HILARY JOHNSON CHUKWUMA CHUKWURAH
And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. “The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?” (Matthew 21:23-25)
INTRODUCTION
“By what
authority?” Think on this question. What chord does it strike in your mind? “…By
what authority do you do these things…?”
Issues
pertaining to authority are weighty in all areas of life but weightier in the
realm of Christian doctrine and practice. To determine the authority with which
we do the things we do in Christianity, we need to ask, “Is it from Heaven or
is it from men?” (Matthew 21:25; cf. James 3:14-17). If it is from Heaven, then
it is from God. If it is from God then it is found in God’s Word (Bible). On
the other hand, if an authority is from men, then it is not from God and cannot
be relied upon. Such must be expunged from our religious practices. In Matthew
15:13, Jesus said,
Every plant, which my Heavenly Father
hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
When we go
outside God’s Word, we err (Matthew 22:29), thereby making our worship of God
to become vain (Matthew 15:8-9).
When
Jewish leaders met Jesus, they sought to know His authority. The authority
issue bothered on two things: what Jesus did and what he taught. Jesus went
further to clarify issues of authority by highlighting on the source of
authority. He asked, “John’s baptism, was it from Heaven or from men?” (Luke
20:3-4). If it was from Heaven, then God was behind it but if it was from men,
then it was not worth the stress. Caught in the thicket of their own spin,
these religious leaders held consultations to decide on how best to respond to
Jesus’ question. Knowing that the odds were against them, they came to Jesus
and said, “We do not know.” (Luke 20: 5-7).
Are
you like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day who admitted to not knowing where
John’s authority for the things he taught and practiced came from? One can be
forgiven for not knowing source of John’s authority but MAY not be forgiven if
he/she does not know the source of authority for his/her own religious
teachings and practices.
The question of authority in Christianity is
at the very heart of determining what is pleasing to God and what is not. It
also goes to show whether we are on the path to glory or on the path to
damnation. Christianity is not popularity contest. It has nothing to do with
what people think, say or claim. It has nothing to do with popularity of a
religious organization or ‘distinguished personalities’ who are identified with
it BUT it has everything to do with whether its teachings and activities are in
consonance with God’s eternal Will – God’s Authorization.
When one
operates outside God’s authorization, that individual or organization is on
his/her own. Isaiah 8:20 declares, “To the law
and to the testimony: if they speak
not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”
Are you speaking
and practicing in consonance with law and testimony? By what authority do you do the things you do
in Christianity today?
WHAT
IS AUTHORITY?
Authority is, “The power or right to give
command, enforce obedience, take action or make final decision.” The need to
have authority in the family, society, institutions, etcetera have long been
recognized by our forebears. When there is no authority or standard, confusion
results. When people do not obtain proper authorization for the things they
aver and practice, the situation would become an all-comers’ affair. God is not
identified with confusion (I Corinthians 14:33).
In governance, you must have authority to
lead. No one in his right mind wakes up one morning and claims to be a leader.
For you to be married, you must have received the authority to do so. No one in
his/her right mind wakes up one morning and claims that a particular man or
woman is his wife or her husband. There must be an authority for one to be
married. Authority is at the heart of everything we do in life. If you do not
have it, you don’t have it. If you have authority, then you have! Do you have
authority? Who gave you the authority?
VARIOUS
FALSE BASIS OF AUTHORITY IN CHRISTIANITY
Human beings in their confusion have been
holding on to anything in sight as source of authority in Christianity. Proliferation
of authority sources has become order of the day. To some people, their
authority in Christianity are:
Church Synods and Annual Conventions
To be sure, church
Synods and conventions are traditions of men, which have become enthroned over
and above God’s ordained precepts. Synods and conventions are where religious
legislations are made. This was what our Lord Jesus described in Mark 7:7-9,
13:
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men….For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the
tradition of men,….Full well, ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may
keep your own tradition. Making the word of God of none effect through your
tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
Truth is: religious legislation is not a
reliable authority in Christianity.
Church Creeds
Various creeds abound. Men and women
subscribe to creeds and hold them as if they are God’s Word. Apostles’ Creed,
Nicene Creed, etcetera are not reliable authority. Why? Because, all creeds
written by men either contains too little or too much to be the Will of God. We
are warned in I Corinthians 4:6, “Not to
go beyond that which is written in Scripture.”
