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CYPRESSWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST June 5,
2005 FAMILY MATTERS TO LIFT UP: Our
congregation Our nation, military and leaders Various
friends, relatives and co-workers David, Leon and James in the
military SUMMER YOUTH SERIES: June 6 - North Wayside June 20 - Bammel June 13 -
Memorial June 27 - Westbury with Jerome Williams BIRTHDAYS: June 4 -
Keith Cruthirds June 6 - Ben Oller THE USE
AND ABUSE OF AUTHORITY "All
authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (Matthew
28:18). An argument
that I have heard over the years is that if someone doesn't agree on
a certain point of view, then they do not believe in or accept the
authority of the Bible. Now there are those who certainly do not
accept the authority of scripture. They have rejected many claims
such as the resurrection, the virgin birth of Jesus, miracles, and
even questions whether Jesus or others spoke or wrote the very
words. In that sense they do not accept the authority of scripture. There are
many others who do not fit into the above category. Unfortunately
that argument is often used against those who do accept the
authority of scripture; we just do not agree on a variety of topics,
some minor and some major. Before we expand on this, let's define
the word "authority." The word
for "authority" is found 102 times in the New Testament, and has
several ideas. It is used in a secular sense for the power to give
orders. It is used of God has the One who has the power to rule and
judge. In Jesus Christ it is seen in the teaching of salvation,
based on the fact that He is the Son of God. A different word is
used for the power used by this authority. For Christians, our
authority is based "on the rule of Christ and on the disarming of
all powers." We are not under the rule of powers but have the
freedom to do whatever we want (see 1 Corinthians 10:23-24). But
that freedom should not be use for vice or to enslave others again.
Other words related to authority are power, might, strength, and
force. (The information in this paragraph came from The NIV
Theological Dictionary of New Testament Words, edited by Verlyn
D. Verbrugge, p. 436-438). What is see
in this, and what is expressed, is that authority is connected with
the idea of service rather than control. It is also used in the
sense of commission. In scanning a NIV concordance, one can see this
as one of the ideas, and the authority of God to rule or send as
another. There are two texts that become debatable. One is in 1
Timothy 2:12 which concerns a woman assuming authority over a man.
This word for authority is the only time it is used in the New
Testament. The second is found in Hebrews 13:17 and concerns the
authority of leaders. But the word "authority" is supplied by the
translators and is not found in the Greek. We will return to these
shortly. It appears
that we use the word "authority" in a far broader sense than
scripture does. One way in which we do this is to say to those who
do not agree with us on a matter of opinion or a doctrinal issue is
that they do not respect the authority of scripture. I have heard it
used in discussions concerning baptism, instrumental music, Bible
translations, worship, the role of women, and many other issues. I
think this is a misuse of the word authority. Many who believe and
accept the authority of scripture disagree on all of these issues.
The problem isn't with authority but interpretation. Some haven't
thought some of this through, others just do not see it the way I
do. We disagree. I want to present the full sense of any subject to
my understanding. I want to be willing to listen to others. But
rather than judge them, eventually I must let God sort this all out.
That is not popular but I think it is Biblical. I know that I have
missed things in the past, not because I do not respect the
authority of scripture, but because I have had the wrong
interpretation. Another way
we use 'authority" is found in our assemblies. Anyone who stands in
front of the assembled family or church is said to have authority.
What scripture suggests this? The song leader has authority. Those
who wait on the Lord's Table have authority. Those who lead prayer
have authority. The announcer has authority and so does the
preacher. Why? What authority is seen in any of these things? Using
authority this way means control. They control nothing. What all
these people do is serve, often humbly, which is a very Biblical
idea. Each is performing a service to the family. Of course I think
that much of this idea of controlling authority comes from the idea
of seeing the church as an institution rather than a family. That is
why I have seen an elder become upset when a sister at one end of a
pew stood up with the Lord's Supper, walked along a rather long pew,
and handed it to another sister. She was serving, he saw a violation
or usurping of some kind of authority. What authority did she
violate? Many appeal
to 1 Timothy 2:11-12. "A woman should learn in quietness and full
submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority
over a man; she must be quiet." Admittedly this is a very
controversial text. The word for "quietness" and "quiet" can refer
to freedom from war and a life of tranquility. Here one would see
that a woman show "deference to their teachers" (ibid., p.
529). Why are women the only one who are to do this? Men can be loud
and stir up trouble among the family? I think that the word "assume"
helps to explain this with its connection to authority. To assume
authority is to take control. That is not what anyone should do.
This doesn't settle the issue by any means but it is something to
think about. An appeal
is also made to 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." The word "authority" does not
appear in the Greek. This will come as a shock to many elders. They
do not have authority in the sense of control. They have a
responsibility to serve their flocks and encourage spiritual
maturity. In fact, when we look at authority, that is the idea
expressed for Christians. This fits into the mind of Christ (see
Philippians 2:1-8; 1 Corinthians 10:23-24). As Christians we no
longer are under the control of sin but we are under the control or
authority of Jesus. We do not lord it over others (see 1 Peter 5:3
which concerns elders), but rather we humbly serve. Finally,
Jesus made it clear that He and He alone has all authority (Matthew
28:18). Has He past that authority on to others? He has commissioned
us to go out a teach. We are not to seek to convert people by threat
of sword, nor to control people to get our way. We are to serve out
of love. I think that He has the authority and I am just a servant,
imperfect, not always right, and not always correctly understanding
scripture. I humbly trust that God is gracious and will guide me in
a better understanding. And while I do not agree with many others on
a variety of subjects, if they accept the authority of scripture, we
have something in common to work with in helping each other draw
closer to God in Christ.
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