Blind Guides

Many have asked the question: How will the church be led at the end of the age? Who will have the authority to lead the church? Scholars have written and argued about this subject for two thousand years. There have been many different authority structures in the church over this time. However, the historical experience of the church is generally unhelpful. It has only shown us which paths to avoid as we pursue this foundational area of Christian life and order. As leaders, we need to question our religious heritage to ensure that we are not ‘the blind leading the blind’.

Within each revival movement in the past, the tendency has been to begin well, only to be distracted by peripheral issues. These distractions have inevitably led to church leaders turning from the Spirit, and turning to the flesh and legalism. Gal 3:3. True spiritual authority then gives way to some kind of man-made institution. When a crisis has precipitated the need for change, the church has invariably moved further away from the New Testament pattern of authority. This Biblical model involved a multiple leadership group with each man submitting to the others in love. The priority of initiative would shift, depending on each person’s gift, grace and ministry capacity.

The single greatest obstacle in any discussion of church authority and administration is our own religious experience and heritage. These have caused us to form a loyalty and bias in favour of our traditions. This loyalty is an almost insurmountable difficulty which hinders us all. Our very concept of God, and therefore our expectation of what He is doing, is flavoured by our tradition. The Jews rebuked Jesus saying, ‘‘Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.’ But He answered and said unto them, ‘Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?’’. Matt 15:2-3.

Even the briefest scan of the Scriptures will show how personal goals, identity, and self worth are inseparably tied to heritage and tradition. This occurs in every generation. The human nature is fiercely loyal to heritage and deeply resistant to anything that questions it. ‘For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such things you do. All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your own tradition.’ Mark 7:8. In its worst form, tradition causes the leaders among God’s people to become ‘blind guides’. Jesus was referring to the Pharisees when He said to his disciples, ‘Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.’ Matt 15:14.

David Falk

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Feature Articles
April 2008

Nothing is Impossible

The Calves of our Lips

Blind Guides

The Light of the World

Found Worthy

Seven Kingdoms

Christian Business