A WORD TO THE WIVES
As a demonstration of their loyalty toward their
church and pastor, David Koresh, many "Christians"
were willing to be transformed into human torches in the town of Waco, Texas.
As a demonstration of their obedience to their church and pastor,
the Rev. Jim Jones, many "Christians" submitted to their spiritual
overseer and "partook of the communion of death" in the jungles of Guyana,
South America.
There is a lot more truth to what has just been said than most of us care to recognize – a lot more truth that lands itself right at our own doorsteps.
When someone joins themselves to an organization or an institution called the church, the times that are spent there are very formative. They are times in which people develop many social and religious habits that often remain with them for life. They have nothing to do with a real relationship with our Creator. They are habits, nothing more.
These formative times are great opportunities as well for religious leaders to plant fears that will keep a person in bondage to a religious system for life, or keep a person from looking at anything else for fear of being deceived.
This is a great opportunity to implant concepts which will actually keep the person from ever seeing the truth, even though the truth may be right before your eyes! If a particular doctrine, concept, or practice is implanted into one’s mind with vivid graphic pictures, a handful of Scriptures, add a little fear, and of course, throw in some “awesome respect for church authorities”, and when that person reads plain Bible texts, they will not be able to clearly see what is directly in front of them.
They will see the text through the filters that were put on their mind; they will not see the text as it really is.
Is it any wonder why some Christians end up with the conclusions they get - they filter what comes in, and low and behold, out pops the expected verdict! It’s absolutely amazing how many times a Scripture is read in church that completely contradicts one of their main teachings and no one ever comments about the contradiction.
There was a time when perhaps they asked those hard questions, but when they were rebuked, or ridiculed for asking questions that caused division, they learned not to question anymore. They learned to go along with the crowd.
The scales over the eyes are so thick that everything, including our concept of God Himself, becomes gross darkness. But they do not know it is darkness on account of the fact that they have been seeing that way for quite some time now.
The following information that you are about to read is intended to be a wake-up call.
It is meant to be read with a Berean spirit. (Acts 17: 10-12) Are there any "Bereans" left among us? The Bereans searched the Scriptures. They possessed a spirit that wanted to see all sides of an issue, lay them on the "table top" and then, after their personal study, work out their own salvation, so to speak.
Pray to the Living God for that kind of spirit as you read this section. As you read, pray that if there exists any scales upon our eyes that they may be removed; that power and strength might be granted to put away from us any preconceived teachings that have been imbibed and imbedded within us; that the Lord Himself, through the Spirit, might draw near for these next few moments and that perhaps for some, the glorious Light of Truth might shine upon your souls.
Rest assured, the following information is such that could someday, save your marriage, if not, your life - so please, pay attention. It may get tedious for some, and for some others, you may have to think extra hard, but being tedious and being made to think for the short time it takes to go through this section is a small price to pay for not ending up another deluded spouse or dead follower of men.
So keep that in mind as you read. Keep in mind as well that marriages have been viscously and deliberated destroyed in the past because they never learned what you are about to learn.
They were deluded and deceived as to who’s exactly in “authority.”.
TO THOSE WHO HAVE EYES TO SEE, it is quite evident that a “major asset” to those engaged in unbiblical authoritarianism and spiritual abuse in many churches today is the marriage institution. I have personally seen on a number of occasions and have heard from others as well, how these “spiritual leaders” do not care one whit to Jesus’ words:
“What God has joined together, let not man put asunder.”
These men despise the Word of God. Just look around and see the damage that has been done. But you might say, “How can these things be?” “How is it possible that husbands and wives in many “churches” today are, by the droves, forsaking their spouses?”
First of all, you must understand that many of these men that are “exercising the oversight” over the congregation are professionals and are well experienced in their diabolical schemes. They are able to effectively instill carnal fear in men very rapidly. A simple twisting of Scripture; the pronouncement to “obey your god-given elders”; the waving of their pointed finger in your face along with their raised voices, is all that it takes for many people to succumb to its’ folly.
Some "church pastors/elders" are taking over many, if not all marriages in their congregations by assuming to themselves the power and authority that only a husband possesses upon his family and his wife.
A wife is to obey her husband as unto the Lord. Eph. 5:22.
