Recently I was reading an article that brought to my attention some of the abuse that is present when leadership oversteps their bounds. This was an article that made reference to a specific minister that had caused significant grief to a number of people. The devastation no doubt created long lasting scars upon a people who once put their full trust in an authority figure.
Does that scenario sound familiar? Have you at one time been the recipient of abuse, after having chosen to follow the leader? In a single instant did your trust in man become a losing proposition?
What we are actually dealing with is a stronghold called “authority”.
If you feel the pain and the regret of having become a casualty of leadership’s actions then it is possible to still be owned by that person. Even years later as you think back on an uncomfortable situation; your reaction is a telltale sign that you are still not free as you should be. Hence you may find yourself feeling vulnerable all over again.
Now no one is perfect and we all have a past that needs redeeming. But it is for this very reason that we want to challenge how dominant figureheads have been allowed to enter our lives. If we have been conditioned to automatically submit to them; “no questions asked”, then they can without protest impose themselves upon us. So where did this stronghold first appear in our lives?
Our view of authority began in the home and taught us to accept a parent’s direction, counsel and way of life. When home life was healthy we learned to not only respect the chain of command, but we also then gained a capacity to be a “leader” for others. A healthy view of authority taught us the meaning of self governance and a reverence for the fear of God.
However damaged home life doesn’t produce the same assurances. Poor examples of leadership in the home have conditioned us to simply comply in the face of parental instability. That damaged mindset has often carried us out into society; influencing how we conduct ourselves in life and in faith. Hence early conditioning tends to define how we relate in the future to leadership in business, in government and within religious circles. This need to be overtly compliant with leadership is more of a sickness and represents an example of improper subjection and submission.
Subjection and Submission
We don’t give much thought to the subject, but we have often learned to maneuver through life and faith by participating in various stages of surrender. These actions can best be defined as “subjection and submission”. On the one hand we can find ourselves subject to the things of the earth simply by being born into a fallen world. We didn’t ask for this trouble, yet it came with the package.
“Subjection” is then a matter of being under the power of something or someone and is often the result of being forced against our will.
On the other hand, we can also find ourselves subject to things based on an exercise in “freewill”. In this case:
“Submission” represents a willingness to give away aspects of our authority in order to gain some perceived benefit.
If as believers we remain in either of these camps we can find ourselves pressed by a lesser quality of life and frequently “under” the control of a lesser god. For this reason any hope of prospering in life requires that we be more mindful of the choices we make. The question then on the table is; “where have we given away our authority and where do we still submit ourselves to improper ownership and control?”
Notice I said “improper”; this is not a call to dishonor authority, or deny them a place in our lives, but since Christ has offered us a new life and access to His Throne we are in need of some renovation. In other words, though we once had an obligation to be submissive to leadership as a child, we aren’t children anymore. Subsequently such immature reasoning sets into motion a pattern of control Jesus once referred to as the “gentile way”.
Mark 10:42-44 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.
Notice that there are various levels of order being described in this scenario. Besides the one person who sits on the top; there are high officials and there are low officials all of whom add to the structure. This pattern of rule looks much like a pyramid and characterizes most of fallen mankind’s ideas about the chain of command.
In contrast Jesus taught us that the role of leadership was dependent on an ability to be a servant. By having a servant’s heart and offering support through an “under girding” rather than an “over lording” the individual prospers and becomes the next valued leader.
Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders
However by not having, or having lost personal sovereignty (No one standing between us and God) we become powerless to affect our world and even stunted in our personal growth. In this manner we let men “improperly” rule us and violate us in physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual ways.
What is it in man that motivates him to want to own others?
Before the fall man was called to take dominion. As he kept his focus on God he prospered in his attempts to steward creation. However after the fall, man became quite self-centered. As he looked upon his own form and function, he had no other choice but to make life’s journey all about himself. Hence his self centered approach made him a negative force to be reckoned with; God’s commission to take dominion was then replaced by a drive to simply “dominate”.
