Ridgell's Originals

 Legislative, executive, judicial.  I think I remember this from High School civics.  The three branches of government.  Based on the Constitution.

I do not know one person who admits that we model our churches after this pattern, but I have to think we really do.

You know, the preacher president leading the executive branch.  Leading the church.  The face of the local church.  And sometimes voted out of office.  Well, maybe not exactly but the people reject him at some point.

The elders are the legislative branch.  Making the laws/rules/policies/doctrine.  Often led by the preacher.  Approving his agenda.

Judicial?  Who interprets the Bible constitution.  Well, years ago it was the brotherhood newspapers.  A few times it has been a group of like minded preachers.  But most of the time recently it has been the Christian Universities.  Interpreting Scripture.  Deciding whether a living Bible constitution means it is living as in still true and applicable.  Or living as in what was true then may not be true now.  So everything must be re-evaluated in light of the current culture.

And this is all messed up. 

The church is nothing like our government.  The church is not by the people or of the people.  

The preacher does not set the agenda for a church.  The elders do not decide doctrine.  And universities do not determine truth.  

God and the Bible.

I know there are practical aspects to figuring out some things.  I know we are all influenced by the culture/country we live in.  And I know it is harder in real life to figure out how this works. when you decide the authority is God.  And when you decide the Bible is actually the word of God.

So I guess this is more of a thinking out loud about how easy it is to reflect our culture and never even realize it.

So let's be careful.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM