[Peter Debelak]

There is a discussion on another thread about contemporary church "vetting" outside speakers. I didn't want to clog that discussion and my response is more fitting here:

This discussion seems to get at the core of questions about how to practice "church." In particular, it invokes "authority" of somekind - at least insofar as "leaders" have some authority to "shape" the message heard by the congregation - be it through vetting other messengers or through sermon choices etc...

But then, from where does that authority derive? And who does it preside over? Is it a spiritual authority? If so, is it over those in the congregation? To what extent? If it is, in fact, a spiritual - God-given - authority, does it only preside over me, a member of the congregation, to the extent that I chose to be a part of that congregation? Does it cease to be a spiritual authority, insofar as I'm concerned, if I don't attend that congregation?

The kinds of nuts and bolts questions we bring to the table in the "local ground" discussions, we also have to be willing to take forward to other contexts.

Why is it okay for "leaders" to "craft" different congregations? That sets up this scenario (and I'm not inherently opposed to it):

There's a set of "leaders" - so designated by God - who set up and "craft" different types of congregations. Sure, they're not opposed to meeting with other congregations or believers. So, they're not inherently divisive. So then, as an individual believer, I have a palate of "choices."

For me, then, it is either the case that God has a PARTICULAR congregation and "leader" he wants me to be "in" and "under," or He leaves it to my free will to choose and will work to transform me in whatever context I choose. (keep in mind, this is from the perspective of an indiviual - I'm not taking a position on whether God Himself has a "preferred" congregation writ large).

The thing with this scenario is it suddenly redefines the believers experience by placing the "group experience" first. Your personal faith is defined vis a vis the group you do or do not join and the leaders who craft them. "Groups" become the default measuring stick and sharpening stone of one's faith. Even if not the "point," they do become the starting point. I'm not sure if I'm communicating this concern accurately... Ugh!

In any case, what does this say about "spiritual authority"? What does it say about the Biblical examples of Paul appointing elders or instructing others on the same? Are these chalked up to being "one time deals" since there is no present day Paul? We either have to take these seriously or contextualize the Bibilical pattern. If we choose to contextualize this particular Biblical pattern, should we in the same light be more scrutinizing of the other ways in which we cling to Bibilical patterns as definitive?

There are a lot of Bibical ways to undermine the "ground of locality" teaching. But the alternative present state outside of the "ground" leaves a lot of unanswered Biblical questions as well.

Thoughts?