No Government But the Holy Spirit
Some churches, particularly very new churches with more mystical or extremely pietistic tendencies, function with a [No Government but the Holy Spirit] government.
In this case, the church would deny that any form of government is needed, it would depend on all the members of the congregation being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit in their own lives, & decisions would generally be made by consensus.
This form of government never lasts very long. Not only is it unfaithful to the New Testament pattern of designated elders with governing authority in the church, but it is also subject to much abuse, because subjective feelings rather than wisdom & reason prevail in the decsion-making process.
- Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, pp. 936
And Amen.
In this case, the church would deny that any form of government is needed, it would depend on all the members of the congregation being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit in their own lives, & decisions would generally be made by consensus.
This form of government never lasts very long. Not only is it unfaithful to the New Testament pattern of designated elders with governing authority in the church, but it is also subject to much abuse, because subjective feelings rather than wisdom & reason prevail in the decsion-making process.
- Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, pp. 936
And Amen.
