Submission and Exercising Authority in the Church
By Bill Vigue
The other day I was asked a question about the New Testament order for authority and submission. It’s an important question. Here were some of my thoughts as I see this issue explained by the foundational leaders, Jesus and His chief Apostles.
The first rule for me is that we understand Matt 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;” (Mat 20:25-26)
Jesus makes it clear that we are not to think of exercising authority over others as the military does. Yet, most churches and virtually every denomination have ignored what Jesus commanded here. The greatest leaders among us are those who are the greater servants, not controllers.
There is only one Lord and that is Jesus. So, the most important thing is that we teach others first and foremost that the flock we attend or guide is not ours to control. Second, we should teach each other that the NT Covenant promises us a personal relationship with the head of the Church, who is Jesus Christ. Each member of the Body of Christ is to come under the personal authority of Jesus. This includes coming under the influence of the Word of God for the living Jesus is the Word of God. He is the head of His Body and should be held out to every member of the church as the ultimate authority. We don’t have enough teaching on that fact IMO.
Eph 4:11-14 tells us it is the Lord that “gave some” apostles; and prophets; and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers”. The are what we often call the ministry gifts or the church. Paul referred to them as the “joints” of the Body of Christ that supply an effectual working of God to His church. (see Eph 4:16)
One example of God’s sovereign authority of His called and sent out ministers is when Paul and Barnabas were sent out by the Holy Ghost. (Acts 13:1-3) The church in that case did not appoint them as apostles, God did through the Holy Spirit.
One of the reasons men like Paul and Barnabas were appointed by God as ministers is because God knew what is in their heart where mortal men don’t and thus judge things as they see things and not as God sees things. They were not perfect men! They had not totally mastered their flesh as proved by Paul’s life. (Acts 15:36-39; 23:3) But they were submissive men; first to God but also (like Moses) they were meek men, teachable, submissive to others.
There submission to serve with, along and at times under others is proved by scripture too. For we see that in many things the church elders, such as in Antioch did direct certain missions and appointed leaders like Paul and Barnabas to accomplish church directed tasks. (Acts 11:27-30 & Acts 15:1-3)
One of the big problems people have with authority is that they do not understanding the meaning of submission. People tend to think of it as control. “Wives, submit to your husbands in all things” does not mean husbands become the god over the wife. An excellent example of my point is where the Apostle Paul wanted another minister to do something and it was not in that mans heart to do it. He was allowed to follow His own leading.
“As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto
you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time;
but he will come when he shall have convenient time.” (1 Cor 16:12)
Paul did not dictate to another man of God what he must do, even though he had the strongest desire. Paul was a spiritual giant on leading and guiding others into God’s Will, but he also knows each member in Christ has to follow their own convictions from the Lord.
We need to mature in this area of understanding the spiritual reasoning of submission and authority. The idea is to learn to be sensitive to what God might say to and through each other as opposed to controlling and being manipulated by others.
Manipulation is a form of witchcraft. It is rampant in many churches, especially through the means of pressuring people to become members and make pledges. I’ve been in far to many leadership meetings where the group of leaders are devising strategies to get people to “commit” to something and openly admitting their motive is to get more control. Should not Church leaders seek strategies of how they might lead people into a deeper walk and experience with the Lord Jesus and let the Lord be in control?
That said, there is no doubt no churches and groups of believers are to be lead by only one witness or leader. There should be a plurality of leaders or elders. We are to band together as best we can under the tender leadership of the Lord. No on is to Lord it over others.
A true leader is first and foremost submitted to the Lord and His Word. They are ever teachable, reachable, reflective and purposeful in searching out the Lord’s Will and not waning to follow the ambitions of others or their own, unless those ambitions line up with God’s Will. The Lord’s Will always needs to be searched for when conflict’s among leaders arise. The story in Acts chapter 11:1-8 was given to us by the Holy Spirit to help us see how to do it.
It is never God’s intent that one member control other members, but they are to strive to inspire, edify, strengthen, heal, help etc… each other. Grace does not mean a license to sin, but it does mean we can recover from all, any and every sin.
We are clearly told by the Spirit that the leaders (elders) are to “feed the flock of God”. (the flock is not ours) Too many of the Lord’s sheep are starving for some spiritual food! By feeding the sheep we are “taking the oversight” and should do that “willingly” and not with selfish ambitions. The other point Peter made clear is that by taking the oversight we are not to do it in as Lords. Peter wrote; “neither as being Lord’s over God’s heritage”. (1 Pet 5:1-3)
Anyone who does not adhere to the New Covenant rule that the sheep are the Lord’s gives me pause. Elder of the Lord’s appointment I think would know this rule. Those who claim to be spiritual or a prophet but withholds from you the knowledge or right to hear for God for yourself is not tuned in regarding the things of God.
“What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you
only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him
acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the
commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him
be ignorant.” (1Co 14:36-38)
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