Biblical Authority
Authority exists above us as well as below us . . .
“But I thought you didn’t believe in the horn, Trumpkin,” said Caspian.
“No more I do, your majesty. But what’s that got to do with it? I might as well die in a wild goose chase as die here. You are my King. I know the difference between giving advice and taking orders. You’ve had my advice, and it’s the time for orders.” (Prince Caspian)
For a number of historical/theological reasons, Americans have a distorted perception of how biblical authority works, and we received this distorted view during our education. It is therefore very important that we identify the problem so that we do not pass it on to our children in their education. Christians must seek to understand true authority as a central aspect of the task of recovering true biblical education.
Authority works two ways and, unfortunately many who set out to recover authority only recover one half of it—the half that lets them give orders to someone else. It may be taken as axiomatic that someone does not have a biblical view of authority if he takes any less delight in receiving instructions that he does in giving them. Submission is required of all Christians, and someone who does not know how to submit is someone who also does not know how to be entrusted with leadership.
There are some additional subtleties, however, which bear directly on the task of education.
Both home and day schools operate under genuine plural leadership. Home schools are under the authority of father and mother. The father is appointed by God as the head of the home, but this does not alter the fact that his wife is his helper in the leadership and education of their children. Christian day schools are usually under the authority of a school board. So, in both cases, at home and at school, more than one individual is involved in the task leadership. This is plural leadership.
Now Jesus taught us that no man can serve two masters. And yet, the pattern of plural, corporate leadership is certainly biblical, and in the case of home schools, it is mandated. So how is it possible for a teacher, student, son, or daughter under authority to keep from being pulled in different directions, and all by people who are equally ”in charge?”
In order to remain biblical, all forms of plural leadership must speak with a single voice. Several examples should serve to illustrate the principle.
Suppose the school board is in the process of selecting a line of textbooks. Suppose further that there have been vigorous and thorough debates in the board meetings about the value of this publisher versus the value of that publisher. The day comes, however, when the vote is taken, and the school board has made its decision. Now—the board member in the minority must not only submit to the decision (which he obviously obviously has to do anyway), he must also support it.
This idea horrifies us. So in order to maintain our unbiblical approach to authority, however, we immediately rush to “worst case scenarios.” “But,” we argue, “suppose the text books and question or put out by Satan & Sons—we make humanism palatable for Christian schools!?”
The answer here of course is that this is a school board from which godly Christians must resign. There are times when submission to human authority does constitute disobedience to God. But if it is impossible to submit, then it is impossible to stay. If it is legitimate to stay, then it is required to submit. We cannot take a middle ground and say that this is a big enough issue to allow us to be noisy and unsubmissive and small enough to allow us to remain
Suppose further that you are now at the meeting where the new textbooks are being announced, the minority board member is chairing the meeting, and a parent in the back row objects. He lists seven compelling reasons why the other textbook should have been selected. They are the same seven compelling reasons that the chairman himself presented last week at the board meeting. Now the chairman only has a biblical view of authority if he stands publicly with the rest of the board. It was not the majority decision; it was the board’s decision. If being identified with that decision is sin, then he must leave the board. If being identified with that decision is not sin, then he must swallow his pride—all of it—and say, “We thought we should choose these textbooks because . . .”
This principle is seen in home schooling as well (along with numerous other aspects of home life not connected with formal schooling). Father and Mother are both in authority over the children. Let us say one of the children has been disciplined by the father, and the mother is not in full agreement with how the discipline was administered. Should this concern be expressed? Of course—in private. As far as the children are concerned, the parents should always present a united front.
It is only in this way—the way of true submission—that plural leadership can speak with a single voice. As we consider the implications of this, it is obvious we all have much to learn.
First printed in Credenda, Vol. 5. No. 5