SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY: TO CREATION OR TO DESTRUCTION?

Modern world has lost many guidelines, including in relation to authority. Being frustrated and deceived many people believe that all authority encroaches on personal freedom of people looking for its own benefit only and is not worthy of trust.

As a result, people choose to live according to a principle “per se”, or aspire to universal equality, when “all authority belongs to people.” At a first glance, these slogans sound nice, appealing for justice, but what that really implies?

Egalitarianism in the church

Egalitarianism (Fr. égalitarisme, from égalité – equality) – a concept which is based on the idea of equality, which implies the creation of a society with equal opportunities for management and access to material goods to all its members.

Unfortunately, the phenomenon of egalitarianism often penetrates into the church. In some moment, some individuals start to seem unfair that there should be only one pastor in the church, not several, that God shows the direction and gives a vision to the pastor, but not to every member of the church. This attitude is based on pride and envy, and sooner or later leads to murmuring and rebellion, as evidenced by the many cases described in the Bible.

The desire for authority is also associated with a lack of understanding. Often people think that the pastor’s ministry – it’s just preaching on Sundays, not realizing all the responsibility, daily work and many difficulties faced by the pastor.

The hierarchy in the kingdom of God

In the kingdom of God there is no democracy, but a certain hierarchy. We find in the Bible that even Jesus Christ, the Son of God, did not act on its own behalf but on behalf of the Father. The differences are also present in the angelic world, in the family, in Church.

Authority in the Church is theocratic. It is written that, “and He (God) gave some, apostles; some, prophets; some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4 :11-12). Not people give pastors, but God. Pastors, in turn, are given with authority to give the ministry to presbyters and other leaders (Titus 1:5). It is important to understand that the respect and acceptance of the authority from God and His hierarchy – this is not a whim of pastors, but a blessing for the Church in observance of God’s order.

The authority to creation or destruction

“For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed.” (2 Cor.10:8). “For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.” (2 Kor.13:10).

From Scripture it is clear that the authority can either create or destroy. It depends on in whose hands it is.

The book of Numbers describes the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram against Moses. “They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD’s assembly?” (Numbers 16:3).

Korah, Dathan and Abiram challenged the spiritual authority of Moses and Aaron, ignoring the fact that God gave Moses, and Moses by the commandment of God gave Aaron.

“The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites, and get 12 staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their tribes. Write each man’s name on his staff, and write Aaron’s name on the rod of Levi; for there is one rod for the head of each of their fathers’ households. “You shall then deposit them in the tent of meeting in front of the testimony, where I meet with you. “It will come about that the rod of the man whom I choose will sprout. Thus I will lessen from upon Myself the grumblings of the sons of Israel, who are grumbling against you.” (Numbers 17:1-5).

What is the essence of God’s commandment about ‘rods’? Show that the rod symbolizes the authority from God, will sprout, that means, will bring blessing to people, not a curse: “The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds.” (Numbers 17:8). The authority that God gives to a man brings life and creation to the Body of Christ, not its destruction.

The authority that people tend to assume themselves, brings curse and death: “Then the sons of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, “Behold, we perish, we are dying, we are all dying!” (Numbers 17:12). When Korah, Dathan and Abiram took the authority that God did not give them, people began to die and more than fourteen thousand people were killed. It is very dangerous to assume that God did not give, and keep in mind the consequences.

God’s will is good, and acceptable, and perfect, and the desire of His heart – to bless His people and to give the life for which Jesus died. To this life in Christ every pastor is called to lead God’s people!

Tags: authority, democracy, egalitarianism, pastor, spiritual authority, theocratic