Authority, submission and Fundies

[Pergamum]

When I went to a Fundy school we had chapel every week and about 10% of the messages (very disproportionate) were on authority or submission.

The argument usually goes like this:

God ordains powers, we must submit and accept God-ordained authority.

Then outside of chapel they impose many, many rules that make you chaff under your Fundy-approved collar



What's up with the Fundy emphasis on authority and submission in Fundy Bible colleges like Pensecol and BJU? How much does it carry over into their churches? What are its fruits?

 

[jwithnell]

When desperate for a church, I went to an independent Baptist one for a few years, and know someone closely who went to Pensacola, so perhaps I can offer some insight.

First, several doctrines really conflict. Generally, folks take a view that none of the law has any application for believers because "we are under grace, not under law." Then the churches place all kinds of extra rules on folks like women should not wear pants, no one should go to movies, etc., etc. They'll take the great king of the universe and place Him sitting like a wimp knocking at your heart's door with no power whatsoever to make a change in your life because He's waiting for you to "make a decision." Yet the amount of legalism is incredible: Pensacola would not allow a freshman girl to walk across the street from campus to get a prescription filled that their on-campus medical personnel prescribed for her!

It seems that the further one gets from the real freedom of knowing what God requires of us, the more human-made rules get imposed.

That said, I would not oppose any campus, workplace, etc. from setting limits on dress and behavior -- an institution should certainly be able to make standards for itself. But to see the total lack of compassion at a self-described Christian institution (like Pensacola) is just too much!

 

[PuritanCovenanter]

I actually tend to favor messages like this and think they are far, and fewer than they should be. But one does need to be respectful of authority as the scripture says in Hebrews 13. The leaders are accountable for how they lead us. We are not be grievous to them.

(Heb 13:17) Obey them that 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.

As long as they are not seeking to establish their own righteousness for justification, it will not hurt them necessarily. College should be a discipline. I am teaching my kids that life is a discipline and not all fun and pleasure. It isn't meant to be easy going. College is meant to prepare so to remove some idols like appearances and liberties is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Barnpreacher]

I think we have to include Hebrews 13:7 if we are going to quote verse 17.

Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the WORD OF GOD (not man): whose faith follow, CONSIDERING THE END OF THEIR CONVERSATION.

(bold and paranthesis mine)

 

[Kim G]

How much does it carry over into their churches? What are its fruits?

Churches preach the same thing or they are blacklisted and students cannot attend. Many pastors preach in fear of saying the wrong thing to offend the university. There is an aura of "whatever the school says is right for our church, too."

The fruits of heavily imposed standards and forced submission are hypocrisy or rebellion. Or, by the grace of God, a search for the truth of freedom in Christ (personal experience).

 

[PuritanCovenanter]

I think we have to include Hebrews 13:7 if we are going to quote verse 17.

Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the WORD OF GOD (not man): whose faith follow, CONSIDERING THE END OF THEIR CONVERSATION.

(bold and paranthesis mine)

I agree. And I considered it. But I know many who have come out of that kind of environment who are good men of God. My current Pastor came out of Liberty. And I know a Pastor whose wife grew up sitting on the knee of John R. Rice. And I don't think she would trade that for the world. Her and her husband have both been involved with the Reformed faith for years. In fact I just went and saw Tom Nettles at their church earlier this month.