Contents

Find out some background and introductory material about the site and the author. We’ll try to set the “tone” for this site in this section. The Word of God teaches that all scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof for correction, and for instruction in righteousness so that the people of God may be fully competent and equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16). If this is only taken logically, or with an analytical approach then we can use the Word of God as a destructive weapon (intentionally or unintentionally), rather than one for building up the Body of Christ. It is important that we also integrate the spirit of how God approach us in our approach to others when we are dealing subject matter that could be controversial in nature. The spirit of the Word of God adds several more relevant things that equip us for how to deal with sensitive topics. There are numerous verses that can help us understand the spirit of how sensitive subjects should be addressed. It is clear it is not to be done in a strictly logical, analytical way. This site hopes to keep a proper spirit while still engaging in some sensitive subject matters. The contents of this site can certainly be treated (or taken) in a controversial fashion, because this site addresses a group of subjects that are sensitive in multiple ways. In the context of the church, we will look at leadership, authority, submission and obedience. This touches all parties in the church, both leadership and laypersons.

Visit the section page by clicking the link above to see further introduction for each of the following sub-sections.

1.1 Introduction (Draft)

1.2 About the Author (Not Started)

1.3 Intent versus Effect (Not Started)

1.4 Gradient Scales of Understanding (Draft)

1.5 Theory versus Practice (Not Started)

1.6 Prescriptive versus Descriptive (Not Started)

1.7 Practical versus Spiritual (Not Started)

1.8 Fleshly versus Spiritual (Not Started)

1.9 Real versus Counterfeit (Not Started)

1.10 Word Pictures versus Deductive Analysis (Not Started)

1.11 Why is Church Leadership and Authority so Ambiguous in the Bible!?!? (Not Started)

1.12 Is a Balanced View of Leadership and Authority Possible? (Not Started)

This section will review a set of core concepts and introduce the reader to a set of items that have shaped and influenced this author’s thinking on this subject matter. The goal of this section is to a “point of view” (also known as a perspective) and to answer the question “Where are we now?”. “Where” isn’t just a question of location, but brings in all kinds of environmental (cultural, personal, conceptual, and even timing factors). In any situation you encounter in life there are a range of factors that influence a situation you enter into in your life. For example, when you take a new job the personalities, personal backgrounds and education of your coworkers have already had an effect on the environment you are entering. Their influence on the environment will affect your experience. This section attempts to identify some of these influencing factors on our topics and to introduce additional core concepts which will help the reader build a context for what will presented in later portions of this writing.

Visit the section page by clicking the link above to see further introduction for each of the following sub-sections.

2.1 A Little Background on Church Models – How to “Do” Church? (Not Started)

2.2 Introduction to Leadership in the Church – Gifts, Functions and Titles (Not Started)

2.3 Defining Your Terms – The Necessity of Greek Word Studies to Pierce Deceptive Veils (Not Started)

2.4 Key Relationships with Authority Defined by the Bible (In Progress)

2.5 Defining Power & Authority in the Bible (Not Started)

2.6 Delegation & Delegated Authority (Not Started)

2.7 Defining Submission & Obedience – Similarities and Differences (Not Started)

This section attempts to present a core set of “persuasions” that are intended to present a viewpoint on our topics which can help inform, refine or change your current conception of the topics of leadership, authority, submission and obedience in the church. These are not presented as “arguments” to establish establish the correctness of one view and the incorrectness of another view. They are intended to help the reader engage these topics from a different perspective and to consider whether your current view sufficiently matches up with the spirit of the Word of God and the spirit and mind of God Himself.

It should be noted that the author of this information is not 100% certain of his own view on these subjects. A strong attempt has been made to counter topics which appear to contain some deceptive content and where the Enemy of God has exercised his strategies to hold the Body of Christ in spiritual bondage, but this author has learned from many life experiences that a single point of view even if presented extremely convincingly is almost never a full fit for all situations.

The main hope of these “persuasions” is to try drive you to God to search these out and not to unduly rely on your current assumptions, the traditions of men or the teaching of any educational system. Effectively, take this material to God and ask Him to prove it or disprove it to you. That’s His job. My job is to be obedient and to the best of my knowledge (although I could be deceived) present these materials to you (whom I don’t know) and pray that they are usable for His will, His sake and His glory.

Visit the section page by clicking the link above to see further introduction for each of the following sub-sections.

3.1 Authority of Church Leadership – How Much Authority is Delegated? (Not Started)

3.2 Punishment in the Bible – Evidence of the Limitations of Authority on Those Leadin (Draft – Notes Only)

3.3 Not of Command, But Out of Love – God’s Way is Helping, Not Demanding (Not Started)

3.4 Balancing our View Point – Commands Between Believers Do Exist (Not Started)

3.5 Moses’ Authority – Refined Understanding of Moses’ Role (Not Started)

This section attempts to present a core set of “defenses” against alternate viewpoints that the author has encountered in the teachings and writings of others. This section is not an attack on any other servant of God and these others may remain nameless within the content of this site. The goal is to address their alternate viewpoints and to attempt to demonstrate where there are problems in their view. As much as possible, the value of their view may also be credited. This author has encountered some extremely powerful teachings on this subject matter which have been very valuable to me, but at the same time there has been a need to remove some portions of what they present because their complete view doesn’t appear to track with the Word of God and the mind of God. I am sure this will be true of this author’s writing too. We are all imperfect beings none of whom (except Christ) have fully matured or fully understood. So, these “defenses” are written with a spirit of pointing out areas of potential error and areas where the reader should take additional time to consider whether what they may have absorbed from other teachers is sufficiently established in the Word of God and whether it is presented with sufficient balance to be treated as “sound doctrine”.

Again, the main hope here with these “defenses” is to try drive you to God to search these out and not to unduly rely on your current assumptions, the traditions of men or the teaching of any educational system. Effectively, take this material to God and ask Him to prove it or disprove it to you. That’s His job. My job is to be obedient and to the best of my knowledge (although I could be deceived) present these materials to you (whom I don’t know) and pray that they are usable for His will, His sake and His glory.

Visit the section page by clicking the link above to see further introduction for each of the following sub-sections.

4.1 Appeals to Moses’ Authority to Support Concepts of “Delegated Authority” in the Church (Not Started)

4.2 Hebrews 13:17 – A Closer Look at One of the Top Verses Used to Support Leadership Concepts in the Church (Partial Draft)

4.3 Singular Leaders to Support Church Hierarchy in the New Testament – Peter, James, etc. (Not Started)

4.4 Romans 13:1-3 – Submitting to Governing Authorities Includes Church Leadership (Not Started)

What about Pseudo-(Roles), psuedo-brother, pseudo-apostle, etc (Not Started)