“Obey your
leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as
those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with
groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” (Hebrews 13:17)
Do you submit yourselves to the leadership and
discipline of this church, agree to its General Statement of Faith, and promise
to work for its purity and peace? (Question 5 in RBC Membership Covenant)
The fifth
question in our Membership Covenant at RBC calls for a commitment to the
“leadership and discipline” of the church. This means we expect those formally
received as members to submit to the elders and to support the instruction,
correction, and discipline they provide to our congregation. This commitment is
based on Hebrews 13:17 which commands us to obey church leaders who watch over
our souls. The elders have local, specific authority, and it is to be respected
by the congregation they serve (Acts 20:28; 1Pet. 5:1-5).
It is important
to understand what submission to the leadership does not mean. It does not
mean following elders into error. It does not mean surrendering intellectual or
personal freedom to anyone. It does not mean agreeing with everything the
elders believe, teach, or do. We can disagree with leaders and still respect
them.
What submission
to the leaders means is respecting their authority and submitting to their
lawful leadership in the Lord as those appointed to oversee the church. The
Church is not a democracy. Christ-like submission is expected in the
brotherhood (Eph. 5:21) and family (Eph. 5:22-24). We even are to submit to our
government, to respect and pray for our rulers, though we will not always (or
often?) approve of their actions (Rom. 13:1-7; 1Tim. 2:1-2).
No one is
required to affirm the membership covenant, just as no one is required to
become a formal member of this church. But should we ever wish to join a church
where we do not trust the elders to guide us? And should a church ever receive
members who refuse to promise to submit to its leaders? The answer seems
obvious. -JME
