Bible Questions and Answers

What is the importance of obedience to leadership?

The first thing to remember is that we must obey God rather than men.

Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

1 Peter 4:17 ...what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Obedience to leadership is required only when what the leader teaches is in agreement with the gospel and commandments of Christ.

Leaders are not to reign over the flock but to feed the flock with the word of God.The Galatians had leaders who were not teaching the truth.

Galatians 3:1-3 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Paul’s advice was not to take any notice of them.

Galatians 4:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Leaders who lead the flock astray have always been a problem. Obedience to them simply because they are leaders is not an option. When the blind lead the blind they both fall into the pit.

Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you...

Obedience to leadership must be restricted to matters of doctrine where what they say is in accordance with the commandments of Christ.

James 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

Matthew 23:8-12 But be not ye called Rabbi (master): for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

The ‘ordination’ of Bishops, Deacons, Pastors and such by the ‘churches’ of today is a self-imposed delusion, and we should avoid following their pernicious example. Leaders who ‘Lord it’ over the flock are not to be countenanced.

I hope you have found this helpful.

May God bless you,
Glenn