You See Bones, I See an Army (cont,)

The holidays sure have a way of sidelining our plans, don't they?  I hope to finish up this book with you shortly, then review the two books I've read since I've read this one.  I'm also reading two more simultaneously, so I will give you those when I'm done as well.  Lots of great stuff to ponder!

Now, continuing on with Floyd McClung's book:

Perhaps it is helpful to summarize the nature of spiritual authority this way:

1.  Derived authority:  The authority that has to do with earning the right to lead others.  Derived authority is the consequence of godly character, wisdom, servanthood, humility, and recognition by others of a person's gifting and calling.
2.  Delegated authority:  The authority given to a person by someone else.  A person with delegated authority must also earn the right to lead people spiritually.
3.  Distributed authority:  The authority given by Jesus to all those who know, love, and obey him.  It is distributed to everyone in the church but is only effective if it is exercised in humble obedience to the commands of Jesus.  All those who are Christlike share in the spiritual authority that Jesus gives to all his children.

But the authority Peter speaks about in 1 Peter 5 is the responsibility spiritual leaders have to serve God's people with love and integrity, not the power to command or control those they lead.

Below is a list of scriptures that clarifies the scope of authority spiritual leaders have been given by God, with clear conditions and restrictions:  [I have included links, where the book spelled them out]
1 Peter 5:1-5
1 Tim. 5:17
Titus 1:5
Acts 20:28-31
1 Thess. 5:12-13
Heb. 13:17
2 Tim. 4:1-2
2 Tim. 2:24-25
...Jesus defined authority as influencing people by serving them.  If we serve, we have influence, and if we influence people, we have spiritual authority in their lives.  In this way, authority is defined as the privilege of influencing others by exercising one's spiritual gifts in a Christlike manner.

But how do we know if we are exercising spiritual authority the way Jesus did?  The following questions may help:

1.  Does it liberate or does it enslave?
2.  Does it lead to conformity or does it bring creativity?
3.  Does it bring dependence on man or God?
4.  Does it produce servility or servanthood?
5.  Does it depend on law or grace?
6.  Does it destroy or does it build a person's confidence?
7.  Does it equip people to function in faith or does it produce fear?
8.  Does it produce accountability or anarchy?
9.  Does it equip people for ministry or does it make them spectators to the ministries of others?

That's a good chunk for today.  Let's talk about number 3 today.  Does it bring dependence on man or God?  Sometimes in the church today, when someone approaches a leader with a question about how they should go about doing something, whether ministry-related or personal, it is quicker and easier to give the answer we believe in our heart to be the clear, logical, generally accepted direction and be done with it.  What this creates, however, is a dependence on man.  The individual will continue to approach that person or other leaders with their questions about what to do.  This creates a dependence on man.  The better way of handling it is oftentimes to advise the person to seek God's direction themselves.  After all, who will give the right answer everytime?  Being human, we can certainly lead people astray, even without intention.  This advice will cause the person to spend time on their knees, seeking the all-knowing God of the universe.  This creates dependence on God.  People will come and go, but God is here to stay.

Now where does that leave godly counsel that the Bible talks about?  Godly counsel can and should be sought but not with a frequency that causes dependence on the godly counsel (man).  Be wary of this also:  when you seek godly counsel, does the godly counsel immediately give you an answer off the top of their head, or do they insist on having time to pray about the situation themselves first, seeking God, modeling that posture before you, and then come and confirm or not confirm the direction?  I would be wary of any godly counsel that I wasn't absolutely sure had the spiritual gifts of wisdom and/or knowledge, and who gave me a quick answer.  Even when seeking godly counsel, we should always seek God first.

I believe I blogged previously about a quote from the book that said the best Pastors are the ones who teach their congregations to hear God's voice for themselves.  I believe this is one of the most import things that can be taught to equip someone in life and in ministry.  We must depend on God first and foremost in our lives above anyone else. 

Have a blessed cloudy New Year's Day!