Understanding Spiritual Authority in Christianity

Posted on by korgrocker

“I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. For some say, ‘His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.’ Such people should realise that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.”
2 Corinthians 10:9-11 NIVUK

In Corinth, it appears that some leaders had emerged who were preaching a different Gospel, one at variance with what Paul had taught the church there. Perhaps there was some confusion in these leaders’ minds concerning God’s grace, something that emerged when Paul wrote to the Romans, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning, so that grace may increase?” (Romans 6:1). But the same leaders were trying to exclude Paul as far as possible, and were undermining his letters and teaching in the process. So they were spreading the thought that Paul wrote “weighty and forceful” letters, but when he was with them in person, he was “unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing”. A personal attack that perhaps revealed the immaturity and wrong motives of his critics. However, Paul was the Apostle who established the Corinthian church, and he felt personally responsible for their spiritual well-being. 

In a way, we pilgrims today are very grateful that these issues have ended up recorded in Paul’s letters, because they have shaped the theology of our faith. Today, the same issues have emerged, exposing problems with spiritual authority within some denominations. This was different in Paul’s day, when the Christian faith was new and dependent on the Apostles for its authenticity and theological accuracy. Today, we have the Bible, but issues still come to light because sometimes a difference of opinion emerges among church leaders, with human and sinful factors creeping in, and, as a result, a church divides. As I have said before, in the city where I live, 14 churches were established in the 18th and 19th centuries, most of them Presbyterian by persuasion. Church splits sometimes come when a charismatic leader attracts a group of followers and moves away with them to a new location. Sometimes this is necessary, when the original leadership were unable to reconcile different beliefs and interpretations of the Bible. One example of this is between the liberal and traditional wings of one denomination I can think of. 

But spiritual authority is something that all believers must settle in their own minds. Far too often, a believer will follow a leader rather than follow Jesus, because it is sometimes easier that way. They don’t have to think about the rights and wrongs, the nuances and emphases, that emerge from the pulpit and instead rely on someone else to work all that out. That is fine when the leader is a sincere man or woman of integrity, well-versed in the Scriptures and preaching the truth of the Gospel. But what happens when he or she moves on to heed another call somewhere else? Do they leave behind a congregation of dependent people who fall apart and end up with a shipwrecked faith? And then we think of sects such as the JW’s and see how error can creep in and result in the people following a different god than the God of the Bible. 

Spiritual authority always starts with Jesus. We read in Matthew 28:18, “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me”. James wrote, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. …” (James 4:7a). Our church leaders are themselves under God’s authority and are accountable to Him for what they preach and teach. Hebrews 13:17, “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you”. In Luke 10, we read about the time when Jesus sent out 72 disciples, their authority in spiritual matters delegated to them by Jesus. He said, “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you” (Luke 10:19). 

For us pilgrims everywhere, there is good advice in the first two verses of Hebrews 12, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honour beside God’s throne”. We fix our eyes on Jesus, because anywhere else will lead to disappointment and disillusionment. Yes, God will appoint men like Paul, or our church leaders, to help us along in our journey of faith, but ultimately we must look upwards to our Heavenly Champion, because there is no other Source of spiritual authority worth considering.

Dear Heavenly Father. We look to You this morning as the Source of all we need to live the Christian life. Thank You for Your grace and guidance. Amen.

Authority

Posted on by korgrocker

“For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. And the last enemy to be destroyed is death. For the Scriptures say, “God has put all things under his authority.” (Of course, when it says “all things are under his authority,” that does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.) Then, when all things are under his authority, the Son will put himself under God’s authority, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere.”
1 Corinthians 15:25-28 NLT

In these four verses today, the word “authority” occurs six times. A dictionary definition of authority is “the moral or legal right or ability to control”. In connection with God, “authority refers to His absolute and supreme right to command, rule, and act in the universe, a right inherent in His nature as Creator and Sustainer of all things. This authority is total and unchallengeable, in contrast to human authority, which is always delegated and limited”. All this is fine on paper, but what does this mean for the ordinary pilgrim trudging through life? 

A Scripture often quoted is Romans 13:1, “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God”. This can be a hard verse to swallow, as we look on at the secular and often confused actions of our politicians, who these days seem to lack the moral compass required to guide them in what is right and what is wrong. But we remember that their authority only extends as far as God allows, because there is a higher authority, God Himself. Increasingly today, Christians find themselves marginalised in the debates and laws that are taking place in our halls of power. Currently, hot topics include ideologies around gender and suicide, taking over from the legacy of abortion and divorce legislation. We might object to paying taxes or a TV licence fee, but these things fall within the jurisdiction of the governing authorities, and God will allow punishment for those who refuse to pay. Romans 13:4, “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”.

