As Disciples of Jesus Christ, God has called us to be and to remain salts of the earth (Matthew 5:14-16). Salt is an important element of our daily lives. Salt is an influencer. Without salt, the real taste of food is lost, but with adequate amount of salt in food the true taste of food is gained.
As salts, God has called us to employ our influences to better people and the world around us. Salt is a preservative and so are Christians (Matthew 24:22). One of the ways to influence and preserve society is to ensure the enthronement of Truth and to help people know and be guided by Divine Authority. This is important considering the fact that many people today think they are, but are not.
We live in an era of intense religious activities and of high-impact expressions of emotions. Without recourse to authority, Christianity has today become an all-comers’ affair, a place where anything goes. Christianity is a taught relationship with God, not emotional subjectivism. People need to be reminded that activity is not productivity and that confession is not possession. Again, people need to be encouraged to be sure that they are sure of their salvation. At the heart of all these is AUTHORITY.
I have been specifically instructed to speak on the topic, “THE DISCIPLE’S GUIDE AND AUTHORITY.” Two passages of Scripture that speak boldly of authority are Matthew 21:23-25 and Matthew 7:28-29. At Matthew 21:23-25 we read:
“And when he came into the Temple, the chief priests and elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and asked, ‘By what authority do you do these things and who gave You this authority?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell me, I in likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things -The baptism of John, where did it come from - from heaven, or of men?”
In
a grand conspiracy, religious leaders of Jesus’ day had confronted Him with the
question, “By What authority?” The
authority issue bothered on two things: what Jesus did and taught. In
other words they had asked, “Why do you
do what you do?” and “Why do you
teach what you teach?” Above all, “What
is the source of your authority?”
To answer their questions, Jesus asked them, “John’s baptism, was it from Heaven or from men?” (Matthew 21:25). Caught in the thicket of their own spin, these religious leaders held a consultative meeting 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). Why did Jesus use John’s baptism as a test case? Because God’s purpose is embedded therein, which these religious leaders had denied and rejected (Luke 7:29-30). These religious leaders, having known the truth but refused to acknowledge it, Jesus decided not to waste any saliva on them (Luke 20:8).
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 the 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.
To further advance this discourse, at Matthew 7:28-29 we read:
“And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”
Jesus was different. He did not follow the bandwagon. He was not like the Jones and the Joneses. He did not teach what was popular. He was not the average prosperity and social preacher. He spoke with authority and finality. He would prefer to push people into Heaven than to pamper them into Hell. Authority was what defined his teachings and activities.
AUTHORITY IS AT THE HEART OF THE MATTER
Authority is at the heart of politics, religion and socio-economic lives of the world. Authority is what determines whether a person has a right to speak or to act.
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 do not have it. If you have authority, then you have it!
Do you have authority? Who gave you this authority?
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 His 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. At 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).
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 of ‘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 a person 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, confusion will become order of the day. To be sure, God is not identified with any form of confusion (I Corinthians 14:33).
JESUS: THE DISCIPLE’S GUIDE AND AUTHORITY FOR TODAY
There is no gainsaying that Jesus is our Guide and Authority. He is God’s Mouthpiece. How do we know? At Matthew 17:1-5 we read:
“After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John to a high mountain where he was transfigured. During His transfiguration, His face shone as the sun, and his clothing was as white as light. As He was being transfigured, two men, Moses and Elijah appeared to them and talked with Him. When Peter saw them, he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here: if You would, let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and a voice spoke out of the cloud, ‘This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; listen to him.’ ”
Matthew 17:1-5 bears testimony to the fact that Jesus’ is God’s Spokesman for today. This is further attested to by Hebrews 1:1-2, which says:
“God, Who in times past and in different ways spoke to the Fathers through prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, Whom He has appointed heir of all things, through Whom He also made the worlds….”
Jesus is God’s Voice for today. He is the disciples’ Guide and Authority. This Authority was conferred on Him when was transfigured. II Peter 1:17-19 says:
“For He received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, ‘This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mountain. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.”
