There is a common perception in apostate Christendom that religious authority should be entrusted only to those who have been credentialed by a seminary or similar institute. Such tradition-bound places of theological training are largely responsible for religious hierarchies. They teach a standardized curriculum that is in error on major teachings of the Bible. Unfortunately, millions of unsuspecting people feel secure in trusting their eternal destiny to such alleged “experts,” never making an in-depth study of the Bible for themselves. This lack of personal effort prohibits spiritual development.
The apostle James assures us God will reward the diligent searcher with wisdom: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally…But let him ask in faith” (James 1:5-6).
Humility
Humility must attend our search for divine wisdom: “Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isa. 57:15; cf. Matt. 18:4).
Christadelphians are unique in that we do not claim infallibility through spirit possession or for a religious hierarchy. This conviction reinforces our individual motivation for personally searching the scriptures. We must therefore be teachable and malleable under the hand of our Lord.
The Sanhedrin
A great danger inherent in religious hierarchies is that spiritual vision is often blurred by the edifice of that system. The Sanhedrin is a graphic example of such a hierarchy, as their opposition to Christ blurred their vision of Messiah’s work among them. But their blurred vision affected not just themselves, but many of the common people who looked to the Sanhedrin for spiritual leadership.
In many cases, the influence of the Sanhedrin neutralized the impact of Christ’s miracles. That ruling body was preoccupied with condemning the Lord that they might remove his threat to their authority. Moreover, they feared Jesus because they saw he was unlike any man they had ever known. His miracles, power of exposition and authoritative doctrine challenged, frightened and angered them.
Impact of Lazarus’ resurrection
The miracle of Lazarus’ resurrection had tremendous impact upon the people and it sent shock waves through the leaders, intensifying their determination to kill him. A council was called to determine how they might put him to death. “What do we?” they asked, “for this man doeth many miracles” (John 11:47). In Jerusalem, the very center of their influence, the fame of Jesus had eclipsed theirs. The contest of authority, his or theirs, was thus reaching a climax.
While Jesus was teaching in the temple, they once again challenged his authority: “By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?” (Matt. 21:23).
This was not a mere inquiry, it was a demand! They resented Jesus’ access to the temple grounds to teach the people, but they could not act hastily because of the Master’s popularity. Thus they settled on a night arrest and a clandestine trial. Their trial was a farce designed solely to reinforce their predetermined objective to kill Jesus. On the following morning, before an intimidated Pilate, they orchestrated a riotous atmosphere to crucify the Lord.
These events illustrate the manipulations of an apostate hierarchy to pass judgment according to their traditions rather than according to justice. “He came unto his own, and his own received him not” (John 1:11).
What we have learned
We have seen from the events surrounding our Lord’s ministry that hierarchies tend to judge everyone who is opposed to them in the context of formal legalism and biased judgment based upon humanly-contrived traditionalism. We must be on relentless guard against such hierarchies forming in Christadelphia. Consider the words of Christ to the hierarchy of his day: “Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition…In vain they do worship [God], teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt. 15:6,9).
And heed Paul’s words to the Colossians: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Col. 2:8).
May divine truth guide us until our Lord comes in his glory.
A final warning
In respect even to the coming of Christ, we should note that, influenced by their religious hierarchy, the Jewish people largely rejected Christ when he came to them. In like manner, there are compelling reasons to believe history will repeat itself when Christ comes again. Because of the influence of teaching such as that found in “The Late Great Planet Earth” by Hal Lindsay and “Armageddon” by John Walvoord, Christ will likely be identified by many as the “Antichrist” when he comes in power to Jerusalem.
Religious hierarchies have proven themselves to be consistently opposed to the truth of divine revelation. May we not be taken in by them and may we watch and be ready when our Lord appears.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One