House Church Talk - Alexander Strauch on Biblical Eldership

[Bruce Woodford]

Gary,

You wrote in part:

>I often wonder if the tremendous push toward whatever organizational
>structure that may exist in an IC is borne of 1 Samuel 8 -

Brother, I believe you have brought us to a key (if not THE KEY) passage in 
scripture which gives the basic reasoning of men for replacing God's order 
of leadership for man's!

I Sam.8 was used by the Lord in my own life and ministry over 25 years ago 
to lead me out of the "pastorate" and into a search for genuine scriptural 
church life.

Humanly, we see failure in others who "are supposed to " lead and then use 
that as an excuse to choose leaders of the kind that are more pleasing to 
ourselves than to God....primarily those who will shoulder the 
responsibilities which we ourselves ought to share!!!  We also would humanly 
prefer to follow  leaders whom we can see and control!

We forget that not one member of our physical bodies can see or control our 
heads!!!! Our physical bodies (like the body of Christ) were designed with 
the opposite purposes in view, i.e. that the head could see and control the 
various members of the body!

Just a few thoughts that came to mind as you mentioned I Sam 8.

(Like fish, take whatever good you may glean and cast the bones aside!)

Your brother in Christ,
Bruce Woodford

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