Quote:
Originally Posted by YP0534
I'm doubting the wisdom of Paul's appointments as well as the motives of those gathered in Jerusalem.
Multiple Antiochs may cloud the situations somewhat but the questions remain clear in my mind.
The apostles considered that it was beneath them to serve tables for the widows and therefore chose 7 other disciples (one of whom hailed from some Antioch or other!) but it seems to me that they neglected washing feet as they were instructed and instead made some organizational appointments to take care of such business. Later, these same fellows promote their own positions in Jerusalem while declining to recognize others similarly situated.
That entire senario sounds awfully very familiar to me, frankly...
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Yes, this is exactly the kind of inquiry I had in mind when I originally raised the question of "the introduction of leaven" in the assemblies of the faithful. It seems clear to me that there is some kind of pattern of degradation in the Asian assemblies by the writing of Revelation, and due to the inclusion of those seven epistles (Rev 2 & 3) in a document which also had the imagery of Revelation 17 etc, it seems fair to conclude that John(and/or the Spirit, take your pick) felt that this bad scene was going to get worse. History seems to have borne out that premonition quite nicely.
So what was the problem? I think it is a novel and (for most of us) uncomfortable notion, to take a hard look at the doings of the disciples, instead of slavishly imitating their every move. But we already do it unconsciously, and instinctively. We don't require sisters to cover their heads - we say "Oh, that's just Paul's opinion. It's a cultural artifact." But in most other areas we use "the letter of Paul" as our law.
YP0534 earlier mentioned imitating Paul as he imitated Christ. In many, many areas, Paul clearly is imitating Christ: "Receive one another as God received you in Christ Jesus", etc. We could write 14 books of all the things Paul did that imitated Christ! But taking wine when we are ill, sisters not being allowed to speak in public but only in the homes, anointing those who are ill (James), or even handling snakes and drinking poison (Jesus), we use human discretion, the hard lessons of history, and the indwelling Spirit in our conscience and feel free to disregard the literal application of the letter.
Now, something like Paul's directions to Timothy on the appointment of elders might be somewhere in between. Paul is meeting a perceived need in the assemblies. He is aware of the circulation of his letters(he even encourages this, to the Colossians), and is probably also writing to a broader audience. However we come down on this kind of thing, collectively and individually, we at least shouldn't be afraid to look, to question, and to think. God gave you a brain; we shouldn't be afraid to use it.
"I do whatever X (Lee, Paul, the pope, the Grand Pooh-Bah) says" is just a cop-out, pure and simple. Yes,
Paul equals the Bible, I know, I know; I am just saying that we already use discernment, to a limited degree, for the obvious things, and we shouldn't be so afraid,
as believers, to continually exercise this facility.
If we do it in public, before the body of Christ, we will be safeguarded from going too far off the reservation. "In the multitude of counselors there is safety" Proverbs 24:6