Category: The Disciple and Authority

It’s Time to Switch Allegiances

Our founding fathers believed it was time for them to switch allegiances because they understood that government derives its just powers from the consent of the governed. Great Britain disregarded its own laws in its attempt to force the colonies to pay harsh taxes in order to rebuild its treasury following what is known as the French and Indian War, whereby Great Britain expanded its power in North America and worldwide. The colonies believed they were being denied the rights of ordinary Englishmen because they had no representation in Parliament and no voice in what taxes they had to pay. Great Britain resorted to what had always worked before, demanding obedience to the authority of the Crown. When the colonies refused, things gradually escalated into war, one that launched a nation and a great experiment in representative government.

The US Constitution set up a republic in which people could vote into office those who would represent them in the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of government.

From a biblical perspective, did God intend for government to derive its just powers from the consent of the governed, or is that a purely humanistic concept?

We can start with a well-known passage from Romans.

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2  So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3  For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 4  The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5  So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. Romans 13:1-5 (NLT)

At one level, government is not derived from the consent of the governed but from God. All authority originates and emanates from God. The reason is simple. He is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, who by virtue of his identity has all authority. Even we humans own what we create.

Therefore, any governmental authority that exists among created beings is derived from the Creator, since none existed before he created us nor does any exist outside of what he created.

The Creator delegated great responsibility and commensurate authority over his creation to his first humans, Adam and Eve.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27 (ESV) 

The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. Genesis 2:15 (NLT)

Adam was made the governor of the earth to care for it and guard it. This is the purpose of government from the beginning.

The passage quoted from Romans above shows that when government properly represents God, it will care for and protect its people against those who would bring harm. Anything that deviates from this purpose improperly represents God’s purpose for government. Any government that becomes oppressive is operating according to the principles of the kingdom of darkness and should be considered illegitimate. Certainly any government that violates its own laws must be considered as such.

Surely God never intended for us to willingly submit to oppression.

Our founding fathers certainly believed this about the government of Great Britain, when it failed to uphold its own laws or protect the rights of its people.

Satan, who is a created being, has no inherent authority, only that which has been given by God or usurped sinfully. Anyone who aligns himself with Satan in the governmental realm is operating under usurped authority.

Satan uses authority in a completely different way from God. Whereas the Creator imparts life and blessings, the devil only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. (John 10:10)

Satan told Jesus that he had the ability to place anyone he wished in authority, if only they would bow down to him. (Matthew 4:8-9) History is replete with examples of men and women who took him up on the offer. Thankfully, our Lord did not!

Jesus was determined to obtain governmental authority legitimately by doing things God’s way. As a result, our Lord how holds all authority in heaven and on earth. (Matthew 28:18)

The Bible gives us a clear example of operating with usurped authority when Queen Jezebel used King Ahab’s authority to orchestrate the murder of Naboth and the theft of his vineyard. (1 Kings 21) We also see this in Genesis when Satan conspired to steal Adam’s authority by inciting him to rebel against the Creator. By deceiving him and Eve into disobedience against God, the first couple chose allegiance to Satan over God, ceding their authority to the devil.

Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? Romans 6:16 (ESV)

Satan has used his usurped authority malevolently. Jesus refused to submit to it and made a way forus to escape, too.

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, Colossians 1:13 (NASB95)

We understand that we come under whatever authority we consent to rule over us.

Adam and Eve chose to serve Satan and relinquish authority to him which resulted in their becoming his slave. God operates through truth, but the devil must always resort to lies, since no one would ever choose to serve him otherwise.

Jesus made a way for us to switch sides. The gospel offers us the choice to once again come under God’s authority by surrendering our lives to the Lord Jesus.

“If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15 (NASB95)

Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word. 1 Kings 18:21 (NASB95)

And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. Acts 2:40–41 (NASB95)

Those who consent to be governed by Jesus escape the dominion of darkness. Those who refuse the gospel give consent for Satan to rule over and destroy them.

