tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643715.post118256843584006130..comments2023-06-09T12:46:12.932-04:00Comments on The Voice Of One Crying Out In Suburbia: On authority or the lack thereofArthur Sidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03848508095612688493noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643715.post-4707295300751688252009-12-14T04:10:24.202-05:002009-12-14T04:10:24.202-05:00Great post Arthur. The issues surrounding spiritua...Great post Arthur. The issues surrounding spiritual authority in church have been a problem for us for a few years now. We believe firmly that elders are to lead the church in making decisions, not impose on the church decisions elders have made in isolation. Our own recent failure to 'toe the line' and to admit to being '100% in the wrong' on this issue has lead to us being labelled as 'unable to accept authority', 'trouble-makers', 'disobedient' and 'unpastorable'. Most of this was due to some relatively young and inexperienced 'elders' lacking the wisdom of how to gently encourage fellow believers and resorting instead to various forms of compulsion. They had honest and well meaning intentions, but in my view sadly became abusive due to a misunderstanding of spiritual authority. <br />As believers WE ALL need to re-examine what we believe in the areas of authority, servanthood and humility and how they apply to our dealings with one another and to leadership in the church.Goblinnoreply@blogger.com