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The subject of "authority" is
one of those sensitive issues that is often viewed with controversy or
cynicism in today's society. The nonconformist revolution of the 1960's,
together with the widely publicized scandals in government, helped to
promote a trendy, stylish disregard toward ethics, laws and authority
figures. However, despite these popular secular attitudes, authority
remains as a very important institution to God, one which is critical
for Christians to understand in order to properly relate to Him and His
system of values. To begin with, God places a high value on authority
because He is the one who created it. The Bible says that all authority
comes from and originates with God. He is the absolute source of
authority in the universe, and has delegated His principle of authority
to mankind to maintain order in the world. "Let every soul be subject to
the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God,
and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever
resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist
will bring judgment on themselves" (Rom. 13:1-2).
God's Word says that
followers of Christ should be obedient to secular laws and government,
because according to scripture, secular authority is intended to be a
"minister of God for our good" (Rom. 13:4), and serves His purpose of
keeping law and order on the earth (1 Pet. 2:14-15). The Apostle Paul
wrote, "...submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's
sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who
are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of
those who do good" (1 Pet. 2:13-14).
The Concern with Authority
Authority must be understood
by every Christian since it is the entire basis of our relationship with
Christ. "Authority" means "the right to command and enforce obedience."
When we accept Jesus Christ as our "Lord," this means that He is
supposed to become our "boss" or "authority" over our whole life (Luke
6:46). In addition, the Bible becomes the source of authoritative
instruction for our Christian Life (2 Tim. 3:16).
Since submission to authority
is basic to Christian Life, it is important that we understand that all
authority is a God-given institution, and all types of authority are
related. The Lordship of Christ is the highest source of authority that
we must answer to (Matt. 28:18), but God has also ordained at least
three other categories of subordinate authority in the world that we
must also submit to:
(1) The Family - Children are
to obey their parents (Eph. 6:10). The wife is to cooperate with her
husband, which is the head of the family (Eph. 5:22-24, 1 Tim. 2:12),
and the husband is to submit to Christ and love his wife (Eph. 5:23,25).
(2) The State - We are to
cooperate with those authority figures and obey the local and federal
laws of the land, within the boundaries of God's laws (1 Pet. 2:13-14).
(3) The Church - Christians
are to submit to the headship of Christ which is exercised through His
Spirit (Rom. 8:14), His Word (2 Tim. 3:16), and Church leadership (Matt.
18:17-20, Heb. 13:17).
God has established these
authorities as the "delegated" extensions of His authority. If we resist
cooperation, we are in effect, resisting God's own authority and
Lordship. This is why Paul told wives to submit to their husbands "as to
the Lord" (Eph. 5:22).
Rebellion Disrespects all
Authority
Just as all authority is
related to other authority, all rebellion is also interrelated. It does
not regard any class of authority. Rebellion is "the unwillingness to be
ruled by any source other than self." It is an indiscriminate contempt
toward all authority.
Our attitude toward Christ as
our Lord, is directly associated with our attitude toward other
authority. Jesus Christ cannot be fully "Lord" over the person who
harbors rebellion toward authority figures. The Bible says, "Therefore
whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those
who resist will bring judgment on themselves" (Rom. 13:2).
Just as God is the source of
all authority, Satan is author of all rebellion. We may recall that the
Devil (Lucifer), a former archangel, was originally cast out of Heaven
because he led an insurrection against God (Isa. 14:12-15). Rebellion is
the very spirit of Satan's attitude (Eph. 2:2), and if we permit it to
dominate us it will infect and taint our attitude toward all authority,
including God and His Word.
The prophet Samuel said,
"...rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as
iniquity and idolatry" (1 Sam. 15:23). The Apostle Peter said that those
who are corrupt "despise authority" (2 Pet. 2:10), and the Proverbs say,
"An evil man seeks only rebellion..." (Prov. 17:11).
What About Corrupt Authority?