Satan lies to manipulate people to gain their consent to be governed malevolently by him. No one would agree to be robbed, murdered, and generally destroyed; yet, through skillful deception, Satan actually gets people to choose those things. Likewise, corrupt governments skillfully manipulate propaganda to fool people into trading their freedom for slavery. The devil promises to be our benefactor and friend, while actually destroying his subjects. He must laugh at us continually.

Lying or, to use the modern term, propaganda, is the key to Satan’s ongoing usurpation of God’s authority. Jesus taught that the truth will set us free. (John 8:31-32)

Isn’t it time to join the Jesus revolution and switch to the winning side, God’s side?

Prayer

Lord, I repent for serving the kingdom of darkness. I am ready to switch allegiances. Jesus, I declare my faith in you. You are my Lord and King. Help me to serve you faithfully for the rest of my life. Holy Spirit, come into my life and transform me from within. Help me to live for Jesus. Father God, thank you for receiving me into your family. Help me to know and love you more fully. Amen.

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Can a Christian Be a Patriot?

One of the most important questions facing followers of Christ is whether they can be patriots, too. The Bible teaches us that when we are born again by the Holy Spirit we gain a new Father, a new family, and become citizens of a new kingdom.

For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, Colossians 1:13 (NLT) 

But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. Philippians 3:20 (NLT)

Being born again requires us to declare allegiance to the king of heaven.

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10  For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. Romans 10:9-10 (NLT)

Christians are subject to the Lord Jesus and seek to live by his Word.

One of God’s incommunicable attributes is his immutability. He never changes. (James 1:17) The God of the Old Testament is the same God of the New Covenant. Even though the temporary Old Covenant of Law was abolished with the resurrection of Christ, the entirety of scripture points to the Lord Jesus. Jesus explained and expanded upon what is written in other portions of the Bible. Proper exegesis takes into account the whole of the Bible and works to understand and harmonize seemingly contradictory passages.

Love is the overarching theme of the Bible. (Matthew 22:36-40)

As important as is the law of love, however, it does not abrogate God’s justice. Mercy and truth meet together in our Lord Jesus. (Psalm 85:10)

The God who loves us past comprehension will cast into hell those who refuse his generous offer of reconciliation through the gospel. Jesus said:

“Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. 5  But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear. Luke 12:4-5 (NLT)

Anyone who dismisses the God of justice in favor of one who only loves everyone, regardless of their response to the gospel, morality, or conduct, is serving a false god of their own making.

God’s love does not prevent conflict, either. The term “tough love” was coined to describe taking a stance that creates conflict in the best interest of someone who needs confrontation and correction.

Love works with justice to set people free, even if it creates tension and conflict initially.

Sometimes a husband’s or father’s love compels him to do violence to an attacker in order to protect his family. Self-defense is justified in the Bible. (Exodus 22:2) Likewise, nations need defending, too. It is altogether proper for a nation to take up arms in defense of the homeland. Otherwise tyranny would easily dominate. The Bible clearly teaches this. The kingdom of Israel under it’s judges and kings fought often to remove oppression, defend its borders, and destroy enemies. Ecclesiastes teaches that there is a time for peace and a time for war. (Eccl. 3:8)

Christ’s teachings on turning the other cheek do not prohibit our using self-defense when appropriate.

In like manner, our citizenship in God’s kingdom does not eliminate the claims of citizenship made by the country in which we live.

In the present state of affairs, God’s kingdom transcends but does not eliminate earthly kingdoms. It appears that when Jesus returns every competing kingdom and loyalty will bow the knee to the Lord Jesus.

As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. 14  He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed. Daniel 7:13-14 (NLT)

Until then we must learn to live in the tension created by the competing priorities and loyalties created by our having dual citizenship in God’s kingdom and the nation in which we live here on earth.

Christ’s authority is extended through those who represent him. The more people in a given area who make the decision to submit their lives to him, the greater will be the impact of God’s kingdom there. As citizens of God’s kingdom become more involved in earthly forms of government, those governments will begin to have traits of the kingdom of God – justice, love, truth, righteousness, mercy, generosity, etc.

