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Online Truth
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THE GENTILE WAY
WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THAT AUTHORITY?
It has always been of interest to me as to how we come to believe what we believe. This is true in all areas of life. Certainly our heritage and our culture are very influential. The interesting part is that everything we believe, we believe because we believe it is right and correct to believe that way.
When it comes to the higher powers, and our relationship with God, it is paramount that what we believe be correct—what God intended and what God asks of us.
So today I want to talk about authority as we understand it—the authority others have over us, and the presumed authority we then are granted over others.
Michael Pearl, a minister and author who writes on child training writes that “children are born with a will to dominate. This will to dominate is amazing in its strength, profound in its dedication and consistency, and evil in its disregard for the need of others. It is the responsibility of parents to train their children so that they do not grow up to be tyrants. When tyrants grow up, they learn to control their inclinations in situations where they could embarrass themselves or lose their jobs or friends. How shameful this is that when they go home, out of the public eye, they take out their need to dominate on their families. Most marital problems are rooted in the fact that one or both parties are trying to dominate the other.”
My first experience with authority was the authority in our home. Obviously, Dad and Mom had authority over me and my siblings while we were growing up. Because they loved us and cared for our every need, they had the God-given authority to train and teach us to grow to be acceptable to society when we matured and left home to enter into that society. But did I have, or was I given authority over others? Being the third son and fourth child in a family of five children, I was given no real or perceived authority over anyone else in the family. That was understood by other siblings as well. No one ever thought that the oldest brother had somehow filled a position in a hierarchy and was in some way given authority to “give orders” to all siblings younger than himself. However, being firstborn, he did have certain blessings and responsibilities to lead by example.
At the age of six I was to enter elementary school and started with the first grade. In the classroom, the teacher or instructor was the authority figure. There was no understanding that any other student had any real or perceived authority over me. Nor did I have any real or perceived authority over any of the other students. This was true of all classes. When I had progressed and had reached the eighth grade, I still had no perception that any other student had authority over me, and I had no real or perceived authority over any of the other students.
During the early years of growing up, our family did not attend any church or feign any degree of spirituality. I remember older sis finding some catechism materials and going over them with me a time or two in the brooder house Dad used as a tool shed. When I was hospitalized for a knee injury while in the fourth grade I was asked what church we belonged to and I responded that we attended the German Lutheran Church. Mom and several of us children had attended a Christmas service or something of that nature on one occasion, and I had remembered the name.
It was while in the eighth grade that I really started reading the Bible. My next older brother, my younger brother, and I started reading the Bible with the intention of reading it from cover to cover. At that time there was only one Bible in the home, that being Mom’s confirmation Bible. The three of us had to take turns reading the Bible.
Not having had an outside influence such as church teachings, I had the opportunity to read the Bible for what it said and for what it meant. When questions arose, we turned to Dad for the answers. I remember reading of a number of God’s people being humble, and some repenting in sackcloth and ashes. I learned that Moses was a very meek man. Domination over and control of others was not a characteristic attributed to any of the patriarchs or prophets.
After graduating from the eighth grade, I matriculated in high school as a freshman. Even at this stage, I had no perception that I somehow had authority or jurisdiction over the lives of any who had come after me. I also had no perception that other students in a higher class scholastically, had authority over me. But that was soon to change. Looking back I believe it was within a month or six weeks of school starting in the fall of my freshman year, I was made aware of the fact that the seniors in the school were allowed to “exercise authority” over all freshmen for one week. It was recognized as some rite of initiation, and, to my knowledge, no one was allowed exemption from this seemingly absurd situation. Though I had read of nothing of this characteristic in God’s servants mentioned in the Bible, there were examples of those who operated in accordance with the “way of the Gentiles.” I found that Freshmen were expected to fall to their knees and assume a subservient position when a Senior approached. Seniors often made foolish requests of Freshmen just to exercise their authority over or “lord it over” them. I suppose it was the vestiges of “hazing” and I immediately knew I was not a part of that system. Looking back, I should have offered more resistance to the system and taken the opportunity to point out the error of such thinking. As it was I submitted to the humiliation of having to cross dress, wear hairpins in my hair, and do what was requested of me. I remember at the official initiation I was required to do 25 pushups (I had been doing 100 pushups at that time, so 25 presented no problem).
I determined then and there that I would never participate in the humiliation of others and would never demand that they grovel at my feet. This may have been acceptable in the Gentile world, but it would not be a part of my Christian life. I determined I would not participate in any initiation rituals when I was in my senior year. This antiquated custom continued for the next two years. But, as luck would have it, when I became a senior, the glass voted to replace this unfortunate custom and tradition with a dance. I believe it was called the Snowflake Ball. The dance was for everyone, and there was no humiliation foisted upon the freshmen that year. I was pleased to be a part of the class that was benevolent enough to make this much needed change.
My experience with public education has taught that the instructor was the authority figure so that we as pupils might be appropriately taught. But there was no authority of one student over another.
