Authority For Grace

As I was talking with a friend yesterday concerning power and authority, he challenged me. He said that with my position I could arbitrarily choose when to follow the authority of the church leadership and when to disregard it. As I thought about his statement, I concurred that is what the words coming out of my mouth sounded like, but was that what I really believed? Upon further investigation, I don't believe so.

I believe that all lawful authority must be obeyed. To disobey lawful authority is to disobey God. However, a pastor or church leader may act with unlawful authority. This is dangerous, because it opens the door for apparent lawlessness. I can see someone falling into sin, and citing a quotation from me, stating that Heretic said we don't have to obey. However, that's not what Heretic is saying.

We need to return to the Biblical standards and definitions for power and authority. The church has attempted for years to usurp authority over the sheep that God never intended to give them. God created the church to be a ministry of grace. However the church has desired to operate as a ministry of justice. That does not mean that we do not cry out for justice, as God has mandated that we stand for justice. But it does mean that we must look to the scripture to determine what justice is. We cannot define justice, and we cannot sit in the place of God.

It's interesting to note, that when the scriptures give examples of church discipline, the church is never directed to seek justice. They are directed to seek repentance. If repentance is not gained, they are to dis-fellowship with the unrepentant man or woman. The scriptures do not require the church be the exacter of justice, but rather to turn such a one over to the devil - for the redeeming of their souls.

4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (Romans 5:4-5)

Why does God withhold the administration of justice from being the responsibility of the Body? The answer is simple:

"Vengeance is mine; I will repay, sayeth the Lord." (Romans 12:9)

God is the one who will administer justice. As men we fail to recognize the true character of God. He will not allow unrighteousness to go unpunished. However, His desire is for mercy to triumph over justice. Justice must hold its peace when a sinner chooses to repent. God waives any and all justice that the unrighteous rightly deserves when they fall on their knees and petition God for mercy, grace and forgiveness.

When God commands the church to seek repentance, that is all they are commanded to seek. Look at Matthew 18 carefully. The brothers are not directed to administer justice - not even to the unrepentant! However the church seeks repentance and justice. But this is in error, because not even God's ways are always just. WHAT! HERESY! HOW CAN YOU STATE SUCH A THING!?

Well let's look to the scriptures for an answer. Let's first look to the story of the Prodigal Son. When the son decides to repent let's look at the justice that his father sought for him:

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. (Luke 15:22-24)

This infuriates the prodigal's brother who had remained faithful to his father. He demanded justice. It simply wasn't fair the way the father was treating this "sinner" who was no longer worthy to be called a brother.

28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ (Luke 15: 28-30)

And the father rebukes his son for his inability to administer grace and mercy to his brother who was once dead, but is now alive again:

31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’” (Luke 15:31-32)

But if this scenario were to happen in the church, we would not react the same way. We would take sides with the faithful brother. We would stand in judgment of the prodigal son. We would demand penance for his sins. We would require that he suffer the full scope of the justice that he's got coming to him. He messed up, and God will not allow him to escape the consequences of his sin.

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. (Galatians 6:7)

Let's look at another passage that really gets me riled up. Not because I like the passage, but rather because it's NOT FAIR. Read the following and see what you think. Do you not find yourself getting angry and screaming, "This isn't fair!"

1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’ 8 “So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ 9 And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. 11 And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ 13 But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few
chosen.” (Matthew 20:1-16)

Look at God's response above when he is accused of being unjust:

13 But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’

This just doesn't sit well with me. Does it you? I mean it's not fair! The guys who worked longer deserved more than the guys who hardly worked at all. Could you imagine your employer paying folks this way? If I was the last guy getting paid, I would've probably responded in the same manner. Wouldn't you?

What makes us respond this way? I believe that it is the way God made us. God loves justice. It's not wrong to love justice. But God also loves mercy, and this is where we fall short. We are not merciful people. We have an innate inability to forgive and forget. Don't get me wrong; it is possible the more we become like him, but as a general rule we are not a people full of mercy and grace.

If we are to hold believers accountable within the Body, let's hold them accountable to repentance and not penance. Let us allow God to be God and may He judge all as He sees fit, according to His everlasting loving kindness and mercy.

Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand. (2 Corinthians 1:24)