Freedom is a defining characteristic of God’s kingdom and of all governments that operate as he intends. (2 Corinthians 3:17)

Since the Magna Carta, English common law has demanded that the role of government is to protect the rights of its citizens. When Great Britain began to oppress its colonial citizens in America, the colonists resisted, insisting that they were being treated unjustly. In other words, Great Britain had become a tyrant which failed to abide by its own laws. Those who felt strongly about this injustice eventually chose to formally rebel against the King and declare independence, thus launching the American Revolution.

The War of Independence inaugurated a nation built on the belief that a government derives its just powers from the consent of the governed. This is how authority also works in the church. No church leader can force someone to obey his or her directives. People choose to come under such authority, which is expected to behave in a godly way.

The principle of liberty is a distinguishing mark of the kingdom of God. (John 8:36)

The preservation of liberty also is built into our Constitution.

The purpose of government under God is to protect its people and punish those who do evil.

The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. Romans 13:4 (NLT)

All legitimate government operates within God’s “Magna Carta” found in Romans 13.

Any government that goes outside of God’s purpose and uses its power to tyrannize its people has wandered away from any sense of divine legitimacy.

It now represents Satan, whose purpose is to enslave, kill, steal, and destroy. (John 10:10) All freedom-loving people, including those who serve Christ, should refuse to submit to such satanic oppression, whether it is found in a person or a government or sin. 

Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” John 18:36 (NLT)

Jesus understood, as we should, that it altogether proper for us to take up arms on behalf of an earthly kingdom. Unlike the kingdom of God, such kingdoms rely on force and weaponry. The majority of believers generally accept this civic responsibility.

Even though the United States has never perfectly fulfilled its noble aspiration of “liberty and justice for all,” the goal has served as a guiding light for over two centuries. If our founding fathers, many of whom were Christians, believed that such a government was worth risking life, fortune, and reputation to obtain, what should be our attitude as Christians toward preserving it?

David Caldwell was one of the most famous preachers from the Revolutionary era from our area. He was a pastor of two Presbyterian Churches, an educator, farmer, and physician. His sermons were so influential that the British agreed to pay a bounty of two hundred pounds for his capture. One of his sermons escaped being burned when General Cornwallis seized his farm in the lead up to the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. The title was “The Character and Doom of the Sluggard,” which I have published in its entirety. Here is an excerpt.

We have therefore come to that trying period in our history in which it is manifest that the Americans must either stoop under a load of the vilest slavery, or resist their imperious and haughty oppressors; but what will follow must be of the utmost importance to every individual of these United Colonies; and should be the hearty concern of every honest American.

Caldwell makes a convincing case that being a patriot in defense of our God-given liberties, even to the point of armed conflict, is a natural result of being a good citizen of the kingdom of God.

In other words, to submit to tyranny without a fight because of laziness or fear is a sin which will impoverish and enslave the one who refuses to take a stand, as well as generations to come.

All tyranny must be fought either before or after it gains control. It is much easier to do it before.

Sadly, anti-god propaganda has managed to convince large numbers of people who call themselves Christians that it is unchristian to be patriotic. The mantra that I have heard over and over is that we must distinguish between the gospel and Americanism. I agree with that in general, but I do not agree that being a Christian prohibits us from being a patriotic American. We have a dual citizenship with dual demands.

It is possible to be good citizens of both realms, if we can properly navigate competing priorities and loyalties.

Satan is trying to establish his one-world government before King Jesus sets up his. Until the coming of the Lord, we will have nation states to which we owe allegiance. Patriotism toward these nation states, particularly America, gets in the way of the devil’s plan. Satan is working to topple all such allegiances to bring us under his one-world despotic rule. Christians, who understands that Christ will usher in a benevolent world order and unity, should beware being duped by Satan’s counterfeit. The devil is clever at making his plan seem good, when actually his intent is always to enslave and kill us. We cannot surrender to him, even for a moment. We must stand against all forms of tyranny until the coming of the Lord. Only Jesus will be able to properly govern the world. All others are imposters with evil designs.