Human Headship of Churches
Archbishop, Primate, Priest, Pastor,
General Overseer, etcetera. Jesus remains the only Head of the Church. Thus
far, He has not relinquished that authority to any man or woman. Men and women
can head their religious organizations which they founded or were founded by
their forebears, but Jesus remains Head of His Church. Colossians 1:18 says, “And he 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.”
Majority Rule or Voting (Proverbs
14:12; Matthew 7:13)
To some people, their authority in Christianity
lies on what majority have said. This is usually followed by voting for or
against. God warns us against following majority (Exodus 23:2)
Visions, dreams and revelations
Do not trust prophets and prophetesses; dreamers
and those who claim to see visions and hear from God. In Jeremiah 23:25-32, God
denounced such people:
I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name,
saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of
the prophets that prophesy lies? Yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their
own heart; Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams
which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my
name for Baal. The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that
hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat?
saith the LORD. Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a
hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? Therefore, behold, I am against the
prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.
Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and
say, He saith. Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the
LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their
lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not
profit this people at all, saith the LORD.
Any prophecy, revelation, dream or vision
by any angel contrary to revealed Will of God is not acceptable. Galatians 1:6-8
declares,
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the
grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some
that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 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.
Personal Feelings and Conscience (cf. Numbers 15:39).
Feelings and consciences are not reliable
guides (Proverbs 14:12). Your feelings cannot direct your life (Jeremiah
10:23). Saul of Tarsus was one man whose conscience misled him even as he was
killing Christians (Acts 23:1; cf. John 16:2).
BE WARNED
On
the last day, you will stand alone before God to answer for yourself (Romans
14:12). No man, Synod, Church Council, Creed, Human Headship: Pastor, G.O,
Priest, Bishop, Prophet will answer for you. You will be judged exclusively by
the Word of God (John 12:48).
TRUE BASIS OF RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY
All authority in
Heaven and on Earth are in Jesus’ hands (Matthew 28:18). It is He who has the
final word and remains God’s spokesman for today (Matthew 17:1-5; Hebrews 1:1-3).
Our absolute adherence to Jesus’ teachings is what really determines whether we
are acting right or wrong (John 8:31). Reliance on Jesus’ doctrine shows whether
we are His or not and whether we enjoy God’s pleasure or are abhorred by Him (II
John 9-11).
BY WHAT AUTHORITY…?
Having
established that all authority are in Jesus and that God’s Word is found only
in Bible, we now ask: BY WHAT AUTHORITY DO YOU:
Establish denominations?
Jesus promised to build His Church (Matthew
16:18). God’s Word condemns in totality proliferations of Christian religious
organizations known today as denominations (I Corinthians 1:10-14). God has
only One Flock and remains Shepherd of only One Flock (John 10:16). There is only one Body (Ephesians
4:4). That Body, without controversy, is the Church (Colossians 1:18). So, by
what authority do you have in establishing denominations and calling it
whatever name that meets your fancy?
Appoint women pastors?
At I Corinthians 14:34-38, God’s Word
speaks unequivocally against appointment of “women pastors” and the like:
Let your women keep silence in
the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under
obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them
ask their husbands at home: for it is a
shame for women to speak in the church.
What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? If any man
think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the
things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man
be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
Apostle Paul
reiterated God’s word in this regard at I Timothy 2:8, 11-12 as he wrote,
I will therefore that men pray
every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. Let the woman learn in silence with all
subjection. But I suffer not a woman to
teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
Considering the above Biblical
statements, by what authority then do people appoint women pastors? And by what
authority does a woman have to refer to herself as “pastor”?
Infant, sprinkling and pouring as baptism?
Scripturally, baptism is not meant for
infants or children but for adults and those who have reached age of
accountability. No where in Bible do we find children and infants being baptised,
only adults were. Baptism is a burial in watery grave (Romans 6:3-5). It
requires going down and coming up out of a body of water (immersion, Acts 8:38-39).
Baptism requires “Much water,” not sprinkling or pouring (John 3:23). Baptism
is a burial (Colossians 2:12).
Use of musical instrument in Christian worship?
(Amos 5:23; Amos 6:5).
Note:
God at Amos 6:5 accused “David of Inventing instruments of music” in His Worship.
