Is there scriptural support for youth, women’s, or preachers’ forums?
Question:
Greetings Brother Jeffrey,
Thank you for your consistent effort in the service of God.
I have a concern for which I need biblical insight. Is there any biblical support for a youth forum, sisters or women forum, or even a preachers' forum? I happened to be a leader in a youth forum in my region. But over time, my search of the Scriptures makes me doubt these institutions. Such forum has established leadership that sometimes sits and agrees on certain things and then demands that congregations within the states comply, though not with the intention of usurping the congregations' authority. However, no one can tell the extent to which it may go in the future. I find that very disturbing.
I am intent on teaching about church autonomy in my congregation, in which I think it is worthy to talk about the forums because I think it is a digression from the truth and a disregard for congregational autonomy.
Please me guide through the scriptures. Thank you!
Answer:
There is a common impulse among men to decide that God's design for saving mankind is inadequate. Things need to be added to make the church more appealing or to function more efficiently. Ultimately, it comes down to a distrust in God's method. "For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God" (I Corinthians 1:26-29).
There is nothing wrong with brethren gathering to learn from each other, but it must be understood that such gatherings are the efforts of individuals. They not sponsored or supported by the church. Nor do such gatherings have any authority over individuals or the church. They cannot make demands. See The Autonomy of the Local Church.
