The Authority of a Servant
We have been discussing in this series of articles the subject of spiritual authority. We have examined together the two types of authority found on earth today, i.e. positional, delegated authority and spiritual, "transmitted" authority. We have investigated the necessity of being able to recognize genuine spiritual authority and to distinguish it from the earthly variety. And we have seen how it is that God prepares His vessels and then manifests Himself through them to the church.
With all this in mind, we are brought to one particularly important question concerning authority. That is: what are a person's motives for exercising authority? When anyone is acting or speaking with authority, inevitably they have a purpose behind what they are doing. Furthermore, these motives clearly reveal the source of such authority. For example, when the impulses are from God, the authority is His. He is the One being revealed. On the other hand, when a desire to dominate arises from within the individual, selfish ambitions are certain to exist. Consequently, understanding the motivations behind the authority that we see displayed, both in ourselves and others, can be a valuable tool to understanding the source of such authority. Let us remember that the thoughts and intentions of the human heart (especially our own) are often very difficult to see. There is a great need therefore to sincerely open our hearts and minds to the illumination of the Holy Spirit and humble ourselves before Him as we examine the scriptures together. Since our Lord Jesus Christ was the ultimate example of true spiritual authority, let us take a look together at His life and teaching. When Jesus walked on the earth with His disciples, He spent a large portion of His time teaching them. His methods of teaching were diverse and unique. Often He instructed them through graphic illustrations as well as with words. It was just before the climax of His work on earth, while they were together eating what we call "the last supper," that Jesus chose to make a powerful demonstration for them concerning authority. The time He selected for this action, the very climax of His ministry, is evidence of the tremendous importance that He attached to the subject.
While they were eating together, Jesus got up from the table, took off His clothing and put on a towel. He dressed Himself like a servant. Then He proceeded to perform the function of the lowest slave ; wash the disciples' feet. Here was God incarnate, the Creator of the universe, the One who had the right to exercise all authority, acting like a personal attendant. Undoubtedly, He was trying to convey an all-important message. He was pointing out, as emphatically as He could, the true attitude and position of those who exercise spiritual authority and leadership. While He was performing this act He said, "You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you" (Jn 13:13-15). He then concludes this message by saying: "If you know these things, happy are you if you do them" (vs 17).
This then reveals for us the scriptural motivation of true spiritual authority. Those who are used by God to convey His authority are to be servants. Their attitude and their disposition is not to set themselves up as "something," i.e. masters and lords, but to take the lowliest position. They are to use their God-given gifts to serve others instead of to elevate themselves. Jesus' actions are far more than just the basis for a new foot washing ceremony in the church. Here our Divine Instructor has shown us a tremendous principle that governs all the exercise of spiritual authority among His people. What does this then mean in our practical experience? It means that when God begins to use someone as a channel of His authority and consequently they begin to be elevated in the eyes of other people, they themselves have no interest in being so elevated. Their hearts are not set on themselves or on some kind of "position" but are instead bent on serving others. They have been humbled by God and so have become, in every sense of the word, servants. Their life's ambition is no longer to become "something" in the church themselves but to raise others up to be what God's wants them to be. "Self" is no longer the motivation. Instead, the good of others has become the dominating force governing their actions. These are the people who have really understood God's message and thus have become very useful in His kingdom. Alternatively, if someone in their heart of hearts does not have this attitude, then they are not truly qualified for spiritual ministry.
Those who are really the instruments of God are not trying to "build up their own ministry." Their motivation is never to "build a bigger church than someone else's" or to keep as many as they can under their influence. They are not creating their own empires and kingdoms using the name of Jesus and the word of God as a disguise for self-serving living. These are not people who enjoy controlling others and basking in the aura of being the "man or woman of God." They are simply servants working for the good of others. Such authority is never hard or demanding because the person manifesting it does not stand to gain anything personally from it. It is an authority with an entirely different motivation from anything human. This type of leadership can only come from another source. It displays the true character of God.
New Testament "Titles"
The "titles" that the New Testament uses to describe God's servants reflect the above truth very strongly. In the original text, the thought of men and women in the church reigning and ruling over one another is completely absent. However, in many cases, the true meaning of the terminology has been greatly twisted or even lost entirely to our modern generation. Perhaps the best example of this problem would be the word "minister." Today, a "minister" is someone who "runs" the church. This person has an official title, a religious position, a decision making authority, perhaps also has certain special garments that he wears to distinguish himself from the others and, in general, is elevated above the people. Often a large degree of respect is expected from the members, similar to what one might give to a political dignitary.
