This document comes from the Sword of the Spirit and was taught to members of Servants of Christ the King as part of the basic pattern and understanding of Community life. On the second page is a description of "Active Submission." It is in this area where members of Servants (and all Sword Communities) are instructed to bring all important information about their lives to the their pastoral leaders and to "give them the benefit of the doubt" when told what to do. I personally remember being told that, "Even if your pastoral leader makes a mistake, God will bless you for your submission."
Finally, after all is said and done, don't forget that "[Active Submission] ... does not imply to stop taking responsibility for your own life. We have this responsibility before the Lord."
So, the leaders throw every possible reason at you to submit to them -including the belief that it is God's Plan for you to submit to them- but of course you are always responsible for your own life.
Sounds like the "small print" to me!
Título original
Authority and Submission in the Sword of the Spirit
This document comes from the Sword of the Spirit and was taught to members of Servants of Christ the King as part of the basic pattern and understanding of Community life. On the second page is a description of "Active Submission." It is in this area where members of Servants (and all Sword Communities) are instructed to bring all important information about their lives to the their pastoral leaders and to "give them the benefit of the doubt" when told what to do. I personally remember being told that, "Even if your pastoral leader makes a mistake, God will bless you for your submission."
Finally, after all is said and done, don't forget that "[Active Submission] ... does not imply to stop taking responsibility for your own life. We have this responsibility before the Lord."
So, the leaders throw every possible reason at you to submit to them -including the belief that it is God's Plan for you to submit to them- but of course you are always responsible for your own life.
Sounds like the "small print" to me!
This document comes from the Sword of the Spirit and was taught to members of Servants of Christ the King as part of the basic pattern and understanding of Community life. On the second page is a description of "Active Submission." It is in this area where members of Servants (and all Sword Communities) are instructed to bring all important information about their lives to the their pastoral leaders and to "give them the benefit of the doubt" when told what to do. I personally remember being told that, "Even if your pastoral leader makes a mistake, God will bless you for your submission."
Finally, after all is said and done, don't forget that "[Active Submission] ... does not imply to stop taking responsibility for your own life. We have this responsibility before the Lord."
So, the leaders throw every possible reason at you to submit to them -including the belief that it is God's Plan for you to submit to them- but of course you are always responsible for your own life.
Sounds like the "small print" to me!
II,
AUTHORITY AND SUBMISSION IN THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
INTRODUCTION
A
The first truth 1s that all power and authority comes from God
i. Ephesians 1:15-21 ——
2. The authority of God 1s a manifestation of God Himself
‘The Lord delegates His authority to men
1, ‘Christ to the apostles (Matt. 28:18-20)
2. To the leaders of the christian people (Heb. 13:17)
Conclusion: God stands behind the authority that He has entrusted
to His delegates
The basic purpose of having authority is to
among the brethren—
1. The leaders need authority in order to direct, orient and teach
2. without authority we have chaos. Authority enables us to
advance together. foi. gs
eee EEE
nieve unity and peace
In the world there exists many problems with authority
1. Rivalry
2. Abdication of authority where no one wants to assume responsi-
bility
3. Bad use of authority (totalitarianism, absolutiem, etc.)
AUTHORITY AND SUBMISSION IN CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
AL
Authority in christian community is different
= Luke 22:24-27
Matthew 20:24-28
1, Ib is not exercised in order to obtain: gain, glory and position
aa with pagans
2. The authority that a christian leader exercises is in the spirit
of a servant
3 In the community he who has authority must see himself as a true
servant ro
= one who wants to give life in abundance as Christ Himself
Our attitude towards those in authority in commun’
1. For their position in servicecwe owe them resp
= because the Lord stands behind Wis delegates (1 Thea. 5212-13
whoever Tebele against establioned authority rebels against God)
elf. This is a serious matter.
2, Love and appreciate then
= The service they render to ue is that of caring for us. They
try to help us grow in Christ.
= We must show them honor and respect.
3. See spiritual authority as a natural gift to the body of christ
4. See in our pastoral leader a brother who is totally on ay side.
He is not my Judge nor my enemy.
Problems with those in authority
1. Fear that our pastoral leader will make use of his authority
against us.2. Experiencing a sense of vorthlessness because I'm not in authority
TIT, ACTIVE SUBMISSION: RESPONDING TO AUTHORITY
AL
How to be a\mature subordinate)
~ Fundanental-prinespier— just as the leader has a responsibility in
exercising authority, in the game manner the subordinate has the
Fesponsibility to be submissive in a correct way.
1, A aubmissive spirit is part of the character of christ. (John 5:30)
2. ‘The character of ChFlst is expressed in the following manner:
“I will serve", "I will be submissive"
3. qt 1s a character opposite to that of satan:
"I will not serve", "I will not be submissive"
— in the-worte-ana in Bodern society the character of satan is
seen often
How to participate in our relationship with the authorities of the
community: active submission
1. When something ihportant will occur or is happening in our lives:
a, we-needte-share it with our pastoral leader
b. we need to seek his, wisdom and judgement
2. When our pastoral leader is caring for us:
a. we need to be very open with our lives
b. we need to be specific about our lives
c. we must not Keep hidden important matters
“tne ideal is to facilitate the personal care that they give us.
We need to seek the meaning of pastoral guidance
a. the objective ie to understand the intention of the guidance.
b. thie facdiitates for us putting the guidance to practice in
the most effective and prompt way
4. We are responsible to let them know the ways in which their gui~
gance affects us
a. ways in which they are helping us in certain specific areas
under their care.
b. waya in which we do not believe that their direction 4s bene-
fiting us.
+ = our desire is to communicate all of this with the purpose that
it may serve us better
5. Always-bring difficulties and problems to those who are responsible
for that area ;
Tt does not imply to stop taking responsibility for our own life.
We have thie responsibility before the Lord.
IV. DIFPERENCE BETWEEN OBEDIENCE AND SUBMISSION
A
the Boy 1 done 9:20)
‘here exists a marked difference between them
asie-Princip§@: Me -cannot-be submissive to God if we are incapable
of cubmitting ourselves to tho se whom he has given his authority in
7 Dbedience—— ——
[has to do with our absolute and faithful execution of the
fundamental commitments of Christian morality and faith
b. 48 something absolute, not based on difference of opinions
c. This is for very epecial cases
2. Submission
a. implies a voluntary acceptance of specific advice we receive
in other areas of our lives- it has its base in the voluntary commitment that we have
taken together with our brothers
- it is based im-recognizing the way in which the Lord works
through our brothers, especially those to whom he has given
authority in the body
b. the final decision still renains with us
~ it is expected that normally we will follow the advice of
our pastors
- this does not imply something obligatory
concusroN _
Authority
Tee Torts Ges of an people
2, has as an end to maintain unity and promote the growth of the
menbers towards the image of Christ Jesus
3. it 18 exercised in accordance with God's plan and not in the manner
that the world does it
a. it 4s a service to God's people not an imposition
b.4t secks wat is best for the subordinate,
CB. submission
“—TrTeIs Our response to the care we receive through the authorities
that the Lord has put over us
2. It 4a not to be passive, but is an active relationship with the
person reponsibie for us.
3. It allows us to appropriate in a fuller way the plan that the
Lord has for our lives.
4... Tt facilitates our response to the call to be disciples and ser-
vants which the Lord has given us.