Authority

	Our society seems to be very disturbed and confused, doesn't it?  We have so many problems.  And we don't seem to understand that most of our so-called "solutions" simply add to the problems.
	Although our situation seems to be complicated, our fundamental problems are actually few.  For example, much of what we see around us is related to one thing: authority.  Parents ignore their responsibility to supervise and direct their children, and then we wonder why our society is such a mess.  Parents allow their children to control the family, and then they wonder why the family is dysfunctional.  Parents talk disrespectfully about teachers, and then they wonder why their children have problems in school.  Parents talk disrespectfully about policemen.  They ignore speed limits and other traffic laws, and then they wonder why their children get in trouble with the law.  The list goes on, but the point is already obvious.  Where there is no respect for authority, major problems are sure to follow.
	Nowhere is this more true than in religion.  Most, if not all, of the problems in the religious world today stem from an improper understanding of authority.  Where do religious groups get the authority for their practices and beliefs?  It is tempting to say that some rely on no authority at all, but this would not be entirely correct.  It would be more accurate to say that, for these groups, each person is his or her own authority.  This is a very popular approach, since it fits nicely with the prevailing attitude in our society that no one has a right to tell me what to do.
	Other religious bodies take a slightly more orderly approach.  They have organizational structures to hand down rules and regulations.  These sometimes rely on theologians to decide doctrinal matters.
	There are other groups which hold conventions to decide on doctrinal positions.  Their beliefs are basically determined by a majority of delegates present.
	Some groups give consideration to tradition and historical figures.  They look to established practices and writings of religious leaders from the past.
	The book Dictionary of Theological Dogma lists seven acceptable sources of religious authority.  These are Scripture, tradition, the church, councils, popes, holy fathers and theologians.  In addition, it lists three improper sources: human reasoning, philosophy and history.  It is interesting to notice that six of the seven acceptable sources actually rely on nothing more than the three improper ones.  For example, a council simply uses human reasoning, philosophy and history in determining a doctrinal stance.  So these six are nothing more than rationalized forms of the three improper sources.
	Our discussion, then,  really boils down to four things: Scripture, human reasoning, philosophy and history.  Human reasoning and philosophy are closely related, so we might as well put them together.  And it would probably be easiest to understand history as tradition.  So let's take a look at human reasoning, tradition and Scripture as possible sources of authority.
	Paul addresses his Corinthian letters to a congregation which is greatly divided.  One of their problems is the premium they place on human wisdom and philosophy.
	"For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside,'" we find in 1 Corinthians 1:19-25.  "Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not {come to} know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.  For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."
	"And when I came to you, brethren," Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 2:1, "I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God."
	"And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom," he adds in verses 4-5, "but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God."
	"Let no man deceive himself," Paul warns in 1 Corinthians 3:18-20.  "If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become foolish that he may become wise.  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, '{He is} the one who catches the wise in their craftiness'; and again, 'The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless.'" 
	Paul makes it very clear to the Corinthians that human reasoning is not an acceptable source of authority.  He refers to this approach as "foolish."  Unfortunately, this congregation is not the only one with this problem.  
	"I say this in order that no one may delude you with persuasive argument," Paul writes in Colossians 2:4.
	"These are matters," he notes in verse 23, "which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, {but are} of no value against fleshly indulgence."
	We can remove human reasoning from our list of acceptable sources for religious authority.

	"See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception," Paul cautions in Colossians 2:8, "according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ."
	Human reasoning is not an acceptable source of religious authority.  In this verse, Paul also addresses a second source of authority: tradition.
	"Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites," Jesus expresses in Mark 7:6-13, "as it is written, 'This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me.  But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.' Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.  You nicely set aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition.  For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death'; but you say, 'If a man says to {his} father or {his} mother, anything of mine you might have been helped by is Corban (that is to say, given {to God}),' you no longer permit him to do anything for {his} father or {his} mother; {thus} invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that."
	Jesus doesn't seem to like traditions as a source of authority.
	"So then, brethren," Paul instructs in 2 Thessalonians 2:15, "stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word {of mouth} or by letter from us."
	Why do we find this contradiction?  Why does Jesus condemn traditions and Paul praise them?  There is no contradiction.  Jesus is talking about man-made traditions.  This is what religious groups are relying upon when they speak of tradition as a source of authority.  Paul is referring specifically to inspired traditions communicated through the New Testament. 
	"Now we command you, brethren," Paul orders in 2 Thessalonians 3:6, "in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep aloof from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us."
	This tradition is obviously nothing other than the doctrine contained in the New Testament.  And this is our third possible source of authority: Scripture.
	"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth," Jesus exclaims in Matthew 28:18,
	Jesus has all authority.  How does He communicate His will? He does it through the New Testament.
	"If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual," Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 14:37, "let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment."
	Jesus exercises His authority through the New Testament.  In fact, we should clarify that He expresses His will exclusively through the Scriptures.
	"Now these things, brethren," Paul instructs in 1 Corinthians 4:6, "I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to exceed what is written, in order that no one of you might become arrogant in behalf of one against the other."
	"Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ," we are told in 2 John 9-10, "does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into {your} house, and do not give him a greeting."
	Jesus has all authority.  He communicates His will exclusively through the Scriptures.  What will happen to us if we rely on this sole source of authority? 
	"You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of," Paul urges in 2 Timothy 3:14-17, "knowing from whom you have learned {them}; and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."
	The Bible is the only acceptable source of authority.  We must reject human reasoning and man-made tradition.
	Many religious groups claim to follow only the Bible.  But we must look closer than claims.  If a group has an official creed or creed book, then that group does not follow only the Bible.  If that group has rules and regulations handed down by any kind of organizational structure, then that group does not follow only the Bible.  If that group has any kind of convention to decide on doctrinal positions, then that group does not follow only the Bible.
	The Bible is our only source of truth.  And only the truth will set us free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission." (www.lockman.org)