Obviously, in the absence of
Godly and moral values, there can sometimes be abuses of authority and
perversions in government. Such was the case when Peter and John were
forbidden to preach the Gospel by the Jewish Sanhedrin. They replied,
"Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to
God, you judge" (Acts 4:19). The only circumstance that disobedience to
authority is justifiable by scripture, is if it conflicts with the laws
of God. Authority should be cooperated with except in those situations
where laws depart from the basic moral and righteous principles of God's
Word. Paul tells us to pray for all those in authority: " I exhort first
of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks
be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may
lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence" (1 Tim.
2:1-2). God can use our prayers for those in authority, to either change
their heart or remove them from power entirely. God reserves the right
of administering discipline and reproof to those who represent His
authority (Rom. 14:4, 1 Chron. 16:21-22).
Authority in the Church
Considering how our attitude
toward all authority relates to our submission to the "Lordship" of
Christ, we should especially be sensitive to the authority of the Church
and spiritual leaders, who have specifically been assigned as
representatives of Christ. The Bible says, "Obey those who rule over
you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who
must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that
would be unprofitable for you" (Heb. 13:17).
Even more important than
secular authorities, Christians must be cooperative with their spiritual
leaders, who are charged with the responsibility to "watch for their
souls." An important point revealed from this passage in Hebrews is that
it appears that all Christians are supposed to be under the authority of
a spiritual leader. This would also mean that all believers should be a
part of a local Church which has spiritual supervision by a pastor and
elders.
Accountability is Essential
We cannot genuinely be under
the authority of spiritual leadership without being committed to a
Church (Heb. 10:25). How can we be accountable to spiritual supervision
if we excuse ourself from Church fellowship, or just sit at home and
watch TV ministries, or merely drift from one Church to another, week
after week? Being accountable to a continuity of ministry and leadership
is vital to God's plan of providing the necessary "checks and balances"
to produce solid spiritual growth.
One of the common reasons
that some Christians "hop" from Church to Church, or detach themselves
entirely from Church participation, is that inwardly they foster an
"independent spirit" which resists authority. They don't wish to be
corrected or to confront truths they would prefer to avoid. Without
accountability to authority, a believer will often develop "itching
ears" (2 Tim. 4:3), which seeks after teachings that validate
self-conceived opinions, instead of "objective" teaching which compels
us to face truths that may conflict with our self-willed inclinations
and desires.
Every believer has the
personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit to guide them (1 John 2:27), but
this does not discharge them from the Biblical counsel and ministry of
the Church (Heb. 13:7,17). The Church is Christ's plan for His
followers. He is the head (Eph. 5:23), and commissioned it to represent
Him and His authority in the world (2 Cor. 5:20, Matt. 18:17-20, John
14:12). He ordained elders, deacons, and pastors to supervise and manage
the affairs of His Church (Acts 14:23, 1 Tim. 3:10-13), and additional
ministries to teach, train, and spiritually equip the saints for service
(Eph. 4:11-16). Ministers are also accountable to the authority of
overseers, who may offer counsel, reproof, or discipline when necessary
(Acts 21:18-24).
Criteria for Spiritual
Leadership
All believers should be
committed to a Spirit-filled, Bible believing, Christ-centered Church.
They should be accountable to a Pastor and Spiritual leaders, on the
condition that leadership meets basic qualifications of (1) a moral and
Godly lifestyle (Matt. 7:15-16, 1 Tim. 3:1-7), and (2) that they
proclaim the uncompromised Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16).
Don't rebel at the man of God
whose life exhibits these Biblical qualities. The Bible warns that
contempt toward God's obedient servant is equal to contempt toward God
(Exodus 16:2,8). Don't do anything that would hinder Godly, spiritual
leaders. Don't even bad-mouth them. It is an act of rebellion, for which
you will answer to God. We must remember, that even if authority over us
makes mistakes, the Lord still demands our respect and restraint toward
His anointed. They are His servants and He will reprove them. "Do not
touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm" (Psm. 105:15).
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