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (NLT)

As Christians I believe we can and should resist all tyranny because it is antithetical to the gospel. It is inconceivable that Christians would roll over and submit to despotism without a fight, especially American believers who understand the value of freedom. If we fail to make a stand, history may judge that we were unworthy recipients of the heritage passed down to us by the sacrifices and courage of our forefathers.

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Authority and Church Discipline

Authority and church discipline are related topics that need to be discussed and understood. Although many present the “gospel” primarily as an offer of forgiveness, with little or no emphasis on the lordship of Christ, the true gospel reestablishes the authority of God’s Son, who is the risen Lord of Lords.

“Coming to Jesus” (Matthew 11:28-30) means turning from pursuing independent, self-reliant lives and placing ourselves under Jesus’ rule (yoke). Our goal is to surrender every aspect of life to the Holy Spirit. As we do this, we find rest for our souls. Living as a rebel is a hard life with no future.

Churches today are filled with people who have never understood what it means to be submitted to Jesus the Lord, perhaps because they were never told they must do so. They expect Jesus to forgive them (I have heard people say that it is his job.), provide for them, and welcome them to heaven, but they do not recognize him as their Lord of their everyday lives. They live the way they want to live, regardless of what the Bible says. Because of this unpleasant reality, I like to ask people if they are followers of Christ, rather than if they are Christians. I have had people respond that they are Christians but not followers of Christ. They understood that they were not living as they should.

Many so-called Christians today reject the Bible’s teachings, especially when it comes to morality. Jesus taught that those who call him Lord, but do not live according to his teachings, do not truly belong to him. (Matthew 7:21-23) It’s a matter of the heart, and it is all comes down to authority. Either we choose to submit to Christ’s authority or we do not. If there is nothing in us that motivates us to do so, it is doubtful we have his Spirit abiding in us.

Salvation comes is for those who confess that Jesus is Lord, not for those who merely believe he is our “personal savior.” If we believe that Jesus rose from the dead and confess his lordship over our lives, mean it, and seek to live accordingly (Romans 10:9-10), we will be forgiven and become part of God’s forever family.

Salvation does not exist outside of acknowledging Jesus’ lordship.

Church Discipline

Our churches are a proving ground for the genuineness of our choice to live under Christ’s authority.

We can say that we are under authority, but we never know until our wills are challenged by that authority. When God’s authority or will crosses ours is when the true condition of our hearts is exposed.

God has placed leaders in his local churches in whom he has invested a measure of his authority. (God’s delegated authority also resides in the home, work, school, government, etc., but we will limit this article to church government.)  The biblical pattern is for the church to be governed by proven men of godly character and commitment to Christ, who are called elders. (1 Tim. 5:17, etc.) Elders have a responsibility from God to watch over the people under their care.

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)

We all have something called the “old man” or the “flesh,” which inwardly tempts us to be rebellious and unruly. Even though Christ “disarmed” the flesh on the cross for those who believe in him (Romans 6:6), it is still there and ready to spring into action, if we make room for it. Unfortunately for us, as Jesus taught us, “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” That being the case, we all sin and need to be corrected from time to time, some of us more than others.

In every organization, there are standards of behavior. If the organization’s leaders do not uphold and enforce those standards, human nature being what it is, people begin to slide or push the boundaries. Unless we are corrected, we often will get less and less fearful of the negative consequences of sin. A great example of this is how people disobey the speed limits on the Interstate. If the Highway Patrol does not aggressively enforce the speed limit, people go faster and faster. It’s human nature, and it works this way in the church, too.

In the local church, elders have the responsibility to uphold Christ’s authority, which is clearly demarcated in the teachings of the New Testament. Certainly elders have no business micromanaging people’s affairs, but, I hope we can all agree that when church members clearly violate Christ’s teachings in an egregious fashion and refuse to repent, something must be done. If not, sin spreads its deadly contagion as others will be tempted to sin because it appears there are no consequences. Bringing correction when needed is called church discipline.

