Let’s play a game. On the count of three let’s both say what we think the single most important overarching concept in the whole Bible and all of Christian theology is. Ok. Ready? One…Two…Three! Authority. Did you say “authority”? Well, frankly, there’s no way to say for SURE whether authority is or isn’t the single most important concept – but I think all Biblical scholars and theologians would agree that it’s “up there”.[1]
From Genesis to Revelation, God’s authority is key. “Did God really say?” is the question that introduced all misery upon mankind. Does God really have the authority to tell us what to do and what not. Moreover, can he carry out that authority: can he execute his law?
In essence, it boils down to the question, “who’s in charge?” And that’s not as simple a question as it may seem on the surface? Christians want to say, and so say rightly, God is. But what about human authority? Jesus said to render to Caesar the things of Caesar. Romans 13 commands us to submit to the governing authorities which exist. Moses said that anyone who despised a judge was to be put to death.
So, the answer is God…and? Or is it?
Let’s look at a text that will helpfully add more confusion. Yes. I said that the way I meant it – it will helpfully add confusion.
In Mark 10 we read (in my translation):
“You know that those who are seeming to rule the Gentiles exercise lordship over them and their great ones exercise authority.” Οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ δοκοῦντες ἄρχειν τῶν ἐθνῶν κατακυριεύουσιν αὐτῶν καὶ οἱ μεγάλοι αὐτῶν κατεξουσιάζουσιν αὐτῶν.
What’s very significant here is that word “seem”. And I’ve deliberately chosen this word because it stands out like a sore thumb, especially when we compare it to the same expression in Matthew and Luke.
Matthew 20:25 says:
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them and their great ones exercise authority.” Οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ ἄρχοντες τῶν ἐθνῶν κατακυριεύουσιν αὐτῶν καὶ οἱ μεγάλοι κατεξουσιάζουσιν αὐτῶν.
It’s almost word for word – but it isn’t. That expression “seeming to rule” is a big difference from the otherwise verbatim comparison. Let’s Look at Luke. Luke’s might be the most interesting of all. Luke 22:
And there arose among them a dispute, which of them seemed to be the greatest. And [Jesus] said to them, “the kings of the Gentiles who rule as lords over them and have authority over them are called ‘benefactors’. Ἐγένετο δὲ καὶ φιλονεικία ἐν αὐτοῖς, τὸ τίς αὐτῶν δοκεῖ εἶναι μείζων. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Οἱ βασιλεῖς τῶν ἐθνῶν κυριεύουσιν αὐτῶν καὶ οἱ ἐξουσιάζοντες αὐτῶν εὐεργέται καλοῦνται.
Here the question amongst the disciples is who “seemed” to be the greatest among the disciples, and Jesus mockingly compares their thirst for power and prestige and position to the pompous preening presuppositions of princes and potentates. They are lording over others and they call themselves “benefactors”. Which is not being used as a routine noun, but is a technical term that dealt with the honor culture of the ancient Mediterranean, wherein there were benefactors and clients as part of a patronage system. It was all rather complicated, and beside the point, but the fact is that it was part of an exploitative system and Jesus is here making it quite plain that he thinks their calling themselves “benefactors” (literally “good workers” in both Greek and Latin) is quite ridiculous.
So, the word “seem” appears in Mark and is connected in Luke, but Matthew omits it entirely. But something is here. The point Mark and Luke are both making is that authority can be a very ephemeral thing. Much, if not MOST, authority on earth can only be exercised if others willingly participate. The exercise of authority is not merely one “great man” exerting his will on the world. Rather it is the manipulation of social machinery. As Tolstoy points out, brilliantly, Napoleon couldn’t invade Russia and sack Moscow. It took La Grande Armée and all her allies to do that. Could Napoleon force each and every man? Of course not.
Remember how I said I wanted to add some helpful confusion. Here’s what I mean. The Biblical text makes it clear that those who SEEM to be rulers ACTUALLY exercise authority. How does that work? Don’t you need actually be a ruler before you can exercise authority? How can you seem to be a ruler and have actual power? That part’s confusing. But that very confusion forces us to seek an answer and to that degree it’s helpful. Helpful confusion!
You see, when we talk about human authority, we are, whether we realize it or not, always speaking of something that is really a game. Sure, it’s a game played with bullets and prisons, but that doesn’t make it any less a game. Congressmen and Presidents and Governors can’t FORCE anyone to do anything – or at least not effectively, as individuals, in the sense that we normally think of “force”, that is the personal exercise of physical power to coerce someone to do something. Instead we all play games. That’s all human society is: a series of games. Call them exchanges or transactions if you like. Call them contracts if it makes you feel better, but they are all games. And, most of the time, in the contemporary West, when you play the game it turns out well for you. But it’s a game, nonetheless. When it comes down to it, Caesar is just a man who couldn’t swim the Tiber – or so says Cassius.
So, when we speak of human authority, if it’s legitimate, it means the “right” to rule. Not necessarily the power. And Mark, writing to the Romans, people who lived in the very epicenter of Gentile world power understood authority. And notice the little detail that Mark adds for the benefit of his Roman audience. He says that those who rule over the Gentiles “seem” to rule. But, in reality, this is only an appearance. In truth, they don’t rule anything. They play a little game and sometimes people play along and sometimes they don’t. Being Caesar is fun, when everybody plays along. But it’s much less fun when everybody gets all stabby and stuff. Then the dogs of war are let to slip and people are crying havoc and it’s not a good time.
But, here’s the question. Why am I making a big deal about this? Well, because I think it’s important for us to recognize that although there are powers and rulers and authorities in this world, they really only SEEM to rule. In reality, all they’re doing is playing a game. Real authority: the right to rule and the might to rule – that belongs to God alone. That belongs to Christ!
As Christians approaching the election, a lot of us are looking at the world and at our country, and yes, we’re frightened. We’re afraid of what might happen. But we shouldn’t be – at least not unduly. Surely we should recognize that rampant godlessness is not good for anyone, least of all the godless! But, what we must remember is that God is the Actual Authority. All the princelings of the worldlings only seem to rule. Christ Actually rules. They seem to be in charge. Christ is Actually in charge. They seem to be running the show. But it’s Christ Who is writing, directing, producing, and starring in the great cosmic comedy called Reality. And it concludes with Him seated upon the throne as the Kingdom of the world is become the Kingdom of our God, and of His Christ, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever! Hallelujah!
NOTES:
[1] In an imaginary poll I conducted, 97% of respondents agreed.