First Post kumbaya

[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by kumbaya

I don't agree. There is no "government"- just the body. The feeling of the Body of Christ should be listened to and seriously considered in most, if not every, situation. We're all members of the Body- so why are we following a few men's decisions instead of Christ in us? What is the harm at all in taking a vote? If anything, I feel if you gave people a chance the pray about it- the majority decision would be an even clearer one- right?

I believe you are correct as well as Drake, because the flow of the Spirit is likened to blood flowing in the body. There is a thing called the "feeling of the Body". For example our head makes the decisions but it values the "input" from the little toe when it gets hurt. Drake is also correct I believe for the simple reason that God is God and our opinions are sometimes more of a distraction or hindrance, and there should be some limits and controls on who can contribute to the decision making process.

Democracy is a funny thing. There is "true democracy" and there are variants of it, ranging from dictatorship-like democracy to almost anarchy. In a successful democracy there must be a limit on who can have a say and who cannot. In Roman democracy for example, a successful democracy for hundreds of years, only people of a certain class and gender could have a say. This is often both practical and necessary.

In the life of Christ, I imagine his closest 12 had the most influence over his decisions (if any). Since a larger group of disciples accompanied them beyond the 12, and then further, the crowds who were devoted to him (for his miracles or otherwise), clearly not everyone in his "church", had the ability to contribute their opinion. Christ did not, gather His disciples around and say "okay guys, I don't know what we should do tomorrow, let's take a vote". But the disciples clearly had a "vote" such as when they told Christ to send the crowds away so they could buy food. His response was "why don't you guys feed them?". This in itself is a lesson - if we contribute our opinion, be prepared to take responsibility for it. Many people in the church like to give their opinion but do not like being burdened with the responsibility of it. Maybe those who don't like what the elders are doing would like to become elders themselves and show everyone how it should be done?

[A little brother]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

I believe you are correct as well as Drake, because the flow of the Spirit is likened to blood flowing in the body. There is a thing called the "feeling of the Body". For example our head makes the decisions but it values the "input" from the little toe when it gets hurt. Drake is also correct I believe for the simple reason that God is God and our opinions are sometimes more of a distraction or hindrance, and there should be some limits and controls on who can contribute to the decision making process.

May be it's time to update the LC teaching on Nicolaitans - It's wrong to have hierarchy in the fallen Christianity, it's perfectly fine for the LC because only it is the true body of Christ.

Originally Posted by Evangelical

This in itself is a lesson - if we contribute our opinion, be prepared to take responsibility for it. Many people in the church like to give their opinion but do not like being burdened with the responsibility of it. Maybe those who don't like what the elders are doing would like to become elders themselves and show everyone how it should be done?

I am afraid this willingness to take burden is called "ambition" by WL.

There are so many double standards in the LC teachings that the "authority" can simply pick whichever to its own advantage.