She can be as certain of God’s will, when her husband speaks, as if God had spoken and she heard it from Heaven. Eph. 5:23.
She is to submit to her own husband in everything. Eph. 5:24.
Many “pastors” look upon these commands to the wife and the God-given authority invested solely in the husband, and oh, how they covet this for themselves. They too must be invested with this same authority as the husband and put it to good use inside of the congregation. And so the pronouncement is made: “Christ has made the elders head - over and above everybody else and when it comes to decisions about spiritual matters in the church, the husband must take a back seat and wives must submit to their god-given elders.” Is this what the Scriptures teach? Of course not! So why is this allowed and even worse, why are church members ever so blindly complying?
The REAL GOD-given headship and REAL GOD-given authority that husbands possess over their families and their wife in particular is a REAL obstacle and a REAL threat to those in so-called “positions of authority” in the church. And some “church leaders” will not stand for it! So what do these church leaders do to correct this problem? They manipulate the minds of the people and manipulate the Scriptures. They are in effect, preaching another Jesus.
2Corth. 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus,
whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit,
which ye have not received, or another gospel,
which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
In many unbiblical authoritarian congregations, the biblical order in 1 Corth. 11 of God, Christ, man (husband) has been changed to God, Christ, “pastor”, husband!
Families are falsely being taught from many pulpits today that the “eldership/pastors” have the higher authority in the home when it comes to “spiritual matters”, even greater than that of the husband! This is total unbiblical nonsense. And unless many people start to wake up, more marriages are going to be destroyed.
THE "CHURCH" TODAY
Who would ever have thought 100 years ago, that this will be the sad state of affairs in the “protestant churches” today. Who would ever have thought that articles needed to be written warning the church members of this evil, diabolical teaching that wicked shepherds are engaging in. Surely, right before our very eyes, evil men and imposters are waxing worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 2 Tim. 3:13.
Instead of the Scriptural order of God, Christ, Man, Woman; now is has become God, Christ, pastor/church, man, woman!
Instead of the Scriptural command to wives that they be subject to their own husbands in everything; now it has become wives be subject to your own husbands in everything.......domestic!
Instead of the Scriptures stating that the husband is the head of the wife as Christ also is the head of the Church; now we have “THE ELDERSHIP” being head over BOTH OF THEM……EVEN AS Christ is head of the Church!
And instead of having, “What God has joined together, let not man put asunder”; we now have “Let the ‘pastor’ put asunder, what God has joined together.”
It doesn't get much crazier than this!
If there ever was a day when God might bring fire down from heaven upon the heads of these men with their despicable teachings and despicable behavior of “authority gone wild,” these are the days in which we are living. These are the days in which the “Lord is still a jealous God and avenges; the Lord avenges and is full of wrath; the Lord takes vengeance on His adversaries, and reserves wrath for His enemies.” Nahum 1:2
These are the days of Ezekiel 34 where the shepherds feed themselves; where the shepherds refuse to strengthen, refuse to heal, refuse to bind up that which was broken, refuse to bring back that which was driven away, refuse to seek after that which was lost; but with force and with rigor have the shepherds ruled over them.
The false teachings of these spiritual abusers in putting themselves and their “church” first,
has led to these dastardly deeds that are occurring everywhere.
But be not deceived. God is not mocked.
We’re living in dark dangerous times. Many “churches” today are no longer a “safe haven” to bring ourselves and our families to. The works of darkness, (Eph. 5:11; 6:12); the ministers of Satan, (2 Corth.11:15); the characteristics of the churches we read about in Revelations Chapter 2 & 3 are ever present in these authoritarian – spiritual abusing systems.
Oh how clever these men are. Once the people are induced to imbibe this false teaching, the “elders” know that the “bait” has been successfully set. Now, if there happens to appear a spouse who “sees the light” and begins to perhaps question a particular point in a sermon, or might disagree with a particular church issue or doctrine, the elderships’ so-called “position of authority” overrules in the home and the “disaffected” party must submit to the position of the church, or else! Or else what?? Read on.
The steps taken and the pattern that these “ministers” use are all too common.
When one spouse starts to bring up some questionable issues about the "church" to the other spouse and then starts to investigate the policy of "elder/pastor rule" or church doctrine, the other spouse immediately reports back to the "leaders" about this issue (initially perhaps under the phony guise of "asking for prayer").
