LOS PRINCIPIOS BÍBLICOS DE LA AUTORIDAD

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I. Introducción

La autoridad es un principio importante en la vida. Hay solamente dos formas de proceder en la vida. Bien reconocemos autoridad, o actuamos como menciona en Jueces 21:25: “cada uno hacía lo que bien le parecía.”

II. ¿Qué es autoridad?

Es el derecho de declarar qué es correcto o incorrecto y el poder de dirigir.

III. Los principios de autoridad

A. ¿De dónde viene la autoridad?

Indudablemente, en todo caso, la autoridad pertenece al dueño. En este caso, toda autoridad pertenece a Dios, porque Él es el autor de todo, porque hizo el mundo por medio de Su Hijo, como podemos ver por medio de los siguientes versículos:

Génesis 1:1 En el principio creó Dios los cielos y la tierra.

Juan 1:1-3 En el principio era el Verbo, y el Verbo era con Dios, y el Verbo era Dios. 2 Este era en el principio con Dios. 3 Todas las cosas por él fueron hechas, y sin él nada de lo que ha sido hecho, fue hecho.

Salmos 100:1-3 Cantad alegres a Dios, habitantes de toda la tierra. 2 Servid a Jehová con alegría; Venid ante su presencia con regocijo. 3 Reconoced que Jehová es Dios; El nos hizo, y no nosotros a nosotros mismos; Pueblo suyo somos, y ovejas de su prado.

Estos versículos lo dicen todo. Dios es dueño y, por tanto, tiene toda autoridad. Esto indica que no hay autoridad verdadera que no venga de Él. Es imposible que el hombre legítimamente tenga autoridad si no le ha sido dado por Dios.

B. ¿Cómo y bajo qué circunstancias ha dado Dios autoridad a otros?

1. En el Antiguo testamento, Dios dio cierta autoridad limitada a hombres para que proclamen su palabra y para ver que su voluntad sea hecha, como profetas, jueces, y finalmente reyes. Uno tiene que entender que la autoridad de tales personas fue limitada a simplemente llevar a cabo lo que Dios dijo que hagan.

2. En el Nuevo testamento, vemos lo mismo. Cristo, durante de su vida en la tierra, declaró:

Juan 12:47-50
Al que oye mis palabras, y no las guarda, yo no le juzgo; porque no he venido a juzgar al mundo, sino a salvar al mundo. 48 El que me rechaza, y no recibe mis palabras, tiene quien le juzgue; la palabra que he hablado, ella le juzgará en el día postrero. 49 Porque yo no he hablado por mi propia cuenta; el Padre que me envió, él me dio mandamiento de lo que he de decir, y de lo que he de hablar. 50 Y sé que su mandamiento es vida eterna. Así pues, lo que yo hablo, lo hablo como el Padre me lo ha dicho.

Cristo dijo que su autoridad vino de su Padre. No reclamaba derecho ni tenía deseo de cambiar nada del mensaje que su Padre le había mandado que hable, porque sabía que el mandamiento de Dios es vida eterna para los que obedecen.

Más tarde, después de su muerte y resurrección, Cristo declaró:

Mateo 28:18-20
…Toda potestad me es dada en el cielo y en la tierra. 19 Por tanto, id, y haced discípulos a todas las naciones, bautizándolos en el nombre del Padre, y del Hijo, y del Espíritu Santo; 20 enseñándoles que guarden todas las cosas que os he mandado; y he aquí yo estoy con vosotros todos los días, hasta el fin del mundo. Amén.

Esta declaración muestra claramente que Dios ha dado a Cristo toda autoridad para actuar por Él en todo. Esto tiene que ser así hasta que el mundo finalice. Dice 1 Corintios 15:24-28:

24 Luego el fin, cuando entregue el reino al Dios y Padre, cuando haya suprimido todo dominio, toda autoridad y potencia. 25 Porque preciso es que él reine hasta que haya puesto a todos sus enemigos debajo de sus pies. 26 Y el postrer enemigo que será destruido es la muerte. 27 Porque todas las cosas las sujetó debajo de sus pies. Y cuando dice que todas las cosas han sido sujetadas a él, claramente se exceptúa aquel que sujetó a él todas las cosas. 28 Pero luego que todas las cosas le estén sujetas, entonces también el Hijo mismo se sujetará al que le sujetó a él todas las cosas, para que Dios sea todo en todos.

Cuando Cristo venga y tenga su victoria completa sobre sus enemigos, este mundo será destruido y Cristo llevará a su iglesia para estar con Él en el cielo donde estará por toda la eternidad. Y, el reino será entregado a su Padre. Es interesante notar que hay todavía algo que no está bajo control de Cristo, eso es el Padre. Cristo todavía sigue dirigiendo según los deseos de su Padre.

El Espíritu explica esto en 1 Corintios 11:3: “Pero quiero que sepáis que Cristo es la cabeza de todo varón, y el varón es la cabeza de la mujer, y Dios la cabeza de Cristo.” Así vemos que Cristo, en todo lo que hace, sigue siendo sujeto a su Padre, aunque reina sobre todo. Esto es un principio importante que nos ayudará más tarde a entender un concepto muy importante en cuanto de la autoridad limitada que Cristo da a hombres para que ellos ayuden a su pueblo.

3. Dios da a ciertos hombres responsabilidad y autoridad sobre las naciones de la tierra.

Romanos 13:1-6
1 Sométase toda persona a las autoridades superiores; porque no hay autoridad sino de parte de Dios, y las que hay, por Dios han sido establecidas. 2 De modo que quien se opone a la autoridad, a lo establecido por Dios resiste; y los que resisten, acarrean condenación para sí mismos. 3 Porque los magistrados no están para infundir temor al que hace el bien, sino al malo. ¿Quieres, pues, no temer la autoridad? Haz lo bueno, y tendrás alabanza de ella; 4 porque es servidor de Dios para tu bien. Pero si haces lo malo, teme; porque no en vano lleva la espada, pues es servidor de Dios, vengador para castigar al que hace lo malo. 5 Por lo cual es necesario estarle sujetos, no solamente por razón del castigo, sino también por causa de la conciencia. 6 Pues por esto pagáis también los tributos, porque son servidores de Dios que atienden continuamente a esto mismo.

De esto, aprendemos que cuando Dios da responsabilidades, también da la cantidad de autoridad limitada necesaria para llevar a cabo lo que Él ha mandado. Tomando este caso de las autoridades en las naciones como ejemplo, podemos ver que la autoridad que Dios da a los hombres no es autoridad absoluta, sino la autoridad para cuidar de la gente por quienes son responsables y llevar a cabo su voluntad. Sería injusto que Dios diera responsabilidad sin que diera, también, la autoridad limitada necesaria para llevar a cabo lo que les ha mandado.

