1 Timothy 2, authority and the magical pulpit
Oct 30th, 2008 by Cheryl Schatz
Many people feel that the pulpit is a place for authoritative proclamation. However many people also believe that the pulpit gives a man that authority and allowing someone into the “pulpit” who isn’t allowed to exercise authority over the sheep, an authority that the pulpit gives them, is seen as a great sin.
There are several problems with this view. The first problem is an obvious one, in that there is no such thing as a pulpit in the Scriptures. Christianity Today says this about the pulpit:
Pulpits, which are associated with traditional churches today, haven’t always been included in churches. In the earliest days of the church, Christians met in homes. In the Middle Ages, pulpits were installed in churches, but sermons rarely were preached out of them…The pulpit became more prominent during the Protestant Reformation, when the preaching of God’s Word became the primary ingredient of worship. The pulpit became more than a place to stand or a structure on which to place notes and a Bible. It became a symbol of the authority of the Bible, the church, and the preacher.
So the pulpit as a symbol of authority is a modern invention not found in the Bible at all. Many years into the church age what originally was just a piece of furniture convenient to hold one’s notes, has become the symbol of the authority of the speaker. Somewhere along the way, it appears that the authority of the Word of God which held preeminence during the Protestant Reformation, has been transferred to the messenger. In our day the word “pulpit” is synonymous for church authority:
(The term) From the pulpit is often used metaphorically for something which is said with official church authority.
This taking of authority to the man instead of the authority remaining on the Scriptures is a repeat of a very old problem.
Jeremiah 5:31 The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule on their own authority; And My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?
The word here in the Hebrew translated as “rule” is the Hebrew word #7287 and means:
bear rule, or take into their hands. A verb meaning to rule, to have dominion, to subjugate. This Hebrew word conveys the notion of exercising domain, whether legitimate or not, over those who are powerless or otherwise under one’s control. It is related as the exercise of authority by the priesthood (Jer 5:31); by slave owners over their slaves (Lev 25:43); by supervisors over their workers (1Kings 9:23); and by a king over his kingdom (1Ki 4:24 [5:4]). Theologically significant is the use of this word to identify people’s God-ordained relationship to the created world around them (Gen 1:26, Gen 1:28).
Note that the “rule” as originally given to the man and the woman was over the created world and it was not given as a rule over people. Yet now authority is being used to “rule” the people and taking authority over others is expected.
Is this what the Scriptures teach? Is there a mandate for men to take authority over other Christians in the church? Jesus said:
Matthew 20:25-27 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;”
Jesus turns the whole authority issue completely on its head by forbidding the leadership in the church from exercising authority over the sheep. Instead of exercising authority, true leaders are to exercise a sacrificial servant heart.
How is authority that resides in the Word to be exercised? We have received authority to employ, exercise and use our own gift for the benefit of the body of Christ.
1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
1 Peter 4:11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Whoever has been gifted in speaking is to speak as speaking the very utterances or oracles of God. The one who has been gifted to minister or pastor is to serve by the strength and empowering that God supplies. The authority is in the Word of God and the authority a person possesses from the Word is the authority to use their gift for the glory of God. There is nothing in these passages that tells one to take authority over another believer.
The issue of authority in the church is not meant to be authority in the person. The authority is to be in the Word of God which gives us authority to use our gifts.
Because authority is not exercised over another believer, the body of Christ is now free to exercise their obligation to test all things and to hold fast to what is good. 1 Thess. 5:21
The pulpit doesn’t give one the authorization to give out authoritative proclamations - God’s word does. God’s gifts are not hindered nor does the authority lie in the hand of man. No human authority can remove a person’s God-given gift or their ability to use that gift for the glory of God.
The Baptist Press quotes Carolyn Hale Cubbedge:
“We answer to a higher power, a higher authority than the local association … and I think God will hold us responsible for how we face our opponents, and how we represent the God we say is calling us.”
Men and women of God are authorized to give out the message of the Gospel and to bring Jesus glory by ministering in his name. It is time that we set aside the issue of man-made authority and its focus on the pulpit and instead turn away from the world’s system to see authority God’s way.
I like the way that Anne Graham Lotz ministers in her gift as an evangelist. She takes the authority God has given her to speak forth the oracles of God by saying “Just give me Jesus”. The podium she stands behind is in the shape of a cross with a small holder for her notes.
It symbolizes the power of the cross and the authority of the message. It is time that we come back to the way of the Master by seeing the authority in the message and in the Giver of the gifts.
When we see authority God’s way, we will never again take authority upon ourselves to stop a woman from using the gift and the authority that God has given her to speak forth the Word of God.
Sheryl,
You are so right in your quest for ALL Christians to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:16)
Thank you for revealing the deception that pastors have ‘authority’, but only the word of God.
