James 1:22 challenges those who call themselves followers of Jesus with these words: “Do not merely listen to the word… Do what it says.” It’s actually a simple and intuitive response to the call of Christ and the truth of God’s Word. We have a bad habit of making it complex and difficult. Rather than putting the truth into practice, we often try to protect and defend it by creating categories of who is and who is not qualified to participate in certain aspects of service and ministry. Then, we waste our time arguing with one another with various forms of the age old childish argument: “No you can’t…” vs. “Yes I can…” We get so caught up trying to convince others as to why we can do what Christ has commanded that we run the risk of becoming too exhausted or discouraged to actually do it.
We get so caught up trying to convince others as to why we can do what Christ has commanded that we run the risk of becoming too exhausted or discouraged to actually do it.
I had a friend who once demonstrated a more effective, and I would argue both biblical and obedient, course of action. My friend served as a youth pastor at another local church. She had just returned from a retreat she had attended with her students. While on the retreat, several in her group had committed their lives to Jesus and asked to be baptized. My friend excitedly agreed then led the young men and women across campus to a little pond where she baptized them. As she recounted her story to myself and another pastor, the other pastor got more than a little defensive and argumentative. He quipped, “And who exactly gave you the authority to baptize those people?!” My friend had no interest in engaging in debate. She just said, “Well, Jesus did.” Then, she walked away and went about her business. The discussion ended, but my friend’s ability to serve, share, and lead did not. She was too busy taking advantage of the opportunities before her to be concern herself with whether or not others thought she was called, qualified, or authorized to service in Jesus’ name. She was too busy caring for the needs of those entrusted to her to worry about what those outside her circle believed or thought about her.
As it happens, there are several examples of similar interactions in the New Testament, starting with Jesus, Himself. If there were anyone in human history whose authority was beyond question, you would think it would be Jesus. Beyond the authority apparent in His preaching and teaching (Luke 4:32), the supernatural signs and wonders He performed should have removed any question. And still, the religious and political leaders of the day called Him to account. Matthew 21:23 reads, “Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. ‘By what authority are you doing these things?’ they asked. ‘And who gave you this authority?” After a brief exchange, Jesus refuses to offer an explanation or enter an argument. He just goes back to doing what He was called to do.
Let fools waste their time with ranting about issues of authority and let us do as the ultimate authority has instructed in His word.
As one might expect, Jesus’s disciples followed His example. In Acts 3 and 4, Peter and John are making their way through the temple and they offer compassionate care to a blind beggar and tell everybody who would listen about what they had seen, heard, and experienced with Jesus. They get dragged in front of the authorities who command them to stop. We find their response in Acts 4:19. It reads, “But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges!” They don’t try to convince anyone of the correctness of their actions in Jesus’ name. They just get back to doing what they were called to do.
I’m also struck by the example of Mary Magdalene. She was honored to be the first person to preach the good news of the resurrected Christ. Jesus Himself authorized and commanded her to do so. And while the eleven remaining disciples didn’t necessarily question her authority, they didn’t believe her either. John 20:18 provides us with the message: “Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: ‘I have seen the Lord!’ And she told them that he had said these things to her.” Luke 24:11 reveals their response: “But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.” There’s no indication that Mary argued with the disciples about the truth of her message or her authority to carry it. She simply did what Jesus told her.
In our information age, we’re often so concerned with convincing others that we have the right to do or say something that we fail to actually do or say it. We get drawn into foolish debates and ineffective arguments that are utterly fruitless. We would do well to remember the words of Eleanor Roosevelt: “What others think of you is none of your business.” At a minimum, the opinions of others and their perception of whether or not you have the right and authority to serve Christ shouldn’t keep you from going about your business. While there is certainly much to be said about accountability to authorities God has placed over us, no human authority should keep us from living out the call and command Jesus has issued in His Word and through the direction of His Spirit. Don’t waste your time arguing with those who say you can’t. Let fools waste their time with ranting about issues of authority and let us do as the ultimate authority has instructed in His word.
