I apologize if I'm in the wrong forum here. Dh was having a discussion with a friend at work who has become very concerned over the concept of Biblical authority - who has it, how, and why? He's from a Charismatic background but he leans much more toward reformed doctrine now.
For instance, he understands that in a denomination (like the PCA), churches may have a group of elders, hopefully well trained in doctrine and theology, who hold authority in a congregation - to make decisions, exercise church discipline, preach, distribute sacraments, etc. And over those elders is a presbytry, and so on. But he doesn't understand what gives those elders spiritual authority from a Biblical standpoint.
He understands that he needs to submit to the authority of the church, but he doesn't know how he would know if the church he's submitting himself to has any real authority.
In his mind, he sees the Orthodox church and even the Roman Catholic church having some kind of Biblical succession in terms of their leadership, even though he sees many of their teachings as being unbiblical. The reformational idea of "no authority but Scripture" doesn't exactly hold water with him, because we are also called to submit to the church.
It's not a matter of doctrinal authority in his mind - if everyone held to a perfect system of Biblical doctrine, how would we know which person or group has the authority to "be the top guy" so to speak. Is there scripture that designates who we should submit to? In the OT and NT spiritual authority was passed on to people in very specific and powerful ways - and it didn't seem that there was much room left for doubting who had that authority.
Am I making any sense? I'm confusing myself even as I write. If you can find a question in there somewhere, we'd love to hear your thoughts.
For instance, he understands that in a denomination (like the PCA), churches may have a group of elders, hopefully well trained in doctrine and theology, who hold authority in a congregation - to make decisions, exercise church discipline, preach, distribute sacraments, etc. And over those elders is a presbytry, and so on. But he doesn't understand what gives those elders spiritual authority from a Biblical standpoint.
He understands that he needs to submit to the authority of the church, but he doesn't know how he would know if the church he's submitting himself to has any real authority.
In his mind, he sees the Orthodox church and even the Roman Catholic church having some kind of Biblical succession in terms of their leadership, even though he sees many of their teachings as being unbiblical. The reformational idea of "no authority but Scripture" doesn't exactly hold water with him, because we are also called to submit to the church.
It's not a matter of doctrinal authority in his mind - if everyone held to a perfect system of Biblical doctrine, how would we know which person or group has the authority to "be the top guy" so to speak. Is there scripture that designates who we should submit to? In the OT and NT spiritual authority was passed on to people in very specific and powerful ways - and it didn't seem that there was much room left for doubting who had that authority.
Am I making any sense? I'm confusing myself even as I write. If you can find a question in there somewhere, we'd love to hear your thoughts.