Key Scripture: “Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25–28)
How Christ-centered men use authority
If you trust God to shape and mold you into the man He wants you to be, you need to become comfortable with authority. Christ-centered men aren’t afraid of authority because they use it to serve others. Christian men have the authority to serve; we are called to serve. We shouldn’t be authoritarian. According to the apostle Paul, husbands are to submit to Jesus, and wives are to submit to their husbands. The word submission sounds completely countercultural today. What Paul told the Ephesian husbands was also countercultural. In the United States, we are all free people and do not submit to any king. In a marriage, if you say one partner should willingly submit to the other, it implies one partner is in a position of submission and the other in a position of dominance.
Authority itself is not evil
This is not true. In Christian marriage, both the husband and the wife submit. Both parties are in positions of submission. No partner is in a position of dominance. The wife submits to her own husband, and the husband submits to the Lord. Jesus reminded His disciples that dominance is a worldly thing. He said His followers are to serve. For example, local police hold authority in their city or town. What are they supposed to do with their authority? Serve and protect! It would be very awkward if a policeman announced, “I’m not comfortable using my authority.” His Captain might ask, “So, you’re not comfortable using your authority to serve and protect?”
The issue is the proper use of authority
Authority itself is not an evil thing. The issue is the proper use of authority. The problem is using servant-leader authority with God-honoring motives. If you are a single, young man contemplating marriage, are you ready to lovingly lead your wife by serving her? You are commanded to love your wife as Christ loved the church. If you are a married man, are you loving your wife the way Christ loves the church?
Before the crucifixion, Jesus discussed authority with Pilate. After Pilate had Jesus flogged and asked where He came from, he warned Jesus, “‘Are you not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have the authority to release You, and I have the authority to crucify You?’ Jesus answered him, ‘You would have no authority over Me at all, if it had not been given to you from above’” (John 19:10–11). Jesus was operating under divine, God-ordained authority. Pilate was trying to use his earthly, human-ordained authority.
Even though Jesus had the authority to summon 10,000 angelic warriors to save Himself and destroy the entire Roman authority structure, He refused. And He willingly laid down His life. He used His God-given authority in loving service. This level of humility exemplifies the Jesus-type authority. This is New Testament authority. This is how the authority of the kingdom of God is to be employed. Are you comfortable being under authority and using authority when needed?
© Dr. Paul Pettit
www.dynamicdads.com
This post first appeared in NewCommandment.org.
Dr. Paul Pettit
Dr. Paul Pettit serves as Director of Career Services at Dallas Theological Seminary and teaches in the departments of Spiritual Formation, Leadership, and Pastoral Ministries. Dr. Pettit is also the founder of Dynamic Dads. Dynamic Dads is a non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging fathers everywhere in their demanding yet highly rewarding role of leading their family.
_______________________________________________________________
Learn how to form teams of men for every widow, single mom
and fatherless child in your church at NewCommandment.org.
_______________________________________________________________