Local Church Discussions - View Single Post - Should Members Obey or Submit to Church Leaders?

Cal · 08-03-2012, 10:03 PM

John,

Thanks for posting. You might have saved yourself some typing by asking me to clarify myself. We tend to write in shorthand around here and I assumed readers would know the context of my statement.

The "healthy and biblical way" I was referring to was how generally evangelical churches relate to Christians teachers who do not regularly meet with the church, but may be invited to speak or teach, as opposed to how the LC does it.

In the LC, extra-church teachers--those associated with the Living Stream ministry and part of the so-called "work"--are afforded an overarching authority, though often unspoken, yet still quite powerful. By and large, LC local leaders feel compelled to receive these teachers if they say they are passing through, give them a platform, and obey them. In short, there is little filtering of what guest LSM teachers say and little freedom to question it.

In the case of non-LC evangelical churches, the local leaders have full say of whether any teacher is invited, and there is little thought that obedience to whatever the teacher says is expected. Audiences listen and evaluate for themselves. In the LC, basically you are expected to submit and obey.

I feel the latter is more biblical. If we can try apostles (Rev 2:2), we can certainly try the teachings of latter day teachers.

So, yes, my statement had a definite context. I wasn't meant to be universal. When I said most biblical, I meant in comparison to the way the LC does it. It's one of those things where if you experienced the abuse of extra-local authority in the LC you would more easily know what I meant.

BTW, my reference to submitting to one another was from Ephesians 5:21, not 1 Cor 14.

08-03-2012, 10:03 PM	#2
Cal Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: USA Posts: 4,333	Re: The Last Chaper of A Future and A Hope is now posted! John, Thanks for posting. You might have saved yourself some typing by asking me to clarify myself. We tend to write in shorthand around here and I assumed readers would know the context of my statement. The "healthy and biblical way" I was referring to was how generally evangelical churches relate to Christians teachers who do not regularly meet with the church, but may be invited to speak or teach, as opposed to how the LC does it. In the LC, extra-church teachers--those associated with the Living Stream ministry and part of the so-called "work"--are afforded an overarching authority, though often unspoken, yet still quite powerful. By and large, LC local leaders feel compelled to receive these teachers if they say they are passing through, give them a platform, and obey them. In short, there is little filtering of what guest LSM teachers say and little freedom to question it. In the case of non-LC evangelical churches, the local leaders have full say of whether any teacher is invited, and there is little thought that obedience to whatever the teacher says is expected. Audiences listen and evaluate for themselves. In the LC, basically you are expected to submit and obey. I feel the latter is more biblical. If we can try apostles (Rev 2:2), we can certainly try the teachings of latter day teachers. So, yes, my statement had a definite context. I wasn't meant to be universal. When I said most biblical, I meant in comparison to the way the LC does it. It's one of those things where if you experienced the abuse of extra-local authority in the LC you would more easily know what I meant. BTW, my reference to submitting to one another was from Ephesians 5:21, not 1 Cor 14.