Authority
A careful study of the Bible reveals that the concept of authority is interwoven throughout every page. It begins with the very first verse of Genesis where the authority of God is introduced through his spoken word, and continues to the very last word of the Bible – “Amen” – meaning, “so it is”, or “so be it”.
In Romans 13:1 we find a startling statement. This verse states that everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.
Now, the Bible teaches that God is good doesn’t it?. Therefore, because this good God has established all authority, we have to come up with the statement that all authority is good!
This certainly seems to fly in the face of some of our experiences!
But if we look carefully at this claim of the Bible, we will discover that our bad experiences come from people who abuse authority, not from the authority itself. You see, authority is a position, not a person. We must discern between the two.
So, authority is a position, not a person. Do you remember the words of Jesus? He said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.Matthew 28:18
He talked of something outside of himself being given to him.
How about another illustration found in the office of Church Eldership? The position of authority called ‘Elder’ has continued in the Church for 2,000 years, but during that time many generations of people have lived, become elders, and died. The people who occupy that office come and go, but the office itself remains unchanged and unchanging.
It is important to realise that authority is never a committee. Despite the democratic processes found in some Churches, the Bible clearly and consistently teaches a different method. The Bible teaches that authority always ultimately rests with one person. That’s why attempts to operate totally equal partnerships never work. They run contrary to God’s programme for humanity and will always be doomed to fail.
While there always has been and always will be authority, the lines of that authority can and do change. A king in one country, for example, has no jurisdiction in another. The chief in one pride of lions will be viciously attacked if it intrudes into another pride. The schoolteacher rules his or her classroom, but, in the event of a fire, and the arrival of a fireman, a new authority structure is immediately established.
Our society is desperately short of the respect and recognition due to those in authority isn’t it? To be fair, though, it is also desperately short of good governors. A two sided coin indeed.
Authority must be given; it cannot be taken. Note again the words of Jesus found earlier. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Rebellious people are the ones who try to take authority.
It follows then that any authority moving outside its authority has no authority.
All of us have suffered from time to time under those who think they have authority when they don’t at all. A husband, for example, who abuses his wife can safely be reported to the police, even by his wife. The law of the land declares that a citizen must not do certain things. The authority God gives a husband does not include maltreatment, therefore he has no authority to act in such a way. That sort of behaviour is dealt with by the law of the land, which is also established by God, remember? Such actions by the husband must not be treated as within his jurisdiction. because they are not. They are criminal actions and must be handed over to the appropriate authority – in this illustration, the law of the land. Too much abuse is endured by too many under the mistaken belief that such abuse must be submitted to, without any protection or escape.
There are a number of authority lines shown in Scripture: army, government, police, family, church, place of work, Godhead, amongst both angels and demons, and more besides. The powers and limitations of authorities are openly taught from Scripture.
The Bible makes quite clear what God expects from both those who are in authority, and those who are under authority. So when troubles do occur, their sources can be easily traced through the examination of appropriate Scriptures, and their correction can be just as easily obtained from the application of those same appropriate Scriptures. Ignorance is really no excuse for those of us who claim to be Christians.
What causes the breakdown in authority lines?
There are generally just two main reasons for any breakdown in authority.
- Those in command do not govern in righteousness or justice and/or…
- Those under authority refuse to be led.
Let’s look at a couple of illustrations from the Bible.
In the first illustration, 1 Samuel chapters 9 – 31 tell the story of a man called Saul, picked from obscurity by the prophet Samuel, under God’s direction, to be made the first king of Israel. At some point of Saul’s kingship Samuel gave Saul a very specific instruction, “...go down before me to Gilgal. ...I am coming to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall do.” 1 Samuel 10:8
What did Saul do? He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favour of the Lord.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.” And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” 1 Samuel 13:8-14
Saul suffered very serious consequences didn’t he? He had been declared king, but it wasn’t too long before that declaration had to be reversed. Why? Because he didn’t obey what he was told, and decided to go ahead on his own. It was as simple as that.
It seems that from that moment on Saul’s leadership deteriorated. He became harsh towards those underneath him; his leadership became foolish and confused; he became very jealous of his son-in-law, eventually trying to murder him. He also tried to murder his own son; he caused his daughter to commit adultery; he practised favouritism towards his own tribe, and the sad list goes on.
What good stuff have you or I lost out on because we have not done, or will not do what God says? What respect have you or I lost out on because we have not done or will not do what is right and just towards those underneath us?
Illustration number two presents a totally different picture, a picture of how authority lines can and do change.
When Jesus came to earth he deliberately placed himself under the authority of God the Father. This in itself is a wonderful example of humility. But there’s more. Consider, as an example of the intensity of obedience displayed by Jesus, this verse. “I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.” John 8:28
Think about that please. Jesus neither spoke nor acted without God the Father’s permission and direction! (Remember that the Bible teaches that Jesus is God, and equal to God.) If you want further confirmation of this read some more – John 5:19, John 10:37, John 12:49-50, John 14:24, John 14:31, and John 18:11.
Now look at the wonderful attitude Jesus displayed in all of this through his words – “I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.” John 5:30 and “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” John 6:38
If Jesus, who was God the Son, found it necessary while on earth to practise submission to the headship of God the Father, then it must surely be just as necessary for us to be submitted to the authorities over us?
Summary
How then should we act towards those with authority over us?
Jesus set us the example didn’t he? He chose to submit to his Father. And remember his attitude? It was one of willingness and desire to please.
Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honour to whom honour is owed. Romans 13:7-8
How then should we act towards those under our authority?
Here's some suggestions:
- We should recognise their value. 1 Peter 3:7
- We must be gentle towards them. 1 Timothy 3:3
- We must not treat them harshly. Ephesians 6:4
- We must always act with justice. Proverbs 16:10
- We must never have favourites. James 2:9
- We must be pleasant leaders! Proverbs 16:15
The list of requirements for those in authority seems almost endless. God places tremendous accountability on anyone who has any form of control over another. Where we walk in authority we must never forget that we too have someone higher than us to whom we must give account.
Those under authority have really only two main requirements from God – respect and obey. The onus is clearly with those in charge to make it a pleasure to be respectful and obedient.
The Godhead has set us a beautiful example to follow. The relationship displayed in the pages of Scripture between Father, Son and Holy Spirit is truly amazing. So too the willingness to submit to each other in accordance with the differing roles and responsibilities each has.
We are encouraged from Scripture to follow the example set by God. Here’s some pretty good advice found in one translation of Ecclesiastes 7:13: Notice the way God does things; then fall into line. Don’t fight the ways of God…
(Please remember to read part 1 of this paper)
This paper seeks to accurately represent the teachings of Holy Scriptures. You are free to copy or alter all or any part of this paper PROVIDED that the Holy Scriptures are not misrepresented as a result.
