To Beard or Not to Beard, That is The Question

[Tithesmeister]

Originally Posted by Esaias

What are the guidelines for pastors or church elderships establishing extra-Biblical rules and regulations that all believers in that assembly are expected to accept and obey?

I mean, surely there are some guidelines, rules, or SOMETHING that would provide some guidance to pastors and churches to help them navigate these waters?

And, how are Christians to recognise the difference between an extraBiblical pastoral church regulation that God backs up vs an extraBiblical rule or directive that God does NOT support? I mean, how does a Christian judge the difference between a pastoral standard and a popish presumption?

Thank you Esaias for these good questions. As I’m sure you know, we DO have scriptural guidelines. There are at least three instances in the Bible where we are forbidden to add to or diminish from God’s word. One such time (in Revelation) assures us that the consequence of doing so is the removal of our name from the Book of Life. So it is very serious. According to the Bible, not my opinion.

In addition we have Paul who praised the Berean saints as more noble than the saints at Thessalonica for studying the scripture to “ see whether these things be so”. Many pastors would call rebellion, what Paul called noble.

Even the Old Testament in the Book of Proverbs advises us to be prudent. A simple man believes everything but a prudent man . . .

Proverbs 14:15

The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

Of course I realize that debate has at least two sides. So I would like for someone to post scripture saying it’s okay for a pastor to make it up, and pretend that scripture gives him authority up do so.