However, the scriptural revelation of what being a "minister" means is much different. There are actually three different Greek words that are translated into this one English word "minister." The first one is DIAKONOS. It means "servant" or "attendant." The second word LEITOURGOS refers to someone who served the public in a special capacity at his own expense. The third word HUPERTES originally meant "under rower" that was a lower order of seaman. It later came to mean any subordinate acting under direction from another. Some other words that are related to the thought of spiritual service are: DOULOS, "a bondslave;" OIKETES, "a household servant; "MISTHOIS, "a hired servant; "and PAIS, "a servant boy." (Definitions from Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.)
Nothing in any of these words suggests the concept that we commonly encounter in the churches today. Servants do not tell those whom they are serving what to do. They are not the ones reigning and ruling over the others. Instead their function is to be of assistance to others by serving them in a lowly fashion. In these terms we discover no exaltation of self, no elevation in the eyes of the world and no special position of social respect. In fact, just the opposite is true. The use of such terminology suggests that such persons have humbled themselves and become genuine servants, following the example our Lord Jesus throughout His life (Phil 2:8). From this brief investigation it appears that this word "minister" has become so misapplied in its usage in today's church as to mean virtually the opposite of what it did in Jesus' time.
Service Functions
I believe that it is time for all of us to do a serious re-examination of our concepts about what God is trying to convey to us in His word. When such terminology as apostle, prophet, minister, elder, etc. is used, exactly what is the thought of our Master behind it? From our foregoing discussion it is plain that these cannot be titles or labels signifying special positions of importance or "offices" in the church. This would be in direct contradiction to the clear teaching and example of Jesus. Therefore, we must seek further until we see in the light of God, a revelation that is in harmony with all of the scriptures. (It should be noted that the word "office" that is found in some English translations of the Bible referring to the ministry of the bishops and deacons (I Tim 3:1; 3:10; 3:13) actually represents no word in the original Greek text but is the invention of the translators.)
Instead of being regarded as positional titles, these words such as "minister," "apostle" and "elder" could be understood simply as descriptions of certain service functions in the body of Christ. This is perhaps best illustrated by using earthly analogies since we do not have any religious preconceptions concerning them. For example, anyone can go fishing. But when someone fishes often and becomes adept at catching fish then you might say that he is a "fisherman." This is not their title or some kind of position but a description of what they do. Similarly, many people can fix a leaking faucet, but when they regularly do that sort of work and become good at what they do, then they are regarded as a "plumber." So it is in the church. God has assigned to each one special tasks. We might today call them "ministries." These are unique areas of service through that we nurture the body of Christ. When someone regularly is used by God in the area of prophecy and they become known for their exercise of this gift, then they could be called a prophet. When someone is specially sent by God to establish and feed the churches, then they become known as an apostle, that means "sent one."
When these words, that today are thought of as titles or positions in the church, are seen as merely descriptions of service functions, all conflict with the teachings of Jesus disappears. Instead of being a means of elevating certain talented individuals above the rest, they are in reality simply a means of describing the kind of servant these people are. This idea is strongly supported when we examine how these words are not used in the New Testament. For example, the scriptures never use the phrase the "Apostle Paul" thus signifying a title. Instead we read of "Paul, the apostle," the servant, the one who has been sent by Another to perform a service to His church. We never encounter "Elder Peter," "Reverend James" or "Pastor John" in the holy word. Something entirely different than this is in the mind of God. Not only are these various ministerial descriptions not used as titles in the New Testament, Jesus strictly forbade the use of them among his followers. When He said to His disciples, "Call no man father" (Mt 23:9) this was not simply a prohibition from using one single word. It was clearly an instruction against the elevation of some individual to a position of prominence by the use of a title. He explains saying, "For you are all brethren." You are all equal. You are all on the same level. No one ever gets to be bigger, better or greater than the other. He reinforces this truth by insisting, "Do not be called 'teacher,' or 'master' (some ancient Greek texts substitute the word 'leader' for 'master')" (Mt 23:7-10). This clearly indicates that all use of special words to distinguish and elevate one believer above another is against the clear teaching of God's word. And the reason we are not to refer to others as being in a position of authority is because they are not as God forbids them to be.