"FOLLOWING JESUS WITHOUT DENOMINATIONALISM"
Further Thoughts Related To Authority In Religion
INTRODUCTION
1. In the past two lessons in this series, I have stressed that to be
free of religious division we must have the same "standard of
authority"
a. That standard is the Will of Christ...
1) As revealed in the "apostles' doctrine", that is, the teaching
of Christ's apostles
2) As inspired by the Holy Spirit, and preserved for us in the
pages of the New Testament
b. Other standards, both objective and subjective, are not suitable
guides to lead us in the way of salvation...
1) Not the Old Testament, majority rule, parents, preachers,
creeds and traditions of men
2) Nor conscience, human wisdom, or feelings
2. But before we leave the subject of authority, there are some
questions I believe worthy of our consideration...
a. Exactly how does one use the New Testament to establish
authority?
b. Are there limitations placed upon how far we may go in matters of
religion?
c. Will having the same standard of authority "guarantee" unity
among the followers of Christ?
-- In this lesson I wish to share some thoughts along these lines
[Beginning with...]
I. HOW AUTHORITY IS ESTABLISHED
A. AUTHORITY CAN BE ESTABLISHED IN ONE OF THREE WAYS...
1. Direct command or precept - a direct statement of something
that can or cannot be done
a. E.g., "repent and be baptized" - Ac 2:38
b. E.g., "love one another" - Jn 13:34
c. E.g., "abstain from sexual immorality" - 1 Th 4:3
2. Approved example - an illustration that shows a practice was
done with the approval of the Lord's apostles
a. As an apostle, Paul taught by both precept and example
1) He encouraged others to imitate him, and sent Timothy to
remind people of "his ways in Christ, as I teach
everywhere in every church" - 1 Co 4:16-17
2) The God of peace will be with those who do the sort of
things both heard (precept) and seen (example) in an
apostle like Paul - cf. Ph 4:9
b. So when we have an example that meets with apostolic
approval, we know there is authority for the practice
1) E.g., having a plurality of elders in one church -
Ac 14:23 ; 20:28; Ph 1:1
2) E.g., meeting on the first day of the week for the
purpose of breaking bread (i.e., the Lord's supper, cf.
1 Co 10:16-17 ) - Ac 20:7
3. Necessary implication, or "forced conclusion" - something
neither expressly stated nor specifically exemplified, yet it
is necessarily implied by the clear import and meaning of the
language used so that one can only draw a particular
conclusion
a. Jesus appealed to necessary implication when He reasoned
that there must be a resurrection of the dead based upon
the implication of God's statement to Moses - cf. Mt 22:
29-33
b. Peter and the brethren in Judea understood the necessary
implication of the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit,
that it meant Gentiles were permitted to be baptized and
enjoy the repentance that leads to life - cf. Ac 10:44-48 ;
11:15-18
c. Therefore, if the evidence of the Scriptures warrant it, we
may draw certain conclusions because of the necessary
implication
1) E.g., the issue of baptizing infants...
a) The prerequisites for baptism include faith and
repentance - Mk 16:16 ; Ac 2:38 ; 8:37
b) Infants are incapable of faith and repentance
-- Therefore the necessary implication (or forced
conclusion) is that baptism is not required of
infants
2) E.g., the matter of using unleavened bread in partaking
the Lord's Supper...
a) There is nothing expressly stated nor specifically
exemplified in reference to using unleavened bread as
we observe the Lord's Supper
b) But when Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper at the
Last Passover, we know that He was using unleavened
bread - cf. Lk 22:7-19
-- Therefore the necessary implication is that we should
use unleavened bread as we keep His command to
observe the Lord's Supper
B. THERE IS BOTH "GENERAL" AND "SPECIFIC" AUTHORITY...
1. Using a "direct command" as an example, sometimes it is
"general" in its authority
a. That is, "not limited in scope, area, or application" (The
American Heritage Dictionary)
b. E.g, the command to "go" in Mt 28:19 is generic enough to
authorize all methods of transportation
2. Sometimes a "direct command" is "specific" in its authority
a. That is, "explicitly set forth; definite" (The American
Heritage Dictionary)
b. E.g., when God commanded Noah to build the ark with
"gopher" wood (Gen 6:14 ), the specific nature of the
command ruled out using any other kind of wood
3. A "specific" command may itself have a degree of "general"
authority
a. E.g., the command to "sing" specifically authorizes
acapella music
b. It is not generic enough to authorize instrumental music...
1) ...which is totally different class (or kind) of music
2) ...but it is generic enough to authorize different aids
or "expedients" (see below), such as song books, to
carry out the command to sing
C. "EXPEDIENTS" MAY BE USED TO CARRY OUT AUTHORIZED PRACTICES...
1. "Expedient" means "appropriate to a purpose" (The American
Heritage Dictionary)
2. Thus an "expedient" is an aid that is suitable for carrying
out that which is authorized
3. Sample "expedients" based upon what is authorized in the
Scriptures:
a. Assembling is authorized, so the meeting house is an
expedient to carry out the command to assemble
b. Giving is authorized, so collection baskets are an
expedient for gathering the contribution
c. Baptism is authorized, so the baptistery is an expedient to
provide a place for immersion
d. Singing is authorized, so hymn books are expedient to
helping us sing
[These principles on how to establish authority from the Scriptures may
seem prosaic, but they can be very useful in applying the "apostles'
doctrine" (i.e., the Word of God) to our lives. When properly
understood and applied correctly, they can be useful "tools" to
maintain the unity and peace of a local congregation.
