August 1, 2004, Vol.3, No.15.

The Nature of Authority

Two extremes in practice are found among brethren. The great majority of those who call themselves members of the church of Christ engage in activities unauthorized by Christ. A small minority refuse to engage in practices the Lord permits. Both extremes are caused by the same misunderstanding of the nature of divine authority.

Brethren who practice institutionalism think a practice is unauthorized unless it is specifically mentioned in Scripture. They correctly assert we engage in many practices not specifically mentioned in the Bible, such as the use of church buildings and song books. Thus, they argue, "We do lots of things without Bible authority."

There are some brethren who oppose the church using the class arrangement for teaching the Bible. They also think something must be expressly mentioned to be authorized. They argue: 

There is not one verse in all the Bible that says one word about dividing an assembly into two or more classes with teachers teaching at the same time (Miller. 5).

Therefore, they conclude the class arrangement of teaching is unscriptural. Both groups misunderstand the nature of scriptural authority. This nature may be stated as a proposition: Divine authority is both exclusive and inclusive. In this lesson we will define, illustrate, prove, and apply this proposition. 

Definitions

When I say divine authority is exclusive, I simply mean whatever the Lord has not authorized is excluded. If this is so, we cannot practice anything unless we can prove it is divinely authorized. It is not enough to ask, Where does the Bible condemn it? We must be able to prove the New Testament authorizes it.

By inclusive, I mean that whatever the Lord authorizes includes those things that are incidental to accomplishing what He authorizes. Thus, though a specific item may not be mentioned in Scripture, if it is necessary or aids what God requires or permits, and by using it we do nothing in addition to that which He authorized, the specific item is itself authorized.

If these principles are true, two important conclusions follow. Some things are sinful although not specifically condemned in Scripture. This is because they are unauthorized and thus excluded. On the other hand, it means some things are authorized and therefore pleasing to God, although not specifically mentioned. This is because they are incidental to accomplishing an authorized action.

Suppose a dad gives his teenage son a twenty dollar bill (first mistake) and tells him, "Son, go get a loaf of bread." Suppose the son stays gone three hours and comes home with the loaf of bread but no change from the twenty dollars. The father indignantly inquires, "Where have you been and where is my change?" The son replies, "Dad, I got the bread, but you didn’t say not to go to the movies, so I used the change to go to a movie. And, of course, while I was there, I got popcorn, a soft drink, a hot dog and a candy bar." Would the dad be impressed with his son’s logic? Or would he respond, " I didn’t give you permission to use my money for anything but a loaf of bread. You’re grounded!" That’s the exclusive nature of authority.

Now, let’s try another scene. The dad gives his son a twenty dollar bill (slow learner) and again says, "Son, go get a loaf of bread." This time the son returns in ten minutes with $18.50 change and a loaf of bread. The father inquires, "Son, how did you get back so fast?" His son replies, "Dad, it’s just three blocks to the store. It doesn’t take long to drive there." To which the dad replies, "Son, who told you to take the car? Why didn’t you just walk?" To which Jr. replies, "Dad, you just told me to go get a loaf of bread; you didn’t say how to go." This time the son was right. This is the inclusive nature of authority.

Is divine authority exclusive? We must "do all in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Colossians 3:17), i.e., by His authority. To do or teach those things unauthorized by the Lord is to leave God and be without Him (2 John 9-11). Yes, divine authority is exclusive. We must have divine authority for all we do.

But is divine authority also inclusive? The Lord commands, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). He didn’t say how to go; He just said "go." We have approved examples in the New Testament of a man walking and riding in a chariot to preach the gospel (Acts 8:29-31) and of men sailing in a ship to preach the gospel (Acts 13:1-4). The Lord said nothing about running, riding in a chariot, or sailing in a ship, but these are just means of going. In using these methods of transportation, the preachers did nothing in addition to "go preach the gospel." So today, if I drive a car or fly in an airplane to a preaching engagement, I’m just doing what the Lord authorized in Mark 16:15. If I buy a passport to go to a foreign country to preach, that is incidental to the command, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Yes, divine authority is inclusive.

The Lord told Noah to build an ark of gopherwood (Genesis 6:14-16). Although the Lord did not mention tools such as a hammer or saw, such tools were incidentally authorized in the command to "Make yourself an ark." But Noah could not have used any wood other than gopherwood and pleased the Lord. Though God did not say "Thou shalt not" make the ark of any other wood, when He specified gopherwood as the material for the ark, all other kinds of wood were excluded.

The Lord has also told us the kind of music he wants Christians to use in worship in the New Testament age. He commands us to sing (Ephesians 5:18-19). This authorized action includes everything necessary and incidental to carrying it out. Thus, although the Bible does not mention them, we are authorized to use song books, a song leader, four part harmony, and a pitch pipe. When we use these aids, we do nothing in addition to what the Lord has authorized - sing. But, instrumental music, another kind of music than that which the Lord authorizes, is excluded. This is not because the Lord forbids instrumental music in worship. He simply did not authorize its use in worship in this age.