Spiritual Authority Conclusion

Concluding our study on Spiritual Authority

Authority exercised in the church is divine authority expressed through those in official authority.

Therefore, there is such a thing as spiritual leadership and oversight. Leaders would be good to exemplify the service that Jesus did and really play the role of servant. As they play the role of servant, they will have the greatest impact. When we Lord it over others we are going against the will of God.

All Christians should have an attitude of submission. Those that are more mature in the things of God, especially those who labor in the word and have proven their servanthood, should be respected and their words given great weight. We reject these at our peril and to the peril of the church. If all Christians cultivated this humble submission and sought out and heeded the instruction of elders, the church would thrive.

Those that are submitted to God’s authority will then sense divine authority in other places. In meekness and humility they will respect the instituted authorities and exercise the authority they were given to wield. As this happens the Kingdom of God is established!

The Church is not a pure democracy and it is not a dictatorship. The church is not led by majority vote as a matter of course. It is to be led by leaders. But leaders are to be proven by their servitude and when given official position it is merely a recognition of this.

Elders then are to lead not through command but through persuasion to obey what is perceived to be the will of God. Domineering issue of commands has no place in the church of Jesus Christ--especially when it is in a gray area or a subjective area.

Leaders are to be gentle servers and persuaders. If leaders led more as servants and the church were more submissive to their leaders we would have much greater order in the church.