Monday, 30 November 2009
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Is the Church a Democracy?
By Sharon at She WorshipsIs the church a democracy? This is a question that my husband and I have been mulling over this week. While a seemingly abstract question, or at the very least random, the way you answer this questions has a LOT of implications for your individual life. Just hang with me and I’ll explain how.
At the heart of this question is the location of authority within every church. Assuming God and Scripture to be the highest authorities, the question of democracy asks whether the next level of authority lies in the hands of church leaders, or the congregation. On this matter, there is a fairly wide spectrum of churches. On the one end you have Catholics, for whom there is a trickle down structure of authority that finds its head with the Pope. On the opposite end you have denominations like Baptists, who give a lot more freedom to the individual congregation. Contrary to popular opinion, the Southern Baptist Convention does not rule over or dictate the lives of Baptist churches. Historically, Baptists churches have taught the autonomy or independence of the local church, which means Baptist churches can look as different as the people in each congregation. That’s why you hear about crazy fringe churches in the news that don the name “Baptist.” They aren’t reflecting a wider Baptist tradition, but instead their own congregation’s fringe beliefs. Baptist tradition gives congregations that freedom.
So we are presented with two extremes: all the authority lies in the leadership, or all the authority lies in the congregation. Given our country’s ideas about government, we tend to buck against any structure that gives absolute power to a higher ranking authority figure. And I can sympathize with that. There has got to be accountability. Unchecked power leads to corruption.
However, I’m not sure full-fledged democracy is the answer either. In Scripture we see a couple examples of democracy, and they’re not positive. In Exodus 32 the people took a vote so Aaron acquiesced to the consensus: he gave them a golden calf. In 1 Samuel the popular consensus was to appoint a king over Israel, so God gave them one: Saul. Throughout Scripture, the popular consensus was often a sinful one. That’s why God so frequently sent prophets to hold His people accountable. Without strong, godly leadership, they were like sheep without a shepherd. They strayed.
So while I am by no means Catholic in my understanding of authority, I am also wary of a truly democratic model of the church. But here’s where this issue really applies to each and every one of our lives: If we believe the authority of our local church lies first in the congregation, and not in the hands of leaders on whom God has granted authority, we give ourselves an out. We give ourselves permission to not follow the leading of our pastors and the movement of the church. Say the church sets out a vision for its people–the leaders feel called to serve the community more, give sacrificially to a cause, or send more people on the mission field—but you don’t “feel called” to this particular vision, so you don’t participate. The church’s larger vision is irrelevant to you. You simply don’t listen because you are the “decider.”
This is deeply problematic to me. I don’t want to overlook the individual circumstances of people’s lives, but this approach to church leadership can also reveal a tremendous lack of trust in God. If you serve a church that has systems of accountability for its leaders (that is to say, there are no blatant abuses of power at work in your church), then passages like Hebrews 13:17 provide our direction. We are to “obey our leaders and submit to their authority.” If they call the church to a vision of outreach that is Scriptural, we aren’t given a “what if” clause. We are called to follow.
While this might sound scary to some people, as if I’m affirming a kind of blank-check power to our church leaders, there is an alternate way of thinking about it. If God has given you leaders to guide you, teach you, bless you and grow you as a vehicle of His Holy Spirit, but you constantly defer to your own judgment about what is best, then you’re missing out on a blessing. You’re missing out on an opportunity to exercise faith in ways that you might not have considered on your own.
The purpose of me writing this is not to resolve the tricky question of church polity–how a church should be structured. There are strengths and weaknesses to every model in the book because we are all sinners serving a sovereign, redemptive God. What I DO want you to consider in the face of all these questions is your own view of authority. Has it been shaped more by your culture or by Scripture? Leaders are not perfect, but God calls us to submit to them without providing an escape clause. If we can do this responsibly and without bitterness, I suspect we will find blessing and new spiritual depth through our obedience to Him.
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About the Author
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- From: sheworships
- Name: Sharon
- About Me: Sharon Hodde Miller is a North Carolina girl, born and raised! She is originally from Charlotte, NC, and she received her undergraduate degree and Masters of Divinity from Duke University. Sharon has worked for Proverbs 31 Ministries where she was a contributing writer to the ministry’s daily devotions and radio broadcasts. She has written for Relevant Magazine’s online articles, Lifeway’s Collegiate Magazine, Ungrind Webzine, and she continues to write and minister to women all over the world about being a Christian woman in an ever-changing culture. Sharon currently lives in Durham, North Carolina with her husband, who is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Duke Divinity School. If you would like to contact her regarding a speaking or writing opportunity, if you have any questions, or would like to submit a blog topic, please e-mail her at sharon(at)sheworships(dot)com.
