[Drake]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

To paraphrase Lee, it goes something like this -

Consider the shoulder and the arm. The shoulder is higher than the arm, the function of the shoulder is to lead or "tell" the arm to move. The arm cannot move without the shoulder. The shoulder is higher (in function) but not more important than the arm. If the shoulder thinks it is more important than the arm, this is hierarchy.

In the church there is no problem with the "shoulder" members telling the "arm" members to move. The problem is if the "shoulders" think they are more important than the "arm" as evidenced by, for example:

special privileges, eg places of honor, etc (Luke 14:8)
ruling over and flaunting authority (Matt 20:25).

The shoulder may think it has the authority over the arm and can rule over it. Actually the shoulder can be considered the arm's servant and vice versa.

Excellent.