This deception was started back in the time of Paul as shown by Ignatius, the second bishop of Antioch. He said:
“We ought to receive every one whom the Master of the house sends to be over His household, as we would do Him that sent him. It is manifest, therefore, that we should look upon the bishop even as we would upon the Lord Himself.”
Thanks again.
Rex Ray
Bonham, Texas
From m-w.com
ex cathedra
Pronunciation: eks-k-th-dr Function: adverb or adjective Etymology: New Latin, literally, from the chair Date: 1693
: by virtue of or in the exercise of one’s office or position <ex cathedra pronouncements>
As Roman Catholics (or more properly the pope) claimed the authority of the pope to speak authoritatively ex cathedra (from the chair or their claimed seat of authority), so the protestants in reaction claimed the authority to speak from the pulpit or their claimed place to proclaim.
The Reformation needs to continue to reform.
Actually, I think the Reformation needs to Revolt! They sought to reform the RCC when they should have abandoned the whole thing and went straight back to the Bible. It’s the difference between trying to filter out poison from a glass of water, and getting a clean glass of water from a clean source.
A frequent tactic of those who are told that “pulpit” and “pastorate” are not in the Bible is to claim that these Exulted P’s are on the same level as the Trinity; that is, that since the Trinity is not expressly stated but has to be inferred, then pretty much anything can be inferred.
And of course that’s fallacious. The Trinity, unlike the Exalted P’s, has scriptural support (for example, the simultaneous presence of all three Persons when Jesus was baptized). There are many OT scriptures as well from which the Trinity can be derived. But for the Exalted P’s there is deafening silence. Paul never addresses any “pastor”, elders are addressed as a group and not “head pastors”, and as you pointed out, none of them had authority of their own.
Paula,
That’s what I’m praying will happen. With the mass exodus of people from traditional churches and people that are fed up with all the legalism… I’m praying that God is at work in ways beyond our understanding and will bring a mighty move of the Spirit for real repentence and revival. It may take awhile for people to get a big, sour belly full of the advertising techniques and sound bites and the “thus sayith the little popes.” Everyone is so obsessed with power and authority that I think either sects will split and destroy their earthly towers of sand. Then people will go back to the Cross without the baggage.
Excellent comments, everyone!
Rex Ray, Don, Paula, Cindy,
I do pray that the church will repent of what it has done to exalt the messenger.
The authority is in the message not the messenger. Once we really “get it” the Holy Spirit will revolutionize the Church. There is so much work to be done for Christ. We need to occupy until Christ comes and that involves all of us.
“They sought to reform the RCC when they should have abandoned the whole thing and went straight back to the Bible.”
Amen! But since it was tied directly to government power that did not happen. There were still some faithful hiding out, refusing to have their infants baptized or be a part of the ’state church’.
“Everyone is so obsessed with power and authority that I think either sects will split and destroy their earthly towers of sand. Then people will go back to the Cross without the baggage.”
I hate to say this but I really do believe that as the economy tightens and money dries up, there will less for the institutional church. I think this will change the dynamics in that more people will start to question what they are really supporting. As a matter of fact, many are doing that now and leaving the institutional church and finding other ways to ‘assemble’ with other believers.
Lin,
This is indeed a perilous and unprecedented time. It is not unthinkable that the church may end up going underground and back into house churches. I would hope that we would not take “pulpits” into the homes to recreate the excesses that have gone on for a very long time, with many who crave power.
I think we also have a golden opportunity here. We need to make our message known and try to intercept these who are finally finished with The Institution before they go from the frying pan to the fire.
I don’t know why, but I keep hearing Richie Havens’ “Freedom” song from the old Woodstock flick. Maybe it’s the time, and maybe it’s the season–And as Lin has pointed out, mayhap the day is coming when the institutional Church, and that includes the non-denominational mega-biggies, will no longer hold sway over as many as they did in their heydays.
Would that be the Hendrix version, Greg? (Don’t tell me you’re an old coot like me!)
Oops… didn’t write the whole sentence I was thinking. Shoulda been “Would that be similar to…”
Nope Paula, it was Richie Havens unplugged, not Jimi at all, totally acoustic. Havens is of the old-school folksy genre.
And yes I’m an old dog from the Vietnam era, who has also managed to learn a few new tricks!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-d5x-CiTUs is Richie’s Freedom
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGFbjcWBjLE is Jimi’s Freedom
Groovy.
I just found an article that discusses where women lead men…
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081104/ap_on_sc/sci_dirty_hands
Don,
If it weren’t for the part where they tested “college” students, I would have said that the extra bacteria came from all those “poopy diapers” that women handle.
Good one, Don. Now I am thinking that this is why young boys say girls have “cooties”.
I am now going to wash my hands, if you please.
Yes, I was also thinking of diapers and cooties, but did not dare voice my thoughts.
tee hee!