In most churches the majority rules. On numerous issues congregations vote on everything from budgets to buildings and color of carpet to copy machines. In such churches the majority rules. It does not mater if the majority have sought the Lord for His will on matters voted on.
In the Old Testament Israel actually voted not to do the will of God when the 12 spies went out to investigate the promised land. You know the rest of the story. The spies came back with their report. They voted 10 to 2 not to do the will of God. The nation sided with the majority of the spies. They voted not obey God.
If the majority rules it does not matter if the majority make their decisions spiritually or carnally. People can vote not to do the will of God. Sometimes these decisions are not significant. Sometimes they have long lasting implications and consequences.
Because the majority ruled in Israel the day they chose not to obey God going into the promised land God was not pleased. They paid for that decision for the next forty years.
It concerns me that churches operate more and more like corporate America than the body of Christ prayerfully and diligently seeking the mind and heart of God for important decisions. The consequences are evident in many such congregations. This can mean personnel decisions, ministry direction, mission involvement, and future vision.
Seldom do churches rally in prayer before making decisions. Shouldn't the most spiritual people in a congregation make the important decisions? A church member could be living in sin, attend worship infrequently, be divisive, and live in hypocrisy. That person in a lot of churches not only has the right to vote but that vote has just as much weight as the most holy, prayerful, and humble follower of Jesus. Such ought not be.
I long for a day when local churches turn to God seeking His heart and mind on decisions. As long as churches drift further and further away from that practice they will continue to vote not to do the will of God.
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