The same was true in college. One pays tuition for the opportunity to be taught by the assigned instructor. One submits to the perceived authority of the instructor in order to receive instruction. There is no authority outside the matters of the classroom and matters that may damage the image or reputation of the college.
When rent is paid for an apartment or room, there are certain rules and regulations as far as activities permissible in the room or apartment. The owner or management decides these rules and regulations. They are to maintain the condition of the property and the standards of the owner or management. But there is no real or perceived authority over individuals. If the rules and regulations are too restrictive, the solution is to rent a different facility. When rent has been paid, the rent is paid in order to have a sense of privacy and a place to live and store possessions without interference from other students not in the equation. If an institution curtails human rights and freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution of the country, the reasonable alternative is to have no further dealings with said institution and seek education elsewhere.
Work These lessons have long ago been learned through experiences in life. A study of history reveals that originally, most of mankind were what is now known as self-employed. In agrarian societies, even fathers were basically “home” with the family. It was well known and often said that “nothing makes the crops grow like the shadow of the farmer.” It was understood that the presence of the farmer was essential. Later someone, perhaps with those thoughts in mind was quoted as saying “You can’t farm the road.” From the pages of the Bible, we find that some could not sustain themselves and some actually became slaves of others. This happened in ancient Israel. But God set the system so even slaves could again become freed every seven years. Of course, in the case of Egypt, they sought to dominate the Israelites and forced slavery upon them. It is important to recall the statement of John Derek who played Joshua in the movie “The Ten Commandments.” He states: “God made man…man made slaves.”
With the coming of the Industrial Revolution, many men went to work for employers. Often they were hired by corporations. When the corporations became large and hired many employees, management found it necessary to designate some as supervisors or foremen or department heads with certain authority and responsibility over others. This often led to injustices and unhappiness. When there were difficulties, the corporation found they had to stand behind their authoritative appointees or their system would falter. This has been the tradition in the business world. But this is expected as there is no pretense to be operating according to the will of God. The business world operates according to the ways of the Gentiles.
However, Jesus introduced a different approach and made it very clear as to how the system would work in Christianity. Let’s look more closely at Matthew 20:25-28 as rendered in Albert Barnes’ Notes On The Bible. Mat_20:25-27 But Jesus called them unto him - That is, he called all the apostles to him, and stated the principles on which they were to act. The princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them - That is, over their subjects. “You know that such honors are customary among nations. The kings of the earth raise their favorites to posts of trust and power they give authority to some over others; but my kingdom is established in a different manner. All are to be on a level. The rich, the poor, the learned, the unlearned, the bond, the free, are to be equal. He will be the most distinguished that shows most humility, the deepest sense of his unworthiness, and the most earnest desire to promote the welfare of his brethren.” Gentiles - All who were not Jews - used here to denote the manner in which human governments are constituted. Minister - A servant. The original word is deacon - a word meaning a servant of any kind; one especially who served at the table, and, in the New Testament, one who serves the church, Act_6:1-4; 1Ti_3:8. Preachers of the gospel are called minister’s because they are the servants of God and of the church 1Co_3:5; 1Co_4:1; 2Co_3:6; 2Co_6:4; Eph_4:12; an office, therefore, which forbids them to lord it over God’s heritage, which is the very opposite of a station of superiority, and which demands the very lowest degree of humility. Mat_20:28 Even as the Son of man ... - See the notes at Mat_8:20. Jesus points them to his own example. He was in the form of God in heaven, Phi_2:6. He came to people in the form of a servant, Phi_2:7. He came not with pomp and glory, but as a man in humble life; and since he came he had not required them to minister to him. “He labored for them.” He strove to do them good. He provided for their needs; fared as poorly as they did; went before them in dangers and sufferings; practiced self-denial on their account, and for them was about to lay down his life. See Joh_13:4-5. To give his life a ransom for many - The word “ransom” means literally a price paid for the redemption of captives. In war, when prisoners are taken by an enemy, the money demanded for their release is called a ransom; that is, it is the means by which they are set at liberty. So anything that releases anyone from a state of punishment, or suffering, or sin, is called a ransom. People are by nature captives to sin. They are sold under it. They are under condemnation, Eph_2:3; Rom_3:9-20, Rom_3:23; 1Jo_5:19. They are under a curse, Gal_3:10. They are in love with sin They are under its withering dominion, and are exposed to death eternal, Eze_18:4; Psa_9:17; Psa_11:6; Psa_68:2; Psa_139:19; Mat_25:46; Rom_2:6-9. They must have perished unless there had been some way by which they could he rescued. This was done by the death of Jesus - by giving his life a ransom. The meaning is, that he died in the place of sinners, and that God was willing to accept the pains of his death in the place of the eternal suffering of the redeemed. The reasons why such a ransom was necessary are: 1. that God had declared that the sinner shall die; that is, that he would punish, or show his hatred to, all sin. 2. that all people had sinned, and, if justice was to take its regular course, all must perish. 3. that man could make no atonement for his own sins. All that he could do, were he holy, would be only to do his duty, and would make no amends for the past. Repentance and future obedience would not blot away one sin. 4. No man was pure, and no angel could make atonement. God was pleased, therefore, to appoint his only-begotten Son to make such a ransom. See Joh_3:16; 1Jo_4:10; 1Pe_1:18-19; Rev_13:8; Joh_1:29; Eph_5:2; Heb_8:2-7; Isa_53:1-12: This is commonly called the atonement. See the notes at Rom_5:2. For many - See also Mat_26:28; Joh_10:15; 1Ti_2:6; 1Jo_2:2; 2Co_5:14-15; Heb_2:9.
