Ministerial and Declarative Authority

Here’s an excerpt from Ministerial and Declarative Authority, Jon D. Payne's contribution to the April issue of Tabletalk:

A quick survey of church history reveals that the only thing more prevalent than the abuse of church power is the unwillingness of God’s people to submit to the proper administration of it. The problem is that few Christians actually understand how power and authority are meant to be exercised through the ministry of the church. Understood biblically, church power is “ministerial and declarative,” an expression that underscores the church’s non-legislative nature. In other words, the officers of the church do not make laws, statutes, and promises; they declare and enforce the laws, statutes, and promises of God’s inspired and authoritative Word. Getting this right is critical to the health of the church.

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