| Did God Give Churches Authority Over You? |
IS CHURCH AUTHORITY OF GOD?
by LC
Recently, I listened to a radio preacher state this question to his audience: "Are you being
disobedient to God by not coming under the authority of leadership He has put in place at your
local church?" It made me sick!
This is the attitude today of men who claim to know God and His will. With words of fear and
condemnation, they try and bring people into their walls to bind them with bible verses and tell
them they are saving their souls. Nothing could be further from the truth. No wonder Jesus
spoke against religious leaders of his day and called them a, "brood of vipers!" They are nothing
more than snakes, lying in wait for their prey to sink their fangs into with their poison of death. In
case you do not know it, religion brings death to the mind and soul of mankind. It claims to bring
understanding, yet fills its' followers with darkness disguised as truth.
If we look at Jesus' example, we will see that we are to follow God the way Jesus followed God:
John 10:1-5 "...he who is not entering through the door to the fold of the sheep, but is going up
from another side, that one is a thief and a robber. And he who is entering through the door is
shepherd of the sheep. To this one the doorkeeper doth open, and the sheep hear his voice, and
his own sheep he doth call by name, and doth lead them forth. And when his own sheep he may
put forth, before them he goeth on, and the sheep followeth him because they have known his
voice. And a stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him, because they have not known
the voice of strangers."
John 10:9 "I am the door. Through me if anyone may come, he shall be saved, and he shall
come in and go out, and find pasture."
Jesus explains that this parable teaches a spiritual truth. All have been thieves and robbers in
the way they have tried to enter into the kingdom of God, because they try and reach God
outwardly through religion. Yet, Jesus taught that the kingdom of God is within us. Therefore,
Jesus boldly states that he is the door or entry way into the kingdom. Looking at Jesus' life as
our model, he is demonstrating the way to follow him, is to seek God within your very being.
That is where the green pasture and true sheep are; and when you find it, you enter in and find
comfort and spiritual food. Anyone leading people stray by another way is called a thief and
robber. Why? Because they unknowingly rob others of finding the truth within themselves,
which is God.
John 13:36 Simon Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, where do you go?" Jesus answered him, "Where I
go you are not able to follow me now. But afterwards, you shall follow me."
Jesus was stating that he could be followed by following the Holy Spirit within. And the same is
true for all of us. Jesus said, "they knew the way and that he was the way, the truth and the life.
No one could come to the Father but by the way he had showed them - within." The Holy Spirit
speaks to our hearts and "leads us." The Holy Spirit or Spirit of Truth is our true leader;
not men in pulpits, books or creeds. God has given us all a great gift of truth:
Galatians 4:6-7 "...and because you are sons (and daughters), God did send forth the spirit of
his son into your hearts crying, 'Abba Father.' So you are no more a servant, but a son (or
daughter) and also an heir of God through Christ."
Romans 8:14 "For as many are led by the spirit of God, these are the sons (or daughters) of
God."
But men in pulpits and men on radio airwaves will tell us otherwise. They will tell us we are
lacking, for we need a church home and leaders to guide us. And we need bibles and we need
pastors and elders. Why do they insist in leading others? The answer is "control." They want
their followers to believe such as they believe, and to be united in that common belief. They use
that common belief to further their religious system and call it "blessed of God."
I John 2:20;27 "and you have an anointing (Holy Spirit) from the Holy One and know all things.
And the anointing you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone teach
you. But as His anointing teaches you concerning all things and is true, and is not a lie, and as
He taught you, abide in Him."
Now, I must ask, "Why can we not trust the "Holy Spirit" or "God" to teach and lead His people?
Are we afraid that God will mess things up? Are we afraid that He is not fit for leading? Can
those who are looking within be misled by God? Is not God able to save and restore all? I think
those who wish to lead others are afraid their religious system will be threatened, if people no
longer flock within their walls for a word from God. They tell us to trust them as leaders and
God, yet they themselves cannot trust God to lead His people! Hypocrites! Whose authority do
you trust: church leaders' authority or God's? "The Kingdom Of God is Within You," caused
religious leaders to nail Jesus to a cross to silence the truth of Spirit. Today, the very religious
ideas that Jesus spoke against are being used in his name to gain converts to man-made
religion. Many church pastors and elders push the idea that people must come under the
authority of a local church leadership, or face being disobedient to God. Woe to those vipers...
by LC
Recently, I listened to a radio preacher state this question to his audience: "Are you being
disobedient to God by not coming under the authority of leadership He has put in place at your
local church?" It made me sick!
