Authority of the Church

Authority of the Church

The Church is not a person or collection of people that decide what rules need to be followed.  The church is much greater than what a man can ever be.

If I live my Christianity for men and the praise of men, then I will look at it as a man made institution instead of something Holy that was created by God.  To challenge or not believe what the church is about is to challenge God and his righteousness.

When I challenge the churches authority, it is because I have doubts or unbelief in what God has called me to do.

Acts 20: 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

The counsel of God is available to me through the Church.  Take heed to myself… How do I measure up to the counsel of God? Are my doubts and thoughts these grievous wolves that he talks about that I need to warning against?

The church was purchased with the blood of Christ, and it is my responsibly to be watchful and take to heart the warnings and not be one that would be full of unbelief and be drawn away from the faith.

1 Cor. 11: 17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

Do I come together for the worse, because when I hear the things that are taught by the church I doubt them or grudge them.

Am I divisive in the things that are church teachings?  Am I divided and a heretic within my heart?

I must approach the things of the church with a soft heart, having a hard heart no matter whether I am right or wrong will get me nowhere.