Photo by: fanz Francois de Halleux
So to try and net this out, how then do we think of the authority God gives us? Do we think of it first as a responsibility and service to God—and then to one another? Or do we view it as an entitlement to be served? Do we think of the authority God gives as residing with a select few, or with all of us?
These are important questions, because in the kingdom of God, everyone is a servant, first to Christ, then to one another.
Even leaders are servants, for Jesus said, “In this world the kings and great men order their people around, and yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ But among you, those who are the greatest should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. Normally the master sits at the table and is served by his servants. But not here! For I am your servant” (Luke 22:25-27 NLT).
Yet in spite of such clear direction one of the great errors of the church has been to adopt authority-based thinking that makes us more like followers of the world than Christ.
Over the years the idea of ministry has too often evolved into an “office, position, or entitlement to rule” rather than a God-given responsibility for all of us to use whatever we have been given for the good of others (1Peter 4:10-11).
I deeply regret how long it has taken me to learn that being the head of my wife does not mean that I have the authority to control her or tell her what to do (i.e. with an attitude).
Yet some of us are still wasting enormous amounts of ink and energy to prove that God has given men the right to rule over their wives. This is happening in spite of the fact that Jesus redefines “authority” and “power” for his followers in a very specific way (just as Paul later redefines “head”). The result is is that husbands have no more divine right, sanction, or authorization to control or forcefully subjugate their wives than an elder has to Lord it over the flock of God.
Although it may sound extreme, it may help us to remember that cults and other dangerous religious groups are known not only by their wrong view of salvation, and not just by their wrong view of Christ—but also by their leaders’ obsession with power, authority, and control.
Yes, an attempt to distinguish between the power and authority God gives can be confusing. Part of this is because of the fact that, as Bible reference books show, the original Greek “exousia” can mean either “power” or “authority” and is therefore translated one way or another depending on the context. But the same reference books make it clear that as important as both power and authority are– to have God’s approval and authorization they must be used in a rightful way—for the good of others rather than for their harm.
Just as we have in the past talked about the first meaning of “obey” is to listen so as to be persuaded and guided by truth and love, so we need to remember how our Lord defines power, authority, and yes–head, and how he, himself, uses them, to fill us up with his loving, strong, presence and help (Eph 1:15-23; 4:15-16; 5:23; Col 2:18:19).
(+102 rating, 104 votes)
Loading...