Paula

Arlene,

That’s all true. But who in the church has been given authority over another? The question isn’t how an alleged authority is carried out, but whether there is such a thing in the first place.

If Christians had authority over other Christians, then of course we’d expect rulers to rule well. But the scriptures never give any one Christian authority over another, nor any group of Christians authority over others. There is leadership by example, and if Jesus’ example is to be followed by all (which I believe it is), then all should lay aside power and command in favor of humble service. We are told that it is wise to follow the spiritually mature, to copy their behavior, and to listen to those who “rightly divide the Word of truth”. But there are not commands to obey rulers.