Re: How Important is it for a Family Head to be in Submissio
Mr. Tlaloc,
I hope all is well with you. As I understand the purpose of the forums it is not a place for debate.
Discussion, yes, debate no. Besides, when people wind up in debate very often (but of course not always) people are out to defend and prove instead of seeking to learn and grow. And even worse, a lot of times people get hurt and upset when they see saints arguing and bickering in email (this is a public forum). Normally such things produce a lot of heat but not much substance or material that produces growth.
I hope you understand. It is not that I am ignoring you or that I do not enjoy discussing different ideas or points or perspective when people ask about something that has been said or posted.
If you have a specific question or a set of specific questions about something I have said or posted I'll be glad to discuss/dialog over that with you. Feel free to ask me any question you desire from any post or statement. If necessary if a new post or topic is needed to discuss the question or point that is fine as well. But I'm not going to
argue back and forth and risk someone being injured or hurt. To me love is about building others up, and so often in chat rooms or forums people seem to loose the grace of common kindness. Good brothers and sisters leave frustrated and discouraged many times in those times where they read such things like that. The unity of the Spirit is a precious gift in the body of Christ. Debates and arguments can often grieve the bond and love of the Spirit among the saints. To me everything boils down to love.
Therefore, I tend to hardly ever debate matters unless it is face to face. For example, in 3rd John when there was a conflict John said he had much to say but preferred to say it in person. Normally live discussions go better than debate, arguments, etc., especially when in forums.
Also, if it is something that you think I am in sin over or something of the like then we would need to discuss that privately outside the forums (Matt. 18:15).
I do recall one qst or something from your last post that I'll briefly touch upon here. The issue is about legitimate authority.
The point of my posts, or the essential essence in this thread, has been to examine the brainstorm or consider the benefits of a man voluntarily submitting himself to godly authority. No saint in his or her right mind would willingly go submit himself to someone or something that is of the spirit of the anti-christ. Furthermore, if a man is not under a particular sphere of authority he does not need to submit to that sphere he is not within. Obviously, a man can't submit to Germany law and American law at the same time. But a man who chooses to be in some sphere where there is some form of authority then he should and must do all he can to try and submit to that authority or authorities that are over him. If submission is not fully possible the degree of respect towards that authority should still be there and a high level of it goes a long way.
If something I said in any of my posts made it sound otherwise then I apologize. I don't believe a man should submit to an authority that he is not under. Logically it can't be done. A man cannot submit to two counter authorities in the same way at the same time (the basic law of non-contradiction). However, I do believe and teach that a man should
respect all forms of authority. A good example of that is with Satan himself. Jude makes it very clear about that when it says: "In the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings. But even the archangel Michael, when disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dae to bring a slanderous accusation against him but said, 'The Lord rebuke you!' Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand . . . ." (vs. 8-10a).I would never be so crass and rash to speak rudely about Satan. The Bible says he is evil but he is also an authority. And besides, that darn story about the Sons of Sceva scare me to death.......i'm not very happy about the idea of getting my but beat, and then even worse, being beat so bad that I am beat naked and left to run down the street whooped and naked!
We live in an age where people despise authority more so than ever in the history. Children shoot and kill parents because they are told to clean their rooms, sheep despise their elders/pastors because they don't think the elder has every doctrine exactly like it should be according to how they see the issue, saints spend more time arguing about secondary or tertiary doctrines instead of how to go forward on the things they do agree with, and students revile their teachers and display utter contempt. Such is the nature of sin.
In my personal walk with the Lord I try and find more of what I do agree with in someone or in a teaching or post than I do in differences. By doing that I have made many more friends in life and in the right time we normally talk about our differences along the way as we work in the common areas where we do agree. I find that people are encouraged more when I highlight something out of their teaching or view that I do agree with than when I constantly point out areas where I disagree (i too sometimes am overly critical so i have to work on that one as well). By doing that as a simple courtesy, an exercise of the fruit of the Spirit of kindness (Gal. 5:22), I can at select points later bring up questions or points where I might differ with the person and because they know I am not out to "bang them over the head" they are more open, free to discussion, and willing to examine the points of question I may have. Dialog and communication are more likely to occur then instead of debate, which rarely changes anyone's mind because of the presuppositions and biases that are brought into the matter.
But, notwithstanding that, I'll be glad to answer any question or set of questions you may have.
Grace to you brother. Talk to ya soon.
Dr. Allen
