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Deutsche Version | Wiki Start | Topics Collection ix
What Authority? ...
Wednesday, April 12, 2017. Our world consists of a number of layers of power and authority. In companies, you have owners, CEOs, section heads and responsible people for sales, production, research and technical infrastructure. The same is true in other parts of our life - up to the church where pastors or priests are leading their congragation.
The Question …
Where is authority coming from? Is it men given? To some extent it comes from the ownership in companies or business. The owner usually determines what happens to some enterprise. But there are various other tools of participation - owners have to follow rules, and employees have their right to take part in the process of decisions and management.
In the spiritual world, similar questions arise. Who is the authority? Who has authority? How to distinguish right and wrong? How to make decisions about things? Let us dive into a discussion which Jesus had about this question:
1 One day, as Jesus1 was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up 2 and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.” 3 He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, 4 was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?” 5 And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” 7 So they answered that they did not know where it came from. 8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” (from Luke 19)
Authority over you? …
How are you deciding who should have authority over you? Or perhaps you are your own highest authority? Is the question the right one? Perhaps it is nonsense to ask for authority at all? But here, the chief priests ask Jesus about his authority - it seem that his speech had enough authority to challenge their own role.
But instead of thinking about those people 2000 years ago, let us think about you and me! Are we willing to open our eyes to see God and his truth, his love, his spirit, his authority? He is the “author” of creation. He knows how things are set up, how they are designed. He knows us much deeper than we know us.
The kingdom of God is about people who want him to be in their heart. It is about people who want his authority, just because they realize that he is the loving father of all. It is about his authority, since he brings goodness, justice, love, truth, mercy, humility. It is all about new life in him, in his authority! (Roland Potthast) ... more texts