This infection within humanity was initially inspired by the Devil’s own search for greatness.
Isaiah 14:13-14 You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. 14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”
The Devil’s attempt to become equal with God was also a self centered exploit. His narcissistic attitude made him believe that he was the most likely candidate for advancement in heaven. Of course his reckless coup failed, and he found himself expelled from heaven, yet still seeking recognition. So as Adam and Eve came into the picture he found new converts that would emulate his way of dominance. Basically as they accepted the Devils sales pitch they set the standard for how all of humanity would likely respond.
This of course means that men have been conditioned to strive for higher ground in life as well as in relationships. Subsequently there is no equality among men, but rather a drive to dominate each other as a means of self preservation and self promotion. Hence, whenever a worldly agenda is unleashed upon us it inappropriately presses us to conform and submit to its demands; and we often comply in physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual ways. That place of improper submission is the stronghold that denies us fullness in God and creates in improper submission to men.
Now some will ask what about that obligation to Romans 13 where it says to submit to every example of authority?
What no one seems to comprehend, “authority begins with us”. In other words, our first commitment is to Christ who has made us the temple of His living Spirit. Secondly we have been seated with Him in heavenly places.
Ephesians 2:6-7 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Seated with Christ means two things; it means we have ceased from our own works, since Jesus has offered us a full and rich existence free of charge. Secondly it means that we have gained a spiritual authority in Christ that is raised above the dictates of fallen creation. For this reason the spiritual new creation that defines us in Jesus has a say over a once dominant and broken world view. Please let this sink in; we have greater authority then that which Adam once knew. Adam had fleshly authority and he gave it all away. But we have been brought into Christ, and have gained spiritual authority which is raised above anything that man or Devil tries to throw at us.
Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
But what if we have already given our authority away?
Truthfully we can’t froth up enough attitude in order to gain back our authority. In fact once we bow to the dictates of other masters it amounts to being “owned for life”. However Jesus provided us away at the Cross to break those bad contracts.
Continued at The Stronghold Called Authority | Beyond Science | Before It's News
Does that scenario sound familiar? Have you at one time been the recipient of abuse, after having chosen to follow the leader? In a single instant did your trust in man become a losing proposition?
What we are actually dealing with is a stronghold called “authority”.
If you feel the pain and the regret of having become a casualty of leadership’s actions then it is possible to still be owned by that person. Even years later as you think back on an uncomfortable situation; your reaction is a telltale sign that you are still not free as you should be. Hence you may find yourself feeling vulnerable all over again.
Now no one is perfect and we all have a past that needs redeeming. But it is for this very reason that we want to challenge how dominant figureheads have been allowed to enter our lives. If we have been conditioned to automatically submit to them; “no questions asked”, then they can without protest impose themselves upon us. So where did this stronghold first appear in our lives?
Our view of authority began in the home and taught us to accept a parent’s direction, counsel and way of life. When home life was healthy we learned to not only respect the chain of command, but we also then gained a capacity to be a “leader” for others. A healthy view of authority taught us the meaning of self governance and a reverence for the fear of God.
However damaged home life doesn’t produce the same assurances. Poor examples of leadership in the home have conditioned us to simply comply in the face of parental instability. That damaged mindset has often carried us out into society; influencing how we conduct ourselves in life and in faith. Hence early conditioning tends to define how we relate in the future to leadership in business, in government and within religious circles. This need to be overtly compliant with leadership is more of a sickness and represents an example of improper subjection and submission.
Subjection and Submission
We don’t give much thought to the subject, but we have often learned to maneuver through life and faith by participating in various stages of surrender. These actions can best be defined as “subjection and submission”. On the one hand we can find ourselves subject to the things of the earth simply by being born into a fallen world. We didn’t ask for this trouble, yet it came with the package.
“Subjection” is then a matter of being under the power of something or someone and is often the result of being forced against our will.
