CS, why not just do this....
walk up to the person who has RULE over you and OBEY whatever they tell you to do!
Then just rest in knowing you have done all the God expects you to do.
I am having supper with my pastor tonight.
I do what he tells meto do.
The deal is, he respects me and my walk with God, and basically offers guidance when he feels it is needful.
If for whatever reason he felt to give me some strong admonition, I would receive it and obey him, unless he told me to do something that was unscriptural.
But I trust him and know him well enough to know that he won't do that.
I frankly think we are making this whole thing very complicated...
I frankly think there are some who choose to interpret scriptures to fit their desire to be free agents with no pastoral influence in their lives. It seems that most who are opposed to non-hierarchical servant leadership are also opposed to other divine plans of order in the home, the workplace and society in general.
Submission often seems to be a foreign word in their vocabulary. They say they are submitted to God and God alone. It certainly frees them up to do what they please since there is no premise from which to argue whether or not God told them to do or not do something. They essentially become gods unto themselves and they are subject to every wind of false doctrine that comes wafting on the wind.
this is just my opinion and is certainly open for attack. I don't feel responsible to defend it so I shan't. That is my prerogative because I am not subject to any man's will or wishes.
The deal is, he respects me and my walk with God, and basically offers guidance when he feels it is needful.
If for whatever reason he felt to give me some strong admonition, I would receive it and obey him, unless he told me to do something that was unscriptural.
But I trust him and know him well enough to know that he won't do that.
I'm with Barb, this is being overcomplicated.
I understand that if you believe that ONE guy who you acknowledge as your pastor tells you you need to move from where you are, you need to move. Afterall, that's what obedience is all about!
No body has to OBEY their guides. They need to thoughtfully and soberly consider the qualifications of their guides and the witness of their guide's counsels.
But following is all about free choice when it comes to a guide.
Not following a ruler is all about rebellion.
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Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath [James 1:19]