February 16 Submit to Jesus’ Church

Esther 2:15 When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king’s eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her.
 
WE continue on to our fourth lesson on submission: Submit to Jesus’ church. “Submission” means to obey, to lie before another in subject to another’s will. What does the Bible teach about obeying, about lying down before the church’s authority? 
    Here is a passage on submitting to the church: Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”
    I’m going to use the phrase “Jesus’ Church” to refer to the true church under the Bible’s authority. There are too many cults, too many Bible-opposing entities and organizations that call themselves “church”. Also, every individual who confesses Jesus as Savior can be called “church”. But I’m referring to the Jesus’ church as a body of believers gathered in the Bible’s true authority. I want to be clear on who is to submit to Jesus.
    We know from the epistles – teaching letters – of the New Testament, from the history of Jesus’ church and from our own experiences in Jesus’ church that this Scripture from Hebrews is seldom fulfilled in Jesus’ church. We always have some reason to not submit to the church’s leaders, don’t we?
    We may not like the focus of the financial campaign, the length of the service, the time of the service, the form of the bulletin, the missional focus of the budget, the music (there is always the music) and the list goes on. But in Jesus’ church there are only three things that must happen. They are 1) the preaching of the Word 2) baptizing 3) the Lord’s Supper. In short, Jesus’ church is to minister the Word and the Sacraments.
    If your church is doing so, then submit to the church’s leaders. The Hebrews passage and many others affirms leaders are to be true to Christ. And as they are, you are to submit to their leadership, putting aside your preferences and your self-interests. That doesn’t mean you don’t offer ideas or solutions. But you are to do so in an orderly way and in open conversation with leaders. That kind of activity is submission to their authority.
    If your church has ungodly leaders, there are also ways to respond to that circumstances. Such a process begins with your submission to God’s Word regarding disagreements as in Matthew 18:15-16. Each church structure has a means of bringing grievances before the leaders. Be a person of peace and submit to such processes.
     No church leader should have to function under constant criticism. If you want to destroy your church’s leaders, be willing to give “constructive criticism”. Judge all they do. Gossip about them at the local restaurant. Send them anonymous notes with your own views of matters. Reject their leading by keeping away from church activities. These non-biblical attitudes will keep good leaders from serving. You’ll prevent Jesus’ church from being true to God.
    As Jesus submitted to the Father, you must submit to Jesus’ church.
 
Prayer: Teach me, Lord, to submit to your true church. In Jesus’ name, amen.