Another question that often arises when the subject of authority in
religion is being discussed: "Are there limitations placed upon how
far we may go?" I.e., must we have authority for all that we do in
religious matters? To help answer such questions, consider these...]
II. WARNINGS FOUND IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
A. WE MUST NOT CHANGE ITS MESSAGE!
1. This is especially true in regards to the gospel of Christ!
- Ga 1:8-9
2. Even if we claimed a change was authorized by an angelic
messenger, we would be accursed!
3. Therefore, the gospel of salvation in Christ must be preserved
in every respect!
B. WE MUST NOT ADD TO OR TAKE AWAY FROM IT!
1. We find such a warning at the conclusion of the last book of
the Bible - Re 22:18-19
2. Though primarily applicable to the book of Revelation, this
warning is consistent with others pertaining to the revelation
of God's will to man - Deu 4:2 ; Pro 30:5-6
C. WE MUST ABIDE IN THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST!
1. Otherwise, we will not have fellowship with the Father and the
Son - 2 Jn 9
2. Is this passage referring to the doctrine "about" Christ, or
the doctrine "taught by" Christ (along with His apostles)?
a. As pointed out in the Expositor's Bible Commentary, the
question is of little importance for John holds equally to
both positions
1) It is fundamental to the faith to hold to the proper
views about Christ - cf. 2 Jn 7
2) It is fundamental to the faith to obey the commandments
of Christ - cf. 1 Jn 3:24
b. Thus what John says here applies in either case
D. WE MUST NOT ALLOW "TRADITIONS OF MEN" TO MAKE THE "COMMANDS OF
GOD" OF NO EFFECT!
1. Jesus charged the Pharisees with "vain" worship for doing this
- Mk 7:5-13
2. In view of this warning, we should evaluate our religious
practices:
a. Are they based upon "traditions of men", or the
"commandments of God"?
b. If "traditions of men", does our keeping them render the
"commands of God" of no effect?
c. E.g., by keeping the man-made tradition of sprinkling for
baptism, we render the command of God for immersion (Grk.
"baptizo") of no effect
E. WE MUST NOT ABUSE OUR LIBERTY IN CHRIST!
1. In Christ we enjoy wonderful freedom, but we must be careful
in our use of it - Ga 5:1 , 13
2. We must be considerate of our brothers' consciences - Ro 14:
14-15:3
3. We should be willing to forego our liberty rather than let it
destroy a brother - 1 Co 8:9-13
4. We should not only ask "Is it lawful?", but also "Does it
edify?" - 1 Co 10:23-24 ,31-33
[With such "warnings" weighing upon our hearts, we are more likely to
approach the Word of God with the humility it deserves as we seek to
establish the authority for our service to God.
But one last question related to having the same standard of authority:
Will it "guarantee" unity among the followers of Christ?]
III. AGREEING UPON THE SAME STANDARD WILL NOT GUARANTEE UNITY
A. THERE ARE STILL CHALLENGES TO FACE...
1. Which commands are binding today?
a. Some commands must be understood to be limited in
application
b. Effort must be made to determine whether a command was
intended to be limited or universal in application
2. Which approved examples are to be considered normative for the
church today?
a. Much of what we learn about the church pertaining to its
work and organization is by example, not precept
b. Effort must be made to determine whether an example should
be understood as teaching a binding principle for the
church to observe universally
3. When are necessary implications really necessary implications?
a. People often infer things from the Bible and call their
conclusion a "necessary" implication
b. But it may only be a "possible" implication, not one to be
"necessarily" inferred
-- These are some of the questions or challenges faced by every
congregation of Christians
B. AS CHRISTIANS SEEK UNITY, WE NEED MORE THAN JUST THE SAME
STANDARD OF AUTHORITY...
1. Barton W. Stone, an effective promoter of Christian unity in
the early 1800's, had these insightful words in an article
entitled "Christian Union" published in The Christian
Messenger (1828):
"On no other foundation can the parties ever meet, than on the
Bible alone, without note or comment; and in no other name
will they ever unite, but in that given to the disciples at
Antioch--CHRISTIAN. But should all the professors of
Christianity reject all their various creeds and names, and
agree to receive the Bible alone, and be called by no other
name than Christian, will this unite them? No, we are fully
convinced that unless they all possess the spirit of that
book and name they are far, very far, from Christian union."
(As quoted by J. M. Powell, The Cause We Plead: A Story Of The
Restoration Movement, 20th Century Christian, 1987, p. 56)
2. In addition to agreeing on the same standard of authority
(i.e., the Word of God), we need the proper spirit to "rightly
divide the word of truth" - cf. 2 Ti 2:14-16
3. As Paul told Timothy, the servant of the Lord must carefully
apply the Word when seeking to teach others - 2 Ti 2:23-25
CONCLUSION
1. The apostle Paul has more to say on the attitudes necessary to
"maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace", but we will
consider those in our next lesson
2. My purpose in this lesson has been to share some thoughts that I
pray will help steer us in the right direction as we "Follow Jesus
Without Denominationalism":
a. The Bible teaches us, not only by way of direct commands, but
through approved examples and necessary implications
b. It is helpful to understand the principles of general and
specific authority, and when something may be expedient to
fulfill things that are authorized
c. Warnings throughout the scriptures should serve to keep us on the
"straight and narrow"
d. But as valuable and needful the same standard of authority may
be, simple agreement on what the standard is will not guarantee
unity - we need to apply the proper spirit of love, patience and
humility as we grow together towards unity in Christ
What is your attitude toward the authority of God's Word? Are you
willing to accept the authority of Jesus Christ, as delegated to His
apostles? - cf. Mt 28:18-20 ; Ac 2:36-38