Christ: The Divine Depository of All Religious Authority (Part 2)by James P. Needham
(JPN1@freewwweb.com)

What necessary conclusions are to be drawn from these scriptural facts?

(Editor's note: See last week's issue.)

1. No religious authority originates with or is to be exercised by man.

If Christ has all authority in heaven and on earth, that leaves none for anyone else. Since Christ has all authority in heaven and on earth, and yet certain men claim to have religious authority, the question is "From where do they derive such authority?" The answer is immediate: Not from heaven, and not from earth because Christ has all of it there. That leaves only one other place, and that is hell. I affirm therefore that all religious authority claimed by men originates with Satan and not God. The most arrogant claimant of religious authority in the world is the pope of Rome. Official Catholic literature affirms that the pope's letter is the weightiest authority in the church. The origin of this authority, therefore, becomes obvious.

2. All religious acts that are not divinely authorized are sinful. "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him" (Colossians 3:17).

3. Elders in local churches have no authority independent of the word of God.

Today there is a widespread misconception of the authority of elders. This condition has evolved from several sources.

Men who are executives in the secular world come into the eldership and think they can use the same methods of management and control in the church that they use or have used in their secular employment. For instance, a brother who has been a military officer or a CEO in some secular corporation and who has always been in control of things thinks he can use the same methods in the church that he used in his secular position. He thinks his word is the law and he has no obligation to get input from anyone. Elders often make arbitrary decisions as a body independent of the church, which decisions affect the peace and harmony of the church. They seek no input from anyone. An example of this kind of thinking and action is found in 3 John. "I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God" (3 John 11). It is not unusual for some elder to make and execute a major decision on his own, independent of the other elders.

An over-emphasis and misunderstanding of those passages which speak of the rule of elders and the duty of the members to be obedient and submissive.

This cannot and must not be over lording rule, or slave-like obedience. The apostles once were concerned about who would be the greatest or chief among them. Jesus used the practices of the princes of the Gentiles as an illustration of how it would not be in His kingdom: "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" (Matthew 20:25-26). The highest position anyone can attain in the kingdom of God is a servant. In his discussion of the eldership, Peter said elders are not to be "lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock" (1 Peter 5:3).

Thayer says of the word "bishop," "An overseer, a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, a curator, guardian, or superintendent..." To see that things done by others are done rightly where the eldership is concerned means to see that things are done according to the divine pattern (Hebrews 8:5), not according to the personal whims and dictatorial decrees of a fallible eldership.

There is a common idea that the decrees of the elders are the voice of God, and one is bound under threat of sin if he disagrees with them. When I served as an elder a member said as much to me. If this is the case, then elders constitute a legislative body. If disagreeing with the judgment of the elders is a sin, then the judgment of the elders becomes divine law. Who can believe it? Not even the apostles had such authority. What they bound on earth had already been in heaven; they were simply divine messengers (Matthew 16:19). Paul refused to exercise dominion over others' faith: "Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand" (2 Corinthians 1:24). That should be the sentiment of every elder. He is but a humble servant of God and His people, and his desire should be humbly to help the joy of those under his care-not to hobble them with over lording pontifications that originate in his own fallible mind.

The natural tendency of men to be corrupted by power. It has been said that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Some men campaign for the eldership like a politician, and when they finally get "elected" their ego is inflated beyond measure. I heard a brother say he would give his right arm to be an elder. Another who was in an eldership that was dissolved said he was going to move to another congregation and if he couldn't "get an eldership" there he would move on to another. Here is a thirst for a position and power.

No congregation is everything God wants it to be without scripturally qualified elders and deacons. But there is a crying need for the church generally to understand the scriptural qualifications and functions of these operatives. They are not over-lords, but ensamples. They are not dictators but superintendents.

They are not drivers, but leaders. They are not overlookers, but overseers.

It is high time that we hark back to the ancient order of things, and realize that Christ is both the center and the circumference of the church and all its workings. All religious authority in heaven and on earth inheres in Christ

Jesus, and none, absolutely none, inheres in any man. The Lord's church knows nothing of a sacerdotal system where certain men are given special powers over the faith and religious acts of others. It is the Law of the Lord that thoroughly furnishes us completely unto all good works, not the whims of a man or group of men (2 Timothy 3:16,17). It is the New Testament that contains all things that pertain unto life and godliness, not human creeds, written or unwritten (2 Peter 1:3). God designs to use mature men to see that things done by others are done rightly, not that these men become the source of authority to execute their own agenda. Whatever is done in word or deed is to be done by the authority of Christ, not by the foibles of feeble and fallible men. The apostles declared, "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). "But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1:23-24).

Conclusion

All religious institutions, conceptions, and actions that find their authority outside the law of Christ are sinful and are destined to be rooted up by God

(Matthew 15:13). The religion of Christ was designed by God in eternity, and must remain as delivered unto us by the Holy Spirit in the Bible. To add to it or to take from it or to preach other than its precepts is to incur the wrath of

God (Galatians 1:8,9; 2 John 9-11; Revelation 22:18,19).

PARTING THOUGHT

Wouldn't You Like To Be An Atheist Too? - Author Unknown (contributed by S. Tegg)

A young woman teacher with obvious liberal tendencies explains to her class of small children that she is an atheist. She asks her class if they are atheists too. Not really knowing what atheism is but wanting to be like their teacher, their hands explode into the air like fleshy fireworks.

There is, however, one exception. A girl named Lucy has not gone along with the crowd. The teacher asks her why she has decided to be different. "Because I'm not an atheist." "Then," asks the teacher, "what are you?" "I'm a Christian." The teacher is a little perturbed now, her face slightly red. She asks Lucy why she is a Christian. "Well, I was brought up knowing and loving Jesus. My Mom is a Christian, and my dad is a Christian, so I am a Christian."

The teacher is now angry. "That's no reason," she says loudly. "What if your Mom was a moron, and your dad was a moron. What would you be then?" A pause, and a smile. "Then," says Lucy; "I'd be an atheist."

THE BOTTOM LINE

The earth is filled with your love, O Lord; teach me your decrees. Ps. 119:64 (NIV)