As a young Christian I was led to a Baptist Church. When I asked the Lord, Why do you want me here?” He responded by pointing out two men. “You are to watch Roy and Mastin’s lives. One was a young “pastor”, Roy Thomas, whose very attitude was servant like. I remember one incident where he was criticized for attending a marketing meeting for one of the members (it was I believe Amway.) his reply was, “Don’t you understand? They invited me and because they did I’m going. Don’t you see, because it’s important to them it is important to me!!”

You see, when I think of Roy (these 30 years later) i think of “love doesn’t seek its own but what is best for the beloved.” Love is not selfish! Seeing such a servant made me open to Roy, to his guidance even to his correction. Fruitful tees have an attractive fragrance of the Holy Spirit.

The second was a 70+ brother named Maston Rea. He never gave a message publicly. He had little of this world’s goods. he was not an elder or deacon. He never taught a Sunday school class. he just sort of blended in. HOWEVER,

My first contact with Maston was when he showed up at at our home with some groceries and a gift certificate. later i found out that some anonymous someone had also paid our electric bill! The more I watched him the more I someone who had no outward trappings of religion but who had character that spoke louder than words! It made me open to him. It caused me to want to be like him.

By their fruits ye shall know them. By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit.” Neither of these men claimed or coveted position or authority over others – they were quiet, gentle, easily entreated and meek men but they “ruled” by example. It is my prayer that I may be like them for they were like the Master.

Having worked as a pastor in a congregational setting where people are willing to assert themselves as authorities over the Pastor to dictate content of sermons or even to try to dictate what passages of scripture won’t be preached on because they are offensive (in one case, the entire book of Amos), I have to suggest that there is some level of inherent authority in the Apostolic Office to be able to preach whether it is accepted or not.

At the same time, the authority to be heard resides in the relationship with the people.

I guess I’m seeking a both-and approach myself.

Am I making sense?

Where Locke’s ideas come into play is more in the exercise of authority by people over people as they attempt to live in community together. A pastor doesn’t have “authority over” the people in his parish because it’s passed down from above and that’s that… in reality, any authority he has is based in his relationships with the people of his parish. They listen to him because they know him… know his voice. Hey, we’re back in John 10 again, aren’t we? ;^)

(Clearly I’m talking about spiritual authority, not such authority as that under which a policeman issues a ticket.)

I like the perspective on the thief from John 10. Having preached on it myself Sunday, I think that this helps round out my thoughts on this passage.

However, I think Jesus was probably going the opposite direction from Locke and a certain American document from July of 1776: It seems, rather, that he was asserting his authority over the Pharisees and declaring the invalidity of their authority since he had come from the Father. In calling the Pharisees “thieves” and “insurgents”, he was trumping their authority. I agree that relationship has to be involved, more than position, but the consent of the Pharisees (or rather lack thereof) to the notion that Jesus was the Son of God didn’t make it any less true, either.

Or am I totally misunderstanding you?

Grace and Peace -

+Matt