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among them, which of them (Jesus' disciples) should be accounted
the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles
exercise lordship over them, ... but ye shall not be so; but he
that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that
is chief, as he that doth serve" (Luke 22:24-26). This same
conversation is also recorded in Mark 10:42: "... ye know that
they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise
lordship over them ... but so shall it not be among you: but
whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: and
whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to
minister, ..." But no one can say Jesus had no authority.
Years ago, seeing this, and not considering the many,
MANY Scriptures charging some in the Church with authority,
rulership, saying to "rebuke" the unruly, etc., I took the above
scriptures to mean there is no authority in the Church. I did not
want to exercise authority. I was still NEW in God's truth (this
was over 40 years ago). So, in the early days of the parent Church
of the Philadelphia era, at Eugene, Oregon, I allowed "wolves in
sheeps' clothing" to come in and sow the seeds of discord among
brethren. It resulted in splitting the church in two -- possibly
turning half my flock onto the way that leads into a lake of fire!
God had His own way of REBUKING ME SOUNDLY, making me see this in
its true light. Jesus here is talking about THE MANNER in which
the authority Christ delegates is used. He is NOT saying there is
NO AUTHORITY.
Let's continue on and make it CLEAR.
Continue in Luke 22:28: Jesus continued, "Ye are they
which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint
unto you a KINGDOM, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye
may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones
judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
So you see, in the same speech where Jesus taught against
"lording it over" those under one's authority, He delegated to
them authority of KINGSHIP, sitting on twelve thrones.
I have had to correct some under me in God's Work on this
very point -- the manner in which authority was used. Those of
us in God's Church are not YET perfect. We must OVERCOME and
GROW in grace. But the remedy is not to take all authority which
Christ has delegated OUT of the Church, but to learn to administer
it IN THE MANNER Christ has taught.
Above I have quoted GOD'S INSTRUCTION -- "Rebuke them
sharply!" -- "RULE," etc., etc.
The parallel instruction on the RANK of authority in the
Church is in Ephesians 4, beginning with verse 11: "And he (Christ
gave some, ..." The RSV translates it more clearly: "And His
gifts were that some should be apostles," etc. Continue, "some
prophets, and some evangelists, and some, pastors and teachers;
for the perfecting of the saints, for THE WORK of the ministry
(proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom to all the world), for the