n e w c h u r c h l i f e : j u ly / au g u s t 2 0 1 4
General Church was founded – the authority of the Writings and freedom
– are closely joined. The principle of freedom was viewed as having Divine
authority behind it because it was derived from the teaching of the Writings,
which were viewed as having Divine authority.
Thus the very principle of freedom which is occasionally cited as a reason
not to view the Writings as authoritative, was actually written into the DNA of
the General Church by the Author of the Writings Himself.
Human authority can be oppressive and stifling, but wise and freely
accepted authority is actually liberating. It creates a space within which human
thought, debate and exchange of ideas can be carried out in an orderly manner
and brought to a peaceful conclusion. A “space” implies boundaries by which
the space is defined. This is what an authority that all can agree upon provides.
Take Roberts Rules of Order, for example. Acknowledging their authority is
not contrary to a free, open and fair debate, with the possibility of a settlement
all can live with, but is necessary to make such an exchange of ideas and
peaceful resolution possible. The Church’s “rules of order” are derived from
the Word and the doctrines drawn from the Word, which church members
have agreed to accept as authoritative.
Every use is subject to misuse. Every good and productive thing has
its shadow side – some destructive perversion and misapplication. But the
negative aspect does not negate the validity and usefulness of the thing itself.
Just because some authority is bad does not mean that all authority is bad.
The answer to fake charity is not to reject charity altogether, but to embrace
true charity. The answer to oppressive external order is not anarchy, but the
spiritual order that comes from within, from love. The answer to pseudoscience is real science. The answer to pseudo-marriage is real marriage. The
answer to the pseudo-religion of idolatry is real religion based on worship of
the Lord.
It is the same regarding authority. The only real escape from the tyranny
of flawed human authorities is in acknowledging the supreme authority of
the Divine. This is why totalitarian regimes relentlessly persecute religion; the
rulers can’t tolerate the existence of any authority higher than themselves.
Human authority comes from without. Divine authority comes from
within. The commandments of the Word come to us at first from without,
from a book. But they are meant to be raised up into the light of reason, and
finally loved. And then they are written on our heart, and speak to us from
within.
“The authority of the Writings” may seem to be a cold, restrictive, even
intimidating formula. But it is really just a way of saying their Author is the
Lord, that it is He who is speaking to us in them. Acknowledging the authority
of the Writings is an expression of the affirmative attitude with which we must
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