Irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com



Sermon AM Frindsbury 10th May 2020

Luke 7:1-10 Kingdom Authority

One of my favourite books, but one that I don’t re-read too often, is George Orwell’s Animal Farm another of his books that I go back to read every now and then is 1984. There is a link between the two stories in that they are both political observations and also dystopian in outlook.

If you haven’t read them this may be an opportune time because there are some interesting parallels that can be drawn between the fiction and our current situation – well, I thinks so.

The book 1984 has an intriguing first line that reads; ‘It was a bright cold day in April and the clocks were striking thirteen’ which sets the scene immediately. The basic plot, without giving too much away, is summed up in the slogan which is repeated through the book, ‘Big Brother is Watching You’

[pic]

In Animal Farm the animals agree a constitution, a version of the Ten Commandments in a way, which gets subtly altered as time goes by, sort of reminds me of Exodus 20 becoming both Leviticus and Numbers, the Ten Commandments and then the 613 codicils, and that can be summed up in the comparative phrases; ‘All animals are equal’ which became; ‘All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others’.

You may well have heard the expression; ‘Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely’ and there are some who believe that various authorities are seeking to permanently curtail our freedom under the guise of protecting us during this pandemic.

It is a view, however, let me state quite clearly here, you may want to disagree which is entirely your right, that I generally don’t subscribe to what are called’ conspiracy theories’, the last one that gave me pause for thought was the assassination of President Kennedy in Dallas Texas, ‘the second gunman on the grassy knoll etc.’.

An interesting statistic [one of Churchill’s pet hates] states that something like 80% of Americans believe the moon landings were faked but around 60% believe in alien abduction, those percentages may be the other way round, and also that wrestling isn’t staged.

That may not be a good example but it does demonstrate that there are some who will deny the evidence in favour of the fantastical.

Some say that Christians are like that, however, a former Law Lord [Lord Justice Darling?] when asked said that; ‘on the evidence given he was 97% sure that Jesus had died and is risen [paraphrased]’

Or, as Conan Doyle’s detective said;

[pic]

I used to be an avid news listener and watcher but recently I have been paying less and less attention because it is so depressing and not only depressing but the same figures get churned out each news edition throughout each day and that coupled to various ‘experts’ proclaiming doom and gloom or complaining that there isn’t enough of this, that or the other or too much of something else. It all becomes very wearing.

Whatever happened to good news? Yes, I know about Captain, now Colonel, Tom and assorted others who have grabbed their five minutes of fame and I applaud their efforts, but as for the rest of us, living in suspended animation, we want to hear happy, joyous things. We have enough depression being caught and trapped in our own company; we don’t need any more foisted upon us.

[pic]

This isn’t a picture of me by the way, he’s much too tidy.

So in these very odd times what should we do and where should we go for our comfort?

This may come as a shock but actually prayer does help because when there is no one else that you can talk to, God will always listen. There is also a useful book that you can get called The Bible, with lots of hints and tips for just about every conceivable situation [including cooking – eat your heart out Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsey, Mary Berry et.al.], so maybe we should start there.

The Bible teaches us about authority. It shows us who has authority and how authority should be applied and what happens when we don’t yield to authority or when authority is miss-applied.

Virtually all of the Old Testament is related in some way to the theme of authority.

[pic]

Start off in Genesis and from verse 1 we see who has authority. Exodus and God is still applying His authority on individuals and nations. The rest of the Pentateuch is basically about Law, hence authority, and before you know it we are looking at Judges who are given authority to make things better [could that be ‘heal the nation?’].

The history books of the Old Testament are, in effect, case studies in how to mess up when one is in authority and the Prophets tell about how authority is going to be applied onto the disobedient and by whom.

What that means in practice is that when things got so bad with humanity rebelling against God humanity had to face the consequences of it’s [our] actions.

But there was also hope.

The New Testament has Jesus being questioned about His authority [Matthew 21:23 e.g.] and Jesus giving authority [to drive out demons [Matthew 10:1] and then to the Disciples in the Great Commission; Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." [Matthew 28:18ff].

Therefore, even in the sparse detail I have given, any reasonable person could see that there is a valid place for authority and that society only works because there is an authority in place that is accepted by the majority [Robert Peel’s 1829 Policing Act allowed for ‘policing with consent’. That is also why a slang term for police is Peelers].

There is an interesting, but obvious, truism in Romans 7:1, that states the Law only has authority over someone whilst they are alive, which is a ‘no brainer’. However, God has authority over ‘the quick and the dead’, in other words over all people for all time, living and dead.

[pic]

Having said that we must move on to Romans 13 for a wider explanation of authority; Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

The idea that those elected, or otherwise, who are in authority over us are part of God’s rule and order is a concept that many people will find difficult to get their heads around. Take Mr. Trump for example. I personally think that he is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot, however, he was elected to his position and scripture tells me that God is in control.

Some people think that Boris, our current Prime Minister, is Trump’s ‘Mini Me’, but again he too was elected. Sometimes we simply can’t see the reasons to God’s plans.

[pic] [pic]

That would be because we aren’t God, or to put it another way, maybe we aren’t as smart as we think we are.

Most of you know that I am against simply lifting a verse from scripture to prove a point. I much prefer to give a longer, fuller reading so that the context can be clearly seen. In this case I will make an exception because it is important. 2 Corinthians 13:10 says; This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority--the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.

Which is to say that it isn’t about me but that any authority should be for the building up of others, not their destruction.

The problem with Nihilism is that there is nothing to loose, but neither is there anything to gain. Remember a few weeks back I spoke of small acts of kindness? These include the exercise of authority and, perhaps more importantly, our behavior when under authority.

Go back and read Luke 7:1-10 if you want to understand how authority both could and should be used. To build, encourage, support and care for all others.

This week’s message may come across as being a bit on the ‘heavy’ side so I want to finish by leaving you with a smile.

[pic]

After all, authority is what someone else makes it.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download