Paul Burleson

My opinion only, obviously, but no one has authority BECAUSE they hold an office as I see the text of scripture properly understood. That is foreign to the New Testament. Paul the Apostle himself had to defend his Apostleship and did it, not on the basis of the office itself but by virtue of it being the work of the Spirit having set him aside for it. [He requested them to see the work of the Spirit in it. No work of the Spirit no Apostolic authority.] 1Tim. 5:17 says the same thing in speaking of those Elders that “give oversight well”….”are worthy of double honor.” It is that “give oversight well” that is the reason for any authority they might have. I would call it the ‘annointing of the Spirit.”

But in our culture the ‘office’ of Elder or Pastor oftentimes carries a status or position with perceived authority along with it that has even some legal authority in the minds of the people of our culture. [Performing marriages for example.] We understand that. But that is far removed from biblical reality as described in the previous paragraph. I can understand how a non-believer might make that mistake. For a Pastor or Elder to make the same mistake [authority by virtue of the office] is unfortunate and a genuine forgetfulness of the nature of servanthood in the New Testament.