House Church Talk - covering link

[Bruce Woodford]

Hi Claire,

Thanks for the very interesting link to R. Maurice Smith's article 
"Spiritual Power, Authority & Covering In The Church".

He makes many excellent points, but I was disappointed that while showing 
the only scriptures that mention "covering" in scripture, he fails to show 
the scriptures that teach accountability!

He applauds the kind of horizontal "peer-accountability" popularized by 
Promise Keepers, but fails to show any scriptural mandate or modelling for 
such. Not one example or scriptural exhortation for such is cited!

The new covenant scriptures which deal with accountability are as follows. 
They all use the same Greek word:

"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall 
give ACCOUNT thereof in the day of judgment." Matt.12:36

"Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would 
take ACCOUNT of his servants." Matt.18:23

"After a long time the Lord of those servants cometh, and RECKONETH with 
them." Matt.25:19

"And he called him and said unto him, "How is it that I hear this of thee? 
Give ACCOUNT of thy stewardship, for thou mayest no longer be steward." Luke 
16:2

"So then every one of us shall give ACCOUNT of himself to God." Rom.14:12

"Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all 
things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom WE HAVE TO DO." 
Heb.4:13

"Obey them which have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they 
watch for your souls, as they that must give ACCOUNT, that they may do it 
with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you." Heb.13:17

"The Gentiles...shall give ACCOUNT to Him that is ready to judge the quick 
and the dead." I Peter 4:5

OBSERVATIONS: While, on the human plane, we are to OBEY people whom God has 
given to have authourity over us:
    -children to parents
    -citizens to kings and governors
    -Christians to elders
    -employees to employers ... yet

(1)Accountability in scripture is ALWAYS VERTICAL (Godward). It is  NEVER 
HORIZONTAL (manward).
(2)Accountability in scripture ALWAYS HAS TO DO WITH STEWARDSHIP WHICH IS 
RENDERED TO GOD (accounting for responsibilities or resources which have 
been entrusted to one by God.)It NEVER HAS TO DO WITH STEWARDSHIP WHICH IS 
RENDERED TO MEN(accounting for
   responsibilities or resources which have been entrusted to one by other 
men.)
(3) Accountability in scripture ALWAYS INVOLVES:
    a. GOD-GIVEN DIRECTION for one's life or service,
    b. GOD-GIVEN EVALUATION of one's life or service. (NEVER MEN'S DIRECTION 
OR EVALUATION of one's life or service.)

For these reasons confusion and conflict of interests have always plagued 
Christians whenever they have considered themselves to be acountable to 
parents, the state, church leaders, employers or unconverted donors or 
community groups regarding the exercise of their spiritual gifts which have 
been given by God!

Your brother in Christ,
Bruce



>From: "Claire Bennett" <clairebnntt at cox.net>
>Reply-To: House Church Talk  at housechurch.org
>To: <House Church Talk  at housechurch.org>
>Subject: House Church Talk -  covering link
>Date: Sun, 8 Aug 2004 12:31:14 -0700
>
>http://www.parousianetwork.com/Covering.htm  Interesting.

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