Spiritual Authority
The basis of spiritual authority
God is the ultimate source of spiritual authority. God’s Word is the highest expression of spiritual authority to humans. Age, gender, title, office and position cannot solely by themselves give spiritual authority. People’s opinions, feelings, visions are irrelevant if they contradict God’s Word. The spiritual authority of elders, pastors, bible teachers, missionaries and church staff is only valid so long as it is in accordance with God’s truth as expressed in the Bible.
In Galatians 1:8 Paul said – But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. No one would claim to have more spiritual authority than Paul. But even Paul said that he himself was to be cursed (not just ignored) if he contradicted God’s Word.
The scribes and the Pharisees wanted to be the most spiritually authoritative people in their day. In purely human terms, they achieved their goal of being the highest “spiritual” leaders. But their “spiritual authority” was not based on God’s truth. Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and described what they were like on the inside.
Matthew 23:1-3 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 27-28 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
The scribes and the Pharisees had no real spiritual authority. They tried to make their own authority by “sitting in Moses seat”. They made Moses their ultimate authority. But they wilfully ignored the reality that Moses’ authority was only legitimate to the extent he spoke God’s truth. Jesus, being the very source of truth (John 14:6) exposed the Pharisees’ lack of truth. Because they did not love truth, they treated Moses as being a higher spiritual authority than Jesus (God)! This is spiritual delusion at the highest level.
Matthew 7:28-29 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Unlike the Pharisees, Jesus held no human spiritual title or position, yet he spoke with true spiritual authority.
The nature of spiritual authority
Because God is the ultimate source of spiritual authority, spiritual authority must be in accordance with the nature of God. If spiritual authority is not in accordance with the nature of God, then it is invalid and is an abuse of authority. Invalid spiritual authority is a form of spiritual abuse.
Valid spiritual authority exercised by humans carries the authority of God. To disobey spiritual authority excercised in accordance with God’s nature, is to disobey God himself, as God’s delegated authority is being disobeyed.
Spiritual authority and wordly authority both involve exercising power over people. However, wordly authority is normally still valid even when exercised in a prideful or domineering manner. In contrast, spiritual authority must be in accordance with God’s nature and therefore cannot be prideful or domineering. The following verses illustrate these differences between spiritual and wordly authority.
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 your 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.
Mark 9:35. And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
John 13:14-15 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Philippians 2:5-8. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
1 Peter 5:3. Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
Titus 1:7-8. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
Spiritual authority in the local church
There is not a great emphasis in the NT on spiritual authority in the local church, in proportion to the number of other topics discussed. Spiritual authority tends to be overemphasised in churches that are controlling in nature.
Most of the NT is not addressed to church leaders, it is addressed to believers as a body. A common NT metaphor for the church is a body with equal members and differing gifts, with Christ as its head.
1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
Ephesians 1:22-23 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.
Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Colossians 1:18 And he (Christ) is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
The NT never refers to a man as being a head of a church and is clear that Christ is the head. It borders on blasphemy for any man to claim that he is the head of a church, as he is therefore attempting to replace Christ.
The NT teaches that human leadership of a local church should always be shared. The office of elder is the highest leadership role in a local church. The NT teaches that there should be a plurality of elders, not a single pastor, in a local church.
Religious Titles
1 Thessalonians 5: 12-13 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves. The Bible does not say to esteem an elder highly in love solely because they are an elder. It says for their work’s sake. The NT places far more emphasis on people’s actions than their positions or titles. John 5:44 reproves those who “receive honour one of another” and bids us seek “the honour that comes from God only.”
In most churches, “Pastor” is used as a title. In some churches it is taught expressly and by implication that you should address a pastor as “Pastor” (not by his first name) as a sign of respect for the pastor’s authority. It is specifically a reference to authority, as deacons are never addressed as “Deacon”, they are addressed as “bro” (short for “brother”) or called by their first name, similar to other church members.
The Bible forbids anyone to be addressed as a spiritual leader or teacher by title. It is the sin of pride which causes men to love to be addressed by titles. In Matthew 23, Jesus condemns the religious leaders of His day for being prideful. Matthew 23:8-10 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. Jesus “made Himself of no reputation” (Philippians 2:7) and was “meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29).
Calling someone Pastor is essentially the equivalent of calling someone Rabbi as both of these terms refers to a spiritual leader. Evangelical Christians criticise the Roman Catholic tradition of calling a priest a “Father”. Yet Christians who refer to an elder as “Pastor” are hypocritical and just as guilty as Roman Catholics. One of the marks of apostate people are those “having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage” (Jude 17:16).
The NT never even refers to an office of “Pastor”. Ephesians 4:11 says – And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers. This is the only verse in the New Testament that mentions the English word “pastors”. The context of Ephesians 4:11 is Ephesians 4:7-8, which refers to spiritual gifts given by God. Pastors (“shepherds” in Greek) in Ephesians 4:11 refers to a spiritual gift, not an office. The spiritual gift of a pastor is given by God. In contrast, the office of an elder is not a spiritual gift, and an elder is chosen by men.
Even the very Apostles chosen by Christ were not called by titles, they were called by their first names. The term “apostle” is never used as a title for Paul. It is always used to describe his role in the church e.g. “Paul an apostle”, not “the Apostle Paul”. The fact that men claim spiritual titles that even the Apostles did not dare to, illustrates the spiritual delusion that is rampant among many church leaders.
“Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto men” (Job 32:21).
Touch not God’s anointed?
Some teach a distorted view of authority in the local church. One such incorrect doctrine is that a pastor is “the man of God” and therefore should not be criticised. With respect to pastoral authority, a common phrase is “touch not God’s anointed”.
The few verses that mention this or a similar phrase, it has nothing whatsoever to do with church elders. Also, “touch not” in each case refers to physical harm, not criticism.
There are sufficient examples of leaders in the Bible being rebuked or questioned by people supposedly under their authority. Samuel rebuked David (2 Samuel 12:7). Peter rebuked Paul (Galatians 2:11). The Bereans questioned whether Paul’s teaching was according to God’s Word (Acts 17:11).
1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God. The Bible never says to not judge anyone. Matthew 7:1 – Judge not, that ye be not judged. If Christians were not supposed to judge anyone, then the verse would say – Judge not. This verse and the following verses in Matthew 7 explain that we can judge, but we should also expect to be judged in the same manner we judge others, so it is wise to be very careful when judging others.
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