Jesus told us how to carry out church discipline in Matthew 18:15-18. The normal order is for the aggrieved party to first confront an “offender” privately. Hopefully that will be sufficient to solve the problem. Unfortunately, some of us are little slower on the uptake or a little more stubborn and need to go to stage two. This is when another person is brought into the mix as a “reinforcement.” The hope here is that the “offender” will listen to their combined testimony and repent. The third stage is to bring church leaders into the mix in order to press upon the “offender” the gravity of their sinful behavior. If this does not work either, the only thing left, according to Paul, is expulsion from the church. (1 Corinthians 5:9-13)

In my experience, it is rare that anyone has to be expelled. Usually offenders see “the handwriting on the wall” and remove themselves from the fray before it gets to that stage. There are plenty of other churches around where people can hide their sinful behavior from other church members. Many churches only want people to show up on Sunday and give. They do not really get to know their people and are consequently blind to what may be going on beneath the surface. To be fair, the flip side of the issue is that sometimes church leaders are reluctant to bring correction to recalcitrant members for fear of losing them; so, the fault lies on both sides.

The proper exercise of church discipline is needed to help people live under Christ’s benevolent rule.

We all need help from others because following Christ is not easy. Over the years, I have observed that people who are unwilling to recognize and follow the counsel of the local church’s elder team are the ones who cause trouble, leave, or, rarely, are asked to leave. If they are not confronted, it can negatively impact the entire church by bringing down morale or teaching by example that sin is no big deal.

Because the local church is an assembly of people who choose to come under Christ’s authority and recognize his delegated authority in elders, unrepentant rebels have no place there. Our inability to relate properly to the authority of local church leaders is evidence that we have not yet properly surrendered to Christ.

Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica:

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us. 2 Thessalonians 3:6 (NASB)

 

Concluding Thoughts

I have not covered many important aspects of the proper use of authority, which is a topic I have written about elsewhere. I take it for granted that you understand that the Bible does not endorse a heavy-handed use of authority to domineer others. The proper use of authority is always life-giving.

My final takeaway is this. Let us…

  1. Renew our commitment to live each day in submission to Christ and his Word, as best we can, in dependence upon God’s grace and the Holy Spirit. No one expects perfection, just an honest effort on a continuing basis.
  2. Voluntarily submit to the delegated authority God has placed in our lives – at home, work, school, government, and in the church. Learning to listen to and receive needed correction is a big part of life. Those who take heed are wise. (Proverbs 6:23)
  3. Elders in the local church should take seriously their responsibility to oversee Christ’s people and properly use their God-given servant authority for good, to help others learn to live under Christ’s benevolent rule, all the while realizing that they are “sheep” under a Shepherd, too.

One last thought…. If we do not trust our leaders enough to give them permission to speak correction into our lives when needed, we may have a personal problem or we may need to find another church where we can trust the pastoral team. Whichever is the case, I encourage each of us not to allow such a situation to persist. We should find help for ourselves or a new church.

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Authority Is Not a Four Letter Word

It is important for us to know that authority from God’s perspective is not a four-letter word.

In the post-modern world in which we live, it seems that all authority is suspect because it is so often used for something other than God intended.

Authority in general is likely to be viewed skeptically as being a means to exercise power over others to advance a selfish 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 every exercise of authority into that one category. There are benevolent uses of authority, too. Jesus is the benevolent and just lord of all creation. The Kingdom of God is overseen by servants of God who hopefully exercise Christ’s authority in humility and love. At least, that is the ideal. This article will focus primarily on proper use of 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 the abuse of authority begin with individuals thinking more highly of themselves than they should.

Authoritarian people imagine that they are great ones who deserve to be able to have their own way. 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. Glory hungry people use their authority 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.

Jesus taught that in his kingdom authority gives one a 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 those under his care from all threats.

