The Gospel Doctrine of Authority

"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" - Philippians 2:3–11 

In a world, and sadly also a Church, obsessed with power, one of the most striking and beautiful things about the Gospel is how it turns worldly authority dynamics on its head. Apart from Christ, everything that we instinctually and sinfully grasp for as a result of Genesis 3 is counter to the Gospel. Trying to be in charge, striving to be at the top, asserting your dominance in every situation, and demanding that others are subservient to you makes so much sense to the world. These tendencies are the standard in so many segments of worldly culture, but also sadly in certain sects of the Church. However, if we examine the Gospel while looking at it through the lens of worldly power dynamics, the Gospel doesn't make any sense at all. Not at all. Not even close. 

First, let us consider Jesus Christ, God, sent to save a humanity that hates him and rejects him. Already it doesn't make sense to us. The world doesn't want Jesus and is in open rebellion against the Living God. Even the nation God set aside has fallen into corruption and disobedience. 

But Jesus, the God-man, becomes like us, humbles himself for us, suffers for us, and serves us anyway. He serves those who hate him. He doesn't look out for his own personal interests but instead looks out for the interests of others. He doesn't grasp for authority, power, or recognition. He serves, even to the point of death. 

And this blows my mind, family. 

Because of this self-sacrificing service, God the Father exalts Jesus. Christ conquers death, is raised up, and then takes his place as King. The ascension of Christ is unlike any worldly ascension. He becomes King, not because of war, or politics, or declaring himself the rightful ruler. Instead, Christ becomes King because he served. Now all power and authority rest in him (Matthew 28:18). In his humility, his authority is found. In his death, life is found. 

This authority dynamic is revolutionary, upside down, and, apart from the help of the Holy Spirit, makes no sense. 

But, brothers and sisters, that's the Gospel. 

We do not obtain life by seeking life; we receive true life by dying with Christ. Our old self is crucified as Christ was crucified (Romans 6:6). In that death, we find life. 

Likewise, we do not win authority by demanding it but by serving one another. In short, by being like Christ. Those who seek after authority based on themselves (title, position, gender) will not find it, just as those who seek out spiritual life based on their own merits do not find life. Those who have authority are those who consider others as better than themselves. Those who have authority are those who do not contend for their authority. Christ ties together the concept of authority, service, and his death very clearly in Matthew 20:

"But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." - Matthew‬ ‭20:25-28‬ ‭

Let that be our model. Let's not contend for our own worth or our own status of authority. 

Instead, contend for the authority of King Jesus. Instead, we should serve one another, humble ourselves, not because it's a hip and nice thing to say, but because that's what we see in the Gospel.

Far too many within the Church want to take the authority dynamic of the world and slap a cross decal on its side. They want to keep their old understanding of power and authority but just "Christianize" it a bit. But the Gospel radically changes everything, including authority. Seeking after power, influence, and control in the same ways as before, but now in the name of Christianity, is simply not understanding how much of a radical shift the service and Kingship of Jesus has caused. The Gospel does something far more radical, and we see that reality in the God of the universe dying from those who once hated him. Praise God, and may we think less of ourselves and our authority.