The most authoritative way that God speaks to His people today is through Jesus Christ. The most authoritative way that Jesus speaks to us today is through His Word. Therefore, as Christians, there must be a book, chapter and verse authorization of everything we do as disciples of Jesus (I Peter 4:11; Isaiah 8:20).
At Matthew 17:1-5, we see three great men: Moses, Elijah and Jesus. These Personalities represent three dispensations. Moses represented the Law, Elijah represented the Prophetic ministry while Jesus represents Grace (John 1:17). Today, God no longer speaks through Mosaical laws nor through the prophets, but through Jesus. Speaking of the places of Moses and Jesus in God’s scheme, Hebrews 3:1-6 says,
“Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; who was faithful to him Who appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this Man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who builds the house has more honour than the house. For every house is built by someone; but He Who built all things is God. Verily, Moses was faithful in all God’s house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; but Christ is a Son over His own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.”
Moses was a servant in God’s House, but Jesus is the Only Begotten Son in God’s House. In view of this, when a servant in a house speaks and the Son of the house speaks, who would you listen to? Obviously we must listen to the Son than to the servant. At Deuteronomy 18:18-19, God Himself told Moses:
“I will raise
them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my
words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which
he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.”
Today, everything revolves around Jesus Christ. He is the epicenter of God’s dealings with man. As far as Christianity is concerned, anything we do – if it does not come from Jesus or centered around Jesus, then we are being mistaken. II John 9 – 11 is so particular about this when it warns:
“Whosoever transgresses, and abides not in the Doctrine of Christ, does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ, has both the Father and the Son. Therefore, if anyone comes to you, and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house, nor bid him Godspeed: For anyone who bids him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds.”
Error is not only dangerous to the person who propagates it, but also to the person who subscribes to it. To avoid jeopardizing your soul in eternity, you must endeavour to ensure that you do not accept line, hook and sinker whatever anyone presents to you as an acceptable practice in Christendom. You must be like the Bereans who “searched the Scriptures daily to see whether what they were taught were exactly so” (Acts 17:11).
I concede to the fact that people are honest and zealously religious. However, being religiously zealous and honest are no guarantee to being on God’s Good Books. Romans 10:1-3 says,
“Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”
Partial knowledge is a dangerous phenomenon in Christianity. Writing on page 16 of Grace and Truth Magazine, June 1999, T. M. Clement Jr. wrote:
“Those who have set a truth apart, have truth in part and from the Truth depart.”
There is a danger out there. Appolos was a “powerful preacher who spoke powerfully about Jesus, but was only partly informed about Him. He only knew about Jesus, but did not know what Jesus taught. It took the combined efforts of Priscilla and Aquila to deliver him from error. Acts 18:24-26 tells us:
And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spoke and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him aside, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
Some people desperately need the Appolos’ treatment – they need to be “taught the Way of the Lord more perfectly.” Are you that man or woman?
VARIOUS FALSE BASIS OF AUTHORITY IN CHRISTIANITY
One of the greatest warnings found in Scripture is in Colossians 2:8. Here, Holy Spirit warns:
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
Human beings in their confusion have been holding on to anything in sight as sources 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 makes nonsense of men’s supposed “worship of God.” At Mark 7:7-9, 13 our Lord Jesus Christ:
“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 own 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. No one is exempted from dreaming. Go ahead and dream your dreams, but avoid equating your dreams with God’s Inerrant Word. At Jeremiah 23:25-32 God says,
“I have heard what the prophets said, who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed.’ How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? Yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own hearts; who cause my people to forget my name by their dreams, who tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers had forgotten my name for Baal. The prophet who has a dream, let him tell his dream; and he who has my word, let him speak my word faithfully. ‘What is the chaff to the wheat?’ says the LORD. ‘Is not my word like as a fire?’ says the LORD; ‘and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who steal my words every one from his neighbour. Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, who use their tongues, and say, He said. Behold, I am against them who prophesy false dreams, says the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet, I did not send them, nor commanded them: therefore, they shall not profit this people at all,’ says the LORD.”
