Authority

By John Weaver

November 5, 2021

As I look at the world that we live in, I see disrespect of authority like never before in my lifetime. There are whole populations of people who are saying, “We will not respect the law. We will do whatever we want regardless of what the law and those who are in authority say.”

These things are bad, but it is not my focus today. What about a believer and authority in the church? Many of you have heard authority preached all of your life.

“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you” (Hebrews 13:17).

Authority is not wrong. It is not bad. In fact, authority was God’s idea. God gave Adam authority over all of the animals, over the whole earth in fact.

So why does the idea of authority in church life carry a feeling of dread, fear, or all kinds of negativeness?

It is true that the heart of man does tend to wax cold and migrate away from God as we get closer to the end of time. But that is not nearly the entire problem. The sad truth is that there has been a lot of misuse and abuse of authority within the church. Many people who are called to lead have no idea what God really says about authority.

au - thor - i - ty

the power, or right to make decisions, give orders, and en-force obedience.

This is the dictionary definition of authority. It describes a policeman or many others who are in authority.

Authority in the church is often practiced this way…but is it God’s heart? No, it is not. Far from it.

In Mark 10:42-44, Jesus preached and spoke these words.

“But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. BUT SO SHALL IT NOT BE AMONG YOU: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.” (emphasis added)

These are the words of Jesus describing clearly what authority means and how it is to be practiced in the church. It is a very different description of authority from what the dictionary gives.

If those who are called to lead in the body of Christ follow these words of Jesus and minister and serve, then the whole body will be edified. The members will be drawn together and respect and honor will be brought to the leaders.

I cannot see how Jesus could have made the difference between those that rule the Gentiles and those who are called to rule in the church more clear. “So shall it not be among you.” Do not do it this way.

Let's look at a man who came to Jesus with a need and observe how he saw his position of authority. A centurion, an officer in the Roman army, came to Jesus to ask him to heal his servant. He did not want Jesus to even come to his house because he felt unworthy. Then he made a powerful statement about authority.

In Matthew 8:9, the centurion told Jesus, "I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me." He goes on to describe how it worked. “...I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.” We would say, without hesitation, that he was a “man of authority,” or that he was “in authority.” But that is not how the centurion described himself. He said that he was a man under authority.

The centurion understood that the authority he had was only effective as he functioned under authority.

It is far more important to see and practice this attitude of authority in the church. Church leaders are, first and foremost, under the authority of God and the teaching of Jesus. Then they practice ministering and serving by which the body is blessed and edified. A person who can not walk in brokenness and humility is not qualified to be a leader in the church. No matter how much ability or how many good gifts a man has, he must understand his own position is under authority and walk therein.

When God sees His people practicing leadership His way, then He will open up Heaven and pour out a blessing. If He sees leadership practiced like the dictionary describes it, then He will resist and His blessing cannot rest upon the church.

To all my fellow church leaders:

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord (in faith and humility), so walk ye in him.”

Colossians 2:6

Praise His name!