Pero, nos notamos que esta autoridad es limitada, porque las autoridades no tienen derecho de mandar algo que esté en contra de los mandamientos de Dios. Para entender esto más claramente, vemos el ejemplo de Pedro y Juan, respondiendo a las autoridades en Jerusalén. Esto encontramos en Hechos 4:19-20:

…Juzgad si es justo delante de Dios obedecer a vosotros antes que a Dios; 20 porque no podemos dejar de decir lo que hemos visto y oído.

4. Dios ha dado a los esposos autoridad sobre sus esposas para cuidarlas:

Efesios 5:22-24
22 Las casadas estén sujetas a sus propios maridos, como al Señor; 23 porque el marido es cabeza de la mujer, así como Cristo es cabeza de la iglesia, la cual es su cuerpo, y él es su Salvador. 24 Así que, como la iglesia está sujeta a Cristo, así también las casadas lo estén a sus maridos en todo.

Esta escritura indica que la esposa debe seguir las instrucciones de su esposo para que él pueda cuidar de ella. Pero, esta autoridad es para proteger y ayudar a su esposa. No significa que el esposo tiene derecho de mandar que la esposa desobedezca a Dios para complacerle a él. Tampoco debe de usar su autoridad sin consideración o en una forma brusca.

1 Pedro 3:7

7 Vosotros, maridos, igualmente, vivid con ellas sabiamente, dando honor a la mujer como a vaso más frágil, y como a coherederas de la gracia de la vida, para que vuestras oraciones no tengan estorbo.

También en Colosenses 3:19: “Maridos, amad a vuestras mujeres, y no seáis ásperos (o amargos) con ellas.”

5. Pasa lo mismo con los padres de familia. Dios nos dice en Colosenses 3:20: “Hijos, obedeced a vuestros padres en todo, porque esto agrada al Señor.” Pero, se sobreentiende que ningún padre tiene derecho de mandar que el hijo haga su voluntad solamente porque es padre, sino debe crearlos con las instrucciones que vienen de Dios. Tampoco, no debe exasperar a sus hijos por tener una dura o tener una actitud demasiado exigente hacia ellos como dice Colosenses 3:21: “Padres, no exasperéis a vuestros hijos, para que no se desalienten.”

6. Los predicadores y maestros tienen que tener un “así dice el Señor” para todo lo que ellos instruyen. Sin esto, no tienen ninguna autoridad. No tienen derecho de enseñar o dirigir, aparte de lo que el Espíritu nos da en la Biblia.

2 Timoteo 4:1-4 Te encarezco delante de Dios y del Señor Jesucristo, que juzgará a los vivos y a los muertos en su manifestación y en su reino, 2 que prediques la palabra; que instes a tiempo y fuera de tiempo; redarguye, reprende, exhorta con toda paciencia y doctrina. 3 Porque vendrá tiempo cuando no sufrirán la sana doctrina, sino que teniendo comezón de oír, se amontonarán maestros conforme a sus propias concupiscencias, 4 y apartarán de la verdad el oído y se volverán a las fábulas.
Hablar más allá de la palabra es enseñar mandamientos de hombres que siempre han separado a las personas de Dios. Como dice Mateo 15:7-9:

7 Hipócritas, bien profetizó de vosotros Isaías, cuando dijo: 8 Este pueblo de labios me honra; Mas su corazón está lejos de mí. 9 Pues en vano me honran, Enseñando como doctrinas, mandamientos de hombres.

7. En cuanto a los ancianos es igual. Dios ha dicho en Hebreos 13:17:

Obedeced a vuestros pastores, y sujetaos a ellos; porque ellos velan por vuestras almas, como quienes han de dar cuenta; para que lo hagan con alegría, y no quejándose, porque esto no os es provechoso.

También en 1 Pedro 5:2-3:
Apacentad la grey de Dios que está entre vosotros, cuidando de ella, no por fuerza, sino voluntariamente; no por ganancia deshonesta, sino con ánimo pronto; 3 no como teniendo señorío sobre los que están a vuestro cuidado, sino siendo ejemplos de la grey.

Tito 1:7-11 dice:
Porque es necesario que el obispo sea irreprensible, como administrador de Dios; no soberbio, no iracundo, no dado al vino, no pendenciero, no codicioso de ganancias deshonestas, 8 sino hospedador, amante de lo bueno, sobrio, justo, santo, dueño de sí mismo, 9 retenedor de la palabra fiel tal como ha sido enseñada, para que también pueda exhortar con sana enseñanza y convencer a los que contradicen. 10 Porque hay aún muchos contumaces, habladores de vanidades y engañadores, mayormente los de la circuncisión, 11 a los cuales es preciso tapar la boca; que trastornan casas enteras, enseñando por ganancia deshonesta lo que no conviene.

Ancianos, entonces, guían en solamente dos maneras:

Por su enseñanza de la palabra de Dios (…retenedor de la palabra fiel…para exhortar con sana enseñanza y convencer a los que contradicen Tito 1:9).

Por su ejemplo (1 Pedro 5:3 no como teniendo señorío sobre los que están a vuestro cuidado, sino siendo ejemplos de la grey.)

Al final y al cabo, cada persona está sujeta a la ley de Dios, por esto cada persona tiene la responsabilidad de saber la palabra.

Si uno pudiera seguir a Dios por mandado de otros, entonces solamente algunos tendrían que saber la palabra, y los otros pudieran simplemente seguir a ellos.

Pero, según el plan de Dios, cada uno tiene que saber la palabra de Dios, y es responsable por su obediencia a Dios por medio de su conocimiento de los mandamientos de Dios, y cada uno será responsable en el día de juicio por su obediencia a estos mandamientos.

Hemos aprendido en esta lección que Dios siempre ha dado cierta autoridad limitada a personas a quienes él tenía la intención de usar para el bienestar de otros. Este poder era preciso para que tales personas puedan ayudar a la gente.

Cuando Dios da una responsabilidad, también da la autoridad limitada necesaria para que la persona llevara a cabo lo que Dios le manda, sean gobernantes, esposos, padres de familia, predicadores y maestros, o ancianos de la iglesia de Señor. Fallar en cooperar con tales personas para lo bueno siempre ha provocado la ira de Dios, porque es lo mismo que oponerse a Dios.

En cuanto a la autoridad dada a los ancianos, Dios nunca ha dado a tales personas el poder de hacer decisiones ni pronunciamientos aparte de la palabra de Dios ni guiar por su propia voluntad aparte de la enseñanza de la Escritura.

La enseñanza de la palabra de Dios y el ejemplo del anciano muestra la manera que debemos vivir, y con gusto el cristiano verdadero sigue.

Ancianos verdaderos nunca intentarán a imponer sus propios gustos ni deseos en otros, ni menos mandar por virtud de su posición, sino más bien, los ancianos confíen en la palabra de Dios para toda las decisiones que hay que tomar, y muestran abiertamente las razones bíblicas para todo lo que recomiendan, y convencen a todos en cuanto de la importancia de obedecer a Dios así.

Ser anciano no da derecho de proceder como uno quiere y dominar a otros, más bien, Dios encarga a cada anciano el deber de convencer a sus hermanos con la palabra de Dios y mostrar el camino por su ejemplo, para que los hermanos sigan unidos bajo la dirección de Dios.

La única autoridad absoluta pertenece a Dios, Padre. ¡Él es todo en todos! La autoridad que Dios ha dado a hermanos es solamente para que ayuden a otros a saber la voluntad de Dios y obedecer a él, no para que impongan su propia voluntad. Cada cristiano sigue directamente responsable a Dios para saber y llevar a cabo lo que él nos ha dicho.

TENER UN PLAN DE ESTUDIO LISTO – ¿POR QUÉ?

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Efesios 6:15 y calzados los pies con el apresto del evangelio de la paz.
Apresto: preparar, alistar algo.

1 Pedro 3:15
sino santificad a Dios el Señor en vuestros corazones, y estad siempre preparados para presentar defensa con mansedumbre y reverencia ante todo el que os demande razón de la esperanza que hay en vosotros;

1 Pedro 2:9
Mas vosotros sois linaje escogido, real sacerdocio, nación santa, pueblo adquirido por Dios, para que anunciéis las virtudes de aquel que os llamó de las tinieblas a su luz admirable;

1 Timoteo 3:15
para que si tardo, sepas cómo debes conducirte en la casa de Dios, que es la iglesia del Dios viviente, columna y baluarte de la verdad.

OPCIONES:

1. Estudios realizados por otros que uno ha aprendido bien y puede presentar (sermón, folleto, estudios publicados)

2. o crear su propio plan. Frecuentemente, la persona usa varios planes prestados de otros, y entonces a base de lo que haya aprendido, se lanza a hacer uno propio.

¿QUÉ COSAS DEBE CONTENER UN PLAN?

A. Debe crear en la persona la confianza que la Biblia es la única autoridad.
B. Asegurar que la persona comprenda que necesita recibir el perdón de
pecados y tener una relación con Dios.
C. Enseñar claramente el plan de Dios para la salvación.
D. Animar a la persona a obedecer.

HAY VARIAS FORMAS DE PREPARAR ESTUDIOS

A. Cadena de referencia.
B. Tarjetas de apuntes
C. Esquema
D. Texto completo
E. Estudios electrónicos (páginas web, blog, videos)

MATERIALES REQUERIDOS

Los materiales requeridos dependerán del tipo de estudio que elija hacer:

Cadena de referencias: lápiz o bolígrafo, una concordancia bíblica o un programa de computadora o teléfono para buscar versículos, y un plan de estudio.
Para usar este método, uno debe marcar en su Biblia un primer versículo como punto de inicio, luego cerca de ese versículo, escribir el siguiente libro, capítulo, y versículo que hay que estudiar. Así un versículo lleva a otro y se continúa hasta completar todos los versículos del estudio que quiere enseñar. Para enseñar a otro, uno sigue esta cadena de referencias hasta terminarlas todas.

Tarjetas de apuntes: varias tarjetas en blanco aproximadamente 10 por 15 cm o 4 por 6 pulgadas, una Biblia y concordancia o computadora o teléfono para buscar versículos y un plan de estudio. En cada tarjeta de apuntes se escribe un un aspecto importante del estudio con los versículos necesarias.

Esquema en papel: una Biblia, y concordancia o computadora o teléfono para buscar versículos, un plan de estudio, papel y bolígrafo. Para hace un estudio de este tipo, uno escribe los ideas que va a presentar en frases cortas en forma organizada y los versículos bíblicos que son necesarios para explicar a cada idea.

Texto completo: difiere del esquema solo en un aspecto: la lección está escrita completamente, palabra por palabra, y también todos los versículos que serán necesarias usar para explicar cada punto.

Estudios electrónicos: requieren una concordancia bíblica o un programa de computadora o teléfono para buscar versículos, un plan de estudio, una computadora, herramientas de programación y mucho tiempo y esfuerzo para aprender cómo presentarlo utilizando tecnologías avanzadas.

Todos estos métodos comparten algo en común, la necesidad de un plan de estudio. Comience ahora a pensar qué incluir en el suyo.

VERSÍCULOS SOBRE LA CORRECCIÓN Y LA DISCIPLINA EN LA IGLESIA

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Hágase Su Voluntad En Cuanto de la Corrección Espiritual En las Congregaciones.

1 Corintios 5

1 De cierto se oye que hay entre vosotros fornicación, y tal fornicación cual ni aun se nombra entre los gentiles; tanto que alguno tiene la mujer de su padre. 2 Y vosotros estáis envanecidos. ¿No debierais más bien haberos lamentado, para que fuese quitado de en medio de vosotros el que cometió tal acción,
3 Ciertamente yo, como ausente en cuerpo, pero presente en espíritu, ya como presente he juzgado al que tal cosa ha hecho. 4 En el nombre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, reunidos vosotros y mi espíritu, con el poder de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, 5 el tal sea entregado a Satanás para destrucción de la carne, a fin de que el espíritu sea salvo en el día del Señor Jesús. 6 No es buena vuestra jactancia. ¿No sabéis que un poco de levadura leuda toda la masa? 7 Limpiaos, pues, de la vieja levadura, para que seáis nueva masa, sin levadura como sois; porque nuestra pascua, que es Cristo, ya fue sacrificada por nosotros. 8 Así que celebremos la fiesta, no con la vieja levadura, ni con la levadura de malicia y de maldad, sino con panes sin levadura, de sinceridad y de verdad. 9 Os he escrito por carta, que no os juntéis con los fornicarios; 10 no absolutamente con los fornicarios de este mundo, o con los avaros, o con los ladrones, o con los idólatras; pues en tal caso os sería necesario salir del mundo. 11 Más bien os escribí que no os juntéis con ninguno que, llamándose hermano, fuere fornicario, o avaro, o idólatra, o maldiciente, o borracho, o ladrón; con el tal ni aun comáis. 12 Porque ¿qué razón tendría yo para juzgar a los que están fuera? ¿No juzgáis vosotros a los que están dentro? 13 Porque a los que están fuera, Dios juzgará. Quitad, pues, a ese perverso de entre vosotros.

