tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9141409251694792478.post8436602666642868228..comments2023-10-11T09:52:47.915-04:00Comments on Geoffrey Janes: Visions from GodGeoffrey Janeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10679933687034473802noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9141409251694792478.post-12628322420582299422008-03-20T12:26:00.000-04:002008-03-20T12:26:00.000-04:00Great question Stephen. Actually the Bible is qui...Great question Stephen. Actually the Bible is quite clear on the relationship of the congregation to the pastor of the local church.<BR/>The Bible uses the terms shepherd, overseer, and elder as well. These are all terms that describe the role a pastor is to play in the church he leads.<BR/><BR/>1 Thess. 5:12-13 says "Now we ask you, brothers, to give recognition to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work."<BR/><BR/>The idea here is that we are to recognize their leadership and honor and follow that leadership.<BR/><BR/>Hebrews 13:7 says to remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you.<BR/><BR/>You can read the book of Acts and see the development of the leadership structure within the church. Men were gifted, called, and appointed by God to become leaders within the church.<BR/><BR/>But we have to be careful - 1 Peter 5reminds those leaders that they are not to be overbearing, but to rule over the flock with love.<BR/><BR/>More specific to our situation, however, is the fact that many have signed a membership covenant before God stating that they will do the four things mentioned in this post, yet have not. I do not claim that a pastor has authority over all people, only over those who choose to submit to the authority of that local church. Once you agree to join a church, and agree to what it means to join that church, it follows that you are submitting to the authority of those God has placed in leadership over that churchGeoffrey Janeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10679933687034473802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9141409251694792478.post-12789099209864831662008-03-20T11:20:00.000-04:002008-03-20T11:20:00.000-04:00Hey Pastor Geoffrey, what scripture do you use to...Hey Pastor Geoffrey, what scripture do you use to support that the local pastor has authority over us?My name is Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10178301799666029378noreply@blogger.com