Most believers probably already suspect that all is not well in Zion, but they are slow to question the status quo. When I was a career pastor, I struggled with these issues. Surprisingly, none of them were really dealt with during my time in seminary. Once in the ministry, I discovered that most of the pastors with whom I discussed these things had never really thought through them either. It was a major paradigm shift for me just to go from believing that there should be a single pastor in every church to believing in a plurality of elders.
Every relevant passage dealing with leadership and authority is considered.
I promise that this book will enrich your understanding of authority in God's kingdom. May our Lord be pleased to use the truth contained herein to free the legions of followers and leaders who are trapped in the bondage of hierarchical church systems. As expected, some of these fresh and budding testimonies have borne the brunt of misunderstanding and opposition from leaders in the organized church. In particular, they have generated acute questions regarding ecclesiastical authority. While some of its content overlaps with that found in Rethinking the Wineskin , this book makes more complete my treatment of the overall subjects of leadership and authority.