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 in which 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.

In addition, 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, they are in danger of being attacked 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. The apostle Paul wrote the following to the church in Corinth.

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 submit to Christ’s authority. Correction by those in authority should not need to be exercised often 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 trying to have 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 leadership try to focus people’s attention on themselves for the purpose of preserving their preeminence, it is an improper use of authority.

Proper Submission to Authority

Authority in the church is very real and should be honored and obeyed as if it were being done to the Lord himself. In other words, our submission to delegated kingdom authority is based on our understanding that all legitimate authority comes from God. He stands behind it. Therefore, to honor legitimate authority is to honor God. (Romans 13:1)

We need to see that God is behind authority, or we will have a tough time submitting to another human being who has faults and weaknesses.

I am referring here primarily to the proper use of authority. When those in government use their authority and power to oppress and abuse those under them, we may be required to resist their illegitimate abuse of authority.

Any time authority demands we violate our faith, our conscience, or God’s Word, it must be resisted, while remaining as respectful as possible.

When we obey and honor those who properly use delegated authority, we do so as a way to honor our Lord. It is important for us to understand that God “has our back” and will correct his delegated authorities, if they are missing the mark somehow.

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.

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.

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Does Having a Right Attitude toward Authority Really Matter?

 

 

 

 

 

Our attitude reveals the condition of our hearts.

A poor attitude reveals a heart that is not fully engaged or in agreement with its circumstances or assignment. People who have a poor attitude usually do poor work and have strained relationships and are a drain on everyone else.

Attitudes are contagious.

People with negative attitudes can rub off on others, pulling down an entire community or team. Wise coaches and leaders must properly handle individual attitude problems before they escalate into something worse. Conversely, people who have a great attitude can lift a group.

How we think will eventually be reflected in the words we speak and the actions we take.

Principle #1: God uses authority to work for good in our lives.

The Bible teaches us that our attitude toward those in authority is crucial. This is because all authority is derived from God. As such, when we resist authority, we resist God.

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. Romans 13:1 (NLT)

Such a Biblical stance is based on the foundational doctrine of God’s sovereignty.

The Bible states unequivocally that God rules over all and works all things in accordance with his plans, even the things that we consider to be calamities.

Who can command things to happen without the Lord’s permission? 38  Does not the Most High send both calamity and good? 39  Then why should we, mere humans, complain when we are punished for our sins? 40  Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the LORD. Lamentations 3:37-40 (NLT)

As followers of Christ, everything always works for our ultimate good.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29  For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 8:28-29 (NLT)

The good toward which God is always working is to conform us to Christ’s likeness on the inside. Therefore, using this divine logic, even when God allows evil people to be in authority over us, he still is working for our good.

Principle #2: Complaining against authority is dangerous to our well-being.

A second principle, therefore, is that to complain against those God has placed in authority over us is to complain against God and his plan for our lives, which is never a good idea.

The first being who is recorded to have had a bad relationship with authority is Satan. He rebelled and revolted against God directly and was forced out of God’s presence. He ultimately will  be consigned to the lake of fire. As mentioned before, bad attitudes are contagious. He passed his to Adam and Eve, who blamed God for their sin of rebellion. Adam blamed Eve, whom God had provided to be his helper/assistant/completer. In Adam’s mind, it was God’s fault that he disobeyed God, since God had provided him with Eve. Never mind that Adam chose to go along with her misguided revolt instead of using his influence to dissuade her. Such is the logic of the rebel. Bad attitudes toward authority produce bad words, which accuse, blame, or find fault with authority, which result in rebellious actions.

Thankfully, the converse is also true. A great attitude toward authority will produce wholesome words and positive acts of obedience. Jesus is our finest example. It was his delight to do everything he saw his Father doing and speak everything he heard his Father speak. His goal was to bring his Father glory, even when his Father’s will was extremely difficult and personally very costly.

