Quote:
Originally Posted by Igzy
Autonomous simply means self-ruling. In the case of an individual Christian, it means we each have the right to make our own decisions. In the case of local churches, it means no one from the outside has the right to come in and take over.
I think this is pretty clearly the way God set things up.
Autonomy does not mean that individuals and churches are not required to be open to fellowship. But, ultimately, each individual and church is allowed to be self-governing, for better or for worse. The Bible gives none of us the right to rule over another, except in very narrow contexts.
In the case of churches, ministries or movements, if you decide to be a part of any of those, you should respect the existing leadership. If as a member you feel to suggest reforms, that is okay. But if you cannot co-exist with the group, you don't have the right to wrest control of the group by force or intimidation. You should simple go in peace.
The same principle applies from the topside. Though there is one Body, there are not authorities in the Body. There are only authorities in groups. So a church outsider, however qualified, does not have the right to come into a church and take over, claiming apostleship or whatever.
God has called us to peace. We should minister to churches, not push them around. If you are an traveling preacher (apostle) then preach. Don't assume you can dictate to elders what they can do. If you are a member, support. If either of you isn't happy, move on. There are lots of churches. Maybe you'll find one that will listen to you.
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"Don't assume you can dictate to elders what they can do. "
Statements like this, if taken to the extreme, contradict the evidence of the apostle Paul, who clearly "dictated" to elders and churches what they should do:
Titus 1:5 "The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you."
Here Paul left Titus to follow what Paul charged him to do and resolve the unfinished business.
Here Paul lays down the "rules" for an elder:
1 Tim 3:2
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
So on the one hand yes an outsider should not tell elders what to do. But clearly this does not mean they are completely disconnected and completely autonomous, or "self ruling".
Clearly in the early church they were not completely self-ruling otherwise Paul would have let the churches appoint their own elders and would not have given instructions to the elders.
Nowhere in the bible does Paul say "let the elders decide for themselves, it's completely their decision". Paul had a ministry from the Lord and part of his job was to care for the churches. Caring for the churches included being involved in their affairs, which may have been perceived by some within those churches as outside interference - 2 Tim 1:15 You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
Somewhere there is a balance between complete self ruling and complete dictatorship. A genuine church or churches will strive to get the balance right. But a person who holds to either extreme e.g. baptist (self-ruling) or Catholic (complete dictatorship) would likely find fault with any churches attempting to strike the right balance and only see the black or white aspects.