Authority in Religion, a source or an expedient?

Expediency and Authority

Authority can be general or specific in nature. If general, there are expedient means to obeying what God has authorized. There must first be authorization to act, before expediency applies. These matters are clear from the scriptures.

When considering the question, “Is there a NEED for authority”; the answer is a clear YES from numerous examples in the Bible. The NEED is seen in the examples of those who QUESTIONED/CHALLENGED it.

~ Moses: when confronting two of his brethren, had his authority questioned in Exodus 2:14 – One of them said to Moses, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us?”

~ John the Baptist had his authority to baptize questioned in John 1:25 – They (priests & Levites) asked him, “…why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

~ Peter & John had their authority challenged in Acts 4:7 – And when they (members of the council) had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”

~ Jesus’ authority was challenged by the religious leaders of the day.  Matthew 21:23 – “When He entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him while He was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority’?” 

So, the question “Is there a need for authority in religion” is NOT new.

However, it is important that we not misunderstand the issue within the question.  The issue is NOT, ‘Is authority needful in the sense of useful or helpful.  Rather, the question should be understood to mean, “Is authority necessary?”  

We need to understand this question as asking: MUST we have authority PRIOR what we practice in religion? Otherwise, what the Bible says about a subject is a moot issue.  This is the significance of 1 Peter 4:11 – “Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God…so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ…”.

Authority is not merely an expedient to accomplish what we have determined to do in religion; rather it is the source by which we determine IF we can do the thing under consideration.

Therefore, if we do NOT have authority for the practice; we CANNOT engage in the particular practice. This must be settled firm in our attitudes toward our religious practices prior to any ensuing decisions. We must determine WHETHER WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO IT, before deciding HOW we will do it.

Our authority will come from the word of God.  Let us never presume to have authority without looking into the “perfect law of liberty, and continue therein”, (Proverbs 19:13; James 1:25); remembering the words of the apostle Peter: “…seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.” – 2 Peter 1:3-4

Roger Bruner

copyright 2015

Transporting the "BIBLE" on a new cart

Strange title?  Perhaps, but consider the ‘usage’ habits of the bible with many a child of God.  First, let us review a story from the Old Testament in the days of Samuel.  The story comes from 1^st Samuel 4:1-11.

“Thus the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped beside Ebenezer while the Philistines camped in Aphek. The Philistines drew up in battle array to meet Israel. When the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the Philistines who killed about four thousand men on the battlefield.  When the people came into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us take to ourselves from Shiloh the ark of the covenant of the Lord, that it may come among us and deliver us from the power of our enemies.”  So the people sent to Shiloh, and from there they carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts who sits above the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. As the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth resounded.  When the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, “What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” Then they understood that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp. The Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God has come into the camp.” And they said, “Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before.  Woe to us! Who shall deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who smote the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.  Take courage and be men, O Philistines, or you will become slaves to the Hebrews, as they have been slaves to you; therefore, be men and fight.” So the Philistines fought and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent; and the slaughter was very great, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers.  And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.”

The Israelites thought that the mere presence of the ark would ensure victory.  That was NOT how the ark was to be used.  The ark represented the presence of God in their midst.  But God had told them that He would dwell in their midst and protect them IF THEY FOLLOWED HIS COMMANDS! They vowed repeatedly to do this (cf. Exodus 19:8; 24:3, 7; Deut. 5:27).  Yet they did just the opposite (cf. Joshua 1).  Disobedience incurred God’s wrath with or without the presence of the ark (cf. Numbers 14:41-45).  The ark was not a ‘good luck charm’.  In order for the ark’s presence to benefit, the people had to be obedient in their personal lives as well as in their worship. 

What about us?  How do we “use” our Bible?  Do we regard the mere presence of our bible as they did the presence of the ark?  Consider a small test in your life to determine if you view your bible as Israel did the ark.    

Today (Sunday), after the morning service; leave your bible in the pew.  During the evening service, you may use it, but leave it in the pew afterwards until Wednesday.  Then during the mid-week assembly, you may use it again.  Afterward, leave it in the pew again until the following Sunday. 

Now, on this Sunday, be sure to take your bible home with you after the morning service, but when you get home, either leave it in the car or lay it on the coffee table until ready to return to the evening service.  Then use it during the service, take it back home with you, but again, leave it in the car or lay it somewhere in the house until the mid-week service.  Then, take it back to the building with you and use it during service, being sure to take it back home with you, but not using it again until the following Sunday.