Cuando uno rechaza participar en la corrección de su hermano, es envanecido.
Debe de ser hecho en el nombre de Jesucristo y con el poder del Señor Jesucristo.
Debe de hacerse todos reunidos.
Su propósito es la salvación de la persona y la pureza de la iglesia.
Este es un caso donde el pecado está a la vista, público. No un caso donde todavía falta establecerse los hechos con testigos.
No tratamos de aplicar esta corrección a los que no son de la iglesia del Señor.

Mateo 18:11-22

11 Porque el Hijo del Hombre ha venido para salvar lo que se había perdido. 12 ¿Qué os parece? Si un hombre tiene cien ovejas, y se descarría una de ellas, ¿no deja las noventa y nueve y va por los montes a buscar la que se había descarriado? 13 Y si acontece que la encuentra, de cierto os digo que se regocija más por aquélla, que por las noventa y nueve que no se descarriaron. 14 Así, no es la voluntad de vuestro Padre que está en los cielos, que se pierda uno de estos pequeños. 15 Por tanto, si tu hermano peca contra ti, ve y repréndele estando tú y él solos; si te oyere, has ganado a tu hermano. 16 Mas si no te oyere, toma aún contigo a uno o dos, para que en boca de dos o tres testigos conste toda palabra. 17 Si no los oyere a ellos, dilo a la iglesia; y si no oyere a la iglesia, tenle por gentil y publicano. 18 De cierto os digo que todo lo que atéis en la tierra, será atado en el cielo; y todo lo que desatéis en la tierra, será desatado en el cielo. 19 Otra vez os digo, que si dos de vosotros se pusieren de acuerdo en la tierra acerca de cualquiera cosa que pidieren, les será hecho por mi Padre que está en los cielos. 20 Porque donde están dos o tres congregados en mi nombre, allí estoy yo en medio de ellos. 21 Entonces se le acercó Pedro y le dijo: Señor, ¿cuántas veces perdonaré a mi hermano que peque contra mí? ¿Hasta siete? 22 Jesús le dijo: No te digo hasta siete, sino aun hasta setenta veces siete.

Esfuerzos tienen que ser hechos para ganar al hermano.
Dos o tres testigos son necesarios para establecer los hechos.
Una persona disciplinada no se le acepta más en obra para trabajar, hasta que se arrepienta.

Cuando lo hacemos según la palabra de Dios, Dios lo está haciendo, no nosotros. Estamos reconociendo lo que Dios ha hecho.
Tenemos que ser listos para recibir cuando la persona se arrepienta y reconoce su mal, no importa cuantas veces tengamos que perdonar.

1 Timoteo 5:20

A los que persisten en pecar, repréndelos delante de todos, para que los demás también teman.

Finalmente debe ser hecho delante y en la presencia de todos los hermanos.
La corrección así ayuda a otros para que sepan no hacer tales cosas malas.

1 Timoteo 1:19-20

manteniendo la fe y buena conciencia, desechando la cual naufragaron en cuanto a la fe algunos, 20 de los cuales son Himeneo y Alejandro, a quienes entregué a Satanás para que aprendan a no blasfemar.

El propósito es para que la persona aprenda hacer mejor.

Tito 3:10-11

10 Al hombre que cause divisiones, después de una y otra amonestación deséchalo (rechazar, evitar), 11 sabiendo que el tal se ha pervertido, y peca y está condenado por su propio juicio.

Hay los que tienen sus propios ideas y opiniones y no se sujetan a la palabra de Dios.
Dos esfuerzos deben hacerse para animarles que se sujetan a la palabra de Dios y no pongan énfasis en sus propios opiniones y preferencias.
Si no quieren dejar de causar divisiones, deben ser rechazados y evitados para que su influencia mala no haga más daño.

Romanos 16:17-18

17 Mas os ruego, hermanos, que os fijéis en los que causan divisiones y tropiezos en contra de la doctrina que vosotros habéis aprendido, y que os apartéis de ellos. 18 Porque tales personas no sirven a nuestro Señor Jesucristo, sino a sus propios vientres, y con suaves palabras y lisonjas engañan los corazones de los ingenuos.

Al igual que en Tito 3:10-11, Pablo, con la autoridad de Cristo, les dice a los hermanos en Roma que debemos notarnos de los que causan divisiones.
Cuando las personas ponen más énfasis en sus propias ideas que en la unidad del pueblo de Dios, causan tropiezos, es decir que causan que otros fallen en cuanto de la fe.
Su influencia es dañina y persuadan a otros que sigan sus ideas.

2 Tesalonicenses 3:10-15
10 Porque también cuando estábamos con vosotros, os ordenábamos esto: Si alguno no quiere trabajar, tampoco coma. 11 Porque oímos que algunos de entre vosotros andan desordenadamente, no trabajando en nada, sino entremetiéndose en lo ajeno. 12 A los tales mandamos y exhortamos por nuestro Señor Jesucristo, que trabajando sosegadamente, coman su propio pan. 13 Y vosotros, hermanos, no os canséis de hacer bien. 14 Si alguno no obedece a lo que decimos por medio de esta carta, a ése señaladlo, y no os juntéis con él, para que se avergüence. 15 Mas no lo tengáis por enemigo, sino amonestadle como a hermano.

Uno no debe seguir en compañerismo con tal persona que sigue en lo malo.
Debemos seguirle amonestando, no como a un enemigo, sino como hermano, según haya oportunidad.

2 Timoteo 4:1-4

1 Te encarezco delante de Dios y del Señor Jesucristo, que juzgará a los vivos y a los muertos en su manifestación y en su reino, 2 que prediques la palabra; que instes a tiempo y fuera de tiempo; redarguye, reprende, exhorta con toda paciencia y doctrina. 3 Porque vendrá tiempo cuando no sufrirán la sana doctrina, sino que teniendo comezón de oír, se amontonarán maestros conforme a sus propias concupiscencias, 4 y apartarán de la verdad el oído y se volverán a las fábulas.

La corrección debe hacerse siempre.
La corrección debe hacerse con paciencia.
Debe de hacerse con la enseñanza de la palabra de Dios.
Debe hacerse para que las personas no se extravíen y se pierden.

Hebreos 3:6-15

6 pero Cristo como hijo sobre su casa, la cual casa somos nosotros, si retenemos firme hasta el fin la confianza y el gloriarnos en la esperanza. 7 Por lo cual, como dice el Espíritu Santo: Si oyereis hoy su voz, 8 No endurezcáis vuestros corazones, Como en la provocación, en el día de la tentación en el desierto, 9 Donde me tentaron vuestros padres; me probaron, Y vieron mis obras cuarenta años. 10 A causa de lo cual me disgusté contra esa generación, Y dije: Siempre andan vagando en su corazón, Y no han conocido mis caminos. 11 Por tanto, juré en mi ira: No entrarán en mi reposo. 12 Mirad, hermanos, que no haya en ninguno de vosotros corazón malo de incredulidad para apartarse del Dios vivo; 13 antes exhortaos los unos a los otros cada día, entre tanto que se dice: Hoy; para que ninguno de vosotros se endurezca por el engaño del pecado. 14 Porque somos hechos participantes de Cristo, con tal que retengamos firme hasta el fin nuestra confianza del principio, 15
entre tanto que se dice: Si oyereis hoy su voz, No endurezcáis vuestros corazones, como en la provocación.