Jesus has the authority
to grant us eternal life

Jesus was the God-man with authority. Matthew 28:18, “Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth””. We also know that Jesus had authority over the spiritual realm. Mark 1:27, “Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. “What sort of new teaching is this?” they asked excitedly. “It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!” On several occasions in His ministry, Jesus demonstrated His authority over demons, casting them out of the people they were inhabiting. Jesus’ High Priestly prayer commences, “After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him” (John 17:1-2). This Scripture is of immense importance to us pilgrims because it assures us that Jesus has the authority to grant us eternal life. Remember “whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life”? Jesus did not just utter the words. He has the authority to ensure they happen.

“The Son radiates God’s
own glory and expresses
the very character of God“.

In Hebrews 1:3 we read, “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honour at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven”. Of course, God has ultimate power and authority over everything because He created everything. And part of His plan was that through Jesus, we would be redeemed from the realm of the devil’s authority. Our salvation was only made possible by Jesus coming under His Father’s authority and enduring the pain and shame of the Cross on a Friday long ago. 

We pilgrims have authority because Jesus commissioned us in Matthew 28 to go and make disciples. Mark’s Gospel expands on this – Mark 16:17-18, “These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed”. As we read through the Book of Acts, we see the disciples’ authority being applied to the world around them. We have been granted authority to do God’s work, in line with His will and purposes for each of us pilgrims, and we must not exclude the Spiritual Gifts if the Holy Spirit empowers us to use them.

Once Jesus has completed His mission in this world, then all authority will be returned to God. We know that because we have had the benefit of reading the rest of God’s written work, the Bible. But in the meantime, we work and act within the authority God has given us, in the process finding the sweet spot for our redeemed lives now and forever.

Dear Father God. We know that the word “authority” can be a hard one in a world where it is so often abused. But we look to You as the Source of all we are, and pray for guidance in the situations we experience. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Headship

Posted on by korgrocker

“I am so glad that you always keep me in your thoughts, and that you are following the teachings I passed on to you. But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.”
1 Corinthians 11:2-3 NLT

Paul outlined an important principle in 1 Corinthians 11:3 about headship. However, first, we must define what “headship” means in the context of Biblical teaching, discipleship, and spiritual authority. Paul wrote that the ultimate Head of everything is God Himself. One of the mysteries of the Trinity is the order contained within it, and we read that God was the head of Jesus Christ. But that is obvious to anyone reading the Gospels and Jesus’ time on earth. There was a Father-Son relationship in place, and the first time this emerged into public display was after Jesus’ baptism by His cousin John. We read in Mark 1:10-11, “As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy””. Jesus often made references to His Father in Heaven, and this is portrayed in places such as John 14:31 – 15:1. “But I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going. I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener”. The respect and awe that Jesus demonstrated in His relationship with His Father in heaven were evident for all to see.

Paul also wrote that the head of man is Christ. This means that Christ is the ultimate authority and source of spiritual life for men, something that we male believers need to take extremely seriously. It defines an order that cuts across some popular misconceptions, because it puts the spiritual life of a man centrally in his relationship with God. So a believing man, regardless of his relationship with anyone else, is responsible and accountable to Christ for all that matters in his life. No one else has the authority to usurp that order. 

The last thing that Paul highlighted in 1 Corinthians 11:3 was the principle that a man is the head of a woman. Such a thought is, understandably, difficult for women today to embrace because it is so counter-cultural in its concept and application. In Ephesians 5:21-24, Paul wrote, “And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Saviour of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything”. Once again, Paul wrote that a man is the head of a woman, in this case, his wife, and the word “submit” emerges in the text. But the man’s role in all of this is contained in the next two verses in Ephesians. “For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word”. This principle of laying down one’s life for another is central to the relationship between a man and a woman, particularly when they are married. But we should note that the “church” contains both men and women (and children) and there is a need for every believer to nurture their spiritual lives in their relationship with Christ.

What is the impact of this hierarchical order on believers today, and in a society that promotes equality between the sexes? Firstly, male believers have a responsibility to look to Christ as their head, looking to Him for all aspects of their lives. In their decision-making. In their spiritual lives. Being accountable to Jesus for all that they do. Secondly, regarding women, they should not extend the principle of spiritual authority beyond what Paul’s teaching actually says. Men do not have a dictatorial right over a woman, although some men think they do. The principle of loving wives is a sacrificial one, and makes the man responsible for his wife’s well-being. However, there are many single women in society today who are quite comfortable with their singleness and have applied the principle of Christ’s headship to their spiritual lives. Without the opportunity of a male figure in their lives, they perhaps, when needed, should seek out the spiritual advice of their father, or pastor or some other male leader in their church or fellowship. But that is advice that applies to everyone when God’s counsel is required. 

One other thing, some churches have female pastors. Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:12, “I do not let women teach men or have authority over them. Let them listen quietly”. I don’t believe that having a female pastor leading a church is ideal, particularly if the pastor is on their own. However, sometimes, when a male leader is absent from a church leadership, a woman will step into the role, and God will use her to lead His church. God will anoint such a woman for the task of a leader or a pastor. 

Dear Heavenly Father. In this emotive and misunderstood area of Christian relations, we pray for Your guidance and leadership at every step. We love You, Lord, and worship You today, with a grateful heart for all that You have done for us. Amen.