Our Responsibility to Church Rulers

Driving home: God's glory, our good and our usefulness depend in great measure upon our understanding of and submission to those biblical directives which are calculated to preserve leadership from the sin of the world.

The history of the world reflects the twin vices of vicious tyranny by unprincipled leaders and crippling anarchy by incorrigible subjects, illustrating the human heart's fallen tendency that also affects the church.

Please turn to Hebrews, chapter 13, the epistle to the Hebrews, chapter 13, and I shall read the first and last verses of the major concluding paragraph in this great epistle, verse 7 and verse 17. Verse 17, remember them that have the rule over you, men that spake unto you the word of God, and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith. Verse 17, obey them that have the rule over you and submit to them, for they watch in behalf of your souls as they that shall give account, that they may do this with joy and not with grief. For this we're all going to do. We're all going to do. ...

0:03 - 1:20 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the second principle: a well-defined responsibility to constituted rule. He focuses on the essence of this responsibility, defined by two present imperative…

Martin shares how his children are learning old-fashioned English lessons, discussing prepositional phrases and predicate nominatives, to emphasize the importance of understanding verbs as words of action and command.

In two present imperative verbs. Boy my kids have been really getting good old-fashioned English lessons. I'm so tickled. They were talking the other day about prepositional phrases and predicate and nominatives and I didn't know such things existed anymore.

7:34 - 7:50 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the second principle: a well-defined responsibility to constituted rule. He focuses on the essence of this responsibility, defined by two present imperative…

The story of Paul being warned not to go to Jerusalem and refusing to be 'persuaded' (obey) is used to illustrate the meaning of the Greek word for 'obey' as willing compliance of the will.

The first word, obey, is a word used with great latitude in the New Testament. In its various forms and cases it is translated persuaded, trust, believe, yield. And as in this text it is rightly translated obey. That is, render willing, intelligent submission to a given directive and to the one given, that directive. Let's look at a couple of usages in the New Testament in which this word has the same sense of meaning as we have it in the Hebrews 13 passage. Turn please to Acts chapter 21. Acts chapter 21. When God says that your responsibility to your leaders is to obey them, what does he mea...

8:37 - 9:39 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the second principle: a well-defined responsibility to constituted rule. He focuses on the essence of this responsibility, defined by two present imperative…

The story of Paul's nephew overhearing a plot to kill Paul and being told 'Do not yield unto them' is used to further illustrate the meaning of 'yield' and 'obey' as not being persuaded to willingly comply.

But he says, it says he would not be persuaded. He would not obey them. It could rightly be rendered in this context. Now turn over to Acts 23 and we see another example of the use of this word. Acts chapter 23, beginning with verse 21.

11:02 - 11:25 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the second principle: a well-defined responsibility to constituted rule. He focuses on the essence of this responsibility, defined by two present imperative…

Gamaliel's historical examples of Thutis and Judas of Galilee, whom people 'obeyed' and followed willingly, are used to emphasize that 'obey' means a yielding based on persuasion, not force.

Gamaliel speaking, giving words of wisdom as to why they should be a little less adamant in opposing this new movement, be a little more conciliatory. And he gives a historical instance. And he says, He says in verse 36, For before these days rose up Thutis, having himself, giving out himself to be somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves, who was slain. And all as many as obeyed him were dispersed and came to naught.

13:13 - 13:46 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the second principle: a well-defined responsibility to constituted rule. He focuses on the essence of this responsibility, defined by two present imperative…

The analogy of 'active' versus 'hyperactive' is used to explain how the prefix 'under' intensifies the meaning of the word 'subjection' to 'abject submission' in the Greek.

God was so concerned that this aspect of our well-defined responsibility to constituted leadership be stated with precision and accuracy, that he moves the writer to the Hebrews to use a word that he moved no other writer in the New Testament to use. It's a compound word. It's a word put together. We say, well, so-and-so's active, but that other guy, he's hyperactive.