Hay que estar al tanto de la condición espiritual de los hermanos.
La exhortación tiene que ser continua, para que las personas nos se vuelven resistentes por el engaño del pecado.

Hebreos 12:15-23

15 Mirad bien, no sea que alguno deje de alcanzar la gracia de Dios; que brotando alguna raíz de amargura, os estorbe, y por ella muchos sean contaminados; 16 no sea que haya algún fornicario, o profano, como Esaú, que por una sola comida vendió su primogenitura. (Génesis 25:29-34; Génesis 27) 17 Porque ya sabéis que aun después, deseando heredar la bendición, fue desechado, y no hubo oportunidad para el arrepentimiento, aunque la procuró con lágrimas. 18 Porque no os habéis acercado al monte que se podía palpar, y que ardía en fuego, a la oscuridad, a las tinieblas y a la tempestad, 19 al sonido de la trompeta, y a la voz que hablaba, la cual los que la oyeron rogaron que no se les hablase más, 20 porque no podían soportar lo que se ordenaba: Si aun una bestia tocare el monte, será apedreada, o pasada con dardo; 21 y tan terrible era lo que se veía, que Moisés dijo: Estoy espantado y temblando; 22 sino que os habéis acercado al monte de Sion, a la ciudad del Dios vivo, Jerusalén la celestial, a la compañía de muchos millares de ángeles, 23 a la congregación de los primogénitos que están inscritos en los cielos, a Dios el Juez de todos, a los espíritus de los justos hechos perfectos,

Tenemos que mirar bien, y estar al tanto.
Una persona que esconde el pecado en su vida es peligrosa, ya que su influencia hace daño a otros.
(En cuanto de las palabras raíz de amargura, véase Deuteronomio 29:18-19a:
18 No sea que haya entre vosotros varón o mujer, o familia o tribu, cuyo corazón se aparte hoy de Jehová nuestro Dios, para ir a servir a los dioses de esas naciones; no sea que haya en medio de vosotros raíz que produzca hiel y ajenjo, 19 y suceda que al oír las palabras de esta maldición, él se bendiga en su corazón, diciendo: Tendré paz, aunque ande en la dureza de mi corazón,…)

A veces hay los que saben lo que Dios dice, pero determinan seguir haciendo como les parece. Tales personas sirven de tropiezo y mala influencia en la iglesia.

La iglesia pertenece a Dios y, como tal, es demasiado importante para que aquellos que no toman suficientemente en serio las cosas espirituales le falten al respeto.

Gálatas 6:1-3

1 Hermanos, si alguno fuere sorprendido en alguna falta, vosotros que sois espirituales, restauradle con espíritu de mansedumbre, considerándote a ti mismo, no sea que tú también seas tentado. 2 Sobrellevad los unos las cargas de los otros, y cumplid así la ley de Cristo. 3 Porque el que se cree ser algo, no siendo nada, a sí mismo se engaña.

Los que intentan ayudar a sus hermanos que han fallado en cuanto a la fe deben ser los que han aprendido la palabra de Dios y han cambiado su forma de ser para que sea de acuerdo con ella (los que son espirituales).
Su intento debe ser restaurar a la persona al estado de fidelidad a Dios.
Los que intentan restaurar a los hermanos tienen que ser personas que se pongan bajo el control de Dios y saben tratar a otros con el respeto debido.
La persona que busca restaurar a otro tiene que ser una persona que con humildad se examina a sí mismo y reconoce que él también es una persona de carne y hueso y como tal es propenso a fallar.
Debemos estar listos para ayudar a otros con sus luchas para hacer lo que es correcto en la vida, y aun cuando algunos fallan, hacer lo que podemos para restaurarlos. Hacer esto es mostrar el amor en la manera como Dios manda que lo hagamos. Si creemos que estamos en mejores condiciones espiritualmente que otro, pero no amamos a nuestro hermano suficientemente para esforzarnos a restaurarle cuando se ha caído, estamos engañándonos a nosotros mismos.

LA IGLESIA DE CRISTO ES UN CUERPO

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1 Corintios 12:12-27

Porque la Iglesia Es Un Cuerpo, Están A La Vista Siete Principios:

12 Porque así como el cuerpo es uno, y tiene muchos miembros, pero todos los miembros del cuerpo, siendo muchos, son un solo cuerpo, así también Cristo. 13 Porque por un solo Espíritu fuimos todos bautizados en un cuerpo, sean judíos o griegos, sean esclavos o libres; y a todos se nos dio a beber de un mismo Espíritu.

1. El cuerpo se coordenada porque todos obedecen a Cristo, la única cabeza.

Colosenses 1:15-19

15 El es la imagen del Dios invisible, el primogénito de toda creación. 6 Porque en él fueron creadas todas las cosas, las que hay en los cielos y las que hay en la tierra, visibles e invisibles; sean tronos, sean dominios, sean principados, sean potestades; todo fue creado por medio de él y para él. 17 Y él es antes de todas las cosas, y todas las cosas en él subsisten; 18 y él es la cabeza del cuerpo que es la iglesia, él que es el principio, el primogénito de entre los muertos, para que en todo tenga la preeminencia; 19 por cuanto agradó al Padre que en él habitase toda plenitud,

1 Corintios 12:14-19

Además, el cuerpo no es un solo miembro, sino muchos. 15 Si dijere el pie: Porque no soy mano, no soy del cuerpo, ¿por eso no será del cuerpo? 16 Y si dijere la oreja: Porque no soy ojo, no soy del cuerpo, ¿por eso no será del cuerpo? 17 Si todo el cuerpo fuese ojo, ¿dónde estaría el oído? Si todo fuese oído, ¿dónde estaría el olfato? 18 Mas ahora Dios ha colocado los miembros cada uno de ellos en el cuerpo, como él quiso. 19 Porque si todos fueran un solo miembro, ¿dónde estaría el cuerpo?

2. Nadie debe sentirse menos porque no hace exactamente lo mismo que otro hace. Dios nunca aprobó un sistema de clero y laicos donde todos dependen en el profesional. Todos trabajamos, haciendo lo que podemos y mejorando nuestras capacidades por medio de estudio y práctica y todos dependemos de lo que otros hacen. Cada uno debe ser confiable y, a la vez, dependiente.