Was this allegation true? What has David to say to this? At I Chronicles 23:5
and II Chronicles 7:6 David admitted that he was inventor of musical
instruments in Old Testament worship (see also Psalms 150). However, under New
Testament (Christian), teachings and use of Christian Music are purely
A-cappella (Singing without any accompaniment of mechanical instruments (Matthew
26:30; Acts 16:25; I Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16;
Hebrews 2:12; Hebrews 13:15; James 5:13).
No where is the use of instrumental music
commanded, taught or used by and among Christians in New Testament. Jesus did
not command it. Holy Spirit did not authorize it. Apostles and early Christians
did not use it. Since these were so, by what authority then do people use
musical instruments in today’s Christian worship?
Payment of Tithe?
Originally, payment of Tithe was commanded
by God for the care and wellbeing of Levitical priesthood who did not receive any
landed inheritance among Israelites (Numbers 18:20-24). The tithes paid were to
feed Levitical priests (Malachi 3:8-10).
Of
all tribes of Israel
and nations of the world, it was Levites only who were authorized to accept
tithes payments (Hebrews 7:5). However, because Levitical Priesthood was ineffective
and imperfect, God changed the Priesthood as well as laws and regulations
guiding them, which includes tithing. Hebrews 7:11-12, 18 states:
If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it
the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest
should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order
of Aaron? For the priesthood being
changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. ….For there
is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and
unprofitableness thereof.
There is no Levitical priest anywhere in
the world today, which attests to the fact that it has been abolished by God. According
to God’s Word, no one has authorization to receive tithes from anybody today.
Since this is so, by what authority do people pay and receive tithes today?
Harvest and Bazaars?
Harvest and Bazaar sales, as instituted by
Christendom are no where authorized by Scripture. They are merely avenues concocted
by men and women to further rob church members. According to God’s Word, Church
premises are not meant for the “buying and selling” which go on in our Christian
religious organizations today. When people tried that in Jesus’ era, He became
angry and drove them away. Matthew 21:12-13 tells us:
And Jesus went into the temple
of God, and cast out all them that sold
and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and
the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house
shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Celebration of Christmas and Easter?
Modern Christianity has become feasting
religion of all sorts. In Galatians 4:9-10, God’s Word declares:
Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you,
lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
There is only one feast or celebration authorized
by Jesus in New Testament for His Disciples. Christmas, New Year, Easter and the
likes were not part of it. We are only commanded to celebrate the death of
Jesus (Matthew 26:26-28; I Corinthians 10:16; I Corinthians 11:23-28), not His
birth (Christmas) or His resurrection (Easter). Unfortunately, what Jesus
commanded is not being done the way He has instructed that it should done, but
what He has not commanded is celebrated to high heavens and with fanfare. At
John 14:15, Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” By what
authority are people celebrating Christmas, New Year and Easter today?
DETERMINING BIBLICAL AUTHORITY
- To know whether there is a Biblical authority for a teaching or practice, you need to ask: “Is it according to the Bible? Which book, chapter and verse can it be found?
- God has always insisted on our being true to His instructions (Hebrews 8:5). True servants of God have always maintained a “Thus saith the Lord” attitude (Exodus 8:27; I Corinthians 4:6). Those who did not remain in God’s instructions suffered great loses when they decided to follow their own initiatives (Leviticus 10:1-2; II Samuel 6:3-7; cf. I Chronicles 15:13-15).
- If Jesus did not teach it, Apostles did not command or practice it and not even an example of it could be found any where in the teachings of Jesus (New Testament), then it is of men and the best anyone could do is to repent of such teachings and practices.
- Be like Bereans who checked what they were taught with what was written in God’s Word to see if they agreed (Acts 17:11).
- Demand for Bible proof (I Thessalonians 5:21). Do not accept anything you are taught line, hook and sinker. Always demand for Bible authority.
HEED THIS APPEAL
Dear reader, if a teaching or religious
practice is not found in the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27), neither in
the “things pertaining to life and godliness” (II Peter 1:3) nor in the “Faith
once delivered” to Saints (Jude v.3), then it does not enjoy God’s authority. The
only way you are sure that you are with God is when you teach and practice by
His authorization. Anything short of this is mere waste of time and amounts to
“vain worship.” Please, be sure that you are sure.
There is a group of Christians who are working
hard to ensure that what they belief, teach and practice are by God’s authority.
They are not interested in fables and story-telling but on the sure Word of
God. You are encouraged to study and worship with CHURCH OF CHRIST near you.
God bless you!
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