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One of our little visitors at Vacation Bible School once asked this question. His teacher told him the Lord was. He didn’t agree. He said he thought that man who stood up at the front (referring to me) was the boss. I’m not sure his little mind was able to grasp the true answer, but he did have a good question.
If people were thinking right, they would not even consider being part of a religious body that didn’t have Jesus as its “boss.” The Son of God said, “I will build my church” (Mat.16:18). Later he said, “All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth” (Mat. 28:18). Later yet, Paul, speaking of Christ, said that God “put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church” (Eph. 1:22).
Because he has all authority in religious matters, no man or group of men has the right to seize authority for himself. For this reason, we are frequently warned to honor the authority of Christ completely. We must do the will of the Father if we wish to be saved in Heaven (Mat. 7:21). We are His disciples only if we abide in Jesus’ words, not the words of man (John 8:31). We will be judged by the words of Jesus, not the words of men (John 12:48). Like the apostles, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). If we preach anything different from the original Gospel of Christ, we bring damnation upon ourselves (Gal. 1:8–9). We must earnestly contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints by inspired men, rather than for conflicting doctrines thought up by uninspired men (Jude 3). We dare not add or take away from the Word of God by honoring the opinions of men above it (Rev. 22:18–19).
Christ has delegated some of His authority, but He has relinquished none….To elders (also called “bishops,” “pastors”) he has delegated authority in the local church. This authority, however, is not for the purpose of making spiritual laws, but for keeping the church faithful to the law of Christ (Acts 20:28-31; Tit. 1:9–14). To preachers he has delegated authority, but only to preach and teach His Word (2 Tim. 4:2).
He is our “boss” only when we live and worship as He directs (Luke 6:46).
[Note: I wrote this article for and it was published in The Edifier, weekly bulletin of Pearl Street Church of Christ, Denton, TX, October 8, 1987, of which I was editor.]
Attribution: From thescripturecache.com; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.
