In the post-modern world in which we live, all authority is suspect, except when it can be used to advance a political end. Authority in general is likely to be viewed skeptically as being a means to exercise power over others to advance a self-serving agenda. Authority is often equated with authoritarianism, which is an unbridled and oppressive exercise of power. Most people naturally recoil from abusive authoritarianism, but we should be careful not to lump all authority into that one basket. There are benevolent forms of authority, too. Jesus is a benevolent and just King, the rightful lord of the universe. The Kingdom of God is overseen by servants of God who exercise Christ’s authority in humility and love. At least, that is the ideal. This article will focus primarily on authority in the home and the church.
Authority in the Kingdom of God
When Jesus overthrew Satan’s domination of darkness and birthed the Kingdom of God, it was not something simply laid over what already existed or a rearrangement of what was already there.
Christ’s kingdom is radically different in all respects. Jesus taught his disciples.
And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ 26 “But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. Luke 22:25-26 (NASB)
Most problems with government begin with individuals in power thinking more highly of themselves than they should.
Such people imagine that they are great ones who deserve to be able to have their own way, no matter what. The more power and wealth a government accumulates, the more corrupt it generally will become. People, without God’s intervention, have an insatiable lust for wanting to be considered great and powerful. Going all the way back to the garden of Eden, people want to be God, or at least a god. As a result, glory hungry people use their power for their own ends for self-aggrandizement, wealth, and pleasure. When power goes over to the dark side, it is used to hurt one’s enemies and those we despise.
But Jesus taught that in his kingdom things will not be this way. Instead, the more authority one has, the greater the responsibility to serve others.
Corrupted power hurts others in order to protect and enrich the leader; whereas, in the kingdom of God authority is used to bless, protect, lead, and provide for the ones under its care. Worldly authority pushes others down, but godly authority pushes others up and forward.
Authority in the Home
A great example of the proper use of benevolent authority is the role of a father in the home.
If a family is following God’s principles, the father has the most authority and responsibility in the home and is called the “head.” (Ephesians 5:23) For this reason, he also is the chief servant. His responsibility is to provide for his family, love them, give guidance and instruction, model godly living, bring correction and discipline as needed, and protect them from all threats. That is the definition of service!
Authority always is connected to responsibility. The more responsible a person is, the greater the authority.
Problems arise when irresponsible people use authority selfishly.
Since fathers are fallible humans, they sometimes misrepresent God through the misuse or abuse their authority. Dads may use their “headship” for selfish ends or to dominate the wife and kids, alienating them in the process, breeding resentment, and giving them a very poor model for the future. Failures at fatherhood do not nullify God’s principles. Instead they reinforce God’s ways by contrast. God’s ways produce life. The world’s ways, just the opposite.
Authority in the Church
The church is another realm where authority is given to protect, provide, lead, guide, and correct. Disciples of Christ know that Jesus alone is the Lord of the church and of their lives in particular.
What is not so commonly understood is that Jesus delegates authority to those whose God-given responsibility is to shepherd the flock.
Proper pastoring is a great example of how authority is meant to be used. Shepherds exist for the welfare of the sheep. They have authority over the sheep to determine where they go, when and where they feed, and when and where they drink. Shepherds lead their sheep in and out of the sheepfold, guard them from predators, and discipline wandering sheep to keep them from getting picked off by wolves and other predators, who prefer to attack stragglers and wanderers. They give special attention to those who are weak and sickly.
When followers of Christ choose to distance themselves from the flock and shepherds, we can be sure that they are ripe for being picked off by the enemy.
God has established pastoral authority in the church in the form of elders and five-fold ministry (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers).
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. Ephesians 4:11-16 (NASB)
Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 3 Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. 1 Peter 5:2-3 (NLT)
Other people also can have delegated authority under the oversight of these shepherds. Pastoral authority serves the church through teaching the Bible, modeling the Christian life, training and equipping disciples, correcting those who stray from the path, and guarding against threats from both within and without. The chief threats come in the form of sin and false prophets and teachers.
The Benevolent Use of Authority
Below are some important verses relating to this benevolent use of authority.
Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm. 2 Corinthians 1:24 (NASB)
Godly authority teaches people how to be under Christ’s authority. Correction by those in authority should need to be exercised rarely in the lives of mature disciples. It is primarily for the immature and wayward, in a similar way to how parents are required to discipline young children far more than older ones. If parents are still holding domineering sway over older children, something is very wrong. A parent’s goal is to produce self-governing adult children. It is the same in the kingdom of God.
For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. 2 Corinthians 4:5 (NASB)
Anytime those in authority use their position to focus people’s attention on themselves for the purpose of preserving their preeminence, something is very wrong.
Proper Submission to Authority
Authority in the church is very real and should be honored and obeyed as to the Lord. In other words, our submission to delegated kingdom authority is based on our submission to Jesus the Lord. Since all authority comes from God (Romans 13:1), when we choose to submit to delegated authority, we are actually submitting to God by faith.
We have to see that God is behind authority, or we will have a tough time submitting to another human being who has all the faults and frailties as we do.
I am referring here primarily to the proper use of authority. When those in government use their power to oppress and abuse those under them, we still must understand that God is sovereignly using that authority, but we may not be required to obey them in all things.
Any time authority demands we violate our faith, our conscience, or God’s Word, it must be resisted, however, without being disrespectful.
When we obey and honor those who have delegated authority, we do so as a way to honor our Lord. We have to believe that God “has our back” and will correct his delegated authorities, if they get out of line with his kingdom principles and Holy Spirit.
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)
Leaders will answer to God, which is why it is important for us to answer to them.
In answering to them, we answer to God. In caring for us, they are serving Christ. This is not optional for those who have authority or for those under authority.
The apostle Paul gave us a great example of the proper use of authority.
As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children among you. Or we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children. 8 We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too. 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 (NLT)
It is easy to see Paul’s love and care for God’s people and his determination to use his authority as a shepherd to teach, correct, care for, and protect them. Truly, authority properly used is not a four letter word, nor is it something to be taken lightly. It is part of God’s loving provision for us. It is in our best interest for us to honor and submit to those who have been given God’s delegated authority over our lives. Who knows? We may be wishing that one day people will take our authority seriously and listen to what we have to say.
Since we always reap what we sow, let’s show honor and submission to God’s delegated authority as a way of honoring God himself.
