Authority and Identity

Do you know who you are and who you answer to?   This will be very important in the times to come.  Most important. If you are living the fruits of shame and lacking in a strong identity rooted in Christ chances are you answer to many people, too many. 


So what is "authority" exactly?  


authority n pl -ties

1. the power or right to control, judge, or prohibit the actions of others

2. (often plural) a person or group of people having this power, such as a government, police force, etc.

3. a position that commands such a power or right

4. such a power or right delegated, esp from one person to another; authorization

5. the ability to influence or control others

 Synonyms: Rule, Power, Sway, Authority, Control, and Influence denote a power or right to direct the actions or thoughts of others.
Authority is a power or right, usually because of rank or office, to issue commands and to punish for violations: to have authority over subordinates.
Control is either power or influence applied to the complete and successful direction or manipulation of persons or things
Influence is a personal and unofficial power derived from deference of others to one's character, ability, or station; it may be exerted unconsciously or may operate through persuasion: to have influence over one's friends.

It was brought to my attention during prayer that I had a misunderstanding of authority.  I had given  too many people in my life the power to control, judge and prohibit or dictate my actions.  I can't say I did it willingly, it just came naturally given my issues with shame and a lack of a strong identity. It was also ingrained in me as a child.  All adults, teachers, employers, older siblings, parents, etc. could dictate who I was and what I was supposed to do or not do and I had to do it; obedience.  In an emotionally dysfunctional system, this is disastrous.  It stifles growth as an adult when you believe you can only live according to the boundaries established by those whom you perceive as having authority.  You are living according to their will.  A helpless and powerless slave with many masters.  What I was shown was that my priorities were upside down.  I thought I was to serve everyone, be obedient to everyone, please everyone, be agreeable, do as I was told.  These may seen as good and humble qualities, but only if God is at the head.  It is possible to turn all the people we are serving into little "gods."

I am the Lord your God.  You shall have no other gods before Me.  

There's a very good reason this is the First Commandment I have discovered.   It's very easy to get lost in the sea of gods if you do not have a firm belief and acceptance of God as the One True God, the Ultimate Authority.  This is meant for our security.  Confusion and chaos reign when you do not have this "truth" firmly implanted in your heart.  Maybe this is why there seems to be such a sense of insecurity in the world today.  We are not living this most basic and absolute truth God gave us.  I believe the confusion and chaos are only going to increase in the world which is why it's important now to understand authority and who holds it. 

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.  Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."  Matt 28:18-20

"God the Father is the ultimate authority.  All flows from HIM.  It is "given" to man in order for all to be brought to the Kingdom.  God is a God of order.  Authority is necessary for order.  Those God chooses as authority figures are chosen to serve for God.  God being the head, those chosen-the subordinate authority.  They, if close to God and desiring His will alone, are to carry out the will of God for the good of all.  Just as I only did what the Father did, they are expected to do the same."

I cannot of myself do anything.  As I hear, so I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will, but the will of Him who sent me.  John 5:30 

"All authority was given to me because my will was the will of the Father.  Through complete humility and obedience to the Father I was given this gift.  I was sure of my identity as the Son of God".

The last line "I was sure of my identity as the Son of God" really needs to be pondered deeply.  It speaks volumes about the necessity of knowing your identity as a child of God and what that implies. It is in knowing our identity in Christ and living in humility and obedience that we are able to share in that authority that comes with discipleship in this world.  Authority rooted in truth.

What we are seeing today in society is an abuse of authority.  It is not authority rooted in humility and obedience in order to serve others for the greater good.  We are witnessing a wicked authority rooted in pride, power, arrogance, lies and selfishness.  It's no wonder that God had to be removed from our society.  If you remove something, there has to be another something to take it's place.  We are witnessing now the removal of True Authority and it's replacement, wicked or false authority.

One good example of this would be that the schools have become the authority, the god in the lives of children and parents.   The government has led everyone to believe that parents don't know what is best for their children, they do.  This can only happen though if that authority is given away by the parents.  Many parents today do not know God as the Ultimate Authority, therefore in their confusion and chaos relinquish their God given authority to the schools.  From what I witnessed teaching 10 year olds Religious Education, the schools have become the new "church."  The parents willingly abided by this.  They are allowing the schools/government to "raise up children in the way in which they should go."  Parents act powerless and in fact are in the face of the authority of schools and government.  They are powerless because they do not know who they are. They have abdicated their parental responsibility to those who appear to know what is best.  It is out of order....God's order.

There are many elderly who feel the government is taking care of them through Social Security and all of the other government programs offered.  This gives the government authority in their lives because the government appears to be their only source of providence and security.  They have taken the place of God.

