[delph998]

Originally posted by Eclipse
Now you Christian men understand what we Christian wives struggle with everyday! LOL

Seriously, my pastor believes in this same concept (i.e. the head/"leader" of the Pastor is God. Deacons and Trustees are there to advise. There are no congretional votes on ANYTHING, but opinions are solicited and folks don't have a problem sharing. Ultimately the final authority is the Pastor with the leading of the Holy Spirit), but biblically there is evidence of "voting" taking place in the early--actually preChurch. If you recall, the disciples chose 2 men, prayed to the Lord, then cast lots to appoint Matthias then 12th in place of Judas. (Acts 1:20-26) Now, some may say all of the followers of Christ did not make this select, only those closest, but the fact remain, there was sometime of process, with the leading of God (because now that I think about the the Holy Spirit had not yet come, right?)

Anyway, while I don't agree with everything my pastor says and does, I do try to practice Godly submission. Does this mean I would allow him to lead me off a cliff or as Blackwatch (we've missed you around these parts!) said "Drink the koolaid"? NO! No more than I would consider allowing my husband to cheat on me or beat me part of my duty of submitting to my husband. God not the author of confusion, so if something serious came up that I could not support because I thought it went against the word of God, I would be duty bound to discuss it with him, try to have him see the error of his ways then leave the church. Where It hink the problem comes in too many Christain churches is that folks cannot and willnot submit to the church's leadership, but will stay and be an ACTIVE disruptive force in the church. This causes churches to split, souls that should have been won to stay lost and all sorts of things that damage the kingdom.

My job is to pray for my pastor that he hears--CLEARLY--the voice of God so that even when I think he is going to wrong way, the Lord will get him back on track. There have been times when I was like "uh huh, that ain' right" at church and sometimes my pastor has had to come back and apologize to the congregation for not doing what the Lord told him to do.

To make a long story short, I can follow someone easier who is wrong occasionally, but has the humility and strength to admit it, than someone who needs to call a committee meeting to decide what color tie he should wear to Revival next week.

Very, very well said!