Introduction:
Over the next three months, leading up to November, we’ll be diving into a sermon series on a topic that might feel a bit unfamiliar: the Law. For many of us, the Law can seem like a concept that Christianity has moved beyond, especially given our strong emphasis on grace. We might associate Law with the Pharisees who are perceived as legalistic and burdensome. However, it’s important to remember that the Law is central to the Jewish faith and plays a significant role in our own Christian walk as well. We shouldn’t dismiss its importance, and as we journey through this series, the speakers who follow will help us explore this more deeply. For now, I just want to state one key point: the Law matters because Jesus said it matters.
Let’s begin by looking at a story from Mark 12: 28 One of the teachers of the law asked (Jesus), “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. 33 … (these laws are) more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
Just to be clear, these two commandments are formalized into laws in the Jewish society, just like what we have in the Singapore law. Notice that Jesus doesn’t dismiss the Law, summarized by the 10 commandments. Instead, He highlights their essence. The teacher of the Law in this story understood what the Law is really about, and Jesus affirmed that he was “not far from the kingdom of God.” Jesus even introduces a new commandment in John 13: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” This commandment is so important that Jesus repeats it twice in John 15.
So, as we start this series, let’s be clear: the Law is not something to be brushed aside. It’s something we need to take seriously because it shapes our Christian living in profound ways.
The Connection Between Law and Authority:
Today, I’m tasked with exploring a topic closely related to the Law: Authority. Authority is a word that can mean different things to different people, so let’s keep it simple. The dictionary defines authority as “the moral or legal right or ability to control.” When we think about it, Law and Authority are deeply connected. It is the Law that confers the necessary Authority upon a person or organisation to function accordingly. However, the law-giving body or person also needs authority in order to be able to set laws. Without authority, the Law has no teeth—it can’t be enforced. Similarly, authority without law is like a ship without a rudder; it lacks direction and legitimacy.[i]
Why This Matters to Us:
So far, I’ve introduced why we’re focusing on the Law in this sermon series and how it ties into authority. I’m not a political or legal expert, but as a pastor, I want to address why these concepts are important for us as Christians. Here are two key reasons:
- We believe that God is the ultimate authority in this world.
- We are citizens of God’s kingdom, and Jesus, our King, has given us three commandments to live by.
Understanding the nature of authority and its role in God’s plan helps us live out our faith more faithfully.
God’s Authority and Our Responsibility:
Let’s think about how God, as the ultimate authority, operates. In the beginning, God created order out of chaos. Through this order, life flourished out of emptiness. Humanity, created in God’s image, was given the responsibility to maintain this order—to name the animals, tend the garden, and steward the earth. God doesn’t hoard His power. Instead, He empowers us to participate in His work, allowing life to thrive in freedom in man-maintained order.
As humans, we have a unique role in this world. The physical world is structured so we can study and understand it. Time is structured so we can experience life’s journey and make plans. Society is structured so we can form families, communities, and thrive together. All of this reflects God’s order and authority. As God’s authorized representatives, we study the creation, make plans, and eventually build structures. Then we maintain them through law and authority.
If God is the ultimate authority, then we have responsibilities as His stewards. Psalm 8 reminds us:
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?
5 You have made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor.
6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their feet.
Application – Faith in Action:
So, what does this mean for us in practice? One important application is that with such responsibilities, we must address the issue of escapism. Escapism takes us away from engaging fully in the world around us: the real world. Yet, we all need an escape from time to time—whether through hobbies, entertainment, or even spiritual practices like meditation. However, there are two kinds of escapism. J.R.R. Tolkien, in his essay On Fairy Stories[ii], talks about the difference between the “Escape of the Prisoner” and the “Flight of the Deserter.” The first is a healthy escape that refreshes us, while the second is an unhealthy avoidance of our responsibilities. [iii]
Escape of the Prisoner is a metaphor of how sometimes we are trapped within our busy lives, including all its frustrations and routines. Sometimes we unknowingly just go from day to day, year to year like a zombie. In this case, escapism can give us a break from the daily grind and inspire us to think creatively about the world. This is healthy escapism.
However, the flight of the deserter means we might be choosing escapism because we are unwilling to face the harsh realities of the real world. Maybe you feel your achievement in video games more than your academic difficulties. Maybe your virtual relationships, or the romance of the k-drama becomes more real than your relationship with your spouse. Such escapism can become unhealthy when it becomes an excuse to desert the real world. This is especially so since we have a calling is to work hard and care for the world we’ve been given. We can’t shirk this responsibility or retreat into escapism that neglects the reality around us. Yes, we may need to step away at times, like the prophets who sought God in solitude, but it’s only so we can return, refreshed, to continue God’s work.
