Authority How Godly Rule Protects The Vulnerable Strengthens Communities And Promotes Human Flourishing – Jonathan Leeman

If a mother says to her three-year-old, “Don’t touch that vase,” but then, as a typical pattern, does nothing when the child touches it, the child will begin to view such commands as the suggestions of a peer. The remarkable gift given by God for growing the child toward maturity—parental authority—will have been squandered. It is not without reason, therefore, that Proverbs observes, “Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.” More than once, the Bible connects love and discipline in this fashion.

“The Lord disciplines the one he loves,” says Hebrews 12:6. That’s a tough truth to swallow in the moment of discipline. Discipline always seems “painful rather than pleasant.” Who wants it! Yet apparently discipline is loving. It’s how we grow. Imagine a math teacher who teaches the lesson but never corrects the student’s errors. Or a doctor who prescribes good vitamins but won’t cut out the cancer. Such is discipline.

When practiced rightly, it is loving. It corrects against the bad and harmful, and it points toward the good, healthy, and holy. The author of Hebrews further explains, discipline produces “the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” Like plucking an apple off the tree to enjoy its sweet flavor, so discipline in a person’s life produces the fruit of peace and righteousness. And peace and righteousness taste even better than apples. Discipline’s volume can be turned down to a 1 or up to a 10. At one end of the dial, the teacher leans over a student’s shoulder and gently observes, “Oops, you forgot to carry the 3.”

At the other end, a judge declares, “For the act of murder I sentence you to death.” Yet in every case, discipline serves to affirm or reinforce the good and the holy. With her admonishment, the teacher reinforces the good of math. By his punishment, the judge affirms the holy image of God in the victim (Gen. 9:6). Two exceptions exist to the intrinsic connection between authority and discipline: the authority of a husband and a pastor.

Both possess authority, but God has given neither the power of discipline. He reserves that for himself. Without the power of discipline, their authority must be exercised differently. It is purely a “spiritual” authority. We’ll consider this further in chapters 11, 12, and 17. What Do We Most Fear?

Discipline is a difficult topic because it’s easy to err toward too little or too much. Good discipline strikes the balance between permissiveness and authoritarianism, between moral laxity and abuse.

Thank you for downloading this Crossway book. Sign up for the Crossway Newsletter for updates on special offers, new resources, and exciting global ministry initiatives: Crossway Newsletter Or, if you prefer, we would love to connect with you online: 1kitap1.com/en “Aversion to authority seems to increase with each succeeding generation in America, and the Christian community is not immune.

Today’s young adults raised within the church seem even more allergic to hierarchy than those I taught ten years ago in Christian school, and the erosion of trust seems the undeniable motivator. If Satan used falsehoods to play upon the trust of God’s children in the garden, it only makes sense that rehearsing what is true about God’s good intentions will lead to a restoration of our trust in authority.

Jonathan Leeman takes readers by the hand and walks patiently through God’s plan for authority and submission outlined in the Scriptures. He deftly clarifies when the role of authority calls for action or restraint, addressing many of the subtle lies that have eroded trust in the institutions of our day.”

Roy Griffith, Headmaster, Rockbridge Academy, Crownsville, Maryland “In a world where authority is constantly being questioned, Jonathan Leeman reminds us to steward our authority for God’s glory. He helpfully examines both good and bad practices and guides us toward better examples of God-given authority.” Gordon Reid, President, Stop and Shop LLC “Thirty-two years of military leadership and six in industry, and still learning!

This is a compelling, convicting, and compassionate discourse. Jonathan Leeman uses powerful anecdotes and stories to drive home the principles, truths, and precepts of authority and frames the context for practical application. A must-read for all in and under ‘author-ity’!” Scott Vander Hamm, Major General, United States Air Force (retired) “Authority is under attack today because it