Binding and Loosing
Church rulings
decisions bind loose
infallibility ex cathedra unchangable
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Can the ministry change
what was earlier instructed by God?
"And I also say to
you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the
gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the
keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound
in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
(Mat 16:19)
The above verse seems to
indicate that the leadership of the church or at least Peter, will determine
what is set in the realm of God. We
should also consider other scriptures and on whom the church is actually
built.
"Now, therefore,
you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the
saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief
cornerstone." (Eph 2:19-20)
Scripture indicates in
many places that Yeshua/Jesus is the head of the
congregation and it is being built at His direction on His life and example
(Mark 12:8-12, I Pet 2:21, I Cor 11:1). There
is also a word play in Matthew 16:19 in the Greek. 'Peter' is
'Petros' in the Greek and is translated, a
stone (John 1:42). 'Rock' is 'petra' and
indicates a larger stone, even a rock cliff. So, Jesus is not building
His congregation on Peter, but Himself, the cornerstone or foundation stone.
Nevertheless, Jesus does
indicate Peter and/or the leadership of the congregation will have the
ability to 'bind' and 'loose'. This is best understood as
forbidding and permitting (See: New Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus,
by David Bivin, p 98, Kindle ed.). How much leeway did
Peter have in requiring, forbidding, permitting or not requiring?
"But even if we,
or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have
preached to you, let him be accursed." (Gal 1:8)
"To the law and to
the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because
there is no light in them." (Isa 8:20)
"Imitate me, just
as I also imitate Christ." (I Cor 11:1)
"Do not think that
I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to
fulfill" (Mat 5:17)
The terms ‘bind’ and
‘loose’ are used frequently in early rabbinic writings in connection with
judgments they made relative to the law. They did not change the law or
void the law, but ruled in situations that were not directly covered by the
law. So the understanding of that time would not have led anyone to think
that Peter was given any authority to change or void the extant instruction
of Scripture.
A believer lives by the
example of Messiah, the word of God, the law and particularly His Law.
However, the law is given to us in the form of samples or examples. It
does not contain a lot of detailed instruction, which specifically addresses
every possible situation that may arise. If that were the case, there
are so many variations that could exist, Moses would
still be writing it. It is up to the believer, with the spirit of God,
to apply the instruction given to the situation in which he finds himself.
This authority to bind and
loose is also mentioned in Matthew 18:18. "Assuredly, I say to
you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you
loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Here the context
indicates the need for a decision. Two people have a
serious conflict of some sort and some resolution is required. An
attempt should be made to resolve the issue privately. If this is
unsuccessful, third parties should be involved. Finally, if all else
fails the congregation is involved and they are authorized to judge as they
see fit. This judgment, by definition, would be in light of the example
of Jesus Christ and the word of God.
So, if Matthew 16:19 gives
this power to Peter and/or the leadership of the church, the same power is
also given to the congregation as a whole. The congregation is
expected to judge based on what is fair and just in their society. Peter and
his successors are to make their decisions based on the instruction of
Scripture and the movement of the Spirit of God.
The church decision on the
matter of circumcision in Acts 15 is another example of the authority to
permit and forbid. In this case the leadership, including not only the
apostles, but also the elders, were all involved in hearing the matter (Acts
15:6). It was also of note that the will of the whole congregation was
important too (vss. 22, 23). They ultimately made their decision based
on the word of God and His obvious movement in approving Gentiles in their
uncircumcised state.
So, while decisions
sometimes need to be made on issues where the word of God is not perfectly
clear, that gives no one the right to author their own rule book. Any
decision made, should be made based on the already extant rule book,
considering the working of the spirit of God among the leadership and the
congregation as a whole.