*One Man Final Authority.....God's leadership model*
Acts 15 records the resolution of doctrinal crisis in the early church.
Because the church was still in its early stages there was very little structure or documented doctrinal position.
This gave room to ambiguities which was taken to Jerusalem for resolution.
The elders and apostles debated the issues.
But in the final analysis.....
The final decision was taken by just one man....James.
If you read the statements of James in verses 13 & 19 they were very direct and decisive.
This is God's model of church or parachurch ministry leadership.
God always puts the finality of ministry leadership on just one man or woman.
God doesn't lead the church or a parachurch ministry by a group of people.
He leads by one set man.....surrounded by elders and apostles.....or counsellors
A board of elders and apostles surround the set man and issues will be debated but in the final analysis, a James must have the final say.
The elders surrounding the set man have a say but the finality of authority rests on the shoulders of the set man.
The church is a theocratic institution and not a democratic one.
Church leadership is not by democracy but by theocracy.
Theocracy means that there must be a set man who can clearly hear from God and lead the group based on what he's hearing from God.
Of course this must be in alignment with the Word of God and the documented doctrines of the ministry.
There must be rules and regulations, checks and balances to guide the set man. The best of men are still men at their best.
Church or parachurch leadership is not by popular vote or majority vote.
Democracy itself is a misnomer because there's always one president on whose desk the buck stops even in the so- called democracy. One man still sets the direction.
It is quite scary for just one man to be so saddled with the responsibility of direction for the.whole church but that is God's method.
Moses alone spelt out the direction for over 3million Hebrews.
That is God's method.
God trusts the set man so much that He puts the finality of authority on the man.
To every ministry, church or parachurch ministry there's always an angel (Revelations chapter 3), a Moses, a Samuel, a David or a James on whose shoulder rests the finality of authority for the church, ministry or parachurch ministry.
Church is not a democracy but a theocracy.
Cheers
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