1 Corintios 12:20-25

Pero ahora son muchos los miembros, pero el cuerpo es uno solo. 21 Ni el ojo puede decir a la mano: No te necesito, ni tampoco la cabeza a los pies: No tengo necesidad de vosotros. 22 Antes bien los miembros del cuerpo que parecen más débiles, son los más necesarios; 23 y a aquellos del cuerpo que nos parecen menos dignos, a éstos vestimos más dignamente; y los que en nosotros son menos decorosos, se tratan con más decoro. 24 Porque los que en nosotros son más decorosos, no tienen necesidad; pero Dios ordenó el cuerpo, dando más abundante honor al que le faltaba, 25 para que no haya desavenencia en el cuerpo, sino que los miembros todos se preocupen los unos por los otros.

3. Nadie debe sentirse mejor que el otro por lo que él puede hacer.

4. Todos necesitamos uno al otro—no hay miembros desechables.

5. Cada uno debe buscar y hacer lo que él o ella puede hacer en obediencia a Cristo.

6. No es aceptable que unos trabajen y que el resto solamente dependan del trabajo de otros.

1 Corintios 12:26-27

De manera que si un miembro padece, todos los miembros se duelen con él, y si un miembro recibe honra, todos los miembros con él se gozan. 27 Vosotros, pues, sois el cuerpo de Cristo, y miembros cada uno en particular.

7. Por todo lo que hemos visto hasta este punto, vemos que el resultado correcto viene cuando todos por la obediencia a la palabra de la cabeza, Cristo, trabajan con el mismo propósito.

GIVING THANKS IN THE MEMORIAL SUPPER

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In Matthew 26:26-29 we find these words:

26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

Christ was participating with his disciples on the Passover shortly before being delivered by Judas to die on the cross. It was at that time that He established the memorial supper that we know as the Lord’s Supper. Before giving the bread and the cup after the supper, he did something significant that should serve as an example to us today when we participate in that memorial—He gave thanks.

Why does the Scripture say “blessed” about bread but says “gave thanks” in regard to the cup? Perhaps some do not understand the word “blessed” as used in verse 26. Usually when one uses the word, we mean imparting something special to that person or thing. But, in this case, that is not its meaning. Its true meaning is best understood when compared to what we read about the same event in Luke 22:19:

And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

Here in Luke, instead of the word “blessed” we find the words “gave thanks.” This is not a contradiction, but, rather, what we find in Luke explains what the word “blessed” means in Matthew 26:26. This makes sense when we consider that the word “bless” means “to say good”. Thus we understand that it is not something we do to bread, nor what we should ask God to do, but something we say about the bread. We say that the bread comes from God and that we thank him for it. Blessing and giving thanks, in this context, means the same. Christ also did the same for the cup — the fruit of the vine.

It is important that we recognize that we should give thanks when we carry out the memorial supper every Sunday. When we take the elements in our hands, it is easy to begin to pray and say many things that we have heard others say, such as “God bless this bread.” We should not ask God to bless the bread and the cup. Rather, we should say that God gave it to us and give thanks for it, just as Christ did. Also easy to start saying many words about the meaning of what we are about to do, or perhaps asking God to help us take it with dignity with a mind focused on what we are doing. That is good, but it is not what Christ did. We must not forget to do mainly what Christ did — to give thanks for the bread and then for the fruit of the vine. This may not seem very important to some, but it really is, if we are to follow the example of Christ! Yes, even before receiving our daily meals, we give thanks for what we receive as it says in 1 Timothy 4:4-5:

4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

So, let’s remind ourselves of the need to give thanks for the bread and the cup when we take the supper in memory of what our Lord Jesus did for us.

SEVEN CLEAR PRINCIPLES FROM 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

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12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

Since The Church Is A Body, We Can Clearly See These Seven Principles:

    1. The body is coordinated because each member obeys Christ, the only Head.
    1. No one should feel less because he/she does not do exactly what another does. God never approved a system of clergy and laity, where everyone depends upon a professional. All of us work doing what we can and improving our abilities through study and practice, and all of us depend upon what others do. Each one is reliable and yet dependent.
    2. No one should feel superior to another because of what he/she can do.
    1. We all need each other—we do not have any “throw-away” members.
    1. Each one should look for and do what he/she can do in obedience to Christ.
    1. It is not acceptable that a few work and the others do nothing and depend upon the work of others.
    1. The proper result is achieved when all, though their obedience to the word of God, work with the same purpose, Christ’s purpose—to seek the lost.

THE BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES OF AUTHORITY

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  I. Introduction

Authority is an important principle in life. There are only two ways to live life. Either we recognize authority, or as it mentions in Judges 21:25: “everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

 II. What is authority?

It is the right to declare what is or is not correct, and the power to direct.

III. Principles of authority

A. Where does authority come from?

Undoubtedly, always authority belongs to the owner. In this case, all authority belongs to God, because He is the author of everything, since he made the world through His Son, as we can see from the following verses.

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

Psalms 1:1-3 Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. 3 Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

These verses say it all. God is the owner and, therefore, has all authority. This shows that there is no true authority that does not come from Him. It is impossible that a human being legitimately hold authority unless it was given to him from God.

B. How and under what circumstances has God given authority to others?

1. In the Old Testament, God gave certain limited authority to people to proclaim His word and see that his will was carried out, such as prophets, judges, and finally kings. One should understand that the authority of such people was limited to carrying out what God had told them to do.

2. In the New Testament, we see the same thing. Christ, during his life here on Earth, declared in John 12:47-50:

47 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. 50 And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”

Christ said that His authority came from His Father. He did not claim authority nor did He desire to change any of the message that His Father had commanded Him to speak, because he knew that the commandment of God is life eternal for those who obey.

Later, after his death and resurrection, Christ declared in Matthew 28:18-20:

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

This declaration shows clearly that God has given to Christ all authority to act for Him in everything. This has to be this way until the world ends. 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 says:

24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

When Christ comes and has His complete victory over His enemies, this world will be destroyed and Christ will take his church to be with Him in heaven where she will be for all eternity. And, the kingdom will be handed over to His Father. It is interesting to note that there is something that is not under the control of Christ, that is the Father. Christ still continues directing according to His Father’s desires.

The Spirit explains this in 1 Corinthians 11:3:

But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

So we see that Christ, in everything he does, continues to be subject to his Father, even though he reigns over all. This is an important principle that will help us later to understand a very important concept concerning the authority that Christ gives to men so that they might help His people.

3. God gives certain men responsibility and authority over the nations of the earth.

Romans 13:1-6

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.

