Do we have to always submit to the elders?
Question:
Hi Brother Jeffrey,
We have a preacher from a sister congregation teaching about God's leadership structure for the Church. He was discussing submission and that even if you don't agree with the Elders' decision-making, you should still follow through, giving the example of the Elders running a food bank at his congregation, a group of members not agreeing with it, but still being put on the rotation to serve, and doing the work. Sharing that there is a difference between submitting and agreeing. Is this what is meant and also when we are told to ' become all things to all people?'
Answer:
All authority comes from God (Matthew 28:19). Thus, those ruling remain under God's authority and must submit to God. Elders cannot make their own rules. Their duty is to encourage people to follow God's teachings.
"Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you" (Hebrews 13:17).
Elders are men. There is always a possibility that some elders will go astray. "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears" (Acts 20:29-31). A Christian is not excused for following an elder into false practices.
Another problem involves a person's conscience. "The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin" (Romans 14:22-23). A person should not be forced into doing something he thinks is sinful. Thus, if a Christian believes a particular practice is wrong, telling him he must do it anyway is sinful. If the Christian is wrong, then more teaching is needed. "Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand" (Romans 14:4).
I assume the "food bank" at your congregation is for the general public. While it is good for Christians to help the poor, this is not something the Lord commanded congregations to do. It is commanded of individual Christians. See Helping the Needy in Our Community. Instead of responding with scriptural teaching, the elders are telling people to do as they say, which is completely the wrong answer.
"For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it" (I Corinthians 9:19-23).
Paul adapted to the people he was with, so long as those things did not violate the law of Christ. It is not an argument to do whatever someone wants to do.
Question:
Thanks, Jeffrey.
The foodbank is currently run by two local congregations, and one of the men in our congregation would like us to start one as well.
What would God expect in such circumstances? Is this a time when you disagree, you quietly abstain, and only speak if asked why, or does God expect a person to speak out? I know normally a person would go to the elders, but we don't have them yet.
Answer:
I would ask for the scriptural justification for the practice. If the church continues to do things that God didn't authorize, then I would look for a congregation that is more faithful to God.