Obviously, God’s way is not the way of the Gentiles. Nor should the way of the Gentiles ever be practiced and foisted upon Christians as being God’s way. The proper understanding and implementation of servant leadership is of utmost importance. Through this means God’s will can be implemented in His Church and all Godly relationships. But few understand these things and even fewer implement the Godly form of leadership.
I found this so true when I began attending a corporate sponsored congregation. As soon as one enters the door, there is evidence of a hierarchy—usually from ushers to deacons and deaconesses, to the ministry itself. (Now, there are certain needs that need to be met. Those who do these things to truly serve others do well. But more often than not, this turns to these individuals serving themselves and their agendas rather than a humble service to brethren they truly think higher of than themselves.) The same was true when I matriculated at the corporate church’s college. Immediately the hierarchy was imposed upon the unsuspecting fledgling student. Some students were even given the impression that they somehow automatically had authority and jurisdiction over other tuition-paying and rent-paying students.
I determined I could be no part of such a system. It is interesting that a decision of this nature would have certain ramifications. Not being a part of the system automatically precluded one from many selection processes which required a desire to follow said system and reap the well-known and oft sought after rewards. Also of interest was the fact that some in the administration felt they had been given jurisdiction and authority over most all aspects of the lives of the students. On occasion students were informed of this perception. I had occasion to discuss the matter with a friend who had experienced this treatment some twenty-two years previously. He informed me how certain members of the administration had informed him that they could tell him what to do and when to do it. He had decided he did not want this kind of experience in his life, and had left college. I informed him that, had the same happened to me, I, too, would have left the college. When this was mentioned to another, the question was asked, “What was wrong with that authority?”
Truth of the matter is that few recognize the dangers of the Gentile way. Few recognize the dangers of the hierarchy approach. In fact, many believe it is absolutely essential and that it is actually a Godly system. Nothing could be farther from the truth. As stated earlier, it is human nature to desire and seek dominion and domination over others. When this domination is acquired, it fulfills the urge and desire for power. Many are known to do many things, whether those things are good or bad, in search of power. It is a sad state of affairs when these urges and desires are carried over into what is then believed to be the proper worship of God. It is actually contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ, Our Savior, and yet it is carried on in His name. History confirms that many of the cruelest and bloodiest wars have been carried on in the name of religion. The sobering fact is that these things are prophesied to happen again before the Jesus returns in full power to reign as King of Kings.
John 16:2 says, (GNB) You will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time will come when those who kill you will think that by doing this they are serving God.
Jesus was here instructing His disciples and letting them know that there was a time coming when His disciples would be expelled from worshipping in places of worship, and some would even put Jesus’ disciples to death—would murder them—and think that by doing so, they were actually serving God.
In my own experience in the last two years, some have refused to any longer acknowledge me as a servant (minister) of Jesus Christ. I have been “disfellowshipped” or excommunicated from attending worship services with said people—and individuals have lied, actually believing they are serving God (belief that they are serving the “greater good”), and some have been richly rewarded for doing so.
One has to contemplate how individuals are led to believe these things. At the close of World War II, with the atrocities which were perpetrated by those of German descent, there were those who were quick to attribute this to heredity. Many speculated that it was just the nature of those who were of German descent, and that, certainly other races and nationalities would never have done such things. I have heard it speculated that certain characteristic of cruelty have been passed down in other nationalities as well. One example being that of the Vikings who some believe were exceptionally cruel.
Can that be proven? Perhaps what others have written may shed some light on the subject. Some have come to the conclusion that there is an element in human nature that, when encouraged, will lead to many thought to be just ordinary people performing acts of extreme cruelty and actually putting others to death—justified by the rationale that they were “only following orders” given by some perceived authority.
It is acknowledged that God the Father is the supreme authority. There is authority in His Church through His Son, Jesus Christ. Those who exercise leadership follow the instructions given by Jesus Christ, or the authority they exercise is that of the Gentile way.
Whenever authority is exercised over others, the question of whose authority it is must be analyzed.
Perhaps elements of truth and understanding can be derived from the writings which follow.
What does the Devil's right hand look like?
I don't mean this to be
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