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The question whether we've lost the understanding of the authority of the eldership probably could be broadened. That is, I think we live in a time and place where there is not a good understanding of authority at all, in the church or the home or the school or the workplace or the government. If the theme of life is "please yourself" then authority can only be regarded as arbitrary and to be yielded to only by compulsion. Authority can only be handled or responded to properly if we understand and accept that "all authority comes from God" (Rom. 13:1) and that there truly are absolutes defined by God himself from creation onward. The spirit of the age certainly infiltrates the assemblies of believers, and Christians too succumb to the seduction of rebellion. Also, those who are leaders may succumb to the spirit of the age and not uphold the responsibilities of their authority. I wouldn't suggest that these are new problems, as a culture we've got a lot in common with the philosophy of 1st century Rome, and the Christiasn then needed numerous reminders to cooperate with qualified godly leaders. Heb 13:17 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. (NASU) In the book of Acts the elders of the church made several decisions and brought them to the members who approved and followed up. Have we lost the understanding of the authority of the eldership?
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