15:19 - 15:46 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Using the two words together, not only to, to obey when you are persuaded they are right, but submit as a matter of dutiful yielding when your judgment and natural will incline you in an opposite direction.

Paul's refusal to give place 'by way of subjection' to the Judaizers is used to illustrate the basic meaning of the word 'subjection' before the intensifying prefix is added.

The Apostle Paul, speaking of the efforts of the Judaizers to bring him and his companions in subjection to their Judaizing tendencies, says,

16:07 - 16:17 Read in full sermon

Driving home: When we understand the Bible doctrine of delegated authority. If you don't understand that, you can't understand this passage, you can't understand Ephesians 5, the submission of a wife to her husband, you can't understa…

The classic image of Luther declaring his conscience held captive to the Word of God is used to affirm the truth of Christian liberty from human commandments, while also setting up the need to balance it with delegated authority.

In the Confession, and I read from the Confession as it's in our own hymnal printed at the back, 600. Under this great chapter on the liberty of conscience that a Christian has, you have this beautiful statement in paragraph 1, the liberty which Christ hath purchased, page 683, the liberty which Christ has purchased for believers under the Gospel consists in their freedom from the guilt of sin, the condemning wrath of God, the curse of the moral law, in their being delivered from this prison, from this prison, from this present evil world, bondage to Satan, dominion of sin, and goes on to say ...

25:49 - 27:00 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin reconciles apparent contradictions by explaining that submission to church leaders is submission to Christ's delegated authority, as outlined in the Confession and Larger…

A quotation from the Larger Catechism (Q. 45) explaining how Christ visibly governs His church through officers, laws, and censures is used to establish the theological basis for delegated authority in the church.

Yes, he does. But there's another way. Listen. Christ executed the office of the king in calling out of the world a people to himself and giving them officers, laws, and censures by which he visibly governs them.

29:07 - 29:26 Read in full sermon

Driving home: And failure to obey them is rebellion against me. As failure for a child to obey a parent is rebellion against God, failure for a citizen to obey the state is rebellion against God.

The state of society where families do not recognize delegated rule (parents' authority) is used to illustrate the chaos that results when God's appointed structures are ignored.

What happens in the family where there is no recognition of delegated rule?

31:45 - 31:49 Read in full sermon

The point: Children, see beyond your parents' discipline to the God who put them over you, appreciating their discipline as from God.

The example of children obeying parents, and seeing beyond them to God who appointed them, is used to illustrate how believers should view their submission to church leaders as submission to God's delegated authority.

Now you children, when mommy and daddy spank you and warn you and admonish you, do you see beyond mommy and daddy to the God who put them over you? Do you? You must. Or you'll never appreciate their discipline.

34:05 - 34:19 Read in full sermon

The point: Children, see beyond your parents' discipline to the God who put them over you, appreciating their discipline as from God.

The image of a parent having to run after and grab a child to spank them illustrates that the child has not truly understood or submitted to the parent's position of authority.

You haven't caught the thing. The whole emphasis. If mommy and daddy say come here and you're going to be spanked. The parent will have to run after the kid and grab him.

34:30 - 34:38 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin reconciles apparent contradictions by explaining that submission to church leaders is submission to Christ's delegated authority, as outlined in the Confession and Larger…

The statement that 'the worst of governments is better than your government' (meaning no government) is used to emphasize the necessity of delegated authority to prevent chaos.

The worst of governments is better than your government.

35:19 - 35:22 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He clarifies that obedience to leaders has exceptions: when commands clearly violate God's moral law. However, he warns against substituting personal inclination for clear…

The example of Nadab, Abihu, and Korah's rebellion (and 250 others) is used to illustrate the common error of claiming the right to rule based on shared spiritual privilege, ignoring God's specific appointments.

And we're going to see God willing next week. In classic examples of a rebellion to constitutive authority. One of the most common ones and it's as old as the Old Testament is to say since we have the same spiritual privilege we ought to have the same right to rule. The two do not necessarily exist side by side.

35:48 - 36:06 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not obey any command from human authority (parent, spouse, elder) that clearly violates the moral law of God.

The example of a parent telling a child to steal candy bars is used to illustrate a clear exception to obedience, where a command violates God's moral law.

Suppose a parent says to a child I want you to go out to the neighborhood store and steal five candy bars. The child has every right in response. He has every responsibility to say I'm sorry daddy. I'm sorry mommy.

36:48 - 36:58 Read in full sermon

The point: When personal inclinations or sensitivities differ from a leader's directive (not violating Scripture), capitulate, yield, submit, and follow.

The phrase 'pious drool infected with the venom of hell' is used to describe the excuse 'the Lord has not revealed it to me that way' when it's merely a matter of personal inclination, highlighting its rebellious nature.

But don't you substitute personal inclination for clear preceptual revelation. How much anarchy has been based upon well the Lord has not revealed it to me that way. What a bunch of pious drool infected with the venom of hell.

38:39 - 39:01 Read in full sermon

The point: Carefully screen anyone whom you set over you as an elder, using biblical standards and prayerful discernment.

The analogy of a woman's decision to marry and submit to her husband, and the questions asked in premarital counseling about feeling safe in that submission, is used to illustrate the careful screening needed for elders.

anyone whom you set over you as an elder once by your congregational suffrage you have submitted yourself to a man to join the body of them that rule over you you are no more at an option to submit to him than the woman who's made that great decision and said yes I will marry this man once you've made that decision the course of action is clear submit to him one of the questions I always ask the young ladies and the young men in premarital counseling is this after we've laid out the role of the husband and the wife the husband to love as Christ loved to administer his headship in the sacrifici...

43:56 - 45:25 Read in full sermon

The point: Young men aspiring to ministry, recognize the awesomeness of the office and cultivate a selfless, compassionate heart to serve God's people, not bully them.

The vivid metaphor of a man 'bloodying and butchering the people of God' with 'theological axes' if he lacks compassion and patience, is used to warn against aspiring to ministry without a tender heart.

that's how you do it and the third implication in the text and I speak to you dear young men aspiring to the work of the ministry do you see the awesomeness of aspiring to that office do you see the great responsibility upon those of us who try to help you that under God you may be the kind of men to whom people can submit without feeling they're committing a form of spiritual suicide the kind of selfless men who will live for the good of their souls the kind of men who have demonstrated long before there's been a pulpit available that you live to serve the people of God not hirelings not lord...

46:51 - 48:19 Read in full sermon

The point: Young men aspiring to ministry, recognize the awesomeness of the office and cultivate a selfless, compassionate heart to serve God's people, not bully them.

The metaphor of a surgeon cutting out cancers versus a 'bloody butcher' is used to describe the kind of loving, though sometimes painful, ministry that true shepherds provide, contrasting it with harsh, uncompassionate leadership.

ruins his church he gives that which will cut out cancers but as a surgeon not a bloody butcher he won't give you people who just put Vaseline over your cancers he will give you people they'll take the knife many times they don't have time to anesthetize you they gotta say grab on the chair grit your teeth here we go you'll feel the hot sting as the scalpel cuts through living flesh but you'll look up into the face of the one who's holding it and you'll say he loves me hurts but he loves me and it's amazing what true sheep will take from a shepherd that's cutting out their cancers in love but ...

49:47 - 51:16 Read in full sermon

The point: Church members, live in the Word of God constantly to safeguard against false doctrine and ensure your elders are accountable to Scripture.

The analogy of the reciprocal effect between the pulpit and the pew (laziness in one affecting the other) is used to emphasize that both leaders and members contribute to the spiritual health of the church.

it's a tremendous safeguard upon those of us who rule because we know we can't get away with carelessness in the administration of that role if you begin to get lazy you know what will happen? your laziness will bounce back on us as our laziness will affect you you see we affect each other and so you've got one group saying oh if only the pulpit was better the church would be better another group saying if only the pew were better the pulpit would be better well who's right? well both are right and both are wrong if they think only one thing is the cause we have this reciprocal effect upon one...

52:45 - 54:14 Read in full sermon