To willingly give the absolute authority, that belongs only to God, to man, breaks the first commandment, as illustrated when the children of Israel demanded a king, instead of a judge: when they said, Give us a king to judge us . . . the Lord said . . . they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods. (1 Samuel 8:6-8) A king has more direct authority than a judge. A judge relies upon God’s authority to ensure the obedience of the people to the will of God, which he has taught. Basically a judge teaches whereas a king commands.
The first king of Israel was Saul. During a battle Saul made a foolish oath, saying: Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. (1 Samuel 14:28) This made many too weary to fight. (1 Samuel 14:30) And some became so hungry that they ate in ways forbidden by the Law of Moses: And the people flew upon the spoil . . . Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the Lord, in that they eat with the blood. (1 Samuel 14:32,33) Saul’s son, recognising his father’s foolishness said: My father hath troubled the land. (1 Samuel 14:29)
Similarly today, those who give too much authority to their leaders may find their lives so restricted and miserable that they depart from righteousness to seek sin. But this only makes things worse. God wants to rescue such lost sheep.
The role of church leaders is not to be: lords over God’s heritage but to be: ensamples to the flock. (1 Peter 5:3) Generally speaking pastors are to teach the flock rather than to command it. This differs from the practice of the Pharisees of whom Jesus said: they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. (Matthew 23:4)
To prevent excessive exercise of authority by church leaders, God has ordained that the daily administration of non-spiritual matters in the church be supervised by deacons. And these are to be appointed, not by church leaders, but by the congregation. Such an order helps prevent the error warned of by Jesus when He said: Call no man your father upon the earth; for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters; for one is your Master, even Christ. (Matthew 23:9,10) And so pastors should also have no authority to direct how people should order their lives naturally. Their concern should be with the word of God and the spiritual well being of their flock.
And so the Roman Catholic Church, which demands of its nuns and priests vows of obedience, is clearly wrong. So also is its practice of calling men ‘Father’. But when Jesus prohibited this practice, He was not referring to our natural parents.
Paul reproved the church in Corinth for allowing men to exalt themselves, saying: ye suffer if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. (2 Corinthians 11:20) But contrarily, Paul, who although at times needed to use severity, sought not to have dominion over their faith, but to be helpers of their joy, knowing that it was by faith in God, that they must stand. (2 Corinthians 1:24,13:10)
To teach the Corinthians the correct attitude to their teachers, Paul likens ministers of God to gardeners, saying: Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. (1 Corinthians 3:5,6) The processes by which a plant grows, by using energy from the sun, to combine carbon dioxide from the air with water and minerals from the ground, are beyond the comprehension of the gardener. This is the work of God. And so also is the spiritual growth of the church, although God graciously gives ‘gardeners’ a role to play.
(Not only should we not exalt others, but also we should not exalt ourselves as Paul writes: who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it? (1 Corinthians 4:7) So gratitude rather than pride should follow the recognition of gifts.)
Although we need bible teachers, we should not automatically accept every word spoken. The Bereans were commended: in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17:11) Even in church Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 14:29: Let the prophets speak two or three and let the other judge (or mentally evaluate). The Holy Spirit is our ultimate teacher: as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie. (1 John 2:27) An assessment of the character of the preacher and the effect of his teachings may also help evaluate the truth of his message.
Although we should avoid submitting to excessive authority, there is a place for authority in the church, and those who exercise authority should be respected. Paul writes: And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. (1 Thessalonians 5:12,13) Leadership is also necessary to maintain order in church gatherings and in church work. And so it is written: obey them that have the rule over you. (Hebrews 13:17)
In their place of employment, outside the church, workers are to consider the Lord Jesus Christ as their ultimate employer. But this does not mean that they should disrespect their boss. To the contrary Paul writes: Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men, knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:22-24) So the glory of our heavenly reward depends not only on our gospel preaching, but also on our humility and diligence at the office. But if conditions are too difficult at work it may be good to seek alternative employment according to the principle that slaves should seek their freedom (1 Corinthians 7:21).