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The Reconstitution ofAuthority
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The NewTestament idea that embraces this fulfillment is
freedom.
Jesus
says: “If you continue in my word . . . the truth will make you free.. . . If the
Son makes you
free
, you will be free indeed” Qohn 8:31-36). The paradox
ical truth, which only Christians have ever known, is that God’s service is,
and increasingly proves itself to be, perfect freedom. . . . In essence, Chris
tian freedom means freedom not to do wrong, but to do right; not to break
the moral law, but to keep it; not to forget God, but to cleave to him every
moment, in every endeavour and relationship; not to abuse and exploit oth
ers, but to lay down one’s life for them. . . .
(iv) Authority—meaning, still, moral authority in particular—is
increased by love
on the part of the authority-figure in the authority-rela-
tionship. Though love, by its very nature, is not self-seeking and is not
expressed towards others as a means of strengthening one’s claim on them,
that is the effect it has. Obligations to one’s parents or spouse are binding
anyway, but become more so when the parents are caring and empathetic
and the spouse affectionate and devoted. So too our obligation to honour
and obey God is binding anyway, just because we owe our very existence to
him; yet it is vastly increased by his having so loved the world that he gave
his Son to die so that whoever will might live, and by his having actually
saved from sin and death us who believe. . . .
(v) Authority—meaning here, executive authority in particular—must be
distinguished from
authoritarianism.
The distinction is crucial, for most
complaints about authority in the human community turn out to be against
authoritarianism in fact. Authoritarianism is authority corrupted, degener
ated, gone to seed. It appears when the submission demanded is not justifi
able in terms of truth or morality. Any form of human authority can go bad
in this way; be warned! You see authoritarianism in the state when a regime
uses power in an unprincipled way to maintain itself. You see authoritarian
ism in churches when leaders claim control of their followers’ consciences.
You see it in high school, university or seminary when you are expected to
agree with your professor rather than follow the evidence of truth for your
self. You see it in the family when parents direct or restrict their children
unreasonably. That such experiences leave a bad taste and prompt skepti
cism about authority in all its forms is sad, but not surprising, and undoubt
edly bad experiences of this kind have fueled the flames of today’s reaction
against authority all over the world. But—and this is the only point I would
make here—God’s authoritative claims upon us, being justifiable in terms
both of truth and of morality, are not authoritarian in the least. As has
already appeared, God’s law corresponds to created human nature, so that
in fulfilling his requirements we fulfil ourselves; and the gospel of Christ and
his redeeming love answers to actual human need as glove fits hand. So all
our responses to God make for our own good, and no touch of authoritarian
arbitrariness enters into his exercise of authority over us at any stage.