I have heard pastors give entire sermons on how people MUST submit to their leadership. That unless you find a church in your area and place yourself under the leaders of that church you will not be a good Christian, and you will be out of the will of God. They use this text which is Hebrews 13 verse 17, it says; "Obey your leaders and submit for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you." I want to ask a question: Did Jesus submit to the leadership and the elders of HIS day? The leadership being the Pharisees, the religious order, did He submit and bow down to that leadership and give His 10%? Can you answer that question wisely? If you say that Jesus did, then in what way did Jesus submit to the Pharisees? Was it when He said "Brood of vipers" or when He called them "hypocrites"? Or was it when He said that their father was Satan? But if you say that Jesus did NOT submit to those elders, what would the reason be? Would it not be that it WAS true that they WERE hypocrites? And that their father WAS Satan? May the grace of Jesus be with you.