From this we learn that when God gives responsibilities, he also gives the amount of limited authority necessary to carry out what He has commanded. Taking this case of the authorities in the nations as an example, we can see that the authority that God gives to men is not absolute authority, but the authority to care for the people for whom they are responsible and to carry out His will. It would be unjust for God to give responsibility without also giving the limited authority necessary to carry out what He has commanded.

But, we notice that this authority is limited, because the authorities do not have the right to command something that is against the commands of God. Peter and John, responding to the authorities in Jerusalem, said in Acts 4:19-20:

…Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

4. God has given to husbands authority over their wives to care for them:

Ephesians 5:22-24

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

This Scripture indicates a wife should follow the instructions of her husband so that he may care for her. But, this authority is given so that he might protect and help his wife. It does not mean that the husband has a right to command that his wife disobey God to please him.

5. The same thing is true in the case of fathers in the home. God tells us in Colossians 3:20: “Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.” But, it is understood that no father has the right to command that a child do his will just because he is the father, without taking into consideration God’s word.

6. Preachers and teachers must have a “so says the Lord” for everything that they teach. Without this, they have no authority. They do not have the right to teach or direct, apart from what the Spirit gives us in the Bible.

2 Timothy 4:1-4

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

Speaking without the authority of the word would be to teach commandments of men, and this has always separated people from God. As it says in Matthew 15:7-9:

7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 8 These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.

7. Concerning elders, it is the same. God says this in Hebrews 13:17:

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Also in 1 Peter 5:2-3:

Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;

Titus 1:7-11 says:

7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. 10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.

Elders, then exercise authority in only two ways:

    • By the teaching of the word of God. (holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict Titus 1:9).
    • By their example (1 Peter 5:3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock)

In the final analysis, every person is subject only to the law of God, therefore every person has the responsibility to know the word of God.

If one could follow God by obeying the commandments of others, then only some would need to know the word, and the others would simply follow them. But, according to the plan of God, everyone has to know the word of God and is responsible for obeying Him through his knowledge of the commandments of God, and each one will be responsible on the day of judgment for his obedience to those commandments.

Conclusion:

We have learned in this lesson:

That God has always given certain limited authority to those he planned to use for the well-being of others.

This power was necessary so that they might help the people.

When God gives a responsibility, he also gives the limited authority necessary so that the person might carry out what God has commanded him, whether it be to rulers, husbands, fathers of children, preachers, teachers, or elders of the church of the Lord. To fail to cooperate with such people for the good of all has always provoked God’s anger, because it is the same as opposing God.

Concerning the authority given to elders, God has never given them power to make decisions nor pronouncements apart from the word of God nor to guide by their own will, apart from the teaching of the Scripture. The example of the elder shows the way we should live, and the true Christian gladly follows this example.

True elders will never attempt to force their own likes and desires on others, let alone command by the power of their position, but rather, elders trust in the word of God for all the decisions they make, and show openly the Biblical reasons for all their recommendations, and convince all concerning the importance of obeying God in that way.

Being an elder does not give the right to proceed as one wants and dominate others, rather, God places on each elder the duty to convince their brothers with the word of God and show the way by example, so that the brethren may follow, united under the direction of the word of God.

The only absolute authority is God, the Father. He is the ultimate authority!

The authority of God given to elders is only so they might help others to know the will of God and obey Him, not so that they might enforce their own will on others.

Every Christian remains responsible directly to God in response to His commandments.

WHO’S IN CHARGE?

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Sadly, people sometimes do not learn everything they believe about religion from God’s word. They sometimes learn more from what they see around them than they do from anything in the Bible, because they do not study God’s word as they should. As a result, there are errors that are introduced, and things that God never taught us may become equally or more observed and obeyed in contrast to what God did say.

We want to consider one of these errors now. Sometimes people say of a preacher that he is in charge of the work. Where does this idea come from? The Bible does not teach it. When a congregation does not have someone paid to stand up in front of the congregation every Sunday and preach, there are some that get nervous and worried about about what will happen to the congregation. This happens even though there are various brothers in the congregation that are able to teach well. The idea of having someone “in charge” comes from what we see in religion in general. Some have a “priest” and others their “pastor,” and such people are considered the ones that should guide others in the faith. But, this contradicts what the Bible teaches.

First, it contradicts the fact that Christ is the only head of the church in heaven AND on earth. There is not someone who is “in charge” of the church in heaven and then another one on earth.
Christ, after his resurrection, said in Matthew 28:18: “… All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” This does not leave any place for anyone else to be in charge of a congregation. The word of God teaches us, and every member obeys Christ by obeying the word, in this way Christ guides us.

Also, the concept of one having someone “in charge” contradicts the Scriptures because it does not take into consideration the nature of the church as a body. 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 teaches us that the church is composed of many members and that all members are important and that the functioning of each of the members is necessary. Dependence upon one or a few, while the others function only as spectators, contradicts God’s word.

In addition, this concept of one being “in charge” promotes a false dependence upon a few. The work of the church is not just what we do in the meetings of the church. It is the combination of what each one of us does as a member of the spiritual body of Christ twenty-four hours a day, every day of the week. So, no one person could do that for us.

The concept of someone in charge promotes the centralization of power in the hands of a human being. That type of power in the hands of a human being is a diabolical influence, as we see in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4:

3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

Human power and influence in the things of God is dangerous, and even though it may appear to be benign, it is not, and cannot be. In 3 John 1:9-10 we find:

I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

Now that we have understood that the concept of someone “in charge” is not approved by God, what should change? First, it is necessary to change how we think about those who preach and teach the word. 1 Corinthians 3:1-7 and 4:6-7 say:

1 Corinthians 3:1-7

1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human? 5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

1 Corinthians 4:6-7

6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. 7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

Therefore, regard those who teach and preach the word publicly only as brothers that are performing their function in the body. He is not more important than another, nor is he less. Our eyes should be on Christ, not on men. Christ is the only head of the church, in heaven and on earth.

We should not think that the growth of the church depends on one member or on a certain few. As we have seen in 1 Corinthians 3:7, God gives the growth through the functioning of all the members of the body. We should not depend upon one person to do the work of the church, because that is something that all of us must do together. It may seem convenient to put the work in the hands of someone and not be bothered about it, but to do so contradicts the way that God designed the body of Christ, the church. It is not God’s plan, and IT DOES NOT WORK!

