submission – La Vista Church of Christ

I Will Follow Thee

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 04 May 2026 17:42:01 +0000

by Kenneth Frazier
via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 21 No. 1, March 1995

“And it came to pass, that as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest” (Luke 9:57).

This passage in Luke provides a helpful insight into human nature. Three persons are mentioned by Luke as having intentions of following the Lord. Matthew 8:19-22, a parallel passage, mentions only the first two.

Consider the first of the three. We do not know for certain what prompted his enthusiastic promise, whether the miracles which Jesus performed, or his wonderful message of forgiveness and salvation. This first man calls to mind the impulsiveness of Simon Peter, who said, ”I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death” (Luke 22:33). And again in John 13:37, “I will lay down my life for thy sake.” In reply to Peter’s impulsive vow of loyalty, Jesus predicted Peter’s denial “before the cock crow.”

This first man said, “I will follow thee.” Before we make such a vow of loyalty to the Lord, it would behoove us to exercise a little foresight and count the cost. Jesus replied, in effect, that “I have no home, no certain dwelling place, and if you follow me you will likewise be called upon to sacrifice all such material comforts.” The extent to which one is able to fulfill the promise to “follow whithersoever thou goest” will depend on how well one has prepared himself to put the Lord first.

The second person mentioned by Luke received an invitation from the Lord to “follow me.” As is true of many people, this man was not quite ready to accept the responsibility of discipleship. No doubt, he could appreciate the blessings that would flow from following Jesus and genuinely wanted to do so. But for whatever reason, he asked the Lord to wait. I have talked with many who have expressed faith and a desire to obey the gospel of Christ, but have asked the Lord to wait until they are ready. There seems to be the feeling in their heart that “Oh well, the Lord is always ready, and he will not mind a few days, months, or years.” Whether Christ minds or not is not the problem. The problem is in thinking that something else is more important than following when Christ says, “Come unto me.”

Family matters occupied this second man's attention. Before he could follow the Lord, he must take care of his duties at home. His father had to be buried. Some have professed to see in Jesus’ reply a lack of sympathy or feeling for the dead. It is not that, for he expressed compassion for such on other occasions. The great question is: “Is there anything that should take precedence over accepting the invitation of Christ to follow him?” If so, what is it? What is more important than obeying the gospel of Christ? This second man delayed or procrastinated in his service. Jesus said that the spiritually dead can bury the physically dead.

The third man mentioned by Luke also makes a promise to follow Jesus, “But ...” Can you imagine someone putting conditions in his vow of service? “If you will let me do this, Lord, I will follow you.” I wonder how many of us subconsciously do this without realizing it? Are you aware of the reasons or excuses you use for missing the assembly of the saints? Are you aware that when you rationalize and think, “Oh well, the Lord surely won’t mind if I stay home to cook my meal for company”

What does James 4:5 mean?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 20:13:43 +0000

Question:

Dear Sir,

What does it mean that the Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously (James 4:5)?

Answer:

"You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"? But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you" (James 4:4-10 NASB95).

Some translations render James 4:5 a bit differently: "Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, 'The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously'?" (NKJV).

For a short verse, James 4:5 has caused many headaches for translators. The first problem is the quote. There is no verse in the Old Testament that is worded this way. Thus, many Bible students believe that James is summarizing a principle taught in the Scriptures. Another strong possibility is that James is not making a quote at all. The Greek text doesn't have punctuation. Quote marks were not used. The reason it is placed in quotes is that the phrase "the Scripture speaks" (he graphe legei) is assumed to be a lead into a quote. However, it is not necessarily true, and a few major translations don't render it as a quote. The translators of the NIV chose to render the verse: "Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?" The ASV worded it this way: "Or think ye that the scripture speaketh in vain? Doth the spirit which he made to dwell in us long unto envying?" The HSCB says: "Or do you think it’s without reason the Scripture says that the Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously?"

The second problem concerns the word "spirit." Is James referring to the Holy Spirit or our spirit? The Greek doesn't use a different word, and the word you choose will strongly influence how the rest of the verse is translated. The translations have chosen:

That God longs for the human spirit He has given each of us, and so He jealously works to bring us to Him.
That the Holy Spirit dwells in us, and jealousy works to bring us to God.
That the Holy Spirit dwells in us and causes us to jealously long for God
That the human spirit in us, which God made, lusts after jealousy
That God desires the Holy Spirit that He has made to dwell in us.

