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

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Rightly Applying God's Eternal Purpose

In Acts 13 and Romans 9, we find a common subject: the purpose of God. Consider how this purpose of God applies to us today. Of David it is stated in Acts 13:36 that, “...after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers …” While no one knows when time on earth will end, each of us will die (as David did) once our lives have served the purpose of God in our generation.  Every human is a vessel in the hands of God.  Depending upon whether your master is Jesus or Satan, you are a vessel of mercy or a vessel of wrath. We see both of these ‘vessels’ mentioned in Romans 9:21-24:

“Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?”

Some examples of each:

David was a vessel of mercy (Acts 9:22 – God…raised up David…of whom he testified…‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will’.” 

Noah (Gen. 6:9) – “Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.”

Abraham (Gen. 18:19) –  “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.”

(Gen. 26:4-5) – “I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”

On the other hand, King Saul was a vessel of wrath (for the opposite reason – see 1 Sam. 15:23, 26 – “Saul…rejected the word of the Lord”). 

Here in Romans 9, the Pharaoh in Moses’ day was a vessel of wrath; verse 17 reads, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you…” ~ Exod. 9:16

So also, King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel’s day was a vessel of wrath (Dan. 4:17 — “…the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.”)

King Cyrus in Ezra’s day was a vessel of wrath (Ezra 1:2 – “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.”)

As the Psalmist stated in Psa. 75:7 — “…it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.”

Which type of ‘vessel’ are we? The ONLY true way to answer that is to look at our lives in view of Christ’s.  His life was and is the ONLY life worthy of compelling another to live.  Discipleship is not an option, but a requirement.  True Christianity is NOT based upon personal faith or personal preferences! (As shown from the examples of Romans 9). We also see that success is not a true gauge of Divine approval, for Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, and Cyrus ALL prospered for long periods of time.  Although they were used by God to fulfill His eternal purpose of creating a spiritual seed in Christ, they were vessels of WRATH! WILL THEY BENEFIT FROM GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE? What about us? Are we a vessel of MERCY or of WRATH as it relates to being a disciple and a Christian in the spreading of the gospel? How will God use us? Are we ‘rightly applying’ His eternal purpose to ourselves?

Some questions that may asked in determining the answer:

Ø Are we living a life that we actively compel others to follow, or are we passive, keeping your faith to yourself, allowing others to ‘find’ what “works for them”?

Ø Do we eagerly desire Christ to return?  [If not, why not?] 

Therein, lie the answers as to whether any changes need to be made in our lives.

rdb

copyright 2013 

IN & OUT of CONTEXT

The difference between preaching the Bible apart from theology is seen in the different conclusions that people draw after hearing both preached.  In the Bible, an inspired apostle wrote that a child of God could sin, AFTER being saved by committing sin ~ "For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.” - 2 Peter 2:20-22  

Accordingly, those who are subjected to hearing this preached, come away with the understanding that salvation is conditional - this 'conditional' aspect is seen from the teaching of Jesus in John 8:31 when He said "IF YOU CONTINUE IN MY WORD...".  

But remember the old devil's work on EVE? In his reply to Eve, he gave some carefully worded 'theology' as to what God knew.  This was a clever diversion tactic. Notice how well it worked. God had NOT said "Oh, thou shalt not SURELY die"; HE SAID THE VERY OPPOSITE! But Satan added two convincing words: "God knows!"
He told Eve, "God knows...when you eat, you will become like God, knowing good from evil...".  Now how would Eve have concluded that from just the words that God had spoken?  Perversion of scripture is Satan's forte, and so it is with his messengers.  The results are always the same.

Theology (writings by uninspired men) perverts scripture.  One example, which is commonly found in creed language, regarding the possibility of a child of God 'falling away' is a statement that says, "SUCH ONLY ARE REAL BELIEVERS AS ENDURE UNTO THE END". 

Accordingly, those who are continually subjected to hearing this 'theology', come away with the understanding that their salvation is UN-conditional.  You know what passage the creed book cites? John 8:31!

You see it's all in the "interpretation", but without being "programmed" ahead of time by the tactic of Satan, you conclude correctly from the inspired apostle's words.

But when you ARE told "Oh, no, you will not SURELY be lost; for God knows.......", you no longer trust in God's word; you trust in your own thinking (this is what the prophet Jeremiah warned of: Jer. 10:23 – “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps”). You see, you now conclude that you cannot so sin as to be eternally lost.

This false mindset of “once saved/always saved” then produces more false reasoning as it applies to Jesus’ teaching on ‘judging’.  It is seen in the comment by someone who views themselves as “once saved/always saved”, that, ‘NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO TELL ME I AM WRONG’.  They ‘quote’ Matthew 7:1 as their ‘proof’; stopping there without regard to the entire context of Jesus’ words

The TRUTH (from the entire context surrounding this passage), is that Jesus is explaining HOW to judge ‘with righteous judgment’ and ‘not according to appearance’.  Jesus taught here to apply God’s word to yourself FIRST. 

A simple analogy to show that this attitude of ‘NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO TELL ME I AM WRONG’ is wrong, can be seen from the dilemma it would create in trying to convert an alien sinner.  What if the sinner, when told of his need to “accept Christ as your personal savior” replied with ‘NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO TELL ME I AM WRONG’...and then ‘quotes’ Matthew 7:1, saying ‘the Bible says to judge not that ye be not judged...’!

Let’s take this ‘logic’ a step further…If the alien sinner can use Matthew 7:1 out of context, in regard to “accepting Christ”, then that same alien sinner use that same ‘proof’ text in reply to a preacher who pleaded with him/her to pray “the sinner’s prayer”.  If not, why not?

Isn't it a good thing that the alien sinner doesn't know theology......?

rdb

copyright 2013