What is the question that matters
Before we think about authority in the church, we must first have a clear idea of what the question actually is about. What exactly is authority and what are the topics that are directly related to it. Let's just approach it in a human way. Then you automatically come to the question:
Who or who has the say in the congregation of the Lord Jesus? Who may or may ultimately determine which decisions a municipality takes or what should or should not be done.
That is a question that everyone can imagine. After all, wherever people work together you can ask this question and usually you will get a clear answer. So that you know who is responsible and accountable for what. That's how it works 'in the grown-up world'. The question is who has the authority or power to decide matters in and for a particular group of people.
But does it work that way in the community? In the first chapters of the first letter to Corinth we have already seen that human wisdom in God's sight is foolishness and that we should not build the church of the Lord according to human wisdom. But how is it then?
No one is authorized
Let's get straight to the point. In the congregation of the Lord Jesus there is no one who has been given authority. You could also say that there is no one who can exercise formal authority.
God has not given men formal authority in and over His church.
By this we mean that no one (not even a certain group) within the municipality has the authority to make decisions and can impose his or her will on the municipality.
This is completely contrary to what we find in Christendom. Everywhere you will find people who in one way or another are vested with a certain authority (or also 'holding an office'). They occupy a position within the community that gives them more powers than the other believers. This can sometimes be arranged formally, but it can also be arranged informally or that it has grown over time.
The fact that formal human authority is not allowed to function within the municipality has to do with the following, among other things.
- The Lord Jesus is the Head of the church, which is testified in several places (see for example Ephesians 1:22, 4:15, 5:23 and Colossians 1:18 and 2:19). He has bought the church with His own blood; she is His property. Normally the control of the body is from the head. The head determines what the body does. So it is also the Lord Jesus Who directs His body – the church. How He does this, we'll talk about.
- The word used in the New Testament for "authority" or "authority" (Greek: exousia) occurs a little over 100 times. It is used in relation to worldly – such as Pilate – or heavenly rulers. But it is also used for the authority that the Lord Jesus and the apostles have (for example, Matthew 28:18 and 2 Corinthians 13:10). But this word is not once used for persons (other than the Lord or the apostles) who would have formal authority in the church. This is an extremely important point and it underlines the previous point. The Bible does not give any indication of competent (formal) authority in the congregation of the Lord Jesus.
- A point that further underlines this is that in the New Testament letters to a church are always addressed to the whole church. Take, for example, the congregation in Corinth. There were so many problems there that it would be perfectly normal to write to those who were responsible. In fact, how should a community without formal leadership deal with these kinds of problems of division and decline in faith? Humanly speaking, it is a great folly to think that they can solve the problems that way. Paul, man, do you really think it can be done that way?
God's wisdom
By human wisdom it is utter foolishness to have a congregation without formally authorized leaders. But it is "foolishness of God" to set it so. On the other hand, if it really functions that way, then humanly it is a miracle – and it is! God's Name is magnified and the Lord Jesus glorified when there is a community of believers who love the Lord Jesus and truly function together according to God's Word. Directly under their common Lord!
About the leadership in Corinth
In Corinth there were many problems, disagreements and divisions. Yet Paul writes a letter to everyone in the local church and not specifically to the leaders. That is very remarkable.
Yet Paul does give directions to the believers to whom they should listen in this situation. Without using that word, he indicates who their "elders" are to whom they should submit and acknowledge (1 Corinthians 16:15-18). Those were the men-brothers they should listen to.
It is noteworthy that in the second letter to the Corinthians, Paul paints a picture of those whom he calls "false apostles, deceitful workers." They are the fake servants so to speak.
Find out more about this here.
About unity and humility
In the letter to the Philippians we find important lessons about unity. Paul teaches us there that unity has to do with the direction and content of our thinking. The mind must be concerned with the Lord Jesus, with the things above and with the things to come. If this is missing, then disagreement finds its way into the community.
But in addition, we need to be humble towards each other. For this Paul points in the same letter to the Lord Jesus Himself,
“(…) He humbled Himself and became obedient, even unto death, even to the death of the cross.”
(Philippians 2:8)
Community harmony is only possible when
- our mind is focused on the Lord Jesus Christ and His glory
- there is humility towards each other
You will find this further elaborated under
– Unity and
– Humility and Submission
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