In the context, the question leading into this section is: "What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you?" (James 4:1). James' answer is that it comes from our preference for pleasures. "Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?" (James 4:1). The result is: "You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures" (James 4:2-3).

Thus, James charges the pleasure seekers with adultery. Instead of being in a covenant relationship with God, the pleasure seeker is flirting with the world. "You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God" (James 4:4).

James 4:5 is either seen as a continuation of the charge that we tend to go off into jealousy, or as stating that, despite our sins, God still strongly wants us. To me, the latter makes more sense. Whether James is saying that God longs for us directly or through the Holy Spirit doesn't change the understanding of the text all that much.

It flows into James' next point: "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: 'God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble'" (James 4:6). Despite our sins, God has abundant grace to offer. However, it isn't given to everyone. We have to be willing to submit to God.

"God doesn’t give up easily on us. Even when we seek our own pleasures, God reaches out with opportunities to draw near to Him. The Spirit, dwelling in His people, is zealous for us. God reaches out with “greater grace,” offering reconciliation with those who would humble themselves before Him (James 4:5-7). Humility is key. Worldly wisdom opposes God because it is grounded in pride. We somehow think that we know how to order our lives -- in a disorderly way, ironically (see James 3:16 again). We couldn’t be further from the truth" [Doy Moyer, "Friendship with God or the World"].

May God Almighty Grant You Mercy

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:30:15 +0000

by Zeke Flores

In Genesis 43:14, Jacob prays, "May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man." This is the first time in the Joseph story that Jacob appeals directly to God’s character. The name he uses — El Shaddai — emphasizes God’s power and sufficiency. Jacob is finally entrusting what he fears most to the God who is able.

This moment shows the shift from self-reliance to surrender. Jacob cannot control the outcome. He cannot protect his sons. He cannot guarantee safety. But he can entrust them to the God who governs mercy.

This is a vital truth for us. Faith is not the ability to control circumstances. It is the willingness to release them to God. When we pray for mercy, we acknowledge that God’s compassion is our hope.

If you’re facing something you cannot fix, pray like Jacob. Appeal to God’s character. Entrust the situation to His mercy. He is more than able to carry what you cannot.

Do All in the Name of the Lord

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 22:04:55 +0000

by Terry Wane Benton

"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father" (Colossians 3:16-17).

Colossians 3:16-17 does not make an optional statement. So, we must make sure that we do all that we do by Jesus' authority. Looking in the book of Colossians, here are some things you cannot do "in His name":

You cannot promote the philosophy and traditions of men in His name. Colossians 2:8 His teaching is found in scriptures, the Old and New Testaments (the Bible), while traditions of men originate in the desires and imaginations of men. We must know the difference.
You cannot live according to the basic principles of the world in His name (Colossians 2:8). The basic principles of the world are to live by the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life (I John 2:16). Jesus does not authorize us to follow the impulses of the flesh.
You cannot reinstate the "handwriting of requirements" (the Law of Moses) in His name (Colossians 2:14). The dietary rules of the Law (Colossians 2:16), the festivals, new moons, and sabbaths were but types and shadows of things that would have a spiritual meaning in Christ. If you try to bind circumcision or any other point in the old law, you are under a curse (Galatians 5:1-6), and you must keep all things in that Law, including the animal sacrifices and temple system. Jesus does not authorize that for us.
You cannot worship angels and men in His name (Colossians 2:18).
You cannot commit immoral deeds in His name (Colossians 3:5).
You cannot be disconnected from His church in His name (Colossians 1:18; 3:16-17). Some think they can forsake the assembly of the saints and still please God and go to heaven (Hebrews 10:24-25). Jesus never said that and never implied that. So, we can assemble with the church in His name, but we cannot stay home and be disconnected from the assembly of saints in His name.

Are you doing all in His name?

