Authority is a concept
that is predominantly accepted by even our society today even though it is not
given much conscious thought (this is a general observation and as such we
recognize that there will be some “exceptions” to it). The need for secular authority is recognized
by mankind because of the inherent structure facilitated by it. Authority is manifested in our homes in form
of parents, in schools (teachers/principals), in businesses (managerial
hierarchy), and in state and federal government bodies. While it has often been the trendy thing to
do to question or be outright rebellious to authority, the majority of
individuals understand the concept enough to realize that removing it would be
detrimental to society as a whole.
The necessity of authority
in society is obvious in the examples cited, but they do not necessarily
explain what “authority” actually is or how it is to be used. What does “authority” actually mean and how
does it impact our secular lives? More importantly, how does it impact and
apply to our spiritual lives?
Authority – noun – 1.) The power to determine, adjudicate, or otherwise settle
issues or disputes; jurisdiction; the right to control, command, or
determine. 2.) A power or right
delegated or given; authorization. 3.) A
person or body of persons in whom authority is vested, as a governmental
agency. 4.) Usually, authorities. Persons having the legal power to make and
enforce the law; government.[1]
This is the secular
view of authority and it does in fact express the basic concepts found even in
a spiritual definition of the word. In
his workbook, A study of Authority,
Billy W. Moore spends a great deal of time with definitions and explaining how
authority works not only in the spiritual realm, but in the secular as well. Moore quotes Joseph Henry Thayer as defining
authority as the “power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases; leave or
permission,” “physical and mental power; the ability or strength with which one
is endued, which he either possesses or exercises,” the “power of authority
(influence) and of right,” and the “power of rule or government (the power of
him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed,
generally translated authority.” Also defined
in Moore’s book is the World Book Dictionary definition: “the power to enforce
obedience; right to command or act; 2. A person who has such power or right.”[2]
In essence, each
definition states the same basic principle that authority is the right to
command or act, and/or a person that has such a power or right. For application purposes, consider how a
police officer has the power or right to pull an individual over because of a
traffic infraction, a principal of a school has the power or right to discipline
an unruly student, and a store manager has the power or right to fire an
employee.
These are but
generalized application of the principle of authority, but pertinent
nonetheless. However, take some time and
consider some of these concepts on a deeper level, such as our application of
authority to the police officer. If an
individual drives above the posted speed limit and sees an officer of the law
turn on their lights, what are they required by law to do? They are required to
pull off to the side of the road and turn their engine off. Why is this to be done? Because that
individual recognizes that the police officers has been granted the authority
by either the local, state, or federal government to pull them over and to
ticket them for the offense. That
individual also realizes that the failure to pull over will result in even
stiffer consequences. This example shows
two levels of authority; 1.) the government’s authority to utilize police
officers, and 2.) the police officer’s authority to enforce the law.
Since many today adhere
to the doctrine that authority is not needed in the spiritual realm, let us
make the same application to the secular realm.
What if there were no authority and everyone simply did as they wanted
to do? For instance, what if there were no governing authorities concerning
speed limits on the interstates? If everyone drove whatever speed they wanted
to drive (granted, some already do), then the roads would be in complete
pandemonium. One driver would decide
that 70 mph is sufficient, while another would decide that 90 mph is more
appropriate, and then a third driver would decide that 45 mph is the best speed
for the passing lane. Perhaps it is more
applicable to take the example to the next level: what if there were no laws
governing what direction you had to drive on the interstate? What if you could
drive south in the northbound lanes or north in the southbound lanes? If there
were no governmental authority to enforce the law, then why would an individual
worry about committing thievery or murder (Ecclesiastes 8:11)?
When the concept of
authority is broken down to these very base, secular levels, many understand
the necessity of authority and the foundation that it provides for our
society. If we understand such
applications in our secular lives, should we not recognize it as even more
important in our spiritual lives? Unfortunately, while many people accept to
some degree the concept of secular authority, they refuse to submit themselves
to the will of God. While willing to
submit to secular authority, many people seek to create their own version of
God (God in their image rather than their being made in God’s image), which
generally consists of His not requiring anything of them or commanding them to
do anything different in their life.
However, as we continue through our study of authority, we will
recognize that authority is not only an important attribute to Christians, it
is an unavoidable requirement in a Christian’s life if they are to reach
Heaven.
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