Many Christians have followed a wrong practice of submission in church history. They read a verse like Hebrews 13:17, "Obey the ones leading you and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who will render an account," and abandon their own accountability to the Lord to follow a fallen man. You might argue, "There are many verses in the New Testament that refer to elders, leading ones, and shepherds that imply authority and submission." I understand that the Lord has established saints in different capacities of operation based on the portion of Christ they possess. However, we must be careful that we come to the Bible to obtain spirit and life and to pursue Christ, not to defend our own concepts, teachings and practices which end in unnecessary debates, arguments, and even divisions.

For instance, the word, "obey" in Hebrews 13:17 is not the same Greek word as "Children obey your parents in the Lord" (Ephesians 6:1). A common understanding of that word, "obey," is to do exactly one what is told. That is not the meaning of the word "obey" in Hebrews. The same Greek word for "obey" in Hebrews 13 is used for "persuade, trust, obey, have confidence" elsewhere throughout the New Testament. Here, "obey" suggests an actual and outward result of the inward persuasion and consequent faith [Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, 1985, p. 438]. Obedience, here, is not based on authoritative demand, but on the personal conviction of the life and words of the "leaders". This meaning is significant in the book of Hebrews since the author presents a superior Christ to an audience that had received Christ, but was returning to Judaistic practices and teachings. Christ is superior to angels because He is the Son of God as a son of man. Christ is superior to Moses, the faithful servant of God. Christ, in the order of Melchizadek, is superior to the Aaronic priesthood. Christ in His New Covenant ministry, is superior to the Old Covenant. The true leaders of the saints by this time in the churches' history were those taking Christ as their Head, as their model Servant, as their Priest, as their New Covenant Minister. Therefore, believers should be fully persuaded through the trustworthy life of Christ expressed in the leaders, to follow such a pattern in their lives so as not to return to the God-condemned sacrificial, ritualistic way of Judaism.

Jesus often went against the authorities of the time. And Jesus made it clear to His followers that they would be doing the same thing. John 15:20, "Remember the word which I said to you, A slave is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted Me, they will persecute you also; if they have kept My word, they will keep yours also." Much of the persecution the Lord suffered was due to His lack of submission to the religious leaders and government officials ... because He followed God instead.

Acts 4 gives an account of Peter and John's disobedience towards the religious leaders (Acts 4:1). They were taken into custody for preaching Jesus which offended the Jewish leaders (Acts 4:2-3). The leaders commanded them to stop teaching based upon the name of Jesus (Acts 4:18). Peter responded to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you judge; for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:19-20).

The Lord patterned our lives after Himself. When he created man and woman, He made them in His image and after His likeness (Genesis 1:26-28). The Lord Jesus Himself was the complete and perfect pattern of a man on the earth. He began as an immature baby in a manger. At this age, he had no spiritual understanding or awareness. However, Luke records, "And the little child grew and became strong in spirit." The Lord Jesus grow in the divine life as a child, however, he was still submissive to his parents as shown in Luke 2:40-52. Luke 2:40 says, "And the little child grew and became strong, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him." Yet, Luke 2:51 says, "He went down with his parents .. and was subject to them." Finally, Luke 2:52 says, "And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men."

Nothing else is recorded in the Bible about Jesus' life until John the Baptizer came on the scene to baptize Jesus and initiate Jesus' earthly ministry. This implies that Jesus continued his submission to men, his parents, other leaders, and the government. Eventually, Jesus became mature in the divine life as a man and He became fully accountable to God Himself. He did all the Father spoke and asked of Him no matter what man felt or commanded.

The New Testament revelation speaks much to the matter of growing in the divine life. 1 Peter 2:2, "As newborn babies, long for the guileless milk of the word in order that by it you may grow unto salvation." Ephesians 4:15, "But holding to truth in love, we may grow up into Him in all things, who is the Head, Christ." Colossians 2:19, "...holding the Head, out form whom all the Body, ... grows with the growth of God." Just as Jesus grew in the divine life as a human being, so we also need to grow in the divine life.