Loose Cannons

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 17:08:33 +0000

by Kevin Cauley

Reading the news today, I came across an article about one of the presidential candidates, in which one of his former military commanders said he was a “loose cannon.” Just the other day, one of our members was telling me about a man who claimed to be a “loose cannon” religiously; we took that to mean he didn’t attend any particular “church.” And just the other day, I was listening to a CD narrative of the battle of Gettysburg, which we purchased on our family vacation this year; it reminded me of just what a “loose cannon” was. When the soldiers attending a cannon were all wounded, captured, or killed, the cannon would be turned around by the opposing force and aimed back at those to whom it originally belonged. A “loose cannon” can be very dangerous.

Just from looking at these thoughts behind the idea of a “loose cannon,” three different pictures emerge. The first idea represented is that of a lack of respect for authority. That is, the individual who is described by his superior as a loose cannon doesn’t know how to respect the chain of command; he is an authority to himself, but respects no other authority. Second, the individual who described himself as a “loose cannon” represents himself as having no affiliation with one side or another. And third, the actual loose cannon on the battlefield represents something that has been captured and is now being used by the enemy. Christians ought not to be “loose cannons” in any of the senses indicated above.

First, Christians are to respect authority. We are first and foremost to respect the authority of our Lord who has been given all authority (Matthew 28:18) over all flesh (John 17:2). We respect Christ’s authority by looking to His word for everything that we say and do in service to Him in His kingdom (Colossians 3:17). Second, we are to respect the authority of those who are in places of authority such as parents (Ephesians 6:1-2), elders (Hebrews 13:17), and government leaders (Romans 13:1-6). Jude says of those false teachers in his day that they do not respect authority (Jude 8). Let’s not be guilty of being a “loose cannon” in not respecting authority.

Second, Christians are to be affiliated with something, namely, Christ and His church. All those who are baptized into Christ are baptized into Christ’s body (I Corinthians 12:13), which is His church (Colossians 1:18). Christians belong to Christ and are members of his body, the church. Unfortunately, denominationalism has blurred many people’s understanding of the one true church of Christ and led them to think they need not be “affiliated” with any “church” or denomination. Truthfully, no Christian ought to be affiliated with a denomination, but all ought to be affiliated with Christ’s church. To not be affiliated with the church of Christ is to abandon the head of the church himself, Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:22). It is to take oneself out from among the saved (Acts 2:47; Ephesians 5:23). It is to remove oneself from those who are called saints (I Corinthians 1:2). Let’s not be guilty of being a “loose cannon” by not being affiliated with the church of Christ (Matthew 16:18).

Third, Christians are not to be captured and used by the enemy. We have an enemy, no doubt! (Matthew 13:39) And we, as Christians, must take up the whole armor of God and fight! (Ephesians 6:11) Our enemy is not flesh and blood but that which exalts itself against the knowledge of God (II Corinthians 10:3-4). How tragic, then, should we be captured by our enemy and turned to fight God! Yet some have done this very thing. How?

By seeking worldliness. The friend of the world is the enemy of God (James 4:4).
By being apathetic toward God (Revelation 3:16). We’re not supposed to be lukewarm as Christians.
By looking to satisfy self (Philippians 3:18). We’re not of those whose god is their belly.

Let’s resolve not to be captured by the enemy, and never be a “loose cannon.”

Being described as a “loose cannon” is not something of which I would be very proud, whether that was in respect to authority, affiliation, or being captured by the enemy. Each one of us has a responsibility to respect authority, maintain fellowship with God and each other, and fight against the enemy in our lives, wherever that enemy may give battle. “Loose cannons” have no place within the ranks of Christ’s army. Let us not so be.