This is the attitude today of men who claim to know God and His will. With words of fear and
condemnation, they try and bring people into their walls to bind them with bible verses and tell
them they are saving their souls. Nothing could be further from the truth. No wonder Jesus
spoke against religious leaders of his day and called them a, "brood of vipers!" They are nothing
more than snakes, lying in wait for their prey to sink their fangs into with their poison of death. In
case you do not know it, religion brings death to the mind and soul of mankind. It claims to bring
understanding, yet fills its' followers with darkness disguised as truth.
If we look at Jesus' example, we will see that we are to follow God the way Jesus followed God:
John 10:1-5 "...he who is not entering through the door to the fold of the sheep, but is going up
from another side, that one is a thief and a robber. And he who is entering through the door is
shepherd of the sheep. To this one the doorkeeper doth open, and the sheep hear his voice, and
his own sheep he doth call by name, and doth lead them forth. And when his own sheep he may
put forth, before them he goeth on, and the sheep followeth him because they have known his
voice. And a stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him, because they have not known
the voice of strangers."
John 10:9 "I am the door. Through me if anyone may come, he shall be saved, and he shall
come in and go out, and find pasture."
Jesus explains that this parable teaches a spiritual truth. All have been thieves and robbers in
the way they have tried to enter into the kingdom of God, because they try and reach God
outwardly through religion. Yet, Jesus taught that the kingdom of God is within us. Therefore,
Jesus boldly states that he is the door or entry way into the kingdom. Looking at Jesus' life as
our model, he is demonstrating the way to follow him, is to seek God within your very being.
That is where the green pasture and true sheep are; and when you find it, you enter in and find
comfort and spiritual food. Anyone leading people stray by another way is called a thief and
robber. Why? Because they unknowingly rob others of finding the truth within themselves,
which is God.
John 13:36 Simon Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, where do you go?" Jesus answered him, "Where I
go you are not able to follow me now. But afterwards, you shall follow me."
Jesus was stating that he could be followed by following the Holy Spirit within. And the same is
true for all of us. Jesus said, "they knew the way and that he was the way, the truth and the life.
No one could come to the Father but by the way he had showed them - within." The Holy Spirit
speaks to our hearts and "leads us." The Holy Spirit or Spirit of Truth is our true leader;
not men in pulpits, books or creeds. God has given us all a great gift of truth:
Galatians 4:6-7 "...and because you are sons (and daughters), God did send forth the spirit of
his son into your hearts crying, 'Abba Father.' So you are no more a servant, but a son (or
daughter) and also an heir of God through Christ."
Romans 8:14 "For as many are led by the spirit of God, these are the sons (or daughters) of
God."
But men in pulpits and men on radio airwaves will tell us otherwise. They will tell us we are
lacking, for we need a church home and leaders to guide us. And we need bibles and we need
pastors and elders. Why do they insist in leading others? The answer is "control." They want
their followers to believe such as they believe, and to be united in that common belief. They use
that common belief to further their religious system and call it "blessed of God."
I John 2:20;27 "and you have an anointing (Holy Spirit) from the Holy One and know all things.
And the anointing you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone teach
you. But as His anointing teaches you concerning all things and is true, and is not a lie, and as
He taught you, abide in Him."
Now, I must ask, "Why can we not trust the "Holy Spirit" or "God" to teach and lead His people?
Are we afraid that God will mess things up? Are we afraid that He is not fit for leading? Can
those who are looking within be misled by God? Is not God able to save and restore all? I think
those who wish to lead others are afraid their religious system will be threatened, if people no
longer flock within their walls for a word from God. They tell us to trust them as leaders and
God, yet they themselves cannot trust God to lead His people! Hypocrites! Whose authority do
you trust: church leaders' authority or God's? "The Kingdom Of God is Within You," caused
religious leaders to nail Jesus to a cross to silence the truth of Spirit. Today, the very religious
ideas that Jesus spoke against are being used in his name to gain converts to man-made
religion. Many church pastors and elders push the idea that people must come under the
authority of a local church leadership, or face being disobedient to God. Woe to those vipers...
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"Am I being disobedient
to God by not coming
under the authority of
leadership at a local
church? Do I have to
go to church to please
God?
No, you do not have to
go to church to follow
the spirit within you.
Many churches use
fear to scare people
into their buildings.
Church leaders who do
so paint the picture of
an angry, vengeful God
who will punish the
disobedient for an
eternity.
That is how we know
what is false. If fear is
causing you to do
something, then you
are not following the
inner leading of the
spirit."
-LC
to God by not coming
under the authority of
leadership at a local
church? Do I have to
go to church to please
God?
No, you do not have to
go to church to follow
the spirit within you.
Many churches use
fear to scare people
into their buildings.
Church leaders who do
so paint the picture of
an angry, vengeful God
who will punish the
disobedient for an
eternity.
That is how we know
what is false. If fear is
causing you to do
something, then you
are not following the
inner leading of the
spirit."
-LC