The Heart Attitudes: Part 8Sample

  

Heart Attitude #7 – Follow spiritual leadership within Scriptural limits.

Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”

Romans 13:1-2 “Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is on authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God. So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgement on themselves.”

Earlier we noted that we are to submit to those in positions of granted authority in the church. In Romans, Paul states that every authority has God as the foundation. God sets the boundaries for all authorities. That includes those who are our spiritual leaders.

God’s word is a clear boundary for us to follow our spiritual leaders. If it is clear in God’s word and you are asked to violate that, do not follow. The leader has moved beyond Scriptural limits! The more you read and understand the word of God, the more you will know where those boundaries are.

Just as God established certain authorities for the church, He also established other authorities in our lives. The family is one unit of authority, the government, education, business, and social institutions are other areas of authority. Unless those institutions violate the word of God, spiritual leaders should avoid trying to supersede the authority God has given to others in those areas.

All of us have certain rights and privileges as believers in Jesus as well. We are priests and therefore have a responsibility to relate to the Father on our own. There are some decisions that must be made by ourselves. Our spiritual leaders may give us guidance, but the decision is ours to make. Examples of these types of decisions are who to marry, where to live, and what honorable job to take. 

Following our spiritual leaders requires us to accept responsibility for areas of our lives that require personal ownership. We are not to give up our rights in those areas. We are to follow in the areas where God has given authority to those in positions of leadership in the areas of our lives governed by God’s word, namely in the church and our spiritual development. When we follow well, WE gain the benefit of Godly wisdom, the blessings of the Lord, and the ability to rest in the assurance that we are following not only our leaders, but the direction of the Father as well.