The Distribution of Authority: Authority (Part 7)

Categories: Authority, Léo’s Insights 2019-2020

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Last time we established that authority, true authority, could only be delegated by someone who has the authority to delegate it, and we established that God was the ultimate source of authority.

We also briefly looked at 1 Corinthians 15:24, where God abolishes all rule, and all authority and power. We defined “Rule” as a jurisdiction or kingdom, “Authority” as having the ability to exercise or distribute power, and “Power” as having the ability to exercise authority within a jurisdiction. We also stated that Power was more of a restriction than a license. We will see how this works today.

It is very important to understand that you cannot have one without the others. That is, a rule without authority is nothing and power cannot be exercised within a jurisdiction without authority.

One final reminder of our last lesson is that there are two possible expressions of “rule”, “authority” and “power,” that being, they can be legitimate or illegitimate.

It is important to understand that a Rule or Jurisdiction must have Order which is expressed by an Authority with a Chain of Command AND Boundaries are created to limit Power.

Now, let’s consider a few jurisdictions. The best examples of rules or jurisdictions are Government, Church and Family, but we will include a few other examples, such as Economy, Labour and Community to demonstrate a consistency of organization.

Each jurisdiction has a chain of command which is how authority is expressed. Government, for example, is under the authority of God who directs the king who in turn rules over his citizens.  Church Leaders are under the authority of God while ministering to the flock.

Likewise, God directs Stewards who take care of the stuff of the economy, empowers Owners to command workers in the Labour jurisdiction and God directs those who serve the people of a Community.

Finally, God rules over man who is to lead his wife within the Family. Each jurisdiction has a proper chain of command so that things are appropriately done.

Now just to make sure that every jurisdiction is clearly defined, God has created boundaries to keep them all focussed on their specific tasks. Each boundary is placed to restrict the power being exercised within the jurisdiction for which it was created.

Now comes the most important question. We need to know the answer to this question in order to put all this into proper perspective. Which do you believe is God’s favourite jurisdiction or if we were to pick a jurisdiction upon which God is focussed, which would it be? When God created Adam and Eve, which jurisdiction did he instruct them to create?

Obviously, the answer is Family. There is no other jurisdiction capable of creating children.

Now another important question, the answer to which should seriously clarify our understanding of parental responsibility. To which jurisdiction does God give the authority for education? Obvious again. That would be Family.

Why would God have given parents the capacity to create children without the authority and corresponding responsibility to educate them? How can any other jurisdiction presume to know children better than parents?

Summary question! What business does government have in training children? What business does church or community have in education? None! Perhaps these jurisdictions may have a compelling interest, but the authority and responsibility for the training and teaching of children is not part of their jurisdiction.

Putting things into this family centred perspective does beg one more question. What are the other jurisdictions there for? Why are bureaucrats called “civil servants” and church leaders “ministers”? Who are they serving or to whom are they ministering?

I believe that they are there to serve the Family, which has always been God’s focus and favourite jurisdiction. Let’s not forget which jurisdiction is exemplified when the church is referenced as the Bride of Christ.

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