Giving Up Authority

By Fred Wikoff

The first thing aliens demand is: “Take me to your leader.” They don’t waste time with just anyone. They talk to someone in authority, someone with legitimate power to act on their requests.

Recently our nation picked a new leader and gave him power to act on our behalf to conduct the business of our country. It was a peaceful change brought about by the collective wills of the people; and shows that in a democracy, authority does sometimes at least, “belong to the people.” (Thomas Jefferson)

Authority from the people lasts only as long as the leaders we’ve chosen faithfully abide by the wishes of the majority. We all know from experience this isn’t always the case. Authority has a way of tempting even the best into doing their own thing, regardless of what the majority might want. This in turn leads to hurtful power struggles and hard feelings instead of the utopia that a free society suggests.

Clearly this is not what our forefathers intended, nor is it what God had in mind when he gave mankind the freedom of choice. From the very beginning mankind abused his freedom by seeking even greater authority and control. Today the ruinous results of this “I’m the boss, I’m number one mentality” is seen across the land. It’s seen in government, in our churches, in how we deal with our neighbors, and even in our individual relationship with God.

The authority man thinks he has, is only an illusion. An illusion created by Satan to deceive us into thinking we are in charge while he manipulates us. Christ said we recognize those under Satan’s control by their fruit. (See Matthew 7:16-20) Clearly, any action that crushes the weak and pits the strong against each other is not “good fruit.” This suggests that Satan is behind man’s “number one” infatuation.

So strong is this love of authority, even Christ’s inner disciples weren’t immune. And when they boasted of the authority over demons that Christ had given them, he quickly admonished them by telling them not to rejoice “that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (See Luke 10:17-20)

Later when they argued over who was the greatest among them, Christ again lovingly rebuked them: “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35) Then later in a remarkable example of what he expects of all in authority, Christ humbled himself and washed their feet. (See John 13:6-9)

What a contrast to those in authority who oppress the people under them. (See Matthew 20:25-28) To be first we must be last. For those living under Satan’s control this is next to impossible. But for the Christian it should be as easy as recognizing God as the only authority and yielding ourselves completely to his will.

If God can voluntarily give up his supreme authority and humble himself to serve mankind, can we do less?

Fred Wikoff writes from Eugene, Oregon. EugeneSpud@msn.com