Identifying Illegitimate Authority

Rock of Offence Commentary

There are two foundational truths essential to authentic Christianity. The first one is the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is no mystery why Satan, our enemy, attacks this truth more than any other. It is essential because it establishes the identity and authority of God's people. God does not receive anyone into his family until they acknowledge Jesus as Lord. This is plainly stated in Romans 10:9-10. However, the modern church has lowered the Biblical standard for salvation. In our culture anyone who claims a belief in God is regarded as a Christian. Yet, God tells us that receiving his Son as "Lord" is a requirement that must be satisfied before salvation can be realized. Receiving Jesus as Lord is agreeing that God's priorities will now be your priorities. It is dying to the authority you previously held over your life and embracing Christ's life. Also, if Jesus is truly your Lord you will not permit anyone else to hold this position in your life. Contrary to some popular Christian teaching, Jesus does not share (or delegate) his lordship authority with anyone else.

The nature of the Lordship of Jesus gives us one of the clearest methods for identifying spiritual counterfeits. Any church, denomination, Christian organization or spiritual leader who place themselves as an authority between the Christian believer and Jesus, creates a breach in the believer's relationship with God (Titus 2:5). To commit such an act usurps the Lordship of Jesus Christ--it is a serious sin. Yet, the institutional church has many that practice this kind of behavior. They are convinced it is God's will. Various teachings are presented to convince uninformed Christians that they need to be submitted to spiritual authority that is man-centered. They are taught that complete maturity in God is not possible unless they place themselves "under authority". These practices come from a belief that it is wrong for a Christian to be "spiritually independent". Any notion that a believer is to be directly led by Jesus himself is considered "religious anarchy" or too subjective. The "Shepherding Movement" (or the "Authoritarian Movement" as I call it) which began in the early 1970's was the newest expression of this practice. My wife and I attended a shepherding church in Washington, D.C. I've witnessed first hand the fear and guilt that can be generated in this kind of fellowship. The Shepherding movement and its teachings are still alive and well in the church. In many ways it is now larger, more influential and more of a threat than before because it has changed its name--and increased its numbers. Their practices are now hidden behind attractive church marketing schemes that emphasize family and relationships. Most Christians long for this kind of church home. Regardless of the marketing strategy, this situation should be approached with great caution and much prayer because of the dangerous beliefs that lurk beneath the surface.

I'm NOT saying that Christians should reject authority. Rejecting authority is not an idea that the Bible supports. I am saying that God wants his people to submit to the right kind of authority. In the original Greek language of the New Testament, the word "submission" always carries the definition of a "voluntary" act. Submission is something voluntarily offered and can never be demanded, manipulated or coerced. When submission is coerced it ceases to be submission and becomes abuse. Christians are to have a teachable attitude that voluntarily yields to those in the church who have greater experience, greater spiritual gifts, walk in love and who practice authority the way Jesus taught it. Those who mandate obedience through intimidation, fear, manipulation, distorting Scripture or through educational qualifications (religious training) are in direct opposition to the Lordship of Jesus and should be carefully scrutinized.

God's Cardinal Rule For New Testament Authority

I have listed two Scriptures, which outline "God's cardinal rule of authority" for New Testament believers. In the first reference the Lord Jesus Christ is speaking. For this reason, more importance is placed on his words since he's the initial author of the Bible. Also, keep in mind that he's talking to his disciples who will become the first "leaders" of the early church after his crucifixion. As you study the topic of authority in the New Testament, there are some scriptures that seem to contradict what Jesus said. However, further study will reveal that these comments are made under unique circumstances and do not validate the extreme authority practices that some church leaders defend. However, this fact doesn't prevent these Scriptures from being used out of context to support an "authoritarian" position.

In the first reference the disciples are arguing about who will be the greatest in God's kingdom. Jesus responds to their words in Matthew 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 you 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."

Pay particular attention to Jesus' words where he's talking about the kind of authority that exercises "dominion over" people's lives--Jesus said to his disciples, "IT SHALL NOT BE SO AMONG YOU". The mark of a true minister of Jesus Christ is avoiding the use of authority that dominates. There is no such thing as dictators, or even "benevolent dictators" in God's kingdom. The apostle Peter repeats this principle in I Peter 5:3...

"Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock."

Peter is instructing these "ministers of the Gospel" to use their authority by being "ensamples (examples) to the flock"--not lords over the flock. To use a dominating type of authority is to make yourself a "lord over"--and you cannot have two Lords. If Jesus isn't Lord, someone else is. It's a forbidden practice even if the end seems to justify the means. The motive of a true minister of Jesus Christ is to be an example to those under his care. A true minister of the Gospel refuses to touch the jurisdiction of Jesus Christ in the lives of individual believers. They lead by their quality of life. God instructs believers to submit to those who possess this kind of character. This allows his people to get spiritually equipped while keeping the freedom to be led by God's Holy Spirit. Objections to this position are usually based on the idea that inexperienced Christians can't properly hear the voice of Jesus and need someone of greater stature to hear Him for them. It is true that new Christians will have trouble hearing God's voice and, for this reason, they are prone to make mistakes. However, the role of a true minister of the Gospel is to help new Christian's hear the voice of God for themselves. There may be some "give and take" in this area. But, it is never right to allow anyone the permanent place of hearing God for you. This is one of the pathways to spiritual authority abuse--whether it is taken advantage of or not.

