Authority Is Not Dominion

Last night as I was praying and studying the Word, a question was troubling me. The question goes back to different things I've heard, and my inability to reconcile all of this education in my mind. The statement was: "that God never permits another man to have authority over another man." This sounds good to me. It would save a lot of headache, but when I look at the scriptures I simply don't believe this statement is true. God does give men authority over other men.

I believe the Spirit then whispered to me - "Authority is NOT Dominion." This is another place we have gotten off track. We have redefined authority to mean dominion, and it simply is not the same. Dominion according to Webster's implies "supreme authority" and "absolute ownership." God never desired or ordained men to have dominion over other men. God retained and retains dominion. Who else could possess supreme authority or absolute ownership? Only God. He alone is supreme and absolute!

However, man in his wickedness, desires to have dominion over men. To control them. To be their supreme authority. He established kingdoms and governments as tools to be able to exercise absolute control over his subjects.

God did give man dominion, but it was over the earth - the beasts of the field and the birds of the air. He did not give man dominion over each other.

Genesis 1:26 - Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Genesis 1:28 - Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

So now we have the following - Power is not Authority is not Dominion. This may seem like splitting hairs, but the distinction is crucial. Power is not Authority. And Authority is not Dominion. However by man's definitions, if a man possesses Power he possesses authority. And if he possesses authority he possesses dominion. However his Power, Authority and Dominion do not find their source in God. They find it in the strength of men and of the evil one.

It is true, God gives men power. It is true, God gives men authority. It is true, God gives men dominion (although not over other men.) But it is also true that God allows men to gain power because of the wickedness in their hearts. It is also true that men receive authority from their power, and God allows this. It is also true that men receive dominion over men from their unlawful use of power and authority.

What God allows and what He ordains are two separate issues. Do not confuse the two. God allows evil. He did not ordain, approve or bless it.