[Mrs. Don-o]

Everything you're saying here is harmonious with what I said as well. The leaders and the teachers in the Church can't just make rulings out of thin air: they have to discern what is agreeable to the Holy Spirit (as in Acts), which is another way of saying it has "already been bound in heaven." If the apostles, pastors, administrators (as listed by Paul) are "binding or loosing" something on earth, it is because "it is agreeable to the Holy Spirit and to us.." or "It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us..." or "We agree with the Holy Spirit that..."

It's not like Church authorities can force things to be bound or loosed in heaven. It is the Holy Spirit who acts in all these things.

Second: servant authority is exactly what I'm talking about. This is the kind of authority Christ gives His Church.

[CynicalBear]

>>If the apostles, pastors, administrators (as listed by Paul) are "binding or loosing" something on earth, it is because "it is agreeable to the Holy Spirit<<

No, not just "agreable". The apostles did NOT decide with agreement from the Holy Spirit. That could ONLY declare what " had already been" bound or loosed in heaven. The Greek is "will have been".

>>Second: servant authority is exactly what I'm talking about. This is the kind of authority Christ gives His Church.<<

No, the Catholic Church inserts the word " authority" which is not there in scripture nor is it inferred or implied.

[Elsie]

The leaders and the teachers in the Church can't just make rulings out of thin air: they have to discern what is agreeable to the Holy Spirit (as in Acts), which is another way of saying it has "already been bound in heaven."