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Corporate Decisions

A question for all

in

the church of God.

by

Stewart Crafts

If a decision is made by the church's leading body [i.e. the corporate leadership], and that decision is later found to stand in clear contradiction to the Spirit's admonition given to individual members of the church, what shall we do?

Shall the individual members of that leading body seek refuge within the anonymity of the group, and say, each one of them in turn,

'It was not me. It was a decision taken by the Conference, and by the collective judgement of the leadership: we are all cleared of individual responsibility?"

Or will it be said,

'As an individual Christian I cannot be held to account for this group decision?’ Even when in his seat he has given his nod of agreement?

Does a corporate decision really mean that an individual Christian (who sits within that decision making group) does not come under the jurisdiction of the word of God?

To individual church members the Bible says, "Dare any of you go to law?" It is a daring thing for a Christian man to go to civil law seeking justice. (Will that man defy God for the sake of corporate property, for corporate reputation, or for corporate honour?)

Once a Christian enters upon this course, he effectively declares, 'I have chosen the world to be my judge and my advocate.'

Now to seek legal counsel/advice in matters under dispute, is to seek counsel from a system which is inevitably at variance with God's way. The state system can never be yoked together with God's ways. They cannot work in partnership, because the spirit of the one is at war with the spirit of the other.

Thus Christ had nothing to give the man who came to Him asking for His help concerning a disputed will.

"Master, speak to my brother, (so] that he (will] divide the inheritance with me." --- (Luke 12:13)

But "Christ gave the man plainly to understand that this was not His work. He was striving to save souls. He was not to be turned aside from this to take up the duties of a civil magistrate....

"Again and again Christ had been [and is still ] asked to decide legal and political questions. But He refused [and refuses still ] to interfere in temporal matters." (9T 217-8)

If in our prayers we ask Christ for help in such matters, how will He answer us?

Have we not heard Him answer? Let us listen carefully. "... Man, who made Me a judge or divider (referee/umpire) over you [concerning this thing]?" (Luke 12:14)

We may try with all our might, but we will never make Him into a judge or counsel in these things.

oooOooo

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