When God Washed Men’s Feet

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 00:12:51 +0000

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/When-God-Washed-Mens-Feet.mp3

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton

Download Audio

Text: John 13:1-17

I. Jesus’ mission was drawing to a conclusion

A. It was the night that Jesus would be betrayed

B. Judas had already made a deal with the Jewish leaders to betray Jesus

C. Jesus had gathered with his disciples to eat one last Passover meal and to give them final instructions before his gruesome death

D. It was a solemn occasion that his disciples did not understand. In fact, they had begun yet again to squabble - Luke 22:24

II. A lesson on true love

A. John starts out emphasizing that at this time Jesus had shown them love and would continue to love them to the end - John 13:1

1. This, despite that Judas had by this time decided to carry out his plan to betray Jesus

2. Just a short while earlier, Jesus revealed that one of them would betray him - Luke 22:21-23

3. Judas knew Jesus was talking about him, but pretended not to understand any better than the rest of the disciples - John 13:2

a. The Greek text literally states that Satan threw the idea into Judas’ heart like one would throw a dart

b. Judas had been toying with the idea, but now the temptation stuck

c. The pebble that would start the avalanche leading to Jesus’ death has started to roll

4. Jesus knew this. He knew exactly what was happening - John 13:3

a. Yet, his disciples started quarreling

B. Consider, what would you do, knowing that you are about die an agonizing death?

1. How would you spend the last moments? Would you be spending the time with the friend you know is going to betray you?

2. Many would be engrossed in their own depression, but Jesus instead focuses on his companions

3. The phrase at the end of John 13:1, “He loved them to the end,” can also be translated as utterly, absolutely, completely, perfectly, or to the fullest extent.

4. Jesus decided to show just how much he loved them.

C. Consider that Jesus washed the feet of men

1. Who were clueless about his feelings.

2. Who are constantly returning to an argument that, truth be told, was meaningless.

3. And in regards to one, he washed the very feet of the one who would betray him to his death.

D. Herein is love.

1. It doesn’t matter who a person is, what they’ve done, or how many times they have done it.

2. You can show love to another - Matthew 5:44

III. A lesson on humility

A. It was a custom in this region for guests to be provided water to wash their feet

1. Either the host would provide water so the person could wash his own feet - Genesis 18:4; 19:2; 24:32; 43:24

2. Or servants would do the task for the guests - I Samuel 25:41

3. This wasn’t a new practice that Jesus instituted, it had been going on for centuries

B. It was necessity. “The roads of Palestine were unsurfaced and uncleaned. In dry weather they were inches deep in dust and in wet they were liquid mud. The shoes ordinary people wore were sandals, which were simply soles held on to the foot by a few straps. They have little protection against the dust or mud of the roads. For that reason there were always great waterpots at the door of a house; and a servant was there with a ewer and a towel to wash the soiled feet of the guests as they came in.” [William Barclay, “The Gospel of John,” The Daily Study Bible Series, Vol. 2, p. 139.]

C. It was an act of hospitality

D. It was an expected custom - Luke 7:44-46

E. It was an act of service, just as lodging strangers and raising children - I Timothy 5:9-10

F. Jesus was not instituting a religious ritual, but teaching a lesson

1. It was a lesson that Peter, at the time did not understand - John 13:6-7

2. Peter knew what Jesus was doing. What he didn’t understand was why.

3. Washing feet was something the lowest of servants did.

a. Services like: caring for the sick, cleaning someone’s house, mowing someone’s law, driving someone to the doctor, etc.

G. Jesus’ point is no one is too good to do lowly service - John 13:12-16

1. Jewish rabbis were usually served, honored, and catered to

2. Jesus said he came to serve - Mark 10:45

3. If I refuse to serve others, then I’m acting like I’m greater than my Master.

4. “Love is always like that. When, for example, someone falls ill, the person who loves him will perform the most menial services and delight to do them, because love is like that. Sometimes men feel that they are too distinguished to do the humble things, too important to do some menial task. Jesus was not so. He knew that he was Lord of all, and yet he washed his disciples feet.” [William Barclay, “The Gospel of John,” The Daily Study Bible Series, Vol. 2, p. 137.]

H. Greatness in the kingdom is through humble service - Matthew 23:11-12

1. Even the smallest service will not go unnoticed or unrewarded - Matthew 10:42

IV. A lesson on submission

A. Peter did not want Jesus to serve him - John 13:6-8

1. Peter had pride in the one he followed

2. Peter knew that Jesus was God and the Messiah, to have THE King wash his feet was just wrong in his mind.

B. “It takes humility and grace to serve others, but it also takes humility and grace to allow others to serve us. The beautiful thing about a submissive spirit is that it can both give and receive the glory of God.” [Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Vol. 1, p. 346]

C. And sometimes we are not told in advance why we must accept something, but we also need to learn to accept what God does, knowing that God does the right things in our lives.

