Understanding Authority Part 2

Understanding Authority Part 2

Into the heart of the matter.

Previously we simply established that there are different systems in which authority is communicated, namely: Organizational, top-down systems and secondly organic systems. Let’s examine these further:

· Official versus relational.

In the organizational system, authority is delegated to a position without much regard to the changing character of the person filling the position. Whoever fills the position stands within the authority of that position for as long as he retains the position. This is the type of authority we see in the Old Testament religious hierarchies and within the current governmental institutions. A dramatic example of how a person can personally violate God’s commands and still retain authority is that of Saul. Even after the Word tells us that the spirit of God departed from him, he still retained the authority of his position and therefore, David still showed respect because of the position he was in.
This is one of the major problems with that system and therefore God changed it in the way His ‘ekklesia’, church operates. The organisational model is dependant on titles and official positions without much connection to the current spiritual condition of the person filling the post.

In all of Paul’s letters to the churches, he seems completely unaware of any organizational structures. There were many words available to Paul that could express position and official leadership, but he deliberately chose not to use one of them. Here are some examples:
The word ‘arche’ which means a ruler or leader, specifically related to rank, is completely absent for all his writings. ‘time’ means officer or dignitary – nowhere to be found. ‘telos’ the inherent power or authority of a ruler (authority related to position) – he never describes any believer in this way. ‘archisunagogus’ is a synagogue official or religious official. Surely this would have been a useful way to describe church leadership? Sorry, but the New Testament is absolutely quiet. ‘hazzan’ means a public worship leader. Just about every organized church I have visited, have one of these. “Surely it must be in the Bible”. My apologies, Paul was obviously not as sophisticated as we are. ‘taxis’ means a post, position or rank. Now, although we have found these words very useful to bring order in congregations, we have one small problem: they are not in the New Testament! ‘hierateia’ means a priest’s office. Once again, completely missing from the New Testament, when describing the church.

Could it be possible that they took the words of Jesus seriously when He said that organisational type authority would not be the way His church operates.
Mat 20:25 - 28 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

The most popular word used by the apostles to describe church ‘leaders’ is ‘diakonos’ which means servant!

Organic authority is rich in words that describe function. Words like serving, shepherding and overseeing. The God kind of authority is recognized in what it does. Organic authority knows nothing about title or position. Just as your hand does not require a new title or official position to obey the head, so our relation to Christ has no connection to official positions. The idea that there are professional positions of authority in the body of Christ and the rest are just ‘laymen’ is contrary to the scriptures. In 1 Peter 2:9, Peter declares every believer a royal priesthood. We all have exactly the same access to the Father!

To conclude: Organic authority is linked to function. It is fluid because it is much more linked to the character of the person, specifically his serving and childlike meekness. Position and titles are completely missing from this concept.

Organisational authority is rigid and based on a top-down level, without much connection to the attitude or character of the person filling the position.

· Responsibility versus mindless obedience.

Positional authority takes away much of the responsibility of those in subjection to it. Official authority does not have much space for discussion. It is only concerned with a simple response of ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. The subordinate is discouraged from asking if instructions are right or wrong; the responsibility of whether they are right or wrong lies with the official that gave the instructions. This system keeps its subjects in continual immaturity. No wonder Jesus changed this system in the church. He believes in every person’s ability to personally hear and respond to His voice.

It is actually much easier to just walk in the slip-stream of another person’s relationship with God. It requires much less effort to thoughtlessly obey than to take responsibility yourself for what you believe and do.

Do you realize that Paul’s letters to the churches were never addressed to the leaders of the church! They were addressed to the whole church without any official acknowledgement of local leaders. It’s as if He did not know of their existence! The reason is they did not exist in the way they do today in most church organizations, in the way we have re-introduced Old-Testament-professional-priesthood-type leadership. Even when He addressed serious problems, he addressed the whole group of believers, the whole church and encouraged them to solve it. He never removed the responsibility from the individual person and placed it on a select few.

Can you imagine what would happen in most of our modern day ‘churches’ if someone wrote a letter to be read to the whole church without first informing the officials of its content!. In this letter it addresses the issues that everyone is avoiding and it makes no mention of leaders! Paul would have been labelled a heretic by most of our organizations.
I mean, does he not know that baby Christians can’t deal with these real issues. These things should be dealt with secretly by the select few who can decide on behalf of everyone else.

Well, obviously these New Testament churches did not exist in the form many exist in today. Paul spoke to them as equals and encouraged them all to take responsibility for one another. His confidence in ALL is reflected throughout his writings:

2Co 7:16 I rejoice that in all things I have confidence in you all.

Rom 15:14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

Conclusion: Organisational authority removes much responsibility from its subjects and therefore keeps them immature.
Organic authority believes in the ability of each part of the body to hear the instructions of the head. Everyone is therefore placed in an environment of personal responsibility and therefore growth.

· Subordination versus voluntary submission

Paul never pulled rank in his communication to believers. In fact his attitude towards organisational authority becomes strikingly clear in the book of Galatians. In chapter 1 and 2 Paul describes how this message was not delivered or explained to him by any other man, but by revelation. (there was no hierarchy of revelation) To those who thought the apostolic ministry (servanthood, lest we forget) is just another way to justify positions and titles in the church, Paul leaves us with a sobering comment.
Gal 2:6 As for those (the other apostles) who were considered important in the church, their reputation doesn't concern me. God isn't impressed with mere appearances, and neither am I. And of course these leaders were able to add nothing to the message I had been preaching.

Those who cannot see beyond hierarchical type of authority might think that Paul could say this, because He was uniquely chosen and placed on an equal or higher level than the other apostles. But let’s read his words again “God isn't impressed with mere appearances, and neither am I“ It has nothing to do with position or title, because that is man-made. God does not regard it and therefore we should not regard it either!

Organic authority uses the language of persuasion; it has no title to rest on so its appeal is to the conscience of man.
2Co 8:8 I'm not trying to order you around against your will. But by bringing in the Macedonians' enthusiasm as a stimulus to your love, I am hoping to bring the best out of you.
Philemon 1:8,9 For this reason I could be bold enough, as your brother in Christ, to order you to do what should be done. But because I love you, I make a request instead.
Rom 12:1 So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you:
Rom 15:30 I urge you, friends..
1Co 1:10 By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ I appeal to all of you, my friends

This is not the language of a superior religious official, ordering the ignorant masses how and what to believe. This is the language of a friend, an equal, appealing and urging his brothers to be persuaded by the truth.

Conclusion: To voluntarily submit to the appeal of a friend is the way in which God wants His authority to be manifested among us. Eph 5:21 And be submissive one to another, in the love of the Messiah. We voluntarily recognise and respect the authority of God in one another. It is a beautiful thing to see.

Organisational authority exists in the world and we are told to obey our governments in the scriptures, but in the church such authority is a perversion of what God desires. This does not mean He does not bless people involved in those organisations, it simply means they miss out on His best. When Israel rejected God’s personal rule over them, and chose a King instead, He still blessed them as much as He could. They did however endure a lot of hardship because they rejected His theocratic (organic) type of rule and chose instead the organizational type.

Go for God’s best! Live in the constant awareness of zero distance between you and Him. Respect and value all men alike; their outward appearance means nothing to God and neither to us!

By Andre Rabe
andre.rabe@gmail.com
http://eclesia.blogspot.com