Who's Responsible?

I met a guy, a few years ago, who made a comment that sounded like he thought that he was personally responsible for the spiritual conduct of each and every person under his leadership. I was so shocked at this, that I had to ask him again, just to be sure that I'd heard him correctly. Apparently he meant exactly what it sounded like, and he used this verse in Hebrews as his basis for it:

"Obey your leaders and submit to them, 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. ." (Hebrews 13:17 NASB)

Some key words to unpack here: obey, leaders, submit, keep watch, account.

1. Obey is the greek word Peitho, which can mean "to persuade, to be persuaded by, to co-operate with, to have confidence in, to trust, and to obey".
   
   
2. Hegeomai, from which we get the word "leader", can be translated as "to have authority over" or "to go before, to lead". When coupled with the word Peitho, it's a realistic interpretation to suggest that the writer of Hebrews (some think it must be St. Paul, but the letter itself doesn't tell us) was instructing the people to trust, or co-operate with those who "go before" them. Sounds less like a hierarchical chain of command, and more like giving respect to those who have been walking with Jesus a bit longer. Or it could mean what others have suggested: being under the authority of those God has placed above you. Perhaps digging through the rest of the key words can put this in a larger context.
   
   
3. Hupeiko -- submit -- can mean one of two things: to yield to authority, or to resist no longer as combatants. So far, we could interpret this verse to say "yield authority to the leaders above you", or "have confidence in those who have gone before, and stop fighting (being combative)".
   
   
4. "Keep watch" is a phrase that comes from the Greek Agrupneo, which can be translated "to be sleepless, to watch" or "to be circumspect, attentive". Either way you want to translate this one, it speaks of "leaders" as those who are genuinely committed to the spiritual health of those around them.
   
   
5. "Give an account" -- Apodidomi -- can mean "to deliver (sell)", but I don't think leaders sell us back to God; next possibility? It can also mean "to give back, restore", but I'd be on shaky ground if I suggested that anybody is going to "give back" people to God; last time I checked, Jesus is the only Mediator between God and humanity. It can also mean "to pay off a debt", hmmm.. that doesn't fit the context either. Finally, it can simply be tranlated as it usually has been: "render (give) an account".

So we could look at this verse and apply it like this: "Have confidence in those who have gone before, and stop fighting (being combative) with them, because they are there to be attentive to your spiritual growth, and they answer to God for how they lead. So don't make it tough on them, because then nobody wins."

Or, as this verse has been translated in "The Message":

"Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God. Contribute to the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for them?"

The bottom line is that this verse cannot be translated to mean that leaders are accountable for how people think, believe, or behave. Leaders are accountable for the manner in which they lead, not for how people follow.

So, Leaders, relax. You're only responsible for how you lead -- oh, but let's not forget James 3:1 (NLT): "Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged by God with greater strictness...."

That's a post for another day.