in looking and searching .. in seeking ... for an answer .. or answers to my question of how do we reconcile Hebrews 13:17 with the issue of the clergy teaching on matrimonial matters that is not Biblical, i found an easy and informal explanation about the Book of Hebrews in Expounding the Word - A Study in the Book of Hebrews.
Even more enlightening and in simple, easy to understand language is Covering and Authority: Hebrews 13:17 in context, which has other pertinent, relevant and important discussions, eg
Why is it false
Does God judge us by our fruit or our submission to authority?
Should I maintain unity of the body?
Is submission to church leaders necessary for spiritual protection?
Should i stay submitted to an authority that mistreats me?
What is the fear of the Lord?
and many more.
i am NOT advocating going against church leaders nor encouraging rebellion (read up on King David); woe betide me.
however, there are real issues that all believers must be aware of, or may be experiencing and are searching without knowing where or to whom they may approach without being judged or treated harshly.
OUR SALVATION IS AT STAKE.
in reading Covering and Authority, i am reminded of Matthew 23:3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
'ere the question arises, 'what if what they tell us to do is unScriptural?'
well, Covering and Authority is much more eloquent in answering with relevant Scripture
the whole of Matthew 23 is a very telling chapter
back to the issue at hand, Covering and Authority explains:
When we finally arrive at Heb 13:17 the author of Hebrews has already laid out several important points to remember when we consider the scope and nature of leadership in the church.
· Ministry in the new covenant is a partnership with Christ. A partnership we all share in.
· Our partnership with Christ is conditional. We must hold our confidence in Christ firm.
· The word of God is an effective tool for discerning our hearts
· Hearing a message of truth does no one any good without faith
· Jesus alone is our high priest and he alone occupies the place of ultimate authority and power
· In new covenant ministry God’s desire is to transcend all intermediaries and inscribe his laws on our hearts and minds
· We must fix our eyes of Jesus, intently looking away from other things that might weigh us down or distract us.
· We must remember and imitate the faith of those who have come before us staying true to the heart of the gospel and away from strange teachings.
Keeping all these things in mind we can look at Heb 13:17.
13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work. Let them do this with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you.
What would leadership look like if we interpreted this passage in the light of the rest of the book of Hebrews? It would mean that these leaders work as participants, as those who share in Christ’s ministry, not as anyone’s high priest. Their role would be to encourage, exhort and teach people to “keep their eyes fixed on Jesus” not human leaders.
These leaders would not micromanage the lives of others because they would recognize that direction, even good direction does not help anyone without faith, without a connection to Jesus. The goal is always to encourage people towards “entering the rest” of God so they are able to “not fall in to the same pattern of disobedience.”
Obedience to Christ comes through a direct connection to Christ and his transforming work on their heart. Obedience cannot come about by obeying the moralistic directions of another person. The issue is never obedience to rules or law or authority but whether one is connected to Christ.
In one sense Jesus is like a solitary doctor in a hospital we call the kingdom of God.
Human leaders share in the work of this doctor with the goal helping people become well.
We make places where people are comfortable, and we educate patients about the treatment they are receiving, we take care of their physical needs. We comfort and encourage people to receive the treatment of the doctor.
We can do many things but we are not the doctor and we do not ever, ever pretend we are.
In a hospital patients should listen to the advice and counsel of nurses and attendants.
If a nurse says, “you should take the medicine the doctor prescribed you” then obey them.
The nurses are there to care for you and watch over you and try not to complain because their job can be heartbreaking and difficult.
They have a job to do and are evaluated based on their performance.
However, if the nurse starts trying to treat you, starts pretending they are the doctor and tells you to submit to every treatment they prescribe without question then I’d refuse treatment.
If you are in a hospital and you see patients around you suffering needlessly and dying because the nurse keeps making serious mistakes make a big deal of it. If a nurse is mistreating or exploiting people object to it.
If the nurse tells you to follow a treatment you know contradicts the wishes of the doctor follow the doctor. Always keep in mind what the doctor said and if you are unsure of things check with other nurses. If your efforts fail to correct the situation get out of the ward.
We should also remember the context of the church at the time of writing. The church met almost exclusively in homes. They did not have many financial decisions to make with church money as they had no buildings and their leaders were not salaried employees of the church. There were no large public worship services to manage.
Church gatherings were likely broadly participatory with lots of interaction around a shared meal. Leaders operated almost exclusively in the realm of pastoral care and teaching.
Many of the reasons we feel we need strong leaders with lots of authority are driven by the size and nature of the church today.
When a church becomes large, programmatic and more institutional there is an obvious need for people to be in charge of things.
I understand the frustration leaders have when church members get obstinate and stubborn over the direction of certain programs or certain financial decisions. It is important to remember that many Christian leaders are honest and faithful and are just trying to live out the role they feel called to.
We should let leaders lead without giving them unnecessary grief.
Father, have mercy on me
please speak to me, lead me, guide me in the way i should go
faith, strength, and grace to obey i pray Thee .... for i am weak and wretched
i can only wait upon Thee
Thou knowest me, my heart, my thoughts, my innermost desires
knowest Thou also my circumstances and situation
please replace my locust years
beset by those who seek to break me and my downfall
compassed about by those who have dug pits and laid snares for me
they revel in their schemes and "righteousness"
vindicate me, my Father, and bring about my justice as the noonday sun
day & night am i groaning
my heart and my soul is in despair; how long more my Father, till Thy deliverance reaches me?
surely i would have gone down to sheol but for Thy grace
Thy Word, Thy Holy Spirit, Thy love unfailing and grace amazing
alone keep me from destruction
truly, there but for the grace of God go i
hear my cries, my pleas, my prayers O my God
heed my tears O Adonai El Shaddai
for empty, alone and broken am i
Bless the Lord O my soul for the LORD has done great & mighty things for you
the Lord's love and mercies endure forever
trust in the Lord, for He will never leave you, nor forsake you
my future 'Ruth' i pray Thee to keep and mold
our future together i commit into Thy hands
bring us together in Your time O Lord when we are meet for You and for each other
in Jesus' name, amen.
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