Question Question Authority
June 2, 2009
QUESTION AUTHORITY was the famous bumper sticker slogan I was confronted by when I arrived at UC Berkeley back in the 80’s. Being a foolish freshman, I never questioned where that bumper sticker got the authority to make such a bold statement in the first place!
Without question, many people are still questioning authority. But upon closer examination, it’s really selective authority questioning, where you are the ultimate author(ity)…
When I was teaching chemistry, I was never questioned, “Professor Lee, I disagree with your teaching of PV = nRT. I think it should be PVn = RT.” Such a person either doesn’t know much chemistry or has dyslxeia. 
But interestingly, when I preach/teach the Bible, there are some who object, “Pastor Jonathan, I disagree with your teaching on what Christian living should be…“ I am often tempted to question back, “Well, upon what basis do you disagree? Upon what authority? Upon what authority as a Bible scholar or decades of personal godly maturity do you raise that question?” (But it’s also interesting that people hardly ever question authority when it doesn’t make uncomfortable demands on one’s lifestyle.)
On authority, C. S. Lewis reasons with us in Mere Christianity (p.62):
Do not be scared by the word authority. Believing things on authority only means believing them because you have been told them by someone you think trustworthy. Ninety-nine per cent of the things you believe are believed on authority. I believe there is such a place as New York. I have not seen it myself. I could not prove by abstract reasoning that there must be such a place. I believe it because reliable people have told me so. [...] Every historical statement in the world is believed on authority. None of us has seen the Norman Conquest or the defeat of the Armada. None of us could prove them by pure logic as you prove a thing in mathematics. We believe them simply because people who did see them have left writings that tell us about them: in fact, on authority. A man who jibbed at authority in other things as some people do in religion would have to be content to know nothing all his life.
Recently, those taking a discipleship class at Waypoint Community Church were reminded of the “4 Sources of Authority” (Survival Kit: 5 Keys to Effective Spiritual Growth by Ralph Neighbour, Jr.) where the greatest and ultimate authority ought to be the Scripture, the Word of God, the Bible. The authority of Scripture is far more trustworthy than experiences, intellect, or tradition. (And I might add “feelings” to this list of inadequate authorities.)
I’d like to hear from you on this: Why are some people so inclined to question authority, especially Biblical authority? (i.e., the authority that the Bible has over life and faith)
Entry Filed under: About Life, Leadership Lessons, Ministry Lessons, Parenting Lessons, Waypoint Community Church. Tags: authority, bible.
1. D | June 2, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Authority means that they are not in control over what they want (hence the selective questioning). People are especially more questioning of biblical authority because it will dictate how they should live their lives; if people submit to biblical authority, then they cannot live how they want to live. Hence, because people want to be comfortable in where they are and justify their actions, they question biblical authority.
2. S | June 3, 2009 at 9:04 am
People do not want to be wrong or admit that there’s a way we should be living. It is much easier to continue on in our own lives of sin and following our worldly desires. Admitting that there is a biblical authority, would mean we have to act upon it. We would have to undo our habits, way of thinking, and worldview. We would also have to put in effort in finding out and believing if this authority is indeed true. People would much rather continue to live their own lives in ignorance than to change the way they have been living for years. It goes with the saying: “Ignorance is bliss”. In this case, ignorance is destruction.
3. M | June 4, 2009 at 7:10 pm
I think it’s also because there is no greater, no truer, no more loving authority than God, but people don’t give it a chance! Why? It’s because in this secular world, individuals can find so many flaws with different types of authority: politicians who embezzle money, law enforcement officers who bust a Rodney King, or pastors who don’t practice what they preach. As we learned last week even Naaman, a valiant soldier, though he had so much authority, he had leprosy. With so many inconsistencies, it’s hard to trust authority. Then people look at Christians and especially question Biblical authority because it may very well be the one and only authority with followers who delight in following it. Biblical authority makes people curious because it is a source of authority that is at the same time a source of joy, peace, security, that no one can fathom. People think Biblical authority is too good to be true, but if we can reach out to people like this, we can help them to see that it’s too good AND true.
4. joongwlee | June 8, 2009 at 11:39 am
It’s important to remember that what I mean by “Biblical authority” is referring to the authority that the BIBLE has over all of life and faith. The BIBLE should be the ultimate authority over every person. The BIBLE has authority over me. No one should believe what I say just because I’m the pastor of a church. We should all listen to what the BIBLE has to say. That’s why it’s important to study the BIBLE carefully.
One more thing to add, our ultimate ultimate authority is Jesus Christ. (Sorry, I’m nerding out a little on seminary stuff.) As we did our DT’s recently in Colossians 1:15-18, “[Jesus] is the image of the invisible God… He is before all things… is the head of the body, the church… so that in everything He might have the .” Amen to that! And don’t take it from me, take it from the Bible.
-P.Jonathan
5. Anonymous | June 9, 2009 at 10:12 am
Jonathan,
Is this an honest question? Aren’t you, in fact, asking why people question YOU or LEADERSHIP?
I hope you will read my thoughts (and perhaps even publish them), though I am inclined to think you won’t. Thought I’d give it the old college try, anyway.
Imagine your children. Your older child rebukes the younger, saying that “Daddy says this.” But the younger one never hears it from you. There will undoubtedly be a lot of questioning and maybe even disbelief in the younger’s mind, since he did not hear it directly from you. And if the behavior or thought-pattern is something your younger definitely doesn’t want to give up, hearing those words from his older sibling isn’t really going to convince him to stop.
Take this illustration to most of your congregation. Do they hear directly from God or are they dependent on hearing it from leaders? Do you think maybe there is just a lack of direct conversation with God that causes this questioning of authority?
6. joongwlee | June 9, 2009 at 11:40 am
Dear Anonymous,
I don’t want to get into any back and forth discussion/debate on this (don’t have time and this is just a simple personal blog), but I thought this might help clarify this one time…
For ease of explanation, I’ll extend your analogy:
Younger child = John
Older child = Mary
John should not listen simply because Mary tells him, “Daddy says don’t fight and love your classmate as yourself.” This is especially since there is a document that is widely disseminated titled “Daddy’s Life Rules (vol.1 & 2)” which John, Mary, and millions of others have access to [this would be analogous to the Bible]. Then, John would be able to check with “Daddy’s Life Rules” himself and see if it is consistent with what Mary is asserting. AND, if there are many others who have read “Daddy’s Life Rules” and have found it to be interpreted/applied in the manner Mary asserts, then there’s greater likelihood to receive Mary’s statement, “Daddy says don’t fight and love your classmates as yourself” to heart.
Throughout generations, there have been priests, pastors, elders, and leaders who have been entrusted with the role of “Mary” in the above analogy. You can read about it in any Church History volume (or better yet, the many passages in the Bible where it speaks of the early church). And you can pick up any Systematic Theology book if you’d like to find out how Scripture ought to be interpreted and applied. With regards to this generation’s tendency to question authority, it’s a social phenomena and is not just as applied to church or my experiences. (Sorry, this comment is too long already.)
To sum up: Read your Bible and pray for your pastor (especially on Saturday nights!).