Principles in Practice

Coming Under Authority

Some Christians think that every believer must come under the authority of another Christian at all times--that anyone who is not following someone else's direction is "out on his own" or "not subject to authority." Others feel very uncomfortable with someone else telling them what to do, other than God Himself. They believe Christians are to be "free of the law" and "subject to grace."

The consequence of the first extreme--total submission--is creating a human dictatorship. We need clear lines of authority. But while each of us needs to know to whom we should report and be accountable, we also need to be free to make our own mistakes. The consequence of the other extreme--no authority--is confusion. That is what God used to foil the building of the Tower of Babel. For those who seek to know and do God's will, there must be a sense of order. To think that God will direct the actions of two or more people without lines of authority is to ignore both the routines of life and the examples of scripture.

God is a God of order. He says that He is in charge. He also says that He appoints individuals, offices, governments and the church to serve as his instruments. The key is to determine whom God has designated to serve as His overseer or point of accountability in any given situation.

Submitting to Your Pastor

Do you think your pastor has the right to tell you what to do? Worse yet, do you have to do what he says? We know God wants neither dictatorship or anarchy in the local church. But there is a wide middle ground.

As Paul warned, there will be times when must contend for the doctrinal integrity of the faith. And there will be times of disharmony and disagreement within the Body of Christ and within subdivisions of that Body. But even then, we need to have an attitude of love that transcends the necessary exercise of authority. Those under authority must be able to see the love of God flowing from those in authority. True spiritual authority is exercised by the Holy Spirit through man. Where love is absent, only human authority is left.

When the local church's authority is invested in ordained clergy who are institutionally accountable to lay leadership in some fashion, each member of the church is subject to the authority of the pastor. For so long as individuals believe that God wants them to be members of that particular church, they should accept the direction of their pastor as God's direction for them.

Believers should always be free to disassociate from a particular local church. However, they should always be part of some local church, subject to the authority of that church. There is no room for lone rangers in the Body of Christ.

Likewise, pastors should be submitted to authority to ensure balance in their exercise of authority. Being under authority themselves will help prevent pastors from becoming dictators or authors of confusion.

Submitting to Your Spouse

Who is the boss in your house? When can a wife tell her husband what to do? The lines of authority that exist in a Christian home are unique. Just as there are often dual lines of authority in the church (clergy and lay leadership), there are dual lines of authority in the family.

The Bible tells us that the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church. The Bible also tells believers to be submitted one to another and that the husband is to love his wife as his own body.

How does this work on a practical level? My wife Pat and I believe that if God has something to say to one of us, He can help the other one hear it also. Thus, we are seldom at cross purposes because we have a long-standing commitment to take no action unless we agree.

In the very rare times when we are not in agreement but circumstances dictate that a decision must be made or an action taken, Pat acknowledges my responsibility, as head of the home, to make the final decision. Since I know that God's primary vehicle for directing me is my wife's counsel, I am as likely to decide in accord with her position as not. Because she knows that, she seldom takes a very strong stand on something we disagree on. I know beyond question that if ever I make a decision that is contrary to Pat's position, I have missed God's best for us in that situation.

From Pat's perspective, she runs no risk if she lets me decide. She knows that God will protect her in the midst of my mistakes. Conversely, I am happy to give her veto power over my decisions because then she assumes the responsibility, and God will protect me from the consequences. This mutual submission guarantees that we almost never seriously disagree.

Submitting to Your Employer

Do you know when to disobey your employer? Do you know when to quit your job and know in advance you are doing the right thing? What are the lines of authority on the job? Are they any different for a Christian?

Paul tells us as servants to be submitted to our masters. The only exception to that is if your employer directs you to do something that is either illegal or contrary to God's law. You are much better off to disobey your employer than to disobey God. And if you have to make that choice more than once, go find another employer.

For most of us, the real issue is not moral or legal questions, but our attitude. Do we really care about our employers and their interests? Are we loyal and faithful to our employers? Are we looking for ways to serve their interests beyond our job descriptions?

What about the problems associated with an intermediate boss, a supervisor, or even a co-worker? Just cannot stand the people directly over you or next to you? The Bible has a clear prescription for this problem: Love them! Do good to them and lend to them without expecting anything in return. Pray for them and see them as the ones in need rather than yourself.

If you are unhappy in your job, should you quit? Probably not. Chances are you need to become an excellent employee, serving your company as unto the Lord. Then you will get either a promotion or a transfer or a new job.

Choosing to Submit

Do you always know whom to obey? When should you not be under someone else's authority? There is great freedom and protection in placing ourselves under authority. And in a free society, we usually decide for ourselves to whom we will submit.

Understand that you when you make a major life decision, you are voluntarily placing yourself under an authority--whether you are taking a job, joining a church, signing up for the Army or choosing a mate. Your commitment may be for a day, as a volunteer, or for three years as a soldier. It may be for a season, such as taking on some responsibility in your church, or for a lifetime such as choosing a career.

There is a key principle in submitting to others: Never disobey your authority. You may decide that you must withdraw from that authority, but while you are under an authority, do not rebel.

Once you learn to submit to authority and better understand how God operates through lines of authority, you can have great peace in the midst of confusion. Until you learn, you will have confusion instead of peace.

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