of the New Testament?” Of course, you never catch them making actual, verbal claim to bearing the Holy Spirit for telling you what and how to be in the body. They merely act it out and expect your obedience. It is for those who know the Word to mark them by not obeying.
-----Fifty five times the New Testament uses the Greek verb “peitho”, most every time meaning persuasion, belief, trusting, etc. Less than six times does its sense approach that of submission to prescribed authority. Its use at Heb 13:17 stands almost by itself near the pinnacle of that possibility. Its use at James 3:3 - horses obey because we put bits in their mouths, is the one time it reaches the pinnacle. Yet, even then, it connotes the persuasive root of the horse’s obedience.
-----Twenty seven times "ageomai" is used in the New Testament, mostly meaning to count or consider (Count it all joy…when you meet various trials; James 1:2) or to think (I think it right…to arouse you by way of reminder; Pet 2:13). Idiomatically, it is used occasionally to mean governor, judge, and at Heb 13:17, to rule. It is also the word used in vs. 24 ”Greet all your leaders…”
-----This “rule of the leaders" stands quite differently amongst the body than does the rule of the government at Romans 13:1-7. These two words in Hebrews are not used at Romans 13:1-7. It is almost as if the rule of our leaders is to be by the persuasion of their obedience to the Word. Note Paul’s command to the Corinthians, “If any one thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord. If any one does not recognize this, he is not recognized.” (I Cor 14:37-38) There is no postscript exempting leaders.
-----Now, in Paul’s time it was somewhat different. The Holy Spirit acted a little more directly. Ask Ananias and Sapphira, but again, don’t hurry. Paul was not only appointed by Christ Himself, he was given special training in the third heaven. He and other specifically moved-upon men wrote what we obey. So we do in a very real sense obey them, who our leaders must also obey, if they are to be leaders.
-----Some leaders' agendas are contentiously self imported. I don’t doubt their salvation. I doubt their authority. And like Paul says, I don’t recognize it. It isn’t like a democracy thing. It is more like the better everyone knows the Word of God, the more Jesus gets to lead. So, that’s what the leaders are for - teaching and leading in the Word, not in themselves.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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