THE AUTHORITY IN CHRISTIANITY

Without an established code of law and authority, a kingdom cannot long exist. If its subjects refuse to submit to the established authority, a nation will soon collapse. A kingdom whose citizens are divided in their allegiance to conflicting sources of authority is doomed to failure. All concedes these points, yet there is utter confusion as to the established law and authority in Christianity.

Folks are trying to serve God, when they have not learned or accepted the authority established by God.

CONTEMPORARY THEORIES ABOUT RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY

	In Roman Catholicism it is argued that the church, with its pope and his cardinals, has the authority to interpret the Bible and to legislate law for the church. The history of Catholicism reveals the fallacy of this approach to authority. Churches are composed of fallible, often sinful, men. God made Christ head of his Church (Ephesians 1:22). That authority he has not surrendered to anyone.
	The larger Protestant churches look to their creedal statements as authoritative. Yet they find it necessary to revise them every few years. Yesterday's sins are today's privileges.
	Traditions from the past are revered as authoritative by some. Yet Jesus waned against traditions that make "void the word of God" (Mathew 15:8-9).
	The founding fathers of a denomination may be looked to as the voice of authority. But no man has the right to start his own church or to legislate for the people of God. It is just such men who are responsible for the mass confusion in the Christendom today.
	Most denominational bodies have conventions where church leaders decide what they will believe and do. Many moderns view human reason as the final authority in their religion. God reminded the Hebrews "...my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9). Reason subjected to the Revelation of God is man's most valuable asset. But when exalted beyond its proper realm, reason is the cause of his alienation.
	Multitudes see conscience as their authority in religion. Solomon said, "There is a way that seemeth right to a man but the ends thereof is the way of death" (Proverbs 16:25).

The conscience must be trained in truth before it can safely lead us; and God's Word is that truth (John 17:17). Feelings are not a safe guide.

WHERE DID GOD PLACE THE AUTHORITY IN CHRISTIANITY?

All authority has been given unto the victorious Christ (Mathew 28:18). He is head over all things to the church (Ephesians 1:22). His word will judge us in the last day (John 12:48).

Jesus delegated his authority to his apostles, saying, Go teach all nations, baptizing them and "teaching them to observe all things... I have commanded you" (Mathew 28:19-20). Their writing, our New Testament, is the only authority we possess. Those who seek to please God speak and act only as Scripture authorizes. Peter wrote, "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Peter 4:11). Thus the early church continued steadfastly in the apostles teaching" (Acts 2:42). John warns, "Whosoever abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching the same hath both the Father and the Son" (II John 9).

The New Testament of Jesus is the absolute and only authority for Christ's church and those who wish to please Him will look to it for direction in every matter of faith, worship and practice. Such is a distinguishing mark of a body of people who are truly and only, a church of Christ (Romans 16:16).