But really, this IS just the first step in their long drawn out diabolical scheme.
-The "elders" are now furious about this report.
-Special instructions are now given to the "obedient" and "faithful" spouse to report back immediately of any increased "disaffection".
-Close monitoring is now implemented.
-Spies are sent out to try to listen in to your conversations in the church lobby, or auditorium, or church parking lot.
-Any incoming mail must be screened by the "obedient" spouse. Going through your spouses trash to locate any papers or notes to “incriminate” them is not uncommon.
-Talk of "separation" is now introduced to deal with and punish the offender.
But when this doesn't work......when the "unsubmissive" and "unruly" one increases in their true understanding of the Scriptures (“rebellion”) and begins to grow more and more in seeing unbiblical authoritarianism for what it truly is, then that's the end. The "leaders" cannot and will not put up with this "leaven".
When all else fails, divorce is the only option.
And all the while along the way, the other spouse, that "faithful", "God-fearing one” who recognizes the “importance of duly-authorized leaders", all the while along the way, they were being primed and counseled as to the “rightness” and “scripturalness” of this "sad" decision, and is
all-to-happy and eager to comply!
Isn't this the case?
And if this isn’t enough to make you disgusted, after the separation/divorce, the “obedient and faithful” spouse receives a nice card from the “church” saying what a great testimony they are to the congregation!
Let me repeat one of my own testimonies that you will find in the testimonies section.
When the Lord was starting to open my eyes concerning spiritual abuse and unbiblical authoritarianism, I started to share some of these things to my wife. Also, I started to have some different doctrinal positions from what the church had and different views of church policy. Well, what do you know, that lo and behold, the name of our family was next on the list for our “pastoral visitation.” The time and date was settled. At the appointed time, the “church elder” comes over. We start to chat about different church issues. He was in the house for less than 10 minutes when he turns and says to my wife, “…WELL BARB, HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT SEPARATION?” I said, “WHAT! How dare you come into my house and plant that evil, diabolical seed into my wife’s head!”
I should have thrown him out, but I didn’t. Could you imagine that! Separation, and then, of necessity, possible divorce? For what? Because one spouse disagrees with the pastor’s sermon or an issue of church policy? Sadly yes. But thankfully, the Lord rescued me and not too soon afterward, I dragged my wife and family out of that wretched, wretched place.
This is what’s being promulgated in many, many circles today. And it is a very effective tool of the devil that these ministers of Satan (2 Corth. 11:15) are all too happy to wield.
“What God has joined together, let not man put asunder.”
Instead of placing herself in alignment with God's prescribed order of authority and submitting to her husband and prospering in the blessing of a fruitful marriage, many wives are placing their “pastor” as their head instead of Christ, and of necessity, replaced their husbands as their head!
This all being done with the “blessings of the eldership!”
“Wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord..."
No where in the Scriptures are women ever told to “submit to their pastors.”
Notice the Bible says, "their own husbands." A woman is under no obligation whatsoever to submit to ANY MAN except her husband; NOT TO THE "HEAD PASTOR", OR HIS "FELLOW ELDERS", OR HIS CLONES, OR HIS WANNABES, OR ANYBODY!
Some foolish women have been brainwashed into believing that they are supposed to submit to their pastor more than their own husband. This is sinful. You obey your own husband, no one else!
You and your husband are ONE in God's eyes. The husband and wife should never, ever forget that. Let your strength be your love and loyalty to your husband, no matter what!
I am very well aware of the terrible translation of Hebrews 13:7 and 17 that these unscrupulous ministers take advantage of. (See the article, Do Elders Rule? Hebrews 13:7 & 17)
These verses, partially quoted and incorrectly translated, have been used by countless authoritarian pastors as a hammer to put their congregations into blind subjection to their personal vision for how they feel that the church should operate and behave. This is contrary to the clear teachings of the Scriptures. Any minister who says otherwise is a minister of "another Jesus."
Matt 20:25 But Jesus called them [His disciples] unto him, and said,
Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them,
and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
Matt 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Matt 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Matt 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto,
but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Eph.5:22 Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Eph.5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the Church, being Himself the Savior of the body.