Psalm 82 – The Heart of Authority:
Let’s turn to Psalm 82, which gives us a clear picture of how God’s authority should be exercised:
Psalm 82: 1 God presides in the great assembly;
he renders judgment among the “gods”:
2 “How long will you defend the unjust
and show partiality to the wicked?
3 Defend the weak and the fatherless;
uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth,
for all the nations are your inheritance.
This Psalm shows us that God, as the ultimate authority, empowers humans to govern the world. If you hold any position of authority—whether it’s at work, in school, or here at church—you have a responsibility to care for the powerless and ensure justice. It doesn’t matter how small your role is, maybe you are an assistant manager in your company, maybe you are the team leader in your school’s sport team, or maybe you are a cell leader in church. It’s not an easy task, and it requires wisdom and courage, but it’s essential because of the brokenness of our world. God has placed each of us in positions of influence to maintain order and promote life.
Submission to Authority:
For those of us not in positions of authority, the Bible teaches us to submit to those who are. Paul writes in Romans 13:
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good.
Submitting to authority helps maintain harmony and order in our communities. It’s an acknowledgment that God is the ultimate judge. This doesn’t mean blind obedience, but rather a thoughtful, prayerful submission that seeks to honor God. Again, this is not an easy application because there will be those who support existing leadership, and those who think those in authority are wrong-headed. Here is my appeal to the two camps: If you support your leaders, ask yourself if you’re truly ensuring justice, or simply enabling wrongs. As for the other camp, if you’re critical of authority, consider whether you’re fulfilling your responsibilities to submit to (in Paul’s words) God’s servants, or are you taking matters into your own hands. Are you the judge, or as Psalm 82 declares, God is the judge?
Conclusion – A Balanced Approach to Authority:
Psalm 82 reminds us that human structures, including governments and organizations, are imperfect. The Old Testament prophets often spoke out against corrupt leaders, yet they also affirmed that God is still in control. They do not go into escapism, but they work hard to get involved somehow. Power can corrupt, but it’s also necessary to combat corruption.
I want to end with two approaches to authority that I believe we should embrace, borrowing terms from R. Paul Stevens[iv]:
- Creative Participation: This means seeing yourself as God’s steward wherever you serve. Maybe you have limited power or influence, but like in the Parable of the Talents, what matters is how you use what you’ve been given. Whether in your workplace, school, or church, do your best to bring your environment into alignment with Christ’s teachings. If you see harm being done to the powerless, it’s your duty to step in and fight for what’s right.
- Exorcism: We often associate exorcism with dramatic spiritual encounters, but it’s also about the daily fight against injustice, corruption, and abuse of power. Exorcism in this context means liberation through the use of God’s words and prayer. In this case, you do not even have any authority to do creative participation. Yet it doesn’t mean you have helpless. In fact, you can confront evil with God’s power because prayer is powerful. Using God’s words at the right time is powerful. Allow me to recite this quote by Stevens: “The powers that have been colonized by Satan can only be overthrown by God. When the world is off center, it would take a lever with a fulcrum outside the world to move it. Christians believe that the lever to move the world is the wooden cross.”
I want to share a personal encounter, but I would keep the details vague so that none of you will speculate which church or who I am referring to. There is a church with a newly appointed pastor-in-charge, Pastor A. The church was in a bad state due to the previous quarrels in the leadership team before he joined the church. There were hurt feelings and morale was low. But I witnessed a miraculous transformation when Pastor A put Jesus Christ front and center in every interaction and in every decision making. You can call this creative participation or even exorcism. But what I now see in that church is harmonious working relationships in the leadership team because Pastor A makes clear to everyone Jesus Christ is the real authority of the church. Pastor A leads the church with humility and the church submits to his leadership prayerfully.
To wrap up, allow me to reiterate my key points. The Law and Authority are deeply intertwined with our Christian faith because God is the ultimate authority. He has empowered us to continue his work of flourishing life through maintaining order. Where there are laws, there will be those invested with authority. Our Christian mindset towards authority will shape how we live and interact with the world. For those with authority, we bring justice and order responsibly. For those under authority, we submit prayerfully to honor God and to set a Christian example. As for dealing with authority that are abused, we participate to change what we could change, and to whatever we cannot, we follow the example of Psalm 82 and pray hard to exorcise the evil, and let God be the judge.