1. Whether Peter understood it or not, Jesus expected Peter to submit to Jesus’ will

2. Peter did manage to do this at times - Luke 5:4-5

V. A lesson on application

A. Notice what Jesus said - John 13:17

B. Knowing is not enough. That knowledge must be put into practice

1. We must do Jesus’ will - Luke 6:46

2. If we do not, it will not go well - Luke 12:47

3. It was Jesus’ answer to the lawyer - Luke 10:36-37

4. Must be doers - James 1:21-25

5. It cannot be put off - James 4:13-17

C. Jesus demonstrated his love, not just of the good but even the unrighteous.

1. Not that Jesus wants anyone to remain in sin. He wants you to submit to his will.

2. You may not fully understand why right now, but if you know what you need to do to become a Christian, then you need to do so

3. Because we are not guaranteed a future, so putting off obedience is dangerous at best

4. It is not enough to know what you need to do. Come and do the Lord’s will.

Based on a lesson by Kevin Kay

Something Missing in Our Culture

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 22:23:03 +0000

by David V. Hurst
via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 18 No. 3, September 1992

None can deny the drastic shift in our culture's attitude toward God over the last thirty years. This often causes special problems for the Christian and his children. How do we instill in our children and others genuine values concerning God?

Our society seems to have lost the understanding that authority, in and of itself, is a basic need of man. By practical definition, authority simply means "the right to command (demand) and to expect or require obedience." Also, authority in religion is objective rather than subjective. By this, it is simply meant that authority must have its origin from outside the individual. Countless religions today ban any appeal to a higher authority other than that of each man’s own thoughts. As a result, chaos reigns in the religious world today (cf. Jeremiah 10:23). This was Israel’s crime as well. They appealed to their "own" authority as Paul wrote, "for I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God" (Romans 10:2-3). This is exactly the problem in our society. We must combat this by teaching our children that only God has this supreme authority.

Briefly, let us remind ourselves of the fact and method of God’s authority. His authority is "inherent" in being God. He is the originator of the universe (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-3; Hebrews 1:1-2). The "earth {is} the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof" (I Corinthians 10:26) (cf. Acts 17:22-31; Romans 9:20-21). This includes man. Man belongs to God.

Jesus declared that God delegated His authority to Him; "... All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" (Matthew 28:18) (cf. I Corinthians 15:27; John 5:26-27). Jesus also declared that He had sent others to us, giving them some authority. He said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me" (John 13:20). The apostles’ authority was limited to what Christ had taught them. His teaching was revealed through the apostles by the Spirit (cf. John 17:8; 14:26; 16:13; I Corinthians 2:10-13). In speaking of this work, Paul said "If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit" (Ephesians 3:2-5).

What the apostles and prophets wrote down is what was "revealed," giving us the bible we have today. These men claimed that they wrote "all" of God’s message to man (cf. John 16:13; I Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:3; Jude 3). There is no new revelation going to occur today since God’s word is sufficient and complete.

This is what we must emphasize to our children and to their children. This is the message we must proclaim to those we reach. All authority extends from God. All obedience to authority stems from this one fact. We obey our parents for "God" has commanded it (Ephesians 6:1f). We obey civil law because "God" has commanded it (Romans 13:1f). The Bible is appealed to for authority because it is God’s mind to man. This is the foundation to happiness, whether in our home, in our civil relationships, or in our relationship with God.

Our modern society has not created new needs for us. We still have the same old problems with the same needed solutions. We need to emphasize again the value of studying this book with our family and friends to gain answers and for our personal happiness. We especially need to place a strong emphasis on the need for authority in our lives and that in "all" we do. It must be an authority that ultimately traces its source back to the word of God!

On Making the Father’s Will Preeminent

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 21:05:07 +0000

by Garry Henry
WordPoints.com

"I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me" (John 5:30).

Doing the will of His Father was the ultimate, overriding priority for Jesus. To Him, nothing mattered more. On one occasion, when His disciples were surprised that He was not hungry, He said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work” (John 4:34). Even in Gethsemane, His prayer was simple: “Not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).