Eph.5:24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be unto their own husbands in everything.
A "FREAKISH" MARRIAGE
Remember going to the amusement parks years ago? Remember the "side shows" having grotesque looking people and other abnormalities? Some of the things you saw were infants and adults with two heads! They called this a “freak of nature.”
Ladies, do you know what you are doing when you willfully and deliberately listen to and obey the voice of your “pastor” over and above that of your husband in regards to ANY ISSUE WHATSOEVER?
Ladies, you are infringing upon your husbands God-given authority as head and leader over you and you are turning your marriage into one that is formed in the manner of a TWO-HEADED FREAK!
Remember Jesus’ words, “No man can serve two masters; for either they will hate the one and love the other; or else they will hold to one, and despise the other.”
And in today’s age, where many “pastors” in many churches are spewing forth their self-serving unscriptural nonsense about their god-given authority and how they are to be obeyed and listened to on all spiritual matters, husbands are the ones losing out in so far as which master the wife is choosing.
A Christian wife has as much right to listen to and obey her elders over that of her husband, as the church has as much right to listen to and obey the devil over that of Christ.
Eph.5:24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be unto their own husbands in everything.
Isn’t it the same situation back in the Garden of Eden? There is Eve – all alone, away from her husband. Now enters Satan, dangling the temptation before her eyes. “Hath God said……” Eve begins to ponder and begins to see how attractive and how spiritual his words were. Eve lusted after that beautiful tree and its fruit, even as she thought of herself to be very spiritual in quoting God's own words.
But Eve thought she could ignore God's other words to her concerning her role as a help meet, as being one flesh with her husband. She thought that she could ignore her head and listen to her cunning, crafty counselor and advisor the serpent, and receive promotion from her advisor, the serpent, and still be in good standing with God.
“Ah”, she said, “my counselor and advisor, Mr. Serpent, knows the Word of God too! He quotes it so nicely and so accurately. And oh, he is so wise; even wiser than my husband Adam. He seems to be more educated and closer to God too!”
"Wives be in subjection to your own husbands in everything.”
So, along comes the “pastor” and says, “ah, but "in everything"………except spiritual matters. God has gifted ME with authority and you are to submit to me in these matters. Obeying ME is like obeying God.”
And so history repeats itself and the wife falls and succumbs to the temptation and the downward spiral of the marriage begins.
Many foolish women have listened to the godless counsel of the elders and have DESTROYED their marriages and their husbands!
The teaching of these elders is the most abominable, satanically inspired teaching ever perpetrated upon the marriage institution. It has caused more harm and destruction to human relationships than any other invention. The destruction of the marriage institution through the false teachings of the eldership is Satan's best shot at marring the glorious image of Jesus Christ and His Church.
A wife has no one to answer to EXCEPT HER HUSBAND. He is the ONLY one in the world who she is accountable to. Women have been poisoned in their minds by the “church”.
There is no greater role for a woman in this world than being at her husband's side at all times. "Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands."
Proverbs 14:1
What kind of wife are you?
Eve turned aside after Satan by TAKING BAD ADVICE. EVE WAS DECEIVED! Women are more often led into spiritual error than men. Why does a husband need to protect his wife?…
2 Tim. 3: 6-7 ”For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
What some of you wives should have done in the past, and what some of you wives need to do now when some "church leader" shows you an “apparent scripture” that supposedly states you are to submit to them or “counsels” you as to possible separation and/or divorce, is to tell him to SHUT UP and then leave before you pluck your house down with your hands. Proverbs 14:1
It is cultic organizations, along with their cultic leaders, that will always divide the family unit instead of bringing them together.
They will MAKE YOU choose between God and them; God and the pastor/eldership. And God loses out most of the time. These leaders use Scriptures such as Jesus came to bring a sword, not peace, or one must give up brothers, sisters, wife, and house for the kingdom to become a true obedient church member.
Listen! "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly..." Psalm 1:1.
Those who heed the diabolical counsel to leave their husbands in pursuit of greener pastures are turning aside after Satan. 1 Tim. 5:15
The true heroes in the churches today are its loving obedient wives who stand by their husbands. Shame on the elders who condemn, ridicule, and mock at God-fearing wives that obey and listen to their husbands over that of the pastor; that care for their children and love their husbands.
