Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Working In The Kingdom Under The Authority Of The Church


Hebrews 13:7- Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct

17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.


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Many Christians have an independent spirit and think they can take it upon themselves to be Bible teachers without being under the authority of the Church. Many I find do this since they either do not understand nor do not hold a bibilcal respect for ordination.

This is sad since Christ heads His church calling men (Acts 14; 1 Tim. 3) into the ministry for the purpose of administering keys of the kingdom (the Word and the sacraments).

Now, what this means is simply that you and I do not have equal authority in explaining the Word as does an ordained minister. We are told that we cannot have our private interpretation nor our own authority. We are not to take the word and administer it as a personal thing outside of the authority of the church. However, it can be done under the ordained authority of the church, with the imput and direction of the ordained leaders. We can teach a study but not just do so because we “feel like it” and not take the direction of the church that is for sure.


Now for example, older women teaching younger women: A mother does not have the right to teach her daughter what she thinks. She, or an older woman’s group in the church, must not teach a young woman anything that is out of line with the church, that is outside of its teaching in morality and truth (doctrine). Nor can men just teach what they think or want to.


Anyone seeking to instruct through blogging, chat room ownership, writing books, etc. must do this under the leadership of the Church. The ministers have the administration of the keys of the kingdom.


When this is understood God’s people will minister under the authority of Christ and questions concerning whether women should be blogging, running a chat room or teach young women will be less likely to arise.

.This is not against the great teaching of the priesthood of the believer. Actually the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers does not give a license to be a vigilante Christian. As priests in the Kingdom of God we are under the headship of Christ, who leads the church with and under ordained authority.

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