No fear, pride, or resentment had any hold on Jesus; therefore, he did not fall to these three main temptations that can lead us into having a bad attitude toward authority. You and I, however, have to contend with each. The Bible gives us some clear examples of how not to relate to God’s delegated authority, as well as how to do it correctly.

The Fear Factor

Then Moses led the people of Israel away from the Red Sea, and they moved out into the desert of Shur. They traveled in this desert for three days without finding any water. 23  When they came to the oasis of Marah, the water was too bitter to drink. So they called the place Marah (which means “bitter”). 24  Then the people complained and turned against Moses. “What are we going to drink?” they demanded. Exodus 15:22-24 (NLT)

There is nothing like a little adversity to bring out the rebel in all of us! This is especially true when our expectations are out of line with what God is doing in our lives. Many people think that God wants us to be trouble free. Nothing is further from the truth. Adversity is what tests and refines our character and transforms us into Christ’s image, which is one of God’s main goals for us during our short stay here on planet earth.

If self-preservation and a life of ease are our top priorities, we will surely become a complainer; but, if God’s glory and his will are our main objectives, we will be able to pass every test.

When things do not go as we expect, we often slip into fear and the blame game. Whoever is leading us when disappointment shows up will likely be the target of our anger and complaining.

When we actually have a problem with God, we will likely blame those in authority. They are convenient targets.

The Old Testament is full of examples of God’s people turning against delegated authority when things went south. Just read Exodus and Numbers to see first hand how poorly it went for the rebels. The takeaway is that God judges rebels, and it’s never a good thing to be their camp.

When Leaders Fall Short

How do we respond when leaders sin and disappoint us by their behavior?

Unless resentment is handled correctly, it can easily morph into bitterness. Untended offenses can propel us to criticize and judge our leader’s misdeeds in an effort to overthrow their authority under the camouflage of self-righteousness.

Let’s consider Absalom’s rebellion for an example. He was infuriated by his father David’s failure to punish his son by a different mother, Amnon, for raping Absalom’s sister by the same mother, Tamar. This was a major failure on David’s part. His reluctance to judge and punish Amnon may well have had its roots in his own previous moral failure with Bathsheba. It’s hard to be tough in an area where we required mercy. It was understandable that Absalom was upset. His sister had been grievously and criminally violated and the perp got away with it! This test revealed Absalom’s heart. It showed that he was filled with pride. He failed to realize his own need for mercy, which allowed him to become judge, jury, and executioner of someone else. Absalom’s resentment escalated into bitterness, hatred, and outright rebellion. He spoke against his father, hatched a plan to overthrow him, and undertook to oust him from being king and to put him to death.

Proverbs says:

A rebellious man seeks only evil, So a cruel messenger will be sent against him. Proverbs 17:11 (NASB)

This is exactly what happened to Absalom. General Joab took care of the rebellion by eliminating the source of the infection, driving several spears into David’s embittered son as he hung by his hair in a tree. His pride, as exemplified by his long flowing hair, is what did him in. Ultimately bitterness is fueled by pride, and pride always precedes a fall.

One of Absalom’s chief co-conspirators was Ahithophel, Bathsheba’s grandfather. This man was reputed to be the wisest man in Israel, and his counsel was considered to be almost infallible. Despite his great wisdom, he also fell to the power of resentment and harbored bitterness toward David for having committed adultery with his granddaughter, Bathsheba, and murdering her husband, Uriah, who was one of the most faithful men in Israel. As with Absalom, Ahithophel had grounds for being upset with David, who had selfishly robbed his family of something precious. His inability to forgive David, even after God did, led to his downfall. His bitterness overcame his wisdom, leading him, against all wisdom, to join a plot against God’s appointed authority. As might be expected, things ended very poorly for Ahithophel. He committed suicide when he realized the coup would fail.

David sinned mightily against God, Absalom, Bathsheba, Uriah, and Ahithophel, indeed against the entire nation, for which he deserved to die according the Law of Moses. Nevertheless, after David repented of his sin, God forgave him and promised to spare his life and retain him as king. Absalom and Ahithophel were not able to go along with this act of mercy and demanded that David be punished with death. They were even willing to carry out the sentence themselves! Could anyone have had a more just sounding position than those two? Surely God must have been on their side in this matter. David needed to go! Or did he?

