Authority (Part 4)

When we speak of the authority structure in the Church, we are not talking about organizations of man.  We are not talking about denominations and the way they organize, hire, or vote on pastors and leaders.  We are referring to the Biblical structure of the Church established by God.

1 Corinthians 12:24-27 "For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked. That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."

God sets in the Church special leadership gifts:

Ephesians 4:11, 12 "And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets: and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ..." 

These leadership gifts are set in the Church by God.  When you become part of a local church, then you come under the authority of the men set by God as leaders in that particular fellowship.  These special leaders  are assisted in the local church by elders and/or deacons who are to serve under their direction.  You can read about the duties and qualifications for these men in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.

God also gives to each spirit-filled believer spiritual gifts. These gifts are to function in the church under the authority of leadership for the purposes of edification and the work of the ministry.  You can read about these gifts in  the following passages: Romans 12:1-8; I Corinthians 12:1-31;  Ephesians 4:1-16; I Peter 4:7-11. 

The Church is the spiritual body of Jesus Christ. Each member of the Church has a different responsibility, just as parts of a human body.  Each part comes under the direction of the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ.  
 

In the human body, each part receives direction from the head.  The same is true in the spiritual body of the Church.  There can be no unity in the body without the authority of the head, Jesus Christ.

Members of the body are to submit one to another, just as they do in the natural body.  For example, when it comes to reading in the natural body, the eye takes authority.  When it comes to walking, the feet take authority.  Members of the spiritual body are to submit in a similar way one to another to enable effective functioning in ministry. Remember, God is not the author of confusion.