By What Authority Do You Preach?

The Bible records that the scribes and Pharisees, the educated "priestly class" of New Testament times, constantly hounded Jesus Christ with the question, "By what authority do you preach?" (Matthew 21:23-24). Jesus Christ was by profession a mere carpenter, who learned that trade from His earthly father. By comparison to the theology-educated scribes and Pharisees, He hardly had any formal credentials by which to recommend Himself. Yet, He in his youth astounded the chief priests of the temple, as He taught with authority.

The Bible also records that He authorized His twelve apostles to preach in His name, saying "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every living creature." (Mark 16:15). He also is recorded as sending out His twelve apostles (Matthew 10:5-7) to tell the lost sheep of the house of Israel that the kingdom of God is at hand. Yet those apostles, like Jesus Christ Himself, were not formally-educated professional theologians, but were of humble worldly professions. Several, for example, were mere fishermen. Here was the beginning of the notion of a lay clergy. Indeed, Jesus said that the hireling cares not for the sheep of the flock, and runs away when the wolves come to attack them(John 10:12-13).

At the time of the Protestant reformation, when Martin Luther stood before the Diet of Worms to answer to the Catholic church authorities of his day for his accusations against the established church, he refused to recant his ideas, saying, "Here I stand! I can do no other!" Based on the scriptures, Martin Luther established the proposition of infallibility resting with the Bible scriptures themselves, rather than with a professional church hierarchy. He also therefore established the notion of the universal priesthood of all Bible believers.

Today, followers of Jesus Christ preach by inspiration of the Holy Spirit revealed through Bible scripture, and not by academic certificates awarded by theological seminaries and colleges. "By their fruits you will kinow them", said Jesus Christ, in acknowledgement that deeds are a stronger witness than mere words in the proliferation of His gospel(Matthew 7:15-20).

-LKM