Now…….what is the difference in the first week’s routine and the second week’s routine?  If you’re not going to use the bible except when at the church building, why take it with you?  Is it a good luck charm that will ward off demons?  Will its presence apart from studying it benefit?  IS YOUR BIBLE JUST SOME SORT OF IDOL? 

Is this not what the Israelites did with the Ark of the Covenant?  The Bible is of no benefit when used in this way.  In essence it is being “transported” the wrong way, much as the ark was done in David’s day…upon a cart (2 Samuel 6).  Such is a misuse, abuse and waste of God’s wisdom. 

Resolve today to “use” your Bible in the manner that God purposed it...
as: "a lamp unto your feet; and a light unto your path." ~ Psalm 119:105
to: "search the scriptures daily..." ~ Acts 17:11
to: "study to show thyself approved unto God..." ~ 2 Tim. 2:15

9/13/2015
rdb

GOD’S AUTHORITY IN HIS ETERNAL PURPOSE

The subjects of God’s eternal purpose and God’s authority are inseparable.  Because God possesses all authority, He has the right to purpose man’s destiny.  The scriptures are clear that God purposed eternal life to man conditioned upon man’s obedience to His Son.  Therein we see why God’s Son was given all authority.  Jesus has the right, as God to command man; and man MUST recognize Jesus’ right to command.  Man disobeyed God’s commands and God offered forgiveness for that disobedience on the condition that man obey commands.  Herein we see the role of commands as proof of the genuineness of faith. Saving faith, obeys. 

God’s love for man is seen through the giving of commands, without forceful obedience.  Man was created capable of understanding God’s right to command and that God’s reason for commanding man how to live, was so that man might NOT sin.  Man’s capability to live in obedience is why God gave authority to man.  When man obeys God’s command, his authority is executed in such a way that justice and mercy abounds. 

God’s love is first and foremost toward man, whom He created in His image. Psalm 8 bears out God’s love for man in the position of authority that God gave to man.  But the rule that man was meant to have, was made possible by, and purposed through Christ.  It is not referring only to physical rule over animals, but to a rule connected with submission and obedience, and therefore connected with the commands He gave man because of His authority.  It is the way in which man can rule over sin and control his lusts.  He (Christ) overcame the efforts of Satan by obedience to the will of God.  Heb. 5:8-9 states, “…He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.  And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation…”.

From this we also see the WAY in which God purposed victory and rule to all of us - - - thru suffering for righteousness’ sake.  In this way, authority and dominion are ours.  The ultimate reward for obedience is eternal life, which, again was purposed through Christ.  Evil is overcome and suppressed by those who live in obedience to God.  He is the source of wisdom, and this wisdom resides in His commands that He gave ONLY to man, relative to eternal life, for eternal life was purposed ONLY for man.  All else that was created, will cease to exist.  But the man who submits to God’s wisdom will inherit eternal life (Proverbs 8:22-36).

Authority is from God and established for man’s benefit.  When God’s authority is respected and followed, peace and harmony result.  When His authority is rejected and despised, discord and division result. 

In all realms of man’s relationships, God has delegated authority.  Man has authority over woman.  He is to rule over her in the manner that God rules over him, in justice and with mercy.  Submission and respect is the proper response to that designated rule.

There is authority in gov’t, with rulers who are to rule in justice and with mercy.  Submission and respect is the proper response to that designated rule.

In the home, the husband is to rule over his wife in in justice and with mercy.  Submission and respect is the proper response to that designated rule.

In the church, there is designated rule by elders who are to rule in justice and with mercy.  Submission and respect is the proper response to that designated rule.

We need to appreciate the reality of God’s authority, for it has resulted in our salvation.  We need to respect God’s authority by drawing near to God in humble submission to His will.  We need to personally examine our current attitude and understanding of God’s authority; especially as it relates to our obedience.  We need to give attention to the commandments of God, and understand their benefit as it relates to our salvation.

Deut. 6:24-25 – the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God for our good always and for our survival, as it is today.  It will be righteousness for us if we are careful to observe all this commandment before the Lord our God, just as He commanded us.

Israel failed in this matter and suffered God’s wrath. 

Romans 10:3 – For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

Let us learn from their error the eternal benefits of obedience to God’s commands as given by Christ through the apostles.  Have you obeyed the Lord in being born anew (John 3:3, 5)?  Have you been obedient as a disciple?  What of your spiritual growth…have you made your calling and election SURE?  (2 Peter 1:10)

Roger Bruner

copyright 2015