Any prophecy, revelation, dream or vision by any man or angel contrary to the revealed Will of God in the Bible is not acceptable. At Galatians 1:6-8 Apostle Paul declared:
“I marvel that you are so soon removed from Him who called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some who trouble you, and would pervert the Gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.”
Personal
Feelings and Conscience
Feelings and consciences are not reliable guides (Proverbs 14:12). Assumption is a deadly error. Do not follow your heart. You can only do so in matters of love, but not on matters of Faith. You should never see things from your own perspective or from other people's perspectives but from God's own perspective. What you and others see and say do not really matter or count, but what God sees and says are what really matters.
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, etcetera will answer for you. You will be judged exclusively by God’s Word through Jesus Christ (John 12:48).
TRUE BASIS OF
RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY
All authority in Heaven and on Earth are in Jesus. At Matthew 28:18 Jesus announced triumphantly,
“… All authority in heaven and on earth have been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations…. ”
It is only Jesus Who has the final word and remains God’s spokesman for today (Matthew 17:1-5; Hebrews 1:1-3). 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…?” – IMPERATIVE FOR THE HOUR
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 silent in churches: for they are not permitted to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also says the Law. If they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. What? Did God’s Word come out from you? or did it come to you only? Therefore, if any man thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him remain ignorant.”
Reiterating this stance, God’s Word at I Timothy 2:8, 11-12, Apostle Paul says:
“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, the question, therefore remains: 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 believing adults and those who have reached the age of accountability. Nowhere in Bible do we find children and infants being baptised, only adults were. Baptism is a burial in the 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).
At Amos 6:5, God accused “David of Inventing instruments of music” in His Worship. Was this allegation true? What had David to say to this accusation? At I Chronicles 23:5 and II Chronicles 7:6 David admitted that he was the inventor of musical instruments in Old Testament worship (see also Psalms 150).
At I Chronicles 23:5 he admitted:
“ ‘Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the
LORD with the instruments which I made,’
said David, to praise therewith.”
At II Chronicles 7:6 we read:
“And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of music of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endures forever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.”
Yes, King David encouraged the use of instruments of music in Divine worship in the Old Testament. However, in the New Testament, 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 in the New Testament is the use of instrumental music commanded, taught or used by and among Christians. 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 the tribes of Israel and nations of the world, it was only Levites who were authorized to accept tithes payments (Hebrews 7:5). However, because the 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 churches in Christendom are nowhere 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 “buying and selling” which go on in various 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 those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them who sold doves, and said to 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 the 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 Christ (Matthew 26:26-28; I Corinthians 10:16; I Corinthians 11:23-28). We are not commanded to remember 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.” In view of this, again we ask, “By what authority are people celebrating Christmas, New Year and Easter today?”
DETERMINING
BIBLICAL AUTHORITY
1. 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?
2. 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).
3. If Jesus did not teach it, Apostles
did not command or practiced 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.
4. Be like the Bereans who painstakingly
checked what they were taught against what was written in God’s Word to see if
they agreed (Acts 17:11).
5. Demand for Bible proof (I Thessalonians 5:21). Do not accept anything you are taught line, hook and sinker. Always demand for Bible authority.
OUR APPEAL
I would like to make this appeal: 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 can be sure that you have God’s authority 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 believe, 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!
__________________________________
Hilary
Johnson Chukwuma Chukwurah is a servant of God who labours to enlarge the
borders of God’s Kingdom in hearts and communities of men. He is a private
sector player in the printing and publishing sector. He is the Vision-Bearer of Grand-Heritage
Global Communications, a firm of Editors and Publishers. He lives in Enugu and
can be contacted via Phone: 0803 959
6919 and E-mail:
hilaryjohnsonc@gmail.com.
