A crisis of authority (2): The abuse of church authority
Rev. Joshua Engelsma examines the biblical issue of authority abuse within church leadership, arguing that while critical theory poses a danger to proper ecclesial authority, the misuse of authority by church leaders is an equally serious threat. Drawing on biblical examples and warnings, particularly from the Old Testament, the article addresses the dynamics of spiritual abuse and calls for careful reflection on how leaders should properly exercise their divinely-ordained authority.
Rev. Joshua Engelsma, pastor of the Crete PRC in Crete, Illinois In my previous editorial (April 15, 2023) I stated that one of the issues underlying many of the troubles in the church at present is the matter of authority. I asserted that one aspect of this crisis of authority is a critical approach to the idea of authority that essentially wants to destroy structures of authority in the church altogether. I explained some of the basics of "critical theory" as that is found in the world at...
Full article available on sb.rfpa.org