Church Governments
Lesson 1
The Nature Of Authority
The subject of governments and administrations is really a study in the organization and delegation of authority. Governments are the organization of authority to rule and govern, while administration is the actual process of using the authority given to rule and govern. However, in order to have an accurate and proper understanding of church governments and administrations, one must have a sound understanding of authority. This lesson will deal with the essence of authority.
ALL AUTHORITY COMES FROM GOD
All authority comes from God. Authority is defined as the right or power to make decisions, to give orders, and to enforce obedience. This right or power begins with God. He is the first authority and He is the final authority. He is the creator and giver of life. All things began with Him for He is authority.
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Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers (authority). For there is no power (authority) but of God: the powers (authority) that be are ordained (ordered) of God. – Romans 13:1
ALL AUTHORITY IS DELEGATED
All authority begins with God and it is His to delegate. After man’s creation, God very quickly delegated authority to man so that man would be authorized to do things for God.
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And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth . . . And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it (to keep under): and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. – Genesis 1:26, 28
God gave man dominion (authority) and commanded man to use it (subdue the earth). God chose man to be a representative of God on the earth and man was given a measure of God’s authority in order to rule on the earth. Man had God’s authorization to use His authority.
NO ONE HAS THEIR OWN AUTHORITY
All authority is on loan. If you have any authority, it is only because someone with more authority than you has given it to you. In this regard, authority is like a river flowing from the top down. It begins with God and is passed down to man.
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When a boss promotes you, he gives you more of his authority.
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When a father promotes you, he gives you more of his authority.
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When a church leader promotes you, you are given more of their authority.
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For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. – Matthew 8:9
The centurion could only command soldiers because he was under authority. It was not his authority, but rather his superior’s authority. It was authority on loan, but it empowered him to make decisions and enforce behavior. His authority, when used, authorized the soldiers under him to then go and perform his commands. If someone were to question the soldiers and ask why they were going or coming or doing, they could then answer, “My centurion has commanded me,” and they would be left alone.
ALL AUTHORITY HAS A PURPOSE
That ultimate purpose is to secure and enforce peace. Whether it be to maintain peace on the streets, order in the courtroom, structure in the classroom, or efficiency on the factory floor. All authority is an extension of the Prince of Peace to manifest peace in the earth.
Even the Godhead has a chain of command during the Church age. This is very clearly communicated throughout the scriptures. The Holy Spirit submits to Jesus.
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Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. – John 16:13-14
But where does Jesus get His authority? From the Father. This is called Economic Subordinationism.
ECONOMIC SUBORDINATIONISM VS. ONTOLOGICAL SUBORDINATIONISM
Economic Subordinationism deals with the arrangement of activities, while Ontological Subordinationism deals with the essence of being. To say that Jesus is ontologically subordinate to the Father is heresy—that is, He does not exist as an inferior person. But economically speaking (Greek oikonomikos—the arrangement of activities), Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are both subordinate to the Father. Jesus declared, “I must be about my Father’s business” (Luke 2:49) and “Not my will, but thy will be done” (Matthew 26:42). See also John 5:37 and 6:38 and Hebrews 10:7.
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Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. – John 5:19
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And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power (authority) is given unto me in heaven and in earth. – Matthew 28:18
Jesus stated that He could, of Himself, do nothing. After His resurrection, He received all power and authority over heaven and earth. With that authority, He speaks to the Holy Spirit to guide and direct the Church.
ALL AUTHORITY IS A STEWARDSHIP
All authority must be accounted for one day, whether now on earth, or one day at God’s throne of judgment. If you are in leadership, you require a status on the things you have authorized and commanded to be carried out. You want to know what has been done with the authority you delegated. If the report is good, you are likely to promote. If the report is bad, you are likely to punish and demote.
SUBMISSION BRINGS AUTHORITY
The only way to gain or earn more authority is to submit to authority. Authority is only lawfully granted through submission. It is possible to steal authority, but this is called hi-jacking and thievery, and God will never honor it. You must submit your way up. If God can find you faithful over a little, He will make you ruler over much (Matthew 25:21).
