A good friend tells me that her son simply came out of the womb as a rebel. Early on it was clear that he was going to push all the boundaries, that he was going to exercise his own will, that he was going to question all authority.
Of course, on one level, this is the common experience of all parents—even the “best of kids” have their moments, moments when they test the boundaries, rebel a little and become a bit willful. Child psychologists will insist that this is an important, even healthy, part of early development. The child is merely learning their environment, developing their sense of identity and testing their limits. Undoubtably, there is truth in this assessment.
However, many of us have the experience of my friend, who says that her son not only strained against his parents’ authority, but questioned why the parents had authority at all? Who were they, after all, to set limits on the son? Needless to say, this child was a challenge to parent!
There are various kinds of “authority,” and when speaking of our faith, it is important to clarify what we are thinking. Something (or someone) can have authority for various reasons, and this helps shape the way we react to such an authority, especially in terms of our faith. Take, for instance, the difference between invested and intrinsic authority.
Invested or “given” authority is the kind of authority we associate with a stop sign or the U.S. Constitution. What force, power or command does a red metal octagon with the four letters, S-T-O-P, have? Well, in one sense, it has no real authority at all—it is just a red metal sign after all. What gives it such power, that anyone and everyone who approaches comes to a stop? Failure to abide by its “authority” is expensively enforced (believe me, I know). Why does a stop sign have the authority it does? The U.S. Constitution, in reality, is just an old piece of paper with ink all over it. Yet, it has the power to direct the daily lives of millions of people. How so?
Invested authority is power that is given to an object or person, by others who agree to act under its direction. All the players agree beforehand to abide by the rules of the game, and consequently, the game rules have authority over the players. Being born in the U.S. places you under that authority of the agreed upon government—the U.S. Constitution. To own a driver’s license is to pledge to obey the authority of traffic rules.
Contrast this with intrinsic or “natural” authority; this is authority which is associated to an object or person by their very existence. Take gravity for example. No one simply “agrees” to abide by the rules of gravity—it demands obedience based on its creation. Failure to follow the dictates of gravity has terrible consequences, not because of an agreed upon process, but simply because gravity’s authority is “built into” life’s very presence. Parents have this kind of intrinsic or natural authority—much to the chagrin of my friend’s son.
There are those who would claim that God’s authority is an invested authority—if you decide that God exists and that you want to live according to His direction, fine, go ahead; but, if I don’t want to play along, then don’t insist I abide by some made-up, given-authority. However, if God’s authority is not invested, but intrinsic instead, then like gravity, the consequences of ignoring that authority is life-shattering.
In our passage of Scripture this week, Mark 11:27-33, Jesus’ authority is questioned. Though they don’t use the words, they are asking if Jesus’ authority is invested or intrinsic. And, upon this question our lives are shaped.
- What role does “Jerusalem” and the Temple play in this story? In light of the preceding verses, how important is the historical setting to the events here?
- How is verse 28 phrasing the “authority question?” What is prompting their questions and concerns?
- What is the answer to Jesus’ question in verse 30? How do we know that?
- The Pharisees struggle with Jesus’ question for a couple of reasons—what are contemporary versions of these struggles?
- Why is the question of Jesus’ authority so important? How should we answer the questions regarding His authority? Where do such questions arise in our modern context?
By Henry Knapp