Delegated Authority -what many Christians today do not understand

Evangelical · 12-07-2016, 06:44 PM

Few Christians would disobey a direct command from God. However many Christians disobey God's delegated commands, by not recognizing a delegated command when it happens.

Delegated authority is God exercising his authority through persons who represent Him to exercise His authority. Modern society and Christianity has thrown away this concept almost entirely.

While the Bible speaks about God speaking to us directly, through dreams, visions, angels and the inward speaking, many ignore God's indirect speaking through delegated authority.

Examples of delegated authorities are church elders, teachers, government officials, police, parents, husbands etc.

Romans 13:1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities

1 Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human authority

Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.

Eph 6:1 Children, obey your parents as you would the Lord, because this is right

Many Christians have a wrong concept of delegated authority in the church. They believe that if they go to one denomination, the pastor or priest is the authority and submission to them is equivalent to submission to God. If they go to another denomination they likewise will submit to the pastor or priest.

However this is not what it seems. This is because the leaders of denominations are (usually) employed by and represent the denominational organization. They have acquired organizational authority by receiving the required qualifications (theological degree for example) and by being appointed to the position. They bear the name of the denomination and carry organizational authority, not genuine delegated authority from God. Also, a leader in one organization has no authority in another organization. The Pope holds no authority in a Lutheran church, for example (and vice versa), so the Pope's authority is merely organizational and not spiritual. Paul, however, had spiritual authority in all the churches - this is a reason why all Christians today take Paul's writings as authoritative, regardless of organizational affiliation.

One Christian might go to one denomination which permits certain things, but in another church it is prohibited. Both cannot be God's delegated authorities because they both say different things. The apostle Paul did not give different rules to each church - he said
1 Cor 7:17 "This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.".

Today, most Christians understand delegated authority to be based upon theological qualification and appointment to position within an organization. They believe that praying and asking God to bless their organizational appointment means that they automatically receive God's blessing and delegated authority. This idea probably comes from past history where there was no real distinction between political organizations, monarchies and the church. For example in the Anglican organization, the Queen of England was seen to have God's delegated authority over the church of England not just her country. However in the New Testament God's delegated authority in the church and the delegated authorities in the world (possibly non-Christian e.g. pagan) were distinct.

Denominations which have stemmed from the religio-political organizations such as Catholic and Anglican, have continued this idea of one ruler over both the organization and the church. The same model is also used in denominations which may look nothing like Catholic or Anglican, yet follow the same principles. For example, certain pentecostal denominations are more like commercial organizations or businesses that hold church services as a means to provide income and status. The leaders or presidents (as they are often called) of the organization often assumes the role of church leader as well. They exercise the organization's delegated authority to fire and hire pastors etc.

The bible reveals God's delegated authority in the church being exercised in an organic way not an organizational way. We can see this in the example of how God gave delegated authority to the apostle Paul. Paul's first encounter with the Lord was directly. Acts 22:10 ""'What shall I do, Lord?' I asked. " 'Get up,' the Lord said, 'and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.'"

At this point, God reverted authority to His chosen delegated authority in Ananias:

Acts 22:12 "A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there."

Paul submitted to God's delegated authority by submitting to Ananias. [Remark: If it happened today, Paul would probably have demanded to see Ananias's theological qualification and appointment as a "reverend" before being baptized. ]

Paul then leaves the delegated authority with Ananias and God's direct speaking comes to Paul again in verse 18:

Acts 22:18 and saw the Lord speaking to me. 'Quick!' he said. 'Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.'

In this example we can see the interplay between God's direct authority and God's delegated authority. One often follows the other. First God's direct speaking, then the delegated speaking, then direct speaking, then the delegated speaking again. We have to learn not only to listen to God's direct speaking abut also His delegated authority. If we are obeying rightly the two should match up. It is unhealthy to rely upon either authority to the detriment of the other - there must be balance. Paul did not demand that God restore his vision through a direct miracle, Paul followed God's instructions and submitted to Ananias. Neither did Paul follow Ananias just because God chose Ananias to restore Paul's sight- he followed the Spirit's leading.

God's delegated authority was the person God chose to use in that moment to minister to Paul. In Paul's case it was Ananias. It does not mean that Ananias was "the delegated authority" and all converts had to go through him. There were no permanent, organizational authorities unlike in the denominations today. Ananias was not a specially qualified person according to an organization. His qualification came from God - "a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews".

Another aspect to this is the relationship between the direct and delegated authority. If we disregard God's direct speaking or the delegated authority, it is equivalent to disregarding the other. We cannot presume to obey God's direct speaking only while disobeying the delegated authorities, whether they be church elders or policepersons. This is typical of churches that emphasize individual responsibility and personal relationship with God. Likewise, we cannot presume to obey God by obeying the delegated authorities only and not following God's direct speaking. This is typical of those in the traditional churches with very strong heirarchy - Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran etc. This is because both authority comes from God.

