Where Does Authority Lie?

Numerous controversies can be traced back to one crucial issue: authority. Since the sixties, authority has been attacked from every angle. Socially, the results have been feminism, homosexuality, divorce, drugs, and the sexual revolution. Spiritually, this attitude has precipitated change in the churches of Christ: women serving in leadership roles, instrumental music in worship, lax morality, and doctrinal compromise.

Christ, however, still holds an authoritative position (Mt. 28:18), whether we admit it or not. And He communicates that authority to us even today. Where does this authority lie?

1. Not in the Old Testament. At one time the Old Testament was the embodiment of God's authority, but today a new covenant has been established (Heb. 8:6-13; Col. 2:14).

Some defend instrumental music in worship using Old Testament texts (e.g., Ps. 150). Will they also require animal sacrifices, the priesthood of Aaron, the tabernacle, feast days and Sabbaths, and death by stoning to disobedient children?

2. Not in red letters alone. "Red letters" refers to the words of Christ. There has been a push in recent times to put more emphasis on the words of Christ found in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

But we must be careful about emphasizing certain matters in scripture to the exclusion of others. Unless God has told us to put more weight on the words of Christ than on those of the apostles, we should treat every scripture equally. In fact, we know that the epistles carry as much weight as the words of the Lord Himself, because they all originate from the same source.

Before the Lord ascended into heaven, He promised the apostles a "Helper," the "Spirit of truth," who would "guide them into all the truth." It was said of this Spirit that "he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak" (Jn. 16:13). Jesus earlier had said the same thing of His own words: "For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father wh osent me has himself given me a commandment--what to say and what to speak" (Jn. 12:49).

3. Not in silence. When innovations are introduced into worship, for example, we often hear this excuse: "The Bible doesn't say we can't do it." Another way of putting it is, "What is forbidden in scripture cannot be practiced; what is not forbidden in scripture may be practiced." This is very different from the slogan that has characterized the churches of Christ for the last 200 years: "Speak where the Bible speaks; remain silent where the Bible is silent."

But the scriptures make it clear that God considers silence to be prohibitive. Consider some examples:

• The Hebrews writer argued that Christ was better than the angels based on what God did not say concerning them (Heb. 1:5, 13).
• Jesus is shown to be a priest after a different order than that of the Law of Moses, since Moses said nothing concerning priests from tribes other than Levi (Heb. 7:14).
• Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, were struck dead because they offered strange fire, which God commanded them not (Lev. 10:1-2).

4. Not in cultural shifts. The church must shift with the times, we are told. Otherwise it will become irrelevant. But the church is transcultural; it surpasses culture to subject itself to a higher law.

Two examples: When Jesus instructed the Jews concerning divorce, He did not consider the culture of the day, which was quite permissive. He instead cited God's initial intentions in the Garden of Eden (Mt. 19:3-9). Also, when Paul taught on the role of women in the church and in the family, thankfully he did not heed his culture, which was abusive to women. He relied upon the authoritative word of God, spoken in the beginning (1 Tim. 2:11-15; Eph. 5:22-33).

5. Not just in relationships. Christians disagree over whether the New Testament was written as a "love letter" stressing the relationship between God and His chosen people, or a "book of laws" promulgating regulations for the church. The truth is, it is intended to be both.

Dick Sztanyo writes,

Some things in the Bible are foundational teachings. That is, they teach us about the love and nature of God, his plan to save man, the life and teachings of Christ, and so forth. These foundational teachings are NOT commands, but rather, are intended to make commands of Scripture both rational and possible. The demands of the Christian life would not make sense at all, nor would it be possible for men to measure up to them, without information about God which allows for the trusting relationship to occur ("How the Bible Authorizes," The Spiritual Sword, April 1990, p. 7).

Accordingly, Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (Jn. 14:15). Sztanyo goes on to say, "The commandments which required a response grew out of teachings which were foundational!" (i.e., teachings on the love God has for men, D.K.).

6. Not in relativism. "Anything goes" religion can be found in abundant supply in our day and time. A "seeker sensitive" approach to church growth has caught on. Instead of planting the seed of God's word (Lk. 8:11), popular religious leaders are planting public opinion. Numerically the results are impressive, but is the crop Christian?

Where does authority lie? It remains in the same place it was found before Jesus ascended into heaven. He said to His disciples, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (Mt. 28:18). Nothing has changed, for He also said, "The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day" (Jn. 12:48).

The Muslims have one thing right. Walking with God is about submission. If the church becomes as anti-authoritarian as its surroundings, there is no hope for it. May it find true authority and submit to God.