17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.
i. Sadly, some take the idea of submission to leaders in the church much too far. The “Shepherding Movement” was a clear example of this kind of abuse (which many seem to welcome, wanting someone else to be responsible for their lives). “A teacher should teach us to submit to God, not to himself.” (Chuck Smith)
Hebrews 13:7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.
We are to be submissive to the leaders God gives us (assuming they have the character mentioned in Hebrews 13:7). We are simply told to obey those who rule over us. When speaking on the authority of God’s Word, leaders do have a right to tell us how to live and walk after God. (Guzik)
How often do we see our elected officials passing laws for us to follow but exempt themselves from the law? David Guzik reminds us; "We are to be submissive to the leaders God gives us (assuming they have the character mentioned in Hebrews 13:7)". Recently in the news was a Catholic priest who turned himself in to authorities because he was wanted on sexual abuse charges.
It all comes down to "considering the outcome of their conduct".
Leaders are held to a higher standard (must give an account) to God because they watch over souls.
The leaders in your (our) church must live to a higher standard, if they aren't tell the Elders of the church. If there isn't a correction, find another church. I recall at our old church Calvary Tucson our pastor informed us an associate pastor was removed because he was bilking money from parishioners. Did he have the character mentioned in Hebrews 13:7?
Blessings, David
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