Authority In The Church: The Institutional Church?

"For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou should set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee."  (Titus 1:5).

Hello To All:

At the beginning of our last essay ("Authority In The Church: Who Has It?"), I mentioned that one of the most frequent charges directed towards me, is that I am not a man under authority.  When I become aware of these charges (I have yet to meet someone who is willing to make these charges, directly to me, on a person to person basis), I am also reminded that the ones making the charges are, typically,  part of the institutional/denominational system that is so prevalent in western Christianity.  Thus, their understanding of authority would be significantly different from my own.  It has become clear to me that the typical western Christian understands authority within the context of the Christian organization, that they view as their church home.

As our Lord Jesus Christ continues to compel me to write, He also compels me to drop the denominational designation, that seems to be the western preference; and, instead, use the designation to describe the visible church, as the institutional church. One of the reasons for this singular designation is that we can often encounter a local church, that claims to be separate from any denominational affiliation; but, upon closer examination, it will be readily recognized, that this local assembly, has a very institutional perspective. It has set itself up as an authority unto itself!

Thus, we come to the core problem, with regards to authority in the visible church: Each Christian organization views itself as having authority; and, if pressed on the matter, they will claim that their authority comes directly from God.  But, their claim that their authority comes directly from God, has one very big problem: It is rare to find a visible church, Christian institutional perspective, that will recognize or honor the claimed authority of a different, visible church, Christian institutional perspective. Each Christian, visible institution, has become an authority unto itself.

The most compelling proof, of the above indictment of the visible church, is with regards to the office of elder; and how the various visible institutional churches deal with the authority of the office of elder.

In our opening text (Titus 1:5), the apostle Paul is giving instructions to "Titus, mine own son after the common faith," (see verse 4). A major part of those instructions are related to the office of elder. Paul tells Titus to: "ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee." Paul has commanded Titus to "ordain elders in every city." Since the apostle Paul commanded Titus to "ordain elders," it must be concluded that Titus had the authority to do this. We find additional evidence of and reference to, the authority that Titus had, at Titus 2:15, where we find written: "These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee."

The Greek word, translated as "authority," in the Titus 1:15 text, is the same Greek word that is translated as "commandment," in Titus 1:3, where we find written (Titus 1:1-3):

1. "Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness:"
2. "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;"
3. "But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour."

We are, once again (please see previous essay), reminded of the source of the apostle Paul's authority: "Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ." We are further reminded of Paul's authority, when he wrote of how the preaching of the word was "committed unto" him, "according to the commandment of God our Saviour." This is the same authority given to Titus; and evidenced by the instruction to "speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority," (Titus 2:15). Let us be reminded that the English word "commandment" (Titus 1:3),  and the English word "authority" (Titus 2:15), both are translated from the same Greek word. It should be rightly concluded, that Titus had authority directly from Jesus Christ; just as the apostle Paul had authority directly from Jesus Christ.

Thus, when Titus followed through to "ordain elders in every city," he did so with the confidence of knowing that these newly ordained elders would have authority that also came directly from Jesus Christ. The elders from one city would be welcomed and well received by the visible churches in other cities. None of these city churches set themselves up as an authority unto themselves. They were all directly under the authority of Jesus Christ.

This is not to say that there were not any problems in these early visible churches. Paul's letters are filled with descriptions of his efforts to purge the church of divisive elements. After all, we are still sinners; but, we have this, that distinguishes us from the rest of the world: we are sinners redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Can we say thank you Jesus. Amen and Amen and Amen.

Thus, the apostle Paul, continuing to be in fellowship with these troubled visible churches; and these troubled visible churches continuing to be in fellowship with one another; all found ways to deal with the problems, through Jesus Christ; and thus, maintain their fellowship. The authority of the church was not fractured and diminished through division, as the visible church of today is; rather, the authority that came directly from Jesus Christ governed all that was right and godly. The church was of one heart and one mind, largely because the early visible church had only one leader; and that leader was Jesus of Nazareth, who is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

This is not the case with the visible church of today. We have become a visible church of many leaders. We are filled with fractured and competing man-made authorities. And now we come to the proof of this man-made authority: When one visible institutional church ordains, or elects, or appoints their elders, it would be very rare indeed, to find another visible institutional church that would receive and welcome the ministry of the elders, from that particular institutional church. Each institutional church demands control over all that takes place under its man-made (and thus corrupted) authority; and thus, they will not receive nor will they acknowledge any legitimacy with regards to "elders," from different institutional churches.

If you are reading this; and if you are hearing the truth of this; please do not be discouraged. Our Lord Jesus Christ is not surprised by this. God still sits in His throne; and He is still, and always will be, sovereign over all that is: including the western visible church. Please be encouraged to continue to be faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ and to the local assembly that is your home church. Seek to draw closer to Jesus Christ. Look to Jesus to lead you and guide you. Pray for your elders. Pray for the visible unity of the church. Keep "looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith." (Hebrews 12:2).

And finally my beloved, especially if you are an elder, look to Jesus to teach you about right authority. Amen and Amen and Amen.

Let us close with the words of the apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 1:10): "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."

Until next time, my beloved brethren, in Christ Jesus, I continue to be:

Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus