Replies

I am a member of an independent baptist church. The scriptures tell us that the pastor is our authority. Now if he does or says something I personally don't think is scriptural and a serious error, I can go before the congregation and state my case. I believe they would then vote on what is right, then take approprite action. If I didn't like the way the vote went I could change churches.

I hope that I would be a big enough person to admit I was wrong if it was shown to me that I was, things like that are hard to say till you've been there.

I know I recently had a question about topic that I did not realize at the time was a sore spot between the Sunday School teacher and our preacher. I asked the question to them both together, and well, all h--l broke loose. The Sunday School Teacher left the church and took half the people with him. It was a very crushing experience, but I had to agree with the answer that the preacher gave, he backed it up with scripture. Any way, I believe the pastor is in authority of his church under Christ.

Becky

I hope that I would be a big enough person to admit I was wrong if it was shown to me that I was, things like that are hard to say till you've been there.

And that, my friend, is precisely the key. We are supposed to mold our will to match God's Will. One of our biggest sins if our propensity to alter God's will to match our own (it makes things so much easier on us). If I am the interpreter of Scripture (or I get to pick the pastor that I will give that authority to), that sin is too easy to fall into.

I have recently been called to the mat by SoothingDave regarding Catholic teachings with regard to Mary. I still have some disagreements, but I was clearly wrong on one key point and I don't understand why the Church teaches what it does. The easy thing would be for me to decide that the Church was in error (and possibly mold God's teachings to my own beliefs by doing so) or accept that I am not the author or interpreter of Scripture. It's hard (I'm an egotistical son-of-a-gun), but I know what the right answer is.

I am a member of an independent baptist church. The scriptures tell us that the pastor is our authority. Now if he does or says something I personally don't think is scriptural and a serious error, I can go before the congregation and state my case. I believe they would then vote on what is right, then take approprite action. If I didn't like the way the vote went I could change churches.

Scripture please? I recall a passage where Jesus says "take it to the Church" and if the person still won't listen "treat him like a tax collector." Jesus doesn't say "find a church more suitable to your taste."

I know I recently had a question about topic that I did not realize at the time was a sore spot between the Sunday School teacher and our preacher. I asked the question to them both together, and well, all h--l broke loose. The Sunday School Teacher left the church and took half the people with him. It was a very crushing experience, but I had to agree with the answer that the preacher gave, he backed it up with scripture. Any way, I believe the pastor is in authority of his church under Christ.

That is certainly traumatic. I am sorry for any pain this may have caused you.

SD