Originally Posted by houston (Post 1285219)

Great timing.

Originally Posted by Originalist (Post 1285222)

I couldn't help but wonder. But again, what is "submission"? How am I NOT "submitting"?

Originally Posted by Originalist (Post 1285222)

I couldn't help but wonder. But again, what is "submission"? How am I NOT "submitting"?

Originally Posted by seekerman (Post 1285237)

There is an hierarchy in our relationship with God that must be followed in order to have a proper relationship with God....

1Co 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
1Co 11:2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
1Co 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

Paul was teaching that as long as he followed Christ, then follow him. But, don't forget the head of every man is Christ, not the preacher, not the pastor or evangelist, but Christ.

When someone starts teaching pastoral authority, I don't listen to much else they have to say. That means the pastor isn't leading by example. Of course what would help tremendously is for the members of that congregation to actually study and read the bible for themselves instead of looking for a man to lord over them.

Originally Posted by Originalist (Post 1285215)

This morning, our pastor preached on the topic "Submission to authority". As with any sermon, there was some truth that could be gleaned from it. One thing I disagreed with was his view that Romans 13 is speaking of church authority. It seems pretty clear that this chapter is a general reference to civil authority.

As I listened, I wondered what had prompted him to preach this message. In the little over three years I've been a member, this is the first time I've ever heard him preach on this. One striking comment went like this....


I sat on the edge of my seat waiting for instruction in righteousness. But alas, I received none. He kept me in suspense, as so many others have done who have preached on this subject, by never really explaining what biblical submission is, and what it is not. I still have no idea was his expectations are on the matter. Another striking comment was....



How far do we take that? My AoG elders admonished my not to attend the UPC. Was I in rebellion against my authority?

On the way home, my wife and I strained our brains to think of any way Biblically that we are not in "submission" or that we might have even unknowingly undermined our pastor's authority (not that he was preaching to us).

Thoughts? Comments?