Today, I fear we are reluctant even to speak of obedience without making “yes but” apologies for it: “Well, yes, obedience is important, but . . .” It’s as if we’d feel better if passages emphasizing obedience weren’t even in the Scriptures. In making the Father’s will paramount, did Jesus get the emphasis wrong? Like it or not, His example is clear — and if obedience to the Father is not a passion and a priority with us, we shouldn’t claim to be following Jesus’ example.

Obedience is not only essential; it’s vital in a fundamental way: doing the best we can to obey God is the key to discerning what is true about Christ and what is not. Understanding is promised not to the scholarly but to the obedient. Jesus said, “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine . . .” (John 7:17).

In this life, our obedience will fall short. But why should that be a source of paranoia, discouragement, or insecurity about our salvation? Can we not see the pursuit of perfect obedience to our Father as a thrilling, joyful odyssey, a process in which we delight to make daily progress? I believe this is an area where our perspective on God’s will needs a makeover. No one knows “imperfection” more than I, but my outlook has changed for the better. No longer does grace mean the fiction of Christ’s “imputed” righteousness — grace means God is helping me become righteous myself, really and truly. So, I get back up every time I fall, and I am fueled by the excitement of one day being just as obedient to the Father as my Older Brother is. He said, “You shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). Discipleship to Him means working on that. Today.

"[Christ] knows that you can try, and that in your trying and failing he will be able to help you, until at length you will do the will of God even as he does it himself" (George MacDonald).

The Issue of Authority

Jeffrey Hamilton — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 20:02:42 +0000

by Randy Robinson

John Mellencamp lamented in song over twenty years ago, "I fight authority; authority always wins." Indeed, authority is a powerful force with which to be reckoned. In the case of this songster, his perspective is easily noted as one who is rebellious against authority, as indicated by his lyrics, "I've been doin' it (fighting authority) since I was a young kid, and I come out grinnin'." Mellencamp expressed an attitude that was held by many of his generation and, in fact, is still held today by some in each generation. Even the word "authority" causes some people to bristle today. In the last two or three decades, society has attempted, with great success, to instill in us the concept that authority is bad—that it is wrong —and that it stifles our liberty and creativity. Those who espouse this view do so on the premise that accepting and respecting authority is an admission of inferiority.

We have heard a great deal in the past few years about respect. It was once a commonly held thought that respect was like trust; it was something that had to be earned. No one was entitled to respect if they had done nothing to earn it. The age of entitlement has changed that view. Few people now believe that they should "earn" anything; instead, they think they are entitled to whatever they want, and if someone is reluctant to give it to them, that person is perceived as guilty of showing disrespect. We have even altered the common vernacular and introduced the terms "dissed" and "dissing" into the English language, indicating that someone has been shown disrespect.

Almighty God deemed it necessary and appropriate to establish the concept of authority in every aspect of life on earth. Therefore, as we move farther away from God culturally, it is no surprise that the idea of authority has been met with great resistance and often, even contempt. Paul explained the role of civil authority as God instituted it, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation" (Romans 13:1-2). It is significant to note that the word translated "power" is the same word which Jesus used to describe His ultimate power [exousia] (Matthew 28:18). Paul corrected those who believed that they had power or authority in and of themselves by explaining that whatever authority they had was given to them by God. This remains the case today. It is God's will that human beings obey the properly instituted laws of the land. Note, this is not merely a directive for Christians; all people are subject to these laws, just as all people are subject to the laws of God.

Speaking of the laws of God, today, when the subject of religious authority is broached, there is likewise a desire on the part of many to deny that God has authorized certain things in the realm of religion. These individuals would like us to believe that we are "on our own" when it comes to understanding how to please God in areas such as what one must do to receive the promise of salvation, how to offer acceptable worship, and how the church should be governed, among others. This by no means is a new way of thinking. The writer of Judges [presumably Samuel] described the nation of Israel in the days of the judges, "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). How eerily similar this is to what we often witness today; in that people, although claiming to have a desire to please God, still want to preach and practice the way that they see fit.