Ephesians 4:13 speaks strongly of the need for growth in life so that the Body of Christ may be built up. "Until we all arrive at the oneness of the faith and of the full knowledge of the Son of God, at a full-grown man, at the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." This verse speaks to the entire Body of Christ and surely implies the need for every believer to become full-grown in Christ.

The Lord has provided leading ones, gifted ones, in His Body as part of our maturing in the divine life. Ephesians 4:11 says, "He Himself gave some as apostles and some as prophets and some as evangelists and some as shepherds and teachers." The Bible does teach of the importance of leaders in the church. But why? What is their function? To exert authority? No. Ephesians 4:12 answers this: "For the perfecting of the saints unto the work of the ministry unto the building of the Body of Christ until we all arrive ... at a full-grown man." The purpose of all the leading ones in the churches is for the perfecting of the saints so that each one may contribute to the building of the Body of Christ (Ephesian 4:16).

The famous so-called "Pastoral Epistles" of Timothy and Titus list the qualifications of one who aspires to the eldership (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). In both accounts the matter of husband and children are mentioned. Why? Because the divine leadership always focuses on growth in life toward those we lead. The family unit was ordained by God for nurturing, cherishing for healthy and proper growth in life. Leadership brings in maturity, not merely an exercise of authority. Proper authority will issue in maturity of the saints. However, much authority in the church today is lording over saints for administrative purposes, neglecting the growth in life. 1 Timothy 3:4 says, "One who manages well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity, but if one does not know how to manage his own house, how will he care for the church of God?" This verse is precious and definitive in regard to leadership; God's heart is always for the proper growth in life. Therefore, a leader must learn how to produce growth in life within his own family first. Then, he will know how to produce it among the saints.

All fathers raise their children to become accountable as adults. They do not allow their children to be "children" their whole lives. This is why the Lord admonishes those aspiring to the overseership to manage their family well. In other words, produce the growth in life in your family so you can produce it in the saints. Once a child matures enough, parents must release them as adults. They are no longer children, but accountable adults in society and before the Lord. This is also true in God's economy. Leading ones minister to bring saints to maturity so the saints are accountable to Christ Himself for their walk in the Spirit.

To promote the concept that church leaders have authority over the "laity" or "common saints" without the understanding of growth in life, makes it easier for Christians to defer their accountability before the Lord. They may feel that if their church leader teaches or instructs in a certain way they have no choice but to follow because the "Bible says to obey the leading ones." This thought is against the scriptures.

2 Corinthians 5:10 says, "For we must all be manifested before the jusdgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done through the body according to what he has practiced, whether good or bad." As believers mature, God holds them directly and personally responsible for their walk before Him. He will not accept any excuse like, "I was just following my church leader." Romans 14:10-12 speaks much the same way, "For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God, for it is written, 'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall openly confess to God.' So then each of us will give an account concerning himself to God." God is not going to ask us which "minister" or leader we followed. He is only going to ask us about our relationship to the ONE Minister of the age: His Son, Jesus Christ.

You may ask about the end of Hebrews 13:17, "Obey the ones leading you and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who will render an account," stating that this proves that church leaders are accountable for our souls before God. I would say, "yes" but that does not exempt you from accountability to God for your life. God raises up gifts to and for the Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:7-12; 1 Corinthians 3:10-23) and He will hold them accountable for the measure of faith given to them. He will also hold each and every one of us accountable for the measure of faith given to us (e.g. Luke 19:11-27 ; Matthew 25:14-30). James stressed that the role of teaching others brings with it "greater" judgment (James 3:1). Church teachers and church leaders are accountable before the Lord in a greater measure than we are for our personal lives. This is also true of husbands having accountability for the care and leadership of their wives, of fathers for the raising of their own children, of masters with their slaves, and of slaves for their service to their masters. This principle of accountability to God surely applies to human leaders (kings, governors, etc.) as well.