In my humble opinion, confusion surrounding kingdom, biblical, and communal authority has done great damage to the church for most of a century. A confused understanding of authority subverts our knowledge of God, weakens our defenses against evil, and inhibits the application of biblical truth through God’s grace.

Most of our resistance against authority resides in our subconscious minds, off the radar, where its destructive and demoralizing effects go undetected. Satan, the world, and our carnal mind work hard to prevent us from walking under the protective authority of our Creator. Rejection of authority bends us back toward and reinforces mankind’s initial rebellion in the Garden of Eden. So, we would like to invest a bit more time exploring this matter, if only to expose its devastating consequences and suggest some solutions.

What We Believe

In our last article, we asserted that the grace of God flows down the channels of authority He establishes. We also recognized with Harry Blamires (1963) that the authority of God consists of two vital concepts: the concept of love and the concept of power-laden authority. Therefore, we can confidently conclude that the grace of God flows – like rivers of living water – when leaders exercise authority in love and power.

Authority without love is tyranny; authority without power manifests as weak sentimentality. Love must be at the fore, but we must not continue to allow the people whom God loves to live in their sin, nor to allow the lack of church discipline to weaken the Body of Christ. Furthermore, the correct path is not a balance between love and power but the full exercise of both.

When we struggle to apply a principle of God, as we are with authority, it is best to go back to what God has said and what we believe about it. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17),” so what does God say about love.

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1John 4:8

This love, agape, is defined in Thayer’s Greek Lexicon as “affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love, love feasts.” For later reference, notice that agape does not fully define God; He is not only “love.”

Desiring a more personal description of God’s love, someone introduced “unconditional” as the adjective that best describes it, and that descriptor has become quite popular. I believe the intention in doing so has been to say, “God’s love is offered to everyone,” and while that statement is true, it is actually not true meaning. For example, Merriam-Webster defines “unconditional” as “not conditional or limited.”

Now, certainly God’s love is as limitless as He is, but to say His love is without condition is simply an error in understanding. Let’s take the passage many quote to support this error:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Clearly, there is a condition to the saving love of God; it is reserved for “whoever believes in Him.” We also know from Malachi 1:3 and Romans 9:13 that God hated Esau, and from Psalm 11:5 that “The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.”

As a side note, the better adjective to describe agape, which we ironically draw from John 3:16, is “sacrificial.” The love of God for the world is sacrificial. The next time you come across “love” in the Bible, insert “sacrificial” to see how God intends the meaning. For example, “love your neighbor as yourself,” or “have the love of the truth” found in 2Thessalonians 2:9-10.

Now back to authority and love. God intends love in authority to be applied sacrificially, not unconditionally. In other words, God’s delegated authority sacrifices for the one trapped in sin and for the one who requires discipline to protect the fellowship’s spiritual health and safety.

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. Hebrews 13:17

Those appointed by God to exercise authority are held to a higher accountability. To apply loving authority as “unconditional” not only promotes the continuation of damning sin – which is not love at all – but invites the displeasure and judgment of God.

With authority, God delegates power for the exercise thereof. He has determined to work through us, to disciple and love us in governing relationships and structures. There is no escaping the way of God for our spiritual growth and protection.

However, with power comes great responsibility, and we have proven quite irresponsible with it. It is no wonder authority has become so unpopular for those under it. The tragedy and damage cannot be overstated, for the rejection of God ordained authority is, in no small part, the rejection of His power in our lives.

Please, do not hear what we are not saying. We are not saying that all of God’s power comes down through authority relationships and structures. No, God “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us (Ephesians 3:20).” However, if we want to walk in “the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power (Ephesians 1:19),” we must submit ourselves to the authority He has ordained for us.

As we explained in Part 1, God’s authority is for, not over. Jesus taught and demonstrated this for our understanding. Mankind has proven incapable of following the Master example. Once more we are faced with our insufficiency for such things (2Corinthians 3:5). Our only hope is His life within, the life capable of authority in full love and power.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by [the faith of] the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

This is what we believe: For those appointed to positions of authority, and for those entrusted to their care, there is no other way.

What We Know

Satan, the world, and our flesh have done much to sabotage the authority relationships and structures established by God for our good. Leaders have succumbed to the temptations of the evil one; the world has highlighted their failures and offered technocratic, controllable alternatives, and our carnal mind has convinced us that self-protection and self-sufficiency are the only reasonable responses.

Fears of authority gone bad have paralyzed church leadership. Current church marketing strategies (i.e., the protection of membership and giving at all costs) inhibit the exercise of loving authority. We have been deceived to think programs and performance are better uses of our time and energy.

This is what we know: Continuing down this path will not resolve the issue. The path we are on is divergent from the way of God for the exercise of His authority in the church. We must go back and reestablish the foundations (e.g., love for, not lording over) and functions (e.g., elders, deacons, pastors, and teachers) of church authority.

This seems to be a good place to pause. Next time, we will explore the functions of church authority, address the reservations people have regarding the judgment required for church discipline, and tie up any loose ends.

In the meantime, allow the LORD to examine your heart in regard to your application and acceptance of authority (Psalm 139:23-24). Pursue His forgiveness where you have misused authority and/or rebelled against it (1John 1:9). Ask Him to reveal the authority He has established in your life for your good, and where He may have established you for another.

Humbly yours and forever His,

Rob

#iamjustthepen

Blamires, H. (1963). The Christian Mind. Regent College Publishing; Vancouver, BC.