“The man who acts presumptuously by not obeying the priest who stands to minister there before the LORD your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.” DEUTERONOMY 17:12
God’s people are to hold their leaders in honour. If a person shows contempt for leaders in the church, we don’t put them to death, but it may be necessary to put them out of the church. The Scripture says: “As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him…” (Titus 3:10).
God’s people are to appoint leaders who are worthy of honour, and they are to give these leaders the honour they are due. “We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves” (1 Thes. 5:12-13).
“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you” (Heb. 13:17).
Ask God to help you see where you might be holding one (or more) of your spiritual leaders in contempt, or where you might be stirring up division.
Written by Colin Smith
Read by Sue McLeish