12-07-2016, 06:44 PM	#1
Evangelical Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 3,965	Delegated Authority -what many Christians today do not understand Few Christians would disobey a direct command from God. However many Christians disobey God's delegated commands, by not recognizing a delegated command when it happens. Delegated authority is God exercising his authority through persons who represent Him to exercise His authority. Modern society and Christianity has thrown away this concept almost entirely. While the Bible speaks about God speaking to us directly, through dreams, visions, angels and the inward speaking, many ignore God's indirect speaking through delegated authority. Examples of delegated authorities are church elders, teachers, government officials, police, parents, husbands etc. Romans 13:1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities 1 Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human authority Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. Eph 6:1 Children, obey your parents as you would the Lord, because this is right Many Christians have a wrong concept of delegated authority in the church. They believe that if they go to one denomination, the pastor or priest is the authority and submission to them is equivalent to submission to God. If they go to another denomination they likewise will submit to the pastor or priest. However this is not what it seems. This is because the leaders of denominations are (usually) employed by and represent the denominational organization. They have acquired organizational authority by receiving the required qualifications (theological degree for example) and by being appointed to the position. They bear the name of the denomination and carry organizational authority, not genuine delegated authority from God. Also, a leader in one organization has no authority in another organization. The Pope holds no authority in a Lutheran church, for example (and vice versa), so the Pope's authority is merely organizational and not spiritual. Paul, however, had spiritual authority in all the churches - this is a reason why all Christians today take Paul's writings as authoritative, regardless of organizational affiliation. One Christian might go to one denomination which permits certain things, but in another church it is prohibited. Both cannot be God's delegated authorities because they both say different things. The apostle Paul did not give different rules to each church - he said 1 Cor 7:17 "This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.". Today, most Christians understand delegated authority to be based upon theological qualification and appointment to position within an organization. They believe that praying and asking God to bless their organizational appointment means that they automatically receive God's blessing and delegated authority. This idea probably comes from past history where there was no real distinction between political organizations, monarchies and the church. For example in the Anglican organization, the Queen of England was seen to have God's delegated authority over the church of England not just her country. However in the New Testament God's delegated authority in the church and the delegated authorities in the world (possibly non-Christian e.g. pagan) were distinct. Denominations which have stemmed from the religio-political organizations such as Catholic and Anglican, have continued this idea of one ruler over both the organization and the church. The same model is also used in denominations which may look nothing like Catholic or Anglican, yet follow the same principles. For example, certain pentecostal denominations are more like commercial organizations or businesses that hold church services as a means to provide income and status. The leaders or presidents (as they are often called) of the organization often assumes the role of church leader as well. They exercise the organization's delegated authority to fire and hire pastors etc. The bible reveals God's delegated authority in the church being exercised in an organic way not an organizational way. We can see this in the example of how God gave delegated authority to the apostle Paul. Paul's first encounter with the Lord was directly. Acts 22:10 ""'What shall I do, Lord?' I asked. " 'Get up,' the Lord said, 'and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.'" At this point, God reverted authority to His chosen delegated authority in Ananias: Acts 22:12 "A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there." Paul submitted to God's delegated authority by submitting to Ananias. [Remark: If it happened today, Paul would probably have demanded to see Ananias's theological qualification and appointment as a "reverend" before being baptized. ] Paul then leaves the delegated authority with Ananias and God's direct speaking comes to Paul again in verse 18: Acts 22:18 and saw the Lord speaking to me. 'Quick!' he said. 'Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.' In this example we can see the interplay between God's direct authority and God's delegated authority. One often follows the other. First God's direct speaking, then the delegated speaking, then direct speaking, then the delegated speaking again. We have to learn not only to listen to God's direct speaking abut also His delegated authority. If we are obeying rightly the two should match up. It is unhealthy to rely upon either authority to the detriment of the other - there must be balance. Paul did not demand that God restore his vision through a direct miracle, Paul followed God's instructions and submitted to Ananias. Neither did Paul follow Ananias just because God chose Ananias to restore Paul's sight- he followed the Spirit's leading. God's delegated authority was the person God chose to use in that moment to minister to Paul. In Paul's case it was Ananias. It does not mean that Ananias was "the delegated authority" and all converts had to go through him. There were no permanent, organizational authorities unlike in the denominations today. Ananias was not a specially qualified person according to an organization. His qualification came from God - "a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews". Another aspect to this is the relationship between the direct and delegated authority. If we disregard God's direct speaking or the delegated authority, it is equivalent to disregarding the other. We cannot presume to obey God's direct speaking only while disobeying the delegated authorities, whether they be church elders or policepersons. This is typical of churches that emphasize individual responsibility and personal relationship with God. Likewise, we cannot presume to obey God by obeying the delegated authorities only and not following God's direct speaking. This is typical of those in the traditional churches with very strong heirarchy - Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran etc. This is because both authority comes from God.