Acts 11:2 KJV
And when Peter was come
up to Jerusalem
Commentaries point out this passage as
demonstrating that the apostles and early church did not view Peter as the
chief apostle or Vicar of Christ. However great the ministry of Peter, when his
ministry crossed the line, he was called into question to give an account of
himself. Later even Paul, the apostle born out of due season, would rebuke him.
Independent Baptists have erred today in
that we have no mechanism whereby pastors may be reproved and held accountable
when their actions are in error of what they have been taught. Churches all
across the country, and around the world through missionaries who have not been
held properly accountable, have been led away from Baptist convictions simply
because there is no way to prevent their pastors from leading them away. I am
not advocating for convention mentality because we have seen that the very same
thing happens in the conventions when men are elevated to high rank and then
are not held accountable. My point is that too many preachers, who should be
the ones to call them into question, are either too timid to speak out, or the
ones who will speak out are unbalanced in other areas so as to make their voice
less effective.
We need to humble ourselves and see the
value of accountability. We need to cultivate a climate within the ranks of
Independent Baptist pastors where it is acceptable and even commendable to
speak up and hold one another accountable. When we are called on the carpet for
either doctrines or practices that are over the line we should humbly give an
account. If indeed our position is biblical we should be able to demonstrate
it.
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