Some Absurd Human Notions Vs. God's Revelation
Some people believe that "once an elder, always an elder;" others believe, "once in grace, always in, grace." Some claim that "if a member of the congregation resists an elder, he is guilty of resisting God." Paul the apostle, told the elders of the church at Ephesus that "from among your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciple after them" (Acts 20:30). Does God require members of the flock to continue to regard such as their bishops (overseers)? Is any one so rash as to contend that when a member resists one of these apostates, he is resisting God?!! Peter charged the elders not to "lord it over the charge allotted to you." Is it possible for an elder to become so power mad and swelled up in his self-esteem as to be guilty of "lording it over the charge allotted?" These matters are worth pondering.
If one who is an elder is so unfortunate as to have a mental breakdown, is he still an elder? Are members to submit to him? The answers are obvious. Those of former days who subscribed to the theory of the "divine rights of kings" sometimes found themselves subjected to the rule of insane people.