Footstep Followers

2 Cor 1:24
Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith you stand. Not withstanding the interpretation that some have of Heb 13:17 “obey those who have the rule over you” Episcopal government of a church is not part of Christ’s plan for the church. Nor is Presbyterial either. “Helpers” is used in one other ref, Ro 16:3 “P and A my helpers, colabourers, in Christ”. “Obey” as used in Heb 13:17 means to convince, to pacify or conciliate and is also translated as agree, assure, believe, have confidence, make friend, persuade, trust, and yield; none of which imply a formal government with a hierarchy of deligated authority. In three referances ‘obey’ is used in referance to the truth and the other referance is the one about putting a bit in a horses mouth so that it may do what we would like it to do. The phrase “they watch for your soul as those who must give account” could give some people (who are already predisposed in that direction) to think, authority and rule and law, you do what I say; however the prophet had no “authority” over the people but God told him he was a watchman on the wall who if he did not blow the trumpet in the face of impending disaster would personaly carry blame for the loss of people of the city if he did not warn them. If there is an entity of the church that is above the majority of the members then the members have only to do what the ‘rulers’ say and can (and must) otherwise sit back and do nothing. If the Episcopaliate or Presbyteriate try to claim that the members are not to blindly unquestioningly obey them then why are they there? If the individual member has a responsibility to keep the ruling elite in line then the government is a myth and evaporates and the congregation is after all the final authority in the church. If there is no heirarcical church government ruling by Divine Right there is far more responcibility on each individual church member and on those who are not formal members but do attend. Paul said “we do NOT have dominion over your faith”, and he also said “follow us as we follow Christ”. Each one of us is responsible for putting our own feet one step at a time in the footsteps of Jesus.