who must give an account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you." This girl was being held in bondage. The leaders of her church said, "If you disobey our church you are disobeying God, and you are going to hell. And if you go to another church you're going to hell because you are rebelling against the authority of God." This poor girl was miserable. She had been attending another church on the sly and she was afraid her pastor might find out and consign her immediately to hell. It was tragic. I showed her from Scripture where Jesus insisted that those who were called to be leaders must be the servants of all. We aren't to hold people in bondage by threatening them with hell. That isn't like our Lord and that doesn't represent Him truthfully. Oh, how we must be careful in ruling because, as rulers, we are representing God to the people. We must take care that we don't misrepresent him. Everyone Has Some Rule You may not be a pastor of a church or an elder in your congregation, but in some way you are a leader. All of us have some rule. Regardless of who you are, God has placed you in a position of authority over others. You are their guide - directing their activities, telling them when they can go, when they must stay, what they can do, what they can't do. In exercising that rule, it's important that you recognize you are also ruled. We
who must give an account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you." This girl was being held in bondage. The leaders of her church said, "If you disobey our church you are disobeying God, and you are going to hell. And if you go to another church you're going to hell because you are rebelling against the authority of God." This poor girl was miserable. She had been attending another church on the sly and she was afraid her pastor might find out and consign her immediately to hell. It was tragic. I showed her from Scripture where Jesus insisted that those who were called to be leaders must be the servants of all. We aren't to hold people in bondage by threatening them with hell. That isn't like our Lord and that doesn't represent Him truthfully. Oh, how we must be careful in ruling because, as rulers, we are representing God to the people. We must take care that we don't misrepresent him. Everyone Has Some Rule You may not be a pastor of a church or an elder in your congregation, but in some way you are a leader. All of us have some rule. Regardless of who you are, God has placed you in a position of authority over others. You are their guide - directing their activities, telling them when they can go, when they must stay, what they can do, what they can't do. In exercising that rule, it's important that you recognize you are also ruled. We