So we must not think this way about a preacher. We must all feel responsible for the work, each one doing his/her part. It is only in this way that we will know the joy of serving Christ, for it is He who said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

10 DISADVANTAGES OF HUMAN-CENTERED LEADERSHIP IN THE THINGS OF GOD

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    • The members only obey the leader instead of depending on the word of God.
    • Only the “leader” knows what to do next and the others follow blindly.
    • The members will have the same weaknesses as the leader, because they only follow his instructions.
    • If the leader is found in some moral failure, the members are shocked and begin to leave.
    • The members cannot mature because they are always dependent.
    • The more able members may feel unmotivated instead of doing all they are capable of.
    • If the leader disappears, no one knows how to continue.
    • If the congregation grows, the leader receives the credit.
    • If the congregation dwindles, the leader is blamed instead of each member analyzing what part they may have had in the failure.
    • All eyes are on a man instead of being on Christ. Hebrews 12:1-2 instructs us:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

You are all brothers, we read in Matthew 23:1-12:

1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Let this mind be in you Philippians 2:3-9:

3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,

When according to the word of the Spirit, God places elders in the church, He never puts only one. Titus 1:5:

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you.

Paul in Philippians 1:1 spoke of elders in plural:

Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ,To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

When one exalts one person over others, he is violating God’s word. We do not need another Diotrephes in the congregation as we read about in 3 John 1:9: 9 “I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us.” For someone to try to exalt himself in the things of God is the work of Satan, as we see in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 and 2:8-12:

3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

The rule of men in the things of God never is approved by God, and always exists in opposition to Christ as the only head of the church. The church of Christ is to be guided by His word. The word comes to all in the pages of the Bible, and each one must take his place in the body of Christ in obedient response to that word.

DEPENDENCE ON THE “EXPERTS”

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It is amazing that so often we fail to be appalled at the obvious deficiencies that we cannot but observe, but nevertheless are ashamed to point out and work to set them right, fearing the criticism of those who supposedly are more educated or are somehow more honorable than we. Would this be why we sometimes fail to recognize before others and make clear the obvious truth concerning what we are seeing around us?

Hans Christian Anderson, in a short work published in 1837 in the Danish language called “Kejserens nye Klæder,” but perhaps better known by its title in English, “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” wrote about an emperor that was very self-indulgent and little concerned with the needs of his kingdom. He was, however, obsessed with having the best clothes. This, together with his pride, made him vulnerable to two scoundrels who promised to make him cloth that only the wise, honorable and capable could see, out of which they would construct the most beautiful clothes ever imagined!

The emperor could not resist such an offer, and gave them the resources and materials that they requested so that he might be provided with this ultimate wardrobe. Those con artists set up looms and pretended to weave the unique cloth out of which the new clothes would be tailored. But, they were only pretending and produced nothing, but took for themselves the materials that were given to them for the work.

Those that the emperor sent to inspect the on-going work, of course, saw that nothing was being produced, but feared to say they did not see the cloth, lest they be exposed as unwise, dishonorable, or incapable. So, they reported that the cloth was truly magnificent. When the king finally went to inspect the work, he too discovered that nothing had been produced, but he also pretended to see the cloth lest he be exposed as unworthy of his position.

The scoundrels pretended to work all through the night before the day the new clothes were to be worn by the emperor in a procession before his people. The next day he was presented with the “clothes” that had been produced and was “dressed” in them. Attendants pretended to see the clothes and to carry his flowing train behind him.

As he paraded down the street, an innocent child cried out that the emperor had nothing on. Brought to their senses by the child’s honest declaration of the truth, the crowds began to echo the obvious truth. The emperor was disturbed by the revelation, but decided to continue on his way, rather than recognize his embarrassing condition.

Although this work was published as a story for children, it points out how gullible people can be, especially when we, aware as we are of our inadequacies, fear being looked down upon or criticized by those whom we esteem. Could this be why we sometimes fail to recognize before others and proclaim openly the obvious truth about what we see around us?

For many years, churches have generously entrusted great treasures and opportunities into the hands of a few people who supposedly have special knowledge and training, trusting that great things would result. When we look closely at the outcome of many of these endeavors, we do not find what we had hoped. But, perhaps, we fail to speak publicly concerning what has occurred, fearing that our inadequacies might be discovered and fearing to be criticized as incapable of understanding the “wonderful” works designed by such “capable and educated” individuals, or we justify the situation by reflecting on the thought that possibly we could not have done better. So, we have a tendency to continue on, rather than admit the existence of this obviously embarrassing predicament.

Despite the efforts made and the great outlay of money, many in the congregations remain unable to explain concisely the basic concepts of the faith and, indeed, may be falling away from them. Bible classes and preaching may contain less and less of God’s word of salvation, and more and more human ideas. Lessons concerning concepts of self-help and successful and prosperous living are popular. All too frequently sermons preached, which instead of distinguishing between the Lord’s church and the institutions of men, are, instead, sermons that could be preached in any denominational pulpit, because they are carefully constructed to be void of any “offensive” truths that might cause “controversy.” (Which may explain why such sermons are so bland, boring, and ineffective.)

Instead of an emphasis on Godly living and reaching the lost with the word of God, we sometimes observe “comforting” sermons that explain to us in detail how we are saved by grace alone and how that is fortunate for us, because as “sinful” men and women we always mess up. Far be it from us to believe that we can be more than conquerors through Christ who loved us (Romans 8:37)! May it never be that we should think that we can change and take on the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4), or that we have an individual responsibility to gather souls for Christ (Luke 11:23)! How long will it be until we recognize that the results are often simply not there, and that despite (or perhaps because of) our dependence on men of learning and much training, and despite the millions spent, we have nothing of the results we were led to believe that we would surely see (no clothes)?

The intention of this article is not to speak harshly of anyone’s work, nor to discourage the training or support of faithful preachers, which are biblical principles that should not be denied. It is, nevertheless, directed against the ignorance and/or self-interest that holds in place a system that puts an excessive burden on a few, who despite their efforts to the contrary, are not able to bear it, while discouraging the efforts of many other members who become weak and involved in the details of their own lives, and let themselves be robbed of the joy of a life of giving themselves to the work of the Lord. We should not be surprised at the failure of a plan that depends on a few specialized people to do the work. Christ’s church was never organized as a spectator religion, but rather a body where each member has a part and must do his/her work. (Ephesians 4:16).

As they work with congregations, preachers experience the fact that if they work by themselves, there may be results, but they are limited. But, when everyone works together, all are mutually encouraged and the results can be much greater. That is because such has always been God’s plan and design for Christ’s body.

How long will it be until we say no to the inventions of man’s wisdom and to dependence on men, and begin each one to put into practice individually what we know of God’s word. Remember, the victory for God’s people was not provided through a champion like Goliath, who depended on his own strength, but through David, who although he was a poor shepherd, by obedience to God showed true and living faith through action, using confidently what he knew (1 Samuel 17).

We can no longer afford to hope in individuals whom some esteem as “great champions,” but we must go out ourselves to accomplish in our life what God has commanded and so make a difference, not only in our life, but also, by faithful teaching and the proper example, in the lives of others as well. That is the purpose of Christ, who came to seek and save the lost. (Luke 19:10) May that be our purpose. Let us follow Him!