To do this, they first must reduce the significance of the Bible by denying its inspiration. The Bible has been under attack for two centuries by those calling themselves "scholars." They have attacked the authorship of the Bible by questioning Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy). They have also claimed that Isaiah 40-66 was written after the captivity, to deny supernatural revelation. Isaiah named the king (Cyrus) who would free Israel from captivity approximately 150 years before this king was even born (Isaiah 44:28). It is quite telling that these studies into the Bible's authenticity are referred to as "hypotheses" and "theories." It is evident that these scholars did not wish to accept the Bible's claim of inspiration as legitimate, and their "studies" reflect their disdain for the Bible's authority.

Many of the modern-day "scholars" also possess the same antipathy toward the Scriptures. They have redefined inspiration by saying that the men who wrote the Bible were inspired the same way that Shakespeare was inspired to write plays, Mozart was inspired to write music, and Rembrandt was inspired to paint. While this explanation may appease a postmodernistic society which includes feminists, atheists, scientists, and the ACLU, they have yet to answer satisfactorily the apostle Paul who stated, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God ..." (II Timothy 3:16), as well as the apostle Peter who said that "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (II Peter 1:21). The phrase "they were moved" comes from the Greek word pheromenoi, literally meaning "carried" or "borne." This language clearly indicates that the writers did not speak for themselves but were speaking for God. Jesus, while here on earth, declared that His words, which are the words by which we will be judged, originated with the Father (John 12:48-50). He later declared that those things spoken by the Holy Spirit also originated from the Father (John 16:13).

If the Bible could be shown to be merely the work of men, then we would not be subject to its objective authority. It is the same argument used by those prosecuting the Nazi war criminals in the late 1940s. The Nazi officers attempted to deflect criticism of their atrocities by claiming that their laws allowed for the slaughter of the Jews and that they were merely obeying their laws. The Nuremberg prosecutors rightfully rejected that claim, recognizing that there is a higher authority (God) whose objective law superseded the self-serving German laws that condoned such barbarism. A post-modernistic society desires to operate under a philosophy that states either explicitly or implicitly, "Everything I do is OK with me." This is the height of subjectivism. It allows people to ignore what the Bible says about the plan of salvation. It enables the installation of women in leadership roles, including pulpit preaching. It allows for the broadening of fellowship with anyone who claims to be a follower of Christ. The Bible has spoken concerning all of these issues and more, yet we see more and more people, including our own brethren, rejecting and ridiculing Bible authority by calling it "pattern theology," and referring to those who maintain the biblical plan of salvation as "five-steppers." The New Testament was originally written to the early Christian community. This has led to the view that 21st-century Christians are exempt from these directives and examples. It absolves brethren from obedience to commands such as The Great Commission; it also concludes that the prohibition of women in leadership was limited to the first century. Some have even claimed that this prohibition was limited to Corinth itself (I Corinthians 14:34-35).

When authority is flouted, then anything goes, and anarchy results. God, who is a systematic God of order (I Corinthians 14:40), cannot be and is not pleased with this rebellion. Those who defy God's authority will one day realize, as John Mellencamp did, that "authority always wins."

The Restrictive Nature of Submission

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 17:00:51 +0000

by Zeke Flores

Submitting to the authority of God's will is not only serious business, it's also very restrictive. Because of its very nature, those who submit to authority can only operate within its bounds. What passes for Christianity in America, and across the world, really isn’t because it goes beyond the authority of Scripture.

The practices of many religious groups are not only unscriptural but also antiscriptural.

The hierarchy of priests, bishops, cardinals, and the pope is not found in the New Testament.
The fundraising methods of cafes, restaurants, and bookstores by the church are not found in the New Testament.
Nor is instrumental music in worship and benevolent work to non-Christians from the church's treasury found in the New Testament.

Yet all of these are practiced among the majority of churches that claim to be Bible-believing, Bible-teaching churches. These practices are not only without New Testament authorization, but they actually go against the will of God and the new covenant.

I'm sorry to burst a bubble, but it's true. This is not meant to insult but to instigate investigation. Look to the Bible for your faith and practice, not your religion's traditions or (worse) what's acceptable in our culture.

"Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Colossians 3:17).