Apostolic Authority

There is no doubt that Christ extended authority to the Apostles and that the Apostles extended some authority to the local leaders of the church's congregations. The issue in faith only, does the leadership keep that authority even if they are not faithful and even if they change doctrine?

Catholics and Lutheran's taught the sacraments were valid even if performed by un-godly men. They taught absolution was intact even with un-godly men proclaimed a sinner forgiven.

1. This assumes they were performing sacrament as given by the apostles without change.

2. This assumes they were still in good standing with God.

Notice that the Apostles themselves could lose the power to ask of God if they were not faithful.

Joh 15:7  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 

The promise they could ask anything had two clear conditions, abiding in Christ and Christ's word abiding in them. Thus the Apostles themselves were not given the right to deviate from Christ's word and then ask of God in prayer..

Absolution in theory depended upon the right of the Priest to go before God and ask what he required, but the apostles themselves were given no right if they deviated from God's word. Thus a church changing theology from the word delivered to their own traditions would not have such a right.

Catholics who had changed to infant baptism from adult baptism would have no promise from Christ. They would have no right to ask anything of God.

Joh 15:6  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 

Thus there is no proof catholic leadership had authority at all. The same can be said of any group or individuals leaving God's word. The requirements of faithfulness certainly apply.

Joh 15:10  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 

Catholic authorities never had the right to make any changes from the apostles doctrine. No one does.

The act of prayer is extended to the Godly, not the un-godly.

Jas 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 

It never said the un-godly had the right to prayer or the right to absolve.

It never said you could err in your theology and still be saved.

Jas 5:19  Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 

Jas 5:20  Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.