These principles of authority separate true Christianity from many religious counterfeits, sects and cults.

Some may be thinking..."Yes, but what about the command from Hebrews 13:17 to submit yourself to those who rule over you?" Doesn't that Scripture disprove a lot of what you've said? Instead of covering that topic here I wrote another article entitled, The Truth About Hebrews 13:17. You can read it for some additional insight on this topic. If you keep Hebrews 13:17 in its proper context, it does not contradict what is being said by Jesus, Peter--and this commentary.

All of us have a tendency to give authority to others who seem more qualified than we are to make decisions about our life. Unfortunately, some of this can be attributed to our culture where taking personal responsibility is avoided. Some of us are not comfortable with taking responsibility for our life. There are many good-natured people in God's family. During our spiritual journey with Jesus we need to guard against allowing others to override Jesus' Lordship authority in our life. In this case I'm not talking about people who openly abuse spiritual authority. I'm talking about those who earn our trust and respect. If we're not careful, we can subtly allow them access to that place in our life that only Jesus should hold. Without knowing it we can begin to listen to the advice of others more than the voice of Jesus who should be guiding us. Jesus will speak to you through other Christians. That is a fact. However, he will (and desires to) speak directly to you. We should be able to recognize and obey the voice of Jesus no matter where it comes from. This ability is developed as we spiritually mature. We should consider what our brothers and sisters in Christ say because God will sometimes speak to you through them. However, we should only act on what we hear when it confirms something that Jesus has already said to us. As our Lord, Jesus has the final word. This is an important aspect of being "led by the Holy Spirit".

The Kingdom Within

The second central truth of Christianity is that God's Spirit lives INSIDE every true believer in Jesus Christ. This fact is what separates God's people under the old covenant (Old Testament) from His people under the new covenant (New Testament). God's relationship with the human race went through extraordinary changes after Jesus died on the cross. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit could dwell with or be "on" God's people. The Holy Spirit didn't permanently dwell inside. If a person habitually sinned, the Holy Spirit would be taken away. This was the case with King Saul (I Samuel 16:13-14) shortly after David was anointed King of Israel. King David later pleaded with God not to take his Holy Spirit from him in Psalms 51:11 when he sinned. Under the old covenant, God's authority was concentrated in an external source. Usually, God's authority was entrusted to a man (Like Abraham, Moses, Samuel, King Saul and King David). We can also see God's authority in the priesthood of Israel--the tribe of Levi. The important principle here is that God's authority for his people was entrusted in a source OUTSIDE of themselves.

Then Jesus went to the cross and established a New Covenant--and everything changed.

On the day of Pentecost, God sent His Holy Spirit to live permanently INSIDE every believer in Jesus Christ. By placing Himself inside, God can speak directly to us and provide guidance for our lives. The Old Testament prophets foretold this in Ezekiel 36:26-27...

"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. (KJV)

We can now see how God's authority works for the New Testament believer. From His position on the inside of the Christian God rules directly. He "causes" us to walk in His statutes because He has taken up residence in our body. The Christian life is lived from the inside out--not from the outside in through obedience to rules. God doesn't have a "chain of command" where his authority is "delegated" to an OUTSIDE earthly authority which governs our obedience. He used that form of spiritual government in the Old Testament--BUT NOT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT--UNDER THE NEW COVENANT. Many well-intentioned leaders in the modern church attempt to enforce an Old Testament authority structure on New Testament believers. This effectively frustrates the relationship between God and His people. It is found in many churches. This type of authority is legalistic in nature and is counterfeit. It hinders (and sometimes blocks) the direct rule of the Lord Jesus Christ who lives INSIDE the body of the Christian. Below, I have listed other scriptures from the New Testament that reveal this truth.

(John 14:16-17)"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever, Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." (This was spoken by Jesus to the disciples before the cross and before the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost)


(Luke 17:20-21)"And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."


(Colossians 1:27)"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."


(I John 4:4)"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (He that is in the world is referring to Satan)


(Romans 8:9-11)"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."


(I Corinthians 3:16)"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"


(I Corinthians 6:19-20)"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."


(II Corinthians 13:5)"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"


(I John 2:27)"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him."


The reality of "God in you" is something religion doesn't want the Christian to experience. And, if you insist on believing it, religious-minded leaders will attempt to redefine or downplay its importance. Remember that this truth takes away any need you might have for religion. It destroys the lies on which religion is based and neutralizes the premise of illegitimate authority. You will hear others in the church insist that you must place yourself "under authority" to mature as a Christian. Your response to this statement should be, "I am under authority--I'm in Christ!" Unfortunately, you will find that this is not a satisfactory answer in many churches. God has not only placed himself inside for the purpose of leading us--but also for the purpose of teaching and empowering us. The Holy Spirit, the one who knows everything about God, is your teacher--and, as a believer in Jesus Christ, He goes with you wherever you go.

(I Corinthians 2:9-14)"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (KJV)


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Copyright © 2001 Rock of Offence
Most recent revision April 2010