David had been in a similar position as Absalom and Ahithophel many years before when Saul betrayed the trust of the Israelites by putting his own goals ahead of God’s purposes. Saul tried to kill David on multiple occasions for no other reason than that David was favored by God and was suspected of being God’s choice to replace Saul. Surely Saul deserved to die for his transgressions! But David knew better than to show disrespect toward God’s appointed authority. He refused to take matters into his own hands. The Bible records an instance where David showed mercy to his master and refused to harm him when he could have.

Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. 9  He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? 10  This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the LORD’s anointed.‘ 1 Samuel 24:4-10 (NIV)

As a result, David’s eventual accession to the throne after Saul was killed in battle with the Philistines was not tainted by his having been an agent of rebellion against the sitting king earlier.

Later, during Absalom’s rebellion, David reaped, positively, what he had sown years before. When Absalom attacked Jerusalem, David cast himself upon the mercies and protection of God. Those who show mercy will receive mercy in return. Humility leads to greatness in God’s kingdom.

The moral of the story is that we must not take it upon ourselves to punish and oust God’s delegated authority over us, even when he or she may fail miserably.

God is perfectly capable of doing that himself.

Conclusion

Complaining against authority derives from a lack of faith in God’s sovereignty and his promise to work things for our good and his glory. It shows that we do not understand that all authority ultimately derives from God himself and must be respected. It reveals that we lack a proper fear of God regarding what happens to those who rebel against God’s delegated authority.

So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. Romans 13:2 (NLT)

Since God’s Word is true, we know for sure that those who are actively resisting our government’s elected officials will suffer God’s judgment, even if they succeed for the short run. But what about us? If we are chronic complainers against authority, it is time to repent. Allow the Holy Spirit to examine your life. He is perfectly capable of making us aware of any shortcoming he wishes to expose. We don’t need to resort to becoming unduly introspective. It is not enough to merely repent, however. We should begin acting and speaking with an opposite spirit, respecting those in authority over us, even when we disagree with their actions and agenda.

Is there ever a time to resort to revolution and violence? Our founding fathers and many preachers of that day thought so, but others did not. Antifa thinks so. What about us? This is a gnarly question with which each of us must wrestle. If a government violates its own laws and becomes oppressive, does this give us the right to seek its overthrow? Our founding fathers thought so. What does the Bible say? Should our respect for authority always lead to passive acceptance of oppression, or should we defend the government from enemies on the inside, even elected officials who have violated their pledge to govern according to the Constitution?

The Jews fought against the repressive Roman government and suffered a massive judgment in 70 AD. The Christians living during that general time period suffered a great persecution under Emperor Nero, in which thousands were cruelly martyred for their faith in Christ. They did not rise up against Rome; yet, they still suffered. Jesus stood for God’s kingdom, incurring the wrath of the authorities of Israel and Rome, without showing disrespect or resorting to violence. As a result,  great violence was done to him. What is the paradigm for us believers going forward? Are we to be like sheep, as Paul wrote during the great persecution of Nero?

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36  (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37  No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. Romans 8:35-37 (NLT)

There may be coming a day when you and I will have to face these questions.

Now is the time to be seeking the Lord and to make sure our attitude toward God and his delegated authority is that which will bring honor to him and blessings to us.

If the day arrives for us to make momentous decisions regarding our stance toward an increasingly oppressive US government, may we make the wise decision and be on God’s side.

Prayer

Lord, I have been guilty of harboring a bad attitude toward those you have placed in authority over me. (Name them.) Also, help me to model what it means to have a proper attitude toward authority in the future. Let me become an asset to those you have placed over me, rather than a hindrance. Prepare me and those I love for whatever may be coming down the road. Show us what we need to know,  so that when the time arrives we will be secure in our position and know what to do. Amen.

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