AUTHORITY IN RELIGION

Jesus was asked by what authority He was doing the deeds of Matthew 21. Notice the exchange between Jesus and the chief priests in Matthew 21:

23 Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”
24 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things:                                                            25 The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?”
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ (Mt. 21:23-25 NKJV).

The same questions need to be asked in religion today. "By what authority do you do these things?" and "Is it from heaven or from men?"

People are mislead as to what can and cannot be done in the name of religion. Many things are done in religion that are from men and not from God (i.e. instrumental music, church organization, clergy-laity distinction). One only needs to look at God's dealings with His people to see that He does care what they do and how they do it. Notice some examples from ancient Israel.

In Exodus 25 when giving instructions to Moses as to constructing the sanctuary, the ark of the covenant, the table of showbread and the golden lampstand, God said follow the pattern:

9 According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.

God said to follow the pattern. What would have happened if Moses had not followed the pattern? God would not have been pleased. God would not have inhabited this tabernacle to dwell among His people. 

Later, in the end of the chapter God repeats the warning to adhere to the pattern:

40 And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.

Notice that God uses the word "pattern twice to begin His instructions (v. 9) and says, "just so shall you make it." And then He concludes the chapter by saying "see to it that you make them according to the pattern..."  It would seem that God was serious about how these articles were to be made. 

Another example is that of Nadab and Abihu. Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire before the Lord, that is, fire that God had not commanded. Today's modern religious thinking would say, "It doesn't matter what fire we use." Or, "We don't even need to use fire." God was not pleased with Nadab and Abihu and they perished for their diobedience:

1 Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them.                        2 So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. (Num. 10:1-2 NKJV).

After the establishment of the church in Acts 2, the disciples continued in the apostles doctrine, etc. (v. 42). The doctrine came through the teaching, preaching and writing of the apostles and other inspired men. 

Paul told the church at Rome that they had been delivered to the doctrine:

But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered (Rom. 6:17).

Paul told Timothy to charge some not to teach any other doctrine:

As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine (1 Tim. 1:3).

John warned against other doctrines:

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him (2 Jn. 10).

And we know that this doctrine comes from the scripture and not from man:

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

This scripture teaches us that we are thoroughly equipped (needing nothing else from man) through the scripture.

The New Testament ends with an admonition not to add to or take away from that which is written in this book:

If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book (Rev. 22:19-20).

Many other examples could be called to witness the seriousness of disobeying God's commandments. These should suffice to cause us to pay strict heed to the commandments of God in the work and worship of the church of His dear Son. We must not be so bold as to assume that any fire will do, or that any activity would surely be pleasing to God as long as its done in the proper spirit or with the right motivation. Nadab and Abihu were offering incense to the Lord as He commanded but neglected one seemingly insignificant detail. That lack of attention to detail cost them dearly. 

What penalty will God exact upon us for neglecting a seemingly insignificant part of His commandment? And who among us will determine what is important? 

(Check back soon for articles on the church and its work and worship).

Bobby W. Schrimsher, Jr.

Minister

Westview Church of Christ

3/27/07

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