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Comments (50)
If you read through the Pastoral Epistles you will realize that any idea of a democratic church is not in line with Scripture. For example Timothy was to choose elders and deacons for the church, not the congregation. It is a clear line of authority starting with God-Jesus through the Pastor or head elder, through the Elders, and then to the individuals in the congregation. We live in a democracy so we model our church after it, even though that is not in line with what scripture teaches.
I don't really know what kind of government my church uses, but I think it's pastor-led. I don't think the congregation gets a vote on what happens. If the congregation doesn't like what's going on, we vote on the matter by leaving!
Like last night, my college pastor spent a good 20 minutes or so informing us about a decision regarding college group. The decision was to do away with college group as we have known it and replace it with an all-church Saturday night service starting in January.
I'm thinking I'll check out the new service when it starts in January. Then if I don't like it, I may begin a search for a new college group to attend, and in an extreme case, a new church. Not that I don't like the people in my church, but I would prefer to have something that's just for my age group. (At my church, "college" means ages 18-29.)
@squanto_07@xanga - Scripture doesn't teach it, scripture simply shows it happening. I would argue that the Church structure as seen in the Epistles is descriptive rather than prescriptive.
The church is a theocracy, God is in charge, He has placed the pastor as the head of the church, under the pastor would be the church. Some pastors rule with an iron fist, and some get advice from the church they serve.
It's a theocratic dictatorship with the abrahamic God playing the dictator.
@interstellarmachine@xanga - The authority is God through scripture.
Where in Scripture does it say that? Moses did not teach or lead through Scripture and neither did Jesus.
Scripture is Tradition, the mind of God, that is handed down in writing. If knowledge is written in a book it can be handed down but even Scripture tells us that all Jesus did could not be contained in a book.
So the "authority through Scripture" doctrine is not authentic Christian doctrine.
There is a huge danger in following the decisions of any clergy without question. You can take the extreme examples of fringe churches whose "ministry" leads the congregation to drinking poisoned Kool Aid or convinces their followers (or frightens them into submissiveness) that 13 year old girls are destined by God to be the wives of the head of a church. Remember the congregation that committed suicide together because they believed there was a spaceship behind a passing comet that would take them to heaven? It's obvious to most people just how perverse those churches are but there is as great a danger, greater if you consider the numbers, in following this or that mainstream church which seems to be on the right path yet in reality is not. The words "seek and ye shall find" and "man, know thyself" are ultimately responsibilities that fall upon each individual. Do something you don't feel is right at the time for any reason simply because someone of "authority" tells you to and you've already given up personal responsibility. No authority has any more power to take responsibility for your life than that guy who just sold you the Brooklyn Bridge has power to deliver the goods. When it comes to God and man there are ultimately no middlemen.
Another thing to consider is this. Imagine you allow the gift that is your life to be subjugated by someone else, clergy or otherwise, and things don't turn out well. You passed on something your life actually wanted and needed to do in order to follow some authority. This opens the barn door for huge amounts of resentment later on. In the end it's better to learn from making your own mistakes than making the mistakes of someone else.
@LoBornlyte@xanga - Where in Scripture does it say that? II Timothy 3:16,17 Scripture is by inspiration of God and thoroughly furnishes the man of God to be perfect.
Moses was pre-completed scripture and was not leading a church. Though he did rely heavily on Scripture written directly by God on Mount Sinai.
While all that Jesus did is not contained in the Book of John, all that Jesus did which is relevant to believers is contained in Scripture, as we are thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
@interstellarmachine@xanga - Timothy 3:16,17 Scripture is by inspiration of God and thoroughly furnishes the man of God to be perfect.
That's not what my Bible says. And this is another good reason why the God's authority through Scripture doctrine is without merit.
What version of the Bible are you going to choose as God's authority?
@LoBornlyte@xanga - That was from the King James (yeah, I know, another heretic).
I use multiple versions depending on the passage. For doctrinal study, I try to use the version that is the closest to the nuances of the Greek or Hebrew. Both KJV and NASB are literal translations in that each word correlates to a word in the Greek or Hebrew, making it easier to look up the word in Strongs/Vines/TWOT. I find NASB to generally be very faithful and slightly easier to read than the KJV, however the KJV tends to work better with the nuances if you can stomach the archaic English.
What version do you want to use? What does your bible say?
@interstellarmachine@xanga - What version do you want to use? What does your bible say?
That's exactly my point! You are advocating personal human choice as the judge of what is the authority of God.
Which version is irrelevant. The fact that there are many versions destroys the validity of the doctrine you espouse.
