Authority In The Church

We have been looking a the topic of spiritual authority. Last time, we saw that official authority flows from divine authority. Authority in the government realm, or family realm is easily understood, but how does authority operate in the Church? The church is a very specific jurisdiction. Many Christians believe in a “Sola Pastora” where the Pastor calls the shots and there is no accountability. Some have reacted to this extreme and now endorse what amounts to a leaderless egalitarianism where consensus is stressed. Both of these are extremes. The biblical truth is somewhere in the middle as we shall see.


a) Jesus and the Gentile political model

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. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Luke 22:25-27 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. 27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

In these key passages, Jesus was condemning the high handed style of official authority and saying that it was not to be so in the church. Those that were to be esteemed and recognized in official position were to be proven servants of God.


b) Jesus and the Jewish, religious model

Matthew 23:8-12 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

From this scripture we glean the following: In the Jewish world, there was a clergy system where, religious leaders were given honorific titles. These titles weren’t of themselves a problem, unless they exalted themselves into positions of public display, and leadership rooted in status, prestige and titles.

In the kingdom, Jesus wants us to look to Him as Lord. All are brethren in the same family. There is the priesthood of all believers. Leaders are to find themselves in the towel of servitude and humility and leadership is rooted in inward character and life. But this is not to deny that there would be offices in the NT church. But that they were to flow from the towel of servitude.

The church is neither a dictatorship nor a democracy. It is to be led by elders who have proven themselves as shepherds, and are usually in plural leadership. Their leadership is not dictatorial but one of godly example and persuasion.

c) Jesus has delegated His authority to the Church!

The New Testament Leadership Model

1) Function Vs. Position
Most of the world sees leadership in a positional model. But leadership in the NT is not just positional but first functional. Rather than do away with position, we must establish position based upon function of the Spirit. But a functional mindset portrays authority in terms of how things operate organically. In other words, a premium is given to the activity of each member, his maturity, giftedness, and service.

2) Elders
In the Greek language, elder (presbuteros) simply means older man, therefore elders were simply spiritually mature men- who superintended the affairs of the local church. They were not professional clergy but raised up through the ranks by what they did. Shepherding was how they functioned. They were recognized and given official position after they had been proven servants!

3) The tragedy of past movements
In the seventies came the discipleship/shepherding movement which degraded into extreme forms of control and manipulation. The false assumption was that submission is the equivalent of unconditional obedience and that God vested certain people with unquestioned authority over others. Spiritual abuse was dismissed under the excuse that God would hold the individual shepherds responsible for wrong decisions. "The sheep just need to obey!" In reaction to this movement, many swung to the other extreme, against any form of leadership. But the church is not a leaderless, egalitarianism nor is it a rigid authoritarianism.


4) Jurisdictions
The Bible teaches that exousia or authority is delegated to specific people for specific things in the body. Even within the church there are specific jurisdictions. Apostles have authority of support and for speaking into the churches they plant! Elders have authority to lead the local church. The congregation has authority to discipline sin, settle disputes and propose candidates for leadership. It is very important to understand jurisdictions.

1 Cor 9:12-13 If others have this right (exousia) of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more? But we did not use this right(exousia). On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

1 Cor 9:18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights(exousia) in preaching it.

2 Cor 13:10 This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority(exousia) -the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down

One could say that even these examples only reveal the "exousia" Paul had with the Corinthian church because of his relationship to them--being that he planted the church, and edified it. So this exousia was a result of his relationship with them not the cause of his relationship.

2 Cor 10:13-16 We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you. 14 We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. 15 Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand, 16 so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in another man's territory.