Yes, the church needs a revival. IT NEEDS A REVIVAL OF REBELLIOUS WIVES; wives who will stand up and say “NO” to the home-wrecking elders who are usurping the authority of the husband.
I believe that we as Christians need to step back for a moment and take a good look at what's happening in some churches today. The big picture is ugly. There is something very wrong with this picture.
Wives need to obey their husbands…in everything! When you refuse to be a HELP MEET to your husband and submit to his authority, but rather obey your unbiblical authoritarian "overseers" instead, you are permitting the devil to gain entrance into your marriage.
Is your marriage a house divided? A two-headed freak?
There are many, many people who need to get right with God in the church!!!
THE DYNAMICS OF TRICKERY
A strange phenomenon has been manifesting itself for the last 50 -100 years; a phenomenon that is wounding many poor, blinded, and unthinking Christian men and women. As I asked earlier, "Are there any "Bereans" among us? And unfortunately, the answer is no. Church members are subtlety being taught NOT TO THINK!
These Christian men and women are being VICTIMIZED AND TERRORIZED
( Yes, T - E - R - R - O - R - I - Z - E - D, a very popular and oft used word today), they are being victimized and terrorized by a godless “church agenda" sinfully working within its’ system, as well as a self-righteous “eldership” in the church today, that will:
#1 roast a husband over the flames of Hell for exercising husbandly authority over the wife (that is, telling their wives to reject the words of men and follow the Word of God), and that will also,
#2 roast a wife over the flames of Hell for refusing to see things the way Pastor Windbag does.
People are being kept in the dark because questioning, searching, and even thinking is discouraged by many in "church leadership" positions.
A "Berean" in the church today is an anomaly. It really is! Don't let a wicked shepherd con you into "thinking" otherwise! If you haven't already, read "We Must Obey God Rather Than Man" to see how this is worked out. Also the article, "Do Elders Rule?". Let me remind you though of the tactics used by the "eldership."
The following is taken from a sermon by Pastor Albert N. Martin from the Trinity Baptist Church in Montville, NJ. The sermon title is "Rule By Elder."
It will be said by the "teaching elder" that "the only Head of the Church is Jesus Christ Himself. Anyone who would intrude or question that headship is blaspheming!"
(Now this of course is true). But this is what he says next. "...Christ governs His church by His Word and Spirit by means of the rule of duly-appointed elders." (BY MEANS OF WHAT !!!)
He would go on to say, "So, the rule of Christ with reference to the local church is NOT expressed only by the subjection of every member to the Word of Christ......."
Now listen carefully. NOW COMES THE "BAIT AND SWITCH". Listen very carefully as the Scriptures will be further twisted and then, re-invented.
He continues, "A third factor enters and there is absolutely no inconsistency between absolute subjection to Jesus Christ as the only Head of the church and immediate subjection to elders."
He continues......."You have the same thing in regards to a husband & wife relationship. The head of every true believer is Christ and Paul says wives be subject to husbands."
"So there is no contradiction in this truth but a 'wonderful synthesis'."
Wait a minute! Do you see the problem? He is now egregiously and flagrantly equating a wife's subjection and obedience to her own husband with what a church member's "supposed" subjection and obedience should be to "their elders!" The same with a husband. He is equating a husband's headship over his wife - to what an "elders" headship in the church over each and every member ought to be!
Do you see the issue? Do you see the diabolical scheme and trap that is being set?
Wives are nowhere told to submit to or obey their elders. NOWHERE!
Mr. Elder Man knows that. But Mr. Elder Man doesn't like that. Mr Elder Man wants the church member to be obedient to him "in everything" too! He wants the church member to be subject to him "as unto the Lord" too! He wants the church member to consider Mr. Elder Man as "head" and "ruler" over them too, just like as a husband is head and ruler over his wife.
So how is Mr. Elder Man going to arrange for this to happen? It's very simple for him. JUST TEACH IT AND SAY THAT IT IS SCRIPTURAL, AND THEN REMIND YOU TO "OBEY YOUR DULY-AUTHORIZED GOD-GIVEN ELDERS!" THAT'S HOW!
But by now, I hope you see WHY the evil twisting of this particular Scripture is put into operation?
