AUTHORITY IN THE CHURCH by John Norton Loughborough

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 4, 1900

AUTHORITY IN THE CHURCH.

By John Norton Loughborough

“These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority.” Titus 2: 15.

This authority did not grow out of the fact that Titus was a minister, and therefore had an individual right and power to dictate how everything should be done; but the authority was like that possessed by Christ, who is our example, and of whose teachings we read: “It came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Matt. 7: 28, 29.

Of this teaching of Christ, Luke records that “all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words [words setting forth God’s love and unmerited favor to men; not words of dictatorial authority] which proceeded out of his mouth.” Luke 4: 22. His words were indeed words of authority; for he himself said of them: “The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” John 14: 10. As he thus set forth his instruction and reproofs on the strength of God’s word, energized by the Holy Spirit, even the soldiers who were sent to arrest him were themselves arrested with the truths he spoke, and reported that “never man spake like this man.” John 7: 46.

Of the danger of indulging a spirit of individual independence we read, in the “Testimonies for the Church:” “Independence is a poor thing when it leads you to have too much confidence in yourself, and to trust to your own judgment rather than to respect the counsel and highly estimate the judgment of your brethren, especially of those in the offices which God has appointed for the saving of his people. God has invested his church with special authority and power, which no one can be justified in disregarding and despising; for in so doing he despises the voice of God.” — Vol. III, page 417.

“Christ gives power to the voice of the church. ‘Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.’ No such thing is countenanced as one man’s starting out on his own individual responsibility, and advocating what view he chooses, irrespective of the judgment of the church. God has bestowed the highest power under heaven upon his church. It is the voice of God in his united people in church capacity which is to be respected.” — Id., pages 450, 451.

“As we near the close of time, Satan comes down with great power knowing that his time is short. Especially will his power be exercised upon the remnant. He will war against them, and seek to divide and scatter them, that they may grow weak and be overthrown. The people of God should move understandingly, and should be united in their efforts. They should be of the same mind, of the same judgment; then their efforts will not be scattered, but will tell forcibly in the upbuilding of the cause of present truth. Order must be observed, and there must be union in maintaining order, or Satan will take the advantage.

“God is not pleased to have his people leave the matters of the church at loose ends, and suffer the enemy to have the whole advantage, and control affairs as best pleases him.” — Id., Vol. I, pages 210, 211.

“The angels who fell were anxious to become independent of God. They were very beautiful, very glorious, but dependent on God for their happiness, and for the light and intelligence which they enjoyed. They fell from their high estate through insubordination. Christ and his church are inseparable. To neglect or despise those whom God has appointed to lead out, and to bear the responsibilities connected with his work and with the advancement and spread of the truth, is to reject the means which God has ordained for the help, encouragement, and strength of his people. To pass these by, and think your light must come through no other channel than directly from God, places you in a position where you are liable to deception, and to be overthrown.” — *Id., Vol. III, pages 418, 419.

“The world’s Redeemer has invested great power with his church. He states the rules to be applied in cases of trial with its members. After he has given explicit directions as to the course to be pursued, he says: ‘Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever [in church discipline] ye shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven.’ Thus even the heavenly authority ratifies the discipline of the church in regard to its members, when the Bible rule has been followed.

“The word of God does not give license for one man to set up his judgment in opposition to the judgment of the church, neither is he allowed to urge his opinions against the opinions of the church. If there were no church discipline and government, the church would go to fragments; it could not hold together as a body. There have ever been individuals of independent minds, who have claimed that they were right, that God had especially taught, impressed, and led them. Each has a theory of his own, views peculiar to himself, and each claims that his views are in accordance with the word of God. Each one has a different theory and faith, yet each claims special light from God. These draw away from the body, and each one is a separate church of himself. All these can not be right, yet they all claim to be led of the Lord. The word of inspiration is not yea and nay, but yea and amen in Christ Jesus.

“Our Saviour follows his lessons of instruction with a promise that if two or three should be united in asking anything of God, it should be given them. Christ here shows that there must be union with others, even in our desires for a given object. Great importance is attached to the united prayer, the

union of purpose. God hears the prayers of individuals; but on this occasion Jesus was giving especial and important lessons that were to have a special bearing upon his newly organized church on the earth. There must be an agreement in the things which they desire, and for which they pray. It was not merely the thoughts and exercises of one mind, liable to deception; but the petition was to be the earnest desire of several minds centered on the same point.”—*Id., pages 428, 429.

“Many have the idea that they are responsible to Christ alone for their light and experience, independent of his acknowledged followers in the world. But this is condemned by Jesus in his teachings, and in the examples, the facts, which he has given for our instruction. Here was Paul, one whom Christ was to fit for a most important work, one who was to be a chosen vessel unto him, brought directly into the presence of Christ; yet he does not teach him the lessons of truth. He arrests his course and convicts him; and when he asks, ‘What wilt thou have me to do?’ the Saviour does not tell him directly, but places him in connection with his church. They will tell thee what thou must do. Jesus is the sinner’s friend, his heart is ever open, ever touched with human woe: he has all power, both in heaven and upon earth; but he respects the means which he has ordained for the enlightenment and salvation of men. He directs Saul to the church, thus acknowledging the power that he has invested in it as a channel of light to the world. It is Christ’s organized body upon the earth, and respect is required to be paid to his ordinances. In the case of Saul, Ananias represents Christ, and he also represents Christ’s ministers upon the earth who are appointed to act in Christ’s stead.” — *Id., page 433.

J. N. Loughborough.