Many people who work have allowed their employers to become a god in their lives.  How many are living in fear of losing their jobs?  How many feel they must do whatever their employer asks, even if it's wrong in the eyes of God, in order to keep their jobs?  How many view their employer as the only "source" in their life?  How many believe their employer holds their life in their hands?  This is definitely out of order.  God is our source and He can provide through whomever He deems, whether that be your employer or someone else.  Your life is in God's hands, not your employers.  With the economy the way it is, many are tempted to put all their faith and trust in the wrong source.  God first.

How many people treat doctors as god in their lives?  I am amazed by the number of doctors offices, hospitals, research facilities, etc.. springing up in our area.  I wonder how anybody lived 30 years ago without 14 doctors offices within 2 miles of each other.  Are people really that sick?  or are they so afraid of suffering and dying that they are visiting their doctor with the false belief that they are capable of sustaining life?  Have they forgotten who the true source of life and healing really is?  Does anybody pray for healing before they go to the doctor?  Is the doctor now the source of all life?  Does he hold your life in his hands?  God, the Divine Source must always come first.  Jesus is the Divine Physician.  He will guide us in our health and direct us as to when and where we should go. He will also give us peace and comfort in our suffering if united to His suffering. 

Is your credit score your god? Do you obsess about financial ruin because the world tells us we are worthless if we have poor credit?  That you are no longer useful and have nothing to offer if you cannot get credit?  You can't be employed, you can't buy a house, a car or any other thing because of your credit score?
Has your credit score determined your identity?  Do you feel that your credit score tells everybody who you are, or give you some sense of superiority?  Good credit is important.  It does say something about how we manage the gifts God has given us, and how much we trust in God as our provider but it does not tell us who we are, which first and foremost is a child of God.  No one and nothing can take that away from us.  If you don't know that to begin with, then you will allow this to dominate your life.  All of your actions will be centered on preserving this number that dictates your worth, identity and financial "freedom".  That is the mistaken notion people have of credit, that it is freedom.  It's a false notion, but promoted heavily none the less. 

Are there people in your life that you bow to at the expense of your faith in order to keep peace?  To please them and keep them comfortable?  Do you judge your actions based on their opinions or reactions?  Are you afraid to do or be what God is calling you to because they disapprove?  Are you standing still because you don't want people to think you are too holy?  Are you afraid of the judgments of others and allowing this to dictate your faith?  Family and friends can be a very powerful influence in our lives.  As an adult however, this can be very detrimental in living the will of God. In his book  "Life Shouldn't Look Like This: Dealing With Disappointment in the Light of Faith" by Gregory Popcak, he addresses this situation perfectly:

"Granted, we must attempt to act in a manner that is respectful of those around us.  But if those others are unwilling to work with us as we try to accommodate their needs and merely respond to us instead with emotional, irrational bullying, then to give in to this "bullying" is to place their comfort-and our fear of losing the relationship-over the call God has placed on our hearts.  That action-placing another relationship over the call God has asked us to take up- is idolatry.  C.S. Lewis actually addressed this very point in The Four Loves.  In it, he quotes the words of Jesus:

If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, brother, sister-even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. (Lk 14-26)  

Lewis says "we must turn down, or disqualify our nearest and dearest when they come between us and our obedience to God.  Heaven knows, it will seem to them sufficiently like hatred.  We must not act on the pity we feel; we must be blind to tears and deaf to pleadings."


This can be very confusing when wading through the spiritual life.  We are always told to love everyone, accept everyone, be pleasing to everyone, tolerate everything; even poor behavior, with a forgiving heart.  It can be brutal to discern what is acceptable when dealing with family and friends.  Especially so if you are very insecure and unsure about your own identity and lacking courage and strength.  The temptation to just fall in line and be like everyone else is very strong.   It can cause lukewarmness...neither hot nor cold...in our faith, gradually eroding any zeal or passion in living out our faith.  We cannot continue to weakly hand over authority in our lives to others.  God the Father is the only authority we should be concerned about.  That has to be understood first and foremost before you can begin to accept and understand civil authority. It is also very important to understand what real love is.  I have learned that real love isn't just pleasing others and being agreeable.

In writing this, it has brought alot of things to my mind.  Alot to ponder. It just occurred to me that I needed to mention the fact that we can also fall into the belief that we are the only authority in our lives.  Me.  No God, nobody, nothing will tell me what to do. I am my own master.  This is also wrong....pride at it's peak.  The sin of Lucifer which was his demise.  I will not serve.

I think this is all part of "getting our houses in order" which so many have heard.  Order.  It's very important and makes for a much smoother and more secure ride.  Pray about who has authority in your life and strive to get your house in order.