Henry Martyn Robert served as an engineering officer in the Army in the late nineteenth century. One day he was asked to preside over a church meeting but soon realized that he did not know exactly how to do so in an appropriate matter. Nevertheless, he ruled over the meetings but it turned out to be an embarrassment. He vowed never again to let that happen. He resolved to write a manual for churches to use as a guide. But instead of searching the Scriptures for direction concerning spiritual matters, he turned to his knowledge of parliamentary law. In 1876, his Robert’s Rules of Order was published. Since that first edition, his book has undergone 10 editions and is a world-wide best seller. As a consequence, many churches have adopted his Rules as the guiding stone for church conduct and it has since become an impetus for ruling the church like a business. Below are ten reasons why I believe that God cannot be very happy with Robert’s Rules of Order:
1. This worldly book, more often than not, usurps the authority of God’s Word. People tend to set the Scriptures aside to resolve internal conflicts in the congregation with Mr. Robert in tow instead of searching out the mind of the Lord in a given matter through weeping and prayer and Bible study. For the more than thirty years of public ministry I have witnessed this happen time and again. It is an abomination to the Lord.
2. This worldly book presses God’s people into it mode of operation. The Christian is commanded not to be pressed into the thinking of the world.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3. This worldly book gives the church a non-Christian vocabulary which has proven to be counter productive. "Motions", "first" and "seconded", "discussion" and "voting" are not biblical words or concepts. Righteousness is not to be voted on. God does not rule His church by democracy but by His Word, through His Spirit with the undershepherds He has given as gifts of divine grace.
4. This worldly book has little regard for spiritual concepts such as preferring others and extending grace for law is law and rules are rules. No where will it be found, “and the Spirit said” (Acts 8:29; 10:19).
5. This worldly book robs God’s people of a spiritual blessing. The only blessing found in the Scripture is when God’s work is done God’s way by taking heed to God’s Word.
[Joshua], This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success (Joshua 1:8).
[Matthew], Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4).
6. This worldly book leads to people being manipulative as individuals look for legal loopholes and technicalities.
7. This world book invites the manifestation of the will to power and the seeking to control instead of the submitting to the will of God.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8. This worldly book elicits an emotional attachment that should properly be reserved for the Bible. The love of the followers of Joseph Smith for their Book of Mormon and the Muslims for their Koran is the same misguided emotional attachment some have for Robert’s Rules of Order. Only the Bible is God-breathed. Only the Bible is adequate to conduct the affairs of the church.
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
9. This worldly book has become a substitute for personal and congregational security. The church is exhorted to trust in the Lord.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
10. This worldly book has the practical effect of not only usurping God’s authority but God Himself. Who needs divine wisdom when every conceivable parliamentary situation is laid out in minute detail?
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
