Tensions arising from authority

FAITH

When it is a choice between
obeying God’s word and
secular government

By Rev SEIK PITOI
IN every society, man has structured his environment under certain categories of authority.
A child is born in a home where his parents are the authority. He gets his first lessons on obedience from his mum and dad. Next, he goes to school. He soon finds there is another person in authority there. It is the teacher. He now has to learn to obey his teacher. As he gets older, he sees the policeman on the road. The policeman holds up his hands and the traffic stops. The boy notices that the policeman has authority on the road. And on it goes.
That kind of authority we see being exercised in the above scenario is the top down hierarchical authority structure. That is what we have in our country as well. In this structure, you have someone at the top, then someone under him, and someone else at the very bottom. The one at the top has more authority than the one below him. The person lower has less authority than the one above, and so on. It is a descending order of authority, a command style top-down authority. That style of leadership authority was used in Jesus’ time by the Romans who had perfected it as a model they adopted from the Babylonians and the Egyptians.
Every nation has that kind of structure. From tribal systems where the ‘big man’ ruled, to the democratic Westminster system we have today, authority flows from the top down. This system of authority can be a blessing to the people who have godly leadership over them. While they have authority, such leaders look for how they can help their people. Their concern is the well-being of the people and will do all in their power to ensure people are protected and their rights are respected. On the other hand, evil leaders usurp their authority. Such leaders become autocrats and despotic tyrants, leading regimes which terrorise their own people and crush any who may voice a different opinion. They control their subjects by threats and intimidation, causing compliance through fear.
What the Bible says
Coming back to the Bible, we will see that God has a lot to say about authority. As we do, we will see how the world’s style of authority differs from God’s Kingdom authority. There is a vast difference. While authority is a huge subject, we will just take a brief look at it in contrast.
Jesus compares this style of top-down leadership with His own ‘Kingdom style’ authority in Matthew chapter 20. From verses 25 to 28, He says,“…You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave– 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.» (Matt 20: 25-28).
The Greek word for “authority” is exousia. It is interesting to note that this word is never used between Christian believers. In other words, we do not see that one believer in Christ has exousia (authority) over another believer! Instead, our authority is over the powers of the enemy (Luke 10:19) where the same word exousia is used. Moreover, Jesus also said that the ‘high officials’ of the gentiles “exercise authority” over the people. The Greek word here is katexousiazo. Kata means above or over; and exousiazo means to exercise authority over another. So kataexousiazo refers to top-down authority or hierarchical leadership, which we discussed earlier. And Jesus condemns it!
According to Jesus, the Gentiles, whose leaders exercise authority from the top down, are lording over, dominating and controlling the people. This always happens with hierarchical structures of authority in many countries. It creates a culture of manipulation, control and oppression. In Melanesia, our ‘big man’ mentality is alive and well. They love the authority that goes with it. The man with the title has authority. People jostle to get a title. Success in business or politics means many houses, PMVs and wives! They want recognition and status.
Sadly, this thinking has crept into some churches. In our hierarchical structures, we “go up” the ranks, treating church positions like politics where we campaign for them. Many “up there” forget what it was like “down here” and demand more and more. How many times do we see those up the hierarchy ‘fleece the flock’, using Scripture (often misquoted), to justify their demand for more “love offerings”? Certain church leaders usurp their positions of authority to dominate those under their care. Such is the influence of the world upon the church of God!
Contrasting the World and Kingdom authority
But our Lord says, “Not so with you!” (Verse 26). In other words, that’s not the Kingdom way. Then, He gives His version of leadership: Here, the greatest person is the servant; the leader is the slave! What a paradox! That is humility to the nth degree! Then the knock-out punch – Jesus did not come so others could serve Him (like a ‘big man’). He came to serve others! And to demonstrate that, we see Him with a towel around His waist, sleeves rolled up, washing dirty feet (John 13). Indeed, a radically different style of leadership authority!
To obey or not to obey
Considering all the above, with that understanding of authority, how does a Christian behave when orders are given by secular government. The bible tells us to be obedient. How obedient? We obey when the order given does not contradict the word of God. Here are a couple of examples:
A father spies into the neighbour’s yard and see his vehicle jack left under a tree. There is no one at home. He tells his son to crawl across and get the jack. They need one as they do not have any. The boy hesitates because it is stealing. His father threatens him. “I am father and the Bible commands you to obey me. So go and get it”! He tells his son to do it because no one will know!
Should the boy go? He knows from his Sunday School lessons that stealing is a sin (Exodus 20:15). But he also knows that the Bible says he has to obey his parents (Eph 6:1-3). What can he do? Well, that order is against God’s law. It is stealing. Therefore, the boy has every right to disobey. God’s authority is higher his father’s, so he must obey God and disobey his father in this case. Will he pay the price? Yes, he may with a belting from his lawless father, but in God’s eyes, he has done well!
But what if the father said, “son, go and give this K20 to the old widow there. She needs to buy some food for her kids”. Should he go? Absolutely. God’s word tells us to help widows and the fatherless (Deut 24:19) so that is an honourable thing to do. The son obeys. Again, when the order complies with God’s word, we obey!
What about when we are told to wear masks, wash our hands and comply with Covid protocols of staying home when we are sick. Do we obey? Even if we feel uncomfortable walking around with masks, we should obey. Not only is it for our good but for others as well. Moreover, isolation and sanitation are also mentioned in the Bible (Exodus 30:18-21; 13:4-5, 45-46; Isaiah 26:20).
But what if we are told to not go to church and stay at home? The Bible says in Hebrews 10: 25, “Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer.” Do we obey that command from God to worship together? Let’s look at another 2 verses:
Act 5:29
“Peter and the other apostles answered, “We must obey God, not men.”
Contrast this with Romans 13:1-2
“Everyone must obey state authorities, because no authority exists without God’s permission, and the existing authorities have been put there by God. Whoever opposes the existing authority opposes what God has ordered; and anyone who does so will bring judgment on himself.”
There are many more factors that come into play in relation to the above sensitive matter. People are torn between obeying the authorities, obeying God’s word, following their conscience, adhering to their religious convictions, considering their own underlying health issues and sifting through biased reporting of ‘facts’ in the news.
Should the Government implement a “forced vaccination” policy and close down worship services, and use Romans 13 to get believers to comply? What about the personal or religious rights of the people? Or will the believers use Acts 5:29 and Hebrews 10:25 to continue their worship, regardless – simply because God commands it?
Notice the tension in obeying authority. In one verse, we are told to obey God, not men. In the other verse, we are told to obey secular authority. Which one do we obey?
Rev Seik Pitoi is a freelance writer.