tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10092546.post115775058807887369..comments2023-04-02T09:18:59.254+01:00Comments on mumbled musings: Cool stuff in the rearview...Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07951330056879968454noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10092546.post-1158032406072292272006-09-12T04:40:00.000+01:002006-09-12T04:40:00.000+01:00Hi Aaron,So, here's the funny part. I thought I wa...Hi Aaron,<BR/><BR/>So, here's the funny part. I thought I was agreeing with you and just adding to your thoughts. Now I'm really confused!<BR/><BR/>Also, good idea not to mess with the Wallaces...they are related to Braveheart so they could be trouble for you.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05556450012084023399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10092546.post-1157950383599742822006-09-11T05:53:00.000+01:002006-09-11T05:53:00.000+01:00Hi Aaron, Since there are already so many Dugan re...Hi Aaron, <BR/>Since there are already so many Dugan responses on here, I thought I'd add a fresh, Wallace perspective... ;)<BR/><BR/>Commenting on this line:<BR/>..."the problem with putting your hope in system of leadership is that your taking your hope away from God."<BR/><BR/>I agree with this paragraph 100%. However, what do you do when the system of leadership that is in place is - by the very way it's set up (and however inadvertently - no matter how great the leaders are) - putting itself in a place between you and God? I wouldn't say that I am wanting to put my hope in a system of leadership by wanting a different one. But it sure makes it tough to have a real, one-on-one relationship with God when there's someone (or a group of leaders) in the way telling me that I need to be depending on them first for God's words to me. That just doesn't jive with that "there is one God and one mediator between God and man" verse. So my answer to this question is to pull myself out from under that system and find a system that pushes me towards God rather than gets in between us. <BR/><BR/>I enjoy reading your thoughts!Nikkihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02999213785989494107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10092546.post-1157950143309161012006-09-11T05:49:00.000+01:002006-09-11T05:49:00.000+01:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Nikkihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02999213785989494107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10092546.post-1157812178643259302006-09-09T15:29:00.000+01:002006-09-09T15:29:00.000+01:00I agree with Mr. P and my brilliant son and though...I agree with Mr. P and my brilliant son and thought of something else.<BR/><BR/>Jurisdiction.<BR/><BR/>First, you figure out who the leaders are. Whatever method that doesn't make a leader a priest is fine with me. I prefer the presbyterian form as defined by the Presbyterian church where the local congregation elects elders to the session (the body that governs the church--the elders). The teaching pastor is on the session. He is chosen and called by the congregation, but ordained by the presbytery which is made up of the teaching and ruling elders. This system has accountability from the congregation as well as accountability from "above". And, since all people are fallable, it makes sense that all spiritual gifts need to be used in choosing leaders (things like discernment would come in here).<BR/><BR/>But back to jurisdiction. Here's an example and then I will end because this post is way too long to be polite!<BR/><BR/>A policeman has authority. If I shoot a gun in Bloomington, he can arrest me. If I am on my 300 acres of land in the country and I shoot a gun, he has no authority to arrest me. He has no jurisdiction.<BR/><BR/>I believe the authority a leader has is spiritual authority which is the authority to lead us to the final authority which is God's Word. <BR/><BR/>Sola scriptura.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05556450012084023399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10092546.post-1157785015368880862006-09-09T07:56:00.000+01:002006-09-09T07:56:00.000+01:00I hope nothing I've said led you to believe that l...I hope nothing I've said led you to believe that leadership isn't an important gift of the Spirit or that leaders aren't necessary in the church.<BR/><BR/>Nothing could be further from the truth and I would even argue that it's precisely because of the great importance of leadership that we should involve the body of Christ in that process as much as we can.<BR/><BR/>Again, it all comes down to our view on how the Spirit works and then the questions arise: Do we accept that the Spirit moves in the hearts of all Christians and not a select few with certain specific "gifts"? How does the body determine who is truly gifted in leadership if we don't have capital-A apostles around to appoint them?<BR/><BR/>There may appear to be some contradictions here. How can those gifted in leadership truly lead if they are beholden to those not gifted? Here's an excerpt from Senior Piper himself on that very thing:<BR/><BR/><I>This may sound to some like a contradiction--to have an authoritative congregation submitting to leaders that it puts in place. But it isn't a contradiction. Because there is a great difference between leadership that inspires and models and mobilizes and teaches and persuades and points the way in ministry and mission, and the corporate authority of the congregation that puts doctrinal and moral boundaries around that leadership and holds it accountable to serve the good of the church. Congregational authority and strong leadership under that authority are not incompatible. They are Biblical, and they are vital.</I><BR/><BR/>The rest can be found here:<BR/>http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/1991/761_Who_Are_the_Elders/Chris Duganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14635201527441256542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10092546.post-1157778387212740692006-09-09T06:06:00.000+01:002006-09-09T06:06:00.000+01:00Just to clarify...I meant the first paragraph afte...Just to clarify...I meant the first paragraph after the reference to my comment on your first post...the one that starts "Firstly". Actually, you have a couple paragraphs that start firstly, so I mean the second firstly. Yes, leadership is a specific gift used to benefit the body! That one.<BR/><BR/>Now, back to Monty Python and the Holy Grail.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05556450012084023399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10092546.post-1157775327894767422006-09-09T05:15:00.000+01:002006-09-09T05:15:00.000+01:00I totally agree with the first paragraph. I'm not ...I totally agree with the first paragraph. <BR/><BR/>I'm not quite sure what you mean in the second.<BR/><BR/>We are 2000 years away from Paul, so don't have any apostles anymore (I know the word means "missionary"), but I'm talking apostle in the sense of people who have seen Jesus (which includes Paul on the road to Damascus). You only get to do the Apostolic Era once.<BR/><BR/>So, the issue is what do you do after that. The Roman Catholics can trace their leadership back to the Apostle Peter, so they say. <BR/><BR/>But, let me end with leadership is good! Now, define leadership!Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05556450012084023399noreply@blogger.com