Sharon, I loved your post. The issue of authority is very close to my own heart because God has taught me and shaped me into HIS image through submission to authority more than anything else. With most Christians, the real issue behind their beliefs/teachings on authority is fear - fear of abuse, fear of being misled, etc.. What this reveals is that their faith and trust in God doesn't go any farther than their agreement/disagreement and trust/distrust with their church leader(s). Any decision by the leadership that raises suspicion or that makes one uncomfortable becomes a point of unbelief toward God's sovereignty and faithfulness and love. All through scripture God has led his people through broken, screwed-up, fallen, sin-laden leaders, and yet! God did lead his people through them and accomplish his very good purposes through them, even the worst ones. God Himself testified that David was a man after His own heart, and yet, David committed murder and adultery. Moses is considered a Patriarch in scripture; he also committed murder and even disobeyed God to such a degree (striking the rock twice) that he didn't get to enter the land of promise. And my personal favorite, Jacob, who was a liar, a swindler, manipulator - and yet, God identifies himself as the God of Jacob more than any other name He affords Himself. The list goes on. The point that I wish to make is that our faith is in the sovereign, perfect God who rules, governs, leads, and accomplishes His purposes through imperfect men, good or bad. Our beliefs and submission to authority should not be based on fear, suspicion, agreement/disagreement, or our personal comfort; our beliefs and submission to authority should flow out of our love and faith in Jesus, the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls, who rules over all authorities in Heaven and on Earth.
@LoBornlyte@xanga - So now version is irrelevant? I agree, but you asked the question. It is like saying do you prefer the red hammer or the blue hammer? The important thing is that you stick with the architect's drawings.
No, it is not a democracy. It cannot be. Never has been never was. Read the Scripture and the earliest Christian writings (the Didache, St. Ignatius, I Clement, etc.), and you will find that the structure of the Church is this: bishop, presbyter, and deacon, with the bishop having governing power over his congregation like a monarch (this doesn't require papal supremacy).
This fact didn't sit well with me at first. I tend to be more than a little anti-authoritarian, but I had to deal with it. It is a fact, and it's pretty clear.
Part of the problem with our understanding (and the reason these kinds of questions lead to confusion) is that "leaders" according to Jesus are not those who dictate or control-- they're those who serve.
But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28 NKJV)
(I wrote further along these lines in a recent post on spiritual abuse.)
@interstellarmachine@xanga - So now version is irrelevant?
That there are different versions of the Bible ruins your doctrine of God's authority through Scripture.
Which version is true? You say your version is true. I say my version is true. Who decides which version is true, you or me?
Since you have no more authority than I do, neither version is authoritative and your doctrine is without merit.
@LoBornlyte@xanga - Why can't they both be true? Is there even a conflict? What does your version say that conflicts with my version?
@interstellarmachine@xanga - Why can't they both be true? Is there even a conflict? What does your version say that conflicts with my version?
My version of the Bible does not say what your version does. The quote you cherry picked from 2 Timothy says something different than what my version says.
Simple logic says that two differing statements both cannot be true.
@LoBornlyte@xanga - I did not quote, I paraphrased. What does your version say?
@interstellarmachine@xanga - I did not quote, I paraphrased. What does your version say?
This makes your case even worse! For you are lending authority to Scripture not based on what it says but by what you think it says.
This again, is illogical. Man has no authority to lend to God. Since Scripture is interpreted by you, a man, by definition it cannot be authorized by God. That is unless you think you are God.
@LoBornlyte@xanga - "This makes your case even worse!"I don't see how, because you can go back yourself and easily check my paraphrase. Which apparently you did . . . what does your version say?
@interstellarmachine@xanga - "This makes your case even worse!"I don't see how, because you can go back yourself and easily check my paraphrase.
A paraphrase is simply your interpretation of something. One's own interpretation cannot be the basis for something that poses as God's authority.
And how can you propose getting away with a paraphrase yet require that I give you a direct quote? Why don't you get your act together and furnish a direct quote?
@LoBornlyte@xanga - Sorry, you only had asked where it was found, I thought a link would be sufficient . . . All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. II Timothy 3:16,17 (KJV)
What does your version say?
A paraphrase is simply your interpretation of something. I disagree. Jesus read paraphrased documents as Scripture and also accepted paraphrases verbalized by others, check out Luke 10:27 and 28 where the man paraphrased Deuteronomy 6:5, and Jesus answered "Thou hast answered right."
One's own interpretation cannot be the basis for something that poses as God's authority. Agreed:
But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is {a matter} of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.II Peter 1:20,21 (KJV)
@interstellarmachine@xanga - Brotherly reply. Don't bother arguing with LoBornlyte. It's like talking to a wall that will ignore/insult you.