SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY PART 5

Should we have leaders?

T hese days, I hear a lot of people saying that “All believers should be EQUALLY in charge! This is not a one man show, etc.” And, yet we know that that kind of “equality: won’t work either. The answer is easier to see when supposing that one day you broke your leg and went to the Hospital in your town… and there was no one in charge. No one trained more than another – no designated positions such as Doctor, or chief of staff. And for goodness sake, don’t call the doctor by a title, “Doctor!” Everyone in this place insisted on being equal in position and not being told what to do. No one could even suggest that another person take an x-ray. No one could be specifically trained to give a blood transfusion. No one could even check you in or out, because everyone there was trying to be equal in job function. Of course, we can agree that’s a ridiculous fantasy. Yes, we are all have authority and we are all equal. No. We do not all have the same job functions in the local church. Not all members are leaders – nor should they want to be.

Godly freedom, equality, and dominion never become a license to live without structure or government. Within our assembling, there needs to be order. Church just can’t be a free-for-all, or require a consensus of opinion to decide each matter. The disciples didn’t vote on every decision.

As equals, we CHOOSE to allow delegated people to have authority over the running of the church. Finding true and Godly LEADERSHIP offers us the chance to be mentored into maturity -- and accountability. We must allow our leaders to equip us. Just leadership provides us the opportunity to become who God intends us to be. And finding this positional alignment with leadership authority should release an even greater freedom to collaborate and work together. The church doesn’t need rebels, but a cooperating team.

What should leaders not do?
A tyrannical and commanding style will only produce perpetually dependant members. These floundering believers will soon tire of being treated like children and run away from home – wanting to be able to make their own decisions. The “laity” was never supposed to be unflinchingly obedient to some sort of “superior clergy.” Neither are they to find fault with every idea that is presented.
Scriptures distinctly differentiate between the essential need for governmental authority and the unnecessary need for compliance to unjust tradition. Know my friend, that Jesus already paid the highest ransom for your freedom. No one should accept CONTROL from another person. It’s time to grab hold of your promised freedom-in-Christ; it’s a liberty not rooted at the expense of order and discipline, but birthed because of them. Godly freedom maintains honest and just values, while man’s tradition enslaves without synchronization with Bible facts.

Tradition insists that we maintain the “traditional” concepts of church authority and by that phrase they mean—the way it’s always been. But, today’s congregation has become tired of authority that is based in CONTROL and manipulation.

True leadership & submission -
Let’s find out what the word for LEADERSHIP authority means. And after that, some of what the Bible really says about it. Those in “authority” were understood in the Hebrew language to be: “The author, maker, creator, nourisher, teacher, the one who carries a weight of dignity.” The word “authority” in Greek is understood to indicate “one who originates or authors, one who stands before others with dignity and provides an example.”

We see that illustrated in the following verse. Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus, the AUTHOR (#747 chief leader, from #756 the beginning (originator) and finisher of our faith… (NKJV). Jesus is the chief leader, the SOURCE. An “author” is the one that originates or creates: the SOURCE, or the original designer of a project. And, we all know that an "author" would be the final authority on whatever he/she has said. He is the AUTHOR – He started it and He will end it all. He alone has the author-ity concerning our faith.

Clearly, God set up the church system to have leadership and "authority" in Biblical matters. Certainly, we realize that all our leadership authority is ONLY from God. Any rights we have to represent the “government of God here on earth" must be carefully and respectfully handled. But how? I’m still working it all out myself. It seems Biblically clear that God allows us to become under-shepherds and to minister WITH Him. He allows us to replicate His ministry. But as the analogy goes: Just as the Lord led Israel “OUT FROM” the land of pyramids, hierarchical systems, and oppressive rulers -- Jesus leads us “IN TO” the freedom of knowing that we’re all equal in His sight (Gal. 3:28).

A basic principle of authority demands that we respect for the rights of others to make their own decisions. Leaders should give their opinions. Then, informed and well taught believers have the right to make decisions without interference. Mature believers do not judge one another, they do not bully others into conforming, nor do they attempt to exercise leadership authority which has not been delegated to them.

In order for there to be leadership, there has to be others who follow in submission. Etymology (the study of words in their original application) shows us that “submission” originally referred to a military expression used in war. An example would be how the leader chosen for the frontal attack would carry the greatest responsibility for the success of the campaign. Those leaders involved in adjoining maneuvers would “assist” the first leader. Submission happens -- not primarily because of superior rank -- but mainly because of the desire to accomplish the mission. Nothing can happen until someone makes a decision and then others follow it. Perhaps we can remember this definition by thinking of the natural division of the word – “sub” = under, and “mission” = for a purpose.

We cooperate for the greater sake of the cause. That doesn’t mean that one person is better than another. We know that the terms "laity" and "clergy" are NOT biblical concepts, but were later introduced. Revelation 26 and 15 give us two examples of the OVERPOWERING “clergy” type of leadership: "But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate." "… Them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate" (KJV). God HATES (present tense) the conduct, as well as the tenets of the Nicolaitans (“Nike” = to conquer or triumph, and “laos” = the people -- especially the common people). In principle, the Nicolaitan ministers ruled over and remained separate from the common folk who did what they were told.

* Authority means that certain individuals are permitted to give instructions to others.
* Responsibility means that each person is accountable to someone for the performance of tasks assigned to him. Was it completed on time? Satisfactorily finished?

TO BE CONTINUED --