It is put into operation so Mr. Elder Man can now have total and absolute domination in the church! So Mr. Elder Man can now tell you, quote: " I have authority derived from Christ"
(NO YOU DON'T)
"....And when I exercise this "oversight", I am not acting as a mere man; I am acting as a man who stands in an "office",
(THE WORD 'OFFICE' IS NOT EVEN IN THE ORIGINGAL SCRIPTURES. It was inserted by the KJV translators to the delight of many, even to this day!);
"I am acting as a man who stands in an "office", an "office" appointed by Christ and enclothed with the authority of Christ..."
Sounds just like what my Roman Catholic priest used to tell me! The only difference was that the priest wasn't dressed up in a business suit!
The so-called "eldership" is ascribing and assuming to themselves "authority" that even the Apostles would not dream of doing!
The marriage between a husband and wife is a picture of Christ and the Church; not a picture of the church member to their elders! Do you see the bait and switch?
IT IS G-O-D WHO HAS SET IN THE SCRIPTURES, AND HAS SAID IN THE SCRIPTURES, THAT A WIFE IS TO SUBMIT TO HER OWN HUSBAND IN EVERYTHING.
IT IS G-O-D WHO HAS SET THIS POLICY.
IT IS G-O-D WHO HAS MADE THIS EQUATION OF THE HUSBAND/WIFE RELATIONSHIP AS A GREAT MYSTERY OF CHIRST AND THE CHURCH.
GOD has NOT put this here for prospective church members to look at, and then to emulate
how they "might" relate to so-called "elders" in the church!
And neither has GOD described the mysteries and responsibilities of the marriage institution in order for authoritarian, spiritual abusing, monstrous "ELDERS" to look at and then "salivate over" and then arrogantly ascribe to themselves the same responsibilities in dealing with church members!
No wonder marriages are being destroyed left and right by these men.
I repeat, don't let wicked, two-faced, doubled minded, doubled tongued lying "shepherds" tell you otherwise! Run from them and that place as fast and as far as possible.
IT IS THE ELDER WHO IS BLASPHEMING, NOT THE ONE
WHO QUESTIONS HIM,..... AND THERE IS NO "WONDERFUL
SYNTHESIS" ABOUT IT !
The exact same trickery is done with 1 Tim. 3:4-5 where the Apostle says that anyone who reaches out to overseership should be one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence but if anyone doesn't know how to rule his own house, how will he care for a church of God.
Here, the elder assumes, he alleges, he deduces from this Scripture that the way a father deals with his child in the home is the same way an elder deals with a member of the church. This is what he says:
"We see from 1 Tim. 3 verses 4 & 5 a parallel with a father in the home
and an elder with the flock. Do you see the parallel? A father is to
exercise wise, authoritative, and humble government in the total affairs
of his household. He is to be concerned for the spiritual, material, physical,
psychological, emotional well-being of the whole household over which
God has placed him as head. (Again) "Do you see the parallel?"
"This passage powerfully supports it."
Just a minute. No it doesn't! There is no parallel at all! He just made that up and pronounced it as gospel! And the reason is to prepare you for what he will say next about a church member who starts to ask questions or who might disagree with a particular "church" decision:
"...Just like many times, I said to my children: 'Look. That's
none of your business. This is the policy established and
you knuckle-under. Like it or not; whether you see the
reasonableness or not. We are your parents commanded
by God to give positive; authoritative, humble direction in this house.'
"AND ELDERS ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO EXPLAIN THEIR REASONS FOR ALL THEIR DECISIONS."
And so therefore, when a member of the church asks for a reason or dares to disagree, he'll say this:
"Along comes a church member with questions and
disagreements about this announcement.
Did you see what happened?"
"The church member, in his heart, does not
embrace and obey the biblical mandate to obey
them that have the rule over you! I know whereof I speak."
"This wicked spirit is present in some of your hearts
and you better see it for what it is. Its an arrogant, proud spirit."
"Beware of the pride that will second
guess YOUR "elders."
And if the "elder" is wrong?
"Which is worse - for "elders" to err in ignorance
or for YOU to INFECT yourself and
others with a spirit of insubordination
and rebellion! WHICH IS WORSE!"
What can we say to all of this? First of all, just like he does to the husband and wife relationship, he does to this