On the other hand, we can also find ourselves subject to things based on an exercise in “freewill”. In this case:
“Submission” represents a willingness to give away aspects of our authority in order to gain some perceived benefit.
If as believers we remain in either of these camps we can find ourselves pressed by a lesser quality of life and frequently “under” the control of a lesser god. For this reason any hope of prospering in life requires that we be more mindful of the choices we make. The question then on the table is; “where have we given away our authority and where do we still submit ourselves to improper ownership and control?”
Notice I said “improper”; this is not a call to dishonor authority, or deny them a place in our lives, but since Christ has offered us a new life and access to His Throne we are in need of some renovation. In other words, though we once had an obligation to be submissive to leadership as a child, we aren’t children anymore. Subsequently such immature reasoning sets into motion a pattern of control Jesus once referred to as the “gentile way”.
Mark 10:42-44 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.
Notice that there are various levels of order being described in this scenario. Besides the one person who sits on the top; there are high officials and there are low officials all of whom add to the structure. This pattern of rule looks much like a pyramid and characterizes most of fallen mankind’s ideas about the chain of command.
In contrast Jesus taught us that the role of leadership was dependent on an ability to be a servant. By having a servant’s heart and offering support through an “under girding” rather than an “over lording” the individual prospers and becomes the next valued leader.
Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders
However by not having, or having lost personal sovereignty (No one standing between us and God) we become powerless to affect our world and even stunted in our personal growth. In this manner we let men “improperly” rule us and violate us in physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual ways.
What is it in man that motivates him to want to own others?
Before the fall man was called to take dominion. As he kept his focus on God he prospered in his attempts to steward creation. However after the fall, man became quite self-centered. As he looked upon his own form and function, he had no other choice but to make life’s journey all about himself. Hence his self centered approach made him a negative force to be reckoned with; God’s commission to take dominion was then replaced by a drive to simply “dominate”.
This infection within humanity was initially inspired by the Devil’s own search for greatness.
Isaiah 14:13-14 You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. 14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”
The Devil’s attempt to become equal with God was also a self centered exploit. His narcissistic attitude made him believe that he was the most likely candidate for advancement in heaven. Of course his reckless coup failed, and he found himself expelled from heaven, yet still seeking recognition. So as Adam and Eve came into the picture he found new converts that would emulate his way of dominance. Basically as they accepted the Devils sales pitch they set the standard for how all of humanity would likely respond.
This of course means that men have been conditioned to strive for higher ground in life as well as in relationships. Subsequently there is no equality among men, but rather a drive to dominate each other as a means of self preservation and self promotion. Hence, whenever a worldly agenda is unleashed upon us it inappropriately presses us to conform and submit to its demands; and we often comply in physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual ways. That place of improper submission is the stronghold that denies us fullness in God and creates in improper submission to men.
Now some will ask what about that obligation to Romans 13 where it says to submit to every example of authority?
What no one seems to comprehend, “authority begins with us”. In other words, our first commitment is to Christ who has made us the temple of His living Spirit. Secondly we have been seated with Him in heavenly places.
Ephesians 2:6-7 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Seated with Christ means two things; it means we have ceased from our own works, since Jesus has offered us a full and rich existence free of charge. Secondly it means that we have gained a spiritual authority in Christ that is raised above the dictates of fallen creation. For this reason the spiritual new creation that defines us in Jesus has a say over a once dominant and broken world view. Please let this sink in; we have greater authority then that which Adam once knew. Adam had fleshly authority and he gave it all away. But we have been brought into Christ, and have gained spiritual authority which is raised above anything that man or Devil tries to throw at us.
Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
But what if we have already given our authority away?
Truthfully we can’t froth up enough attitude in order to gain back our authority. In fact once we bow to the dictates of other masters it amounts to being “owned for life”. However Jesus provided us away at the Cross to break those bad contracts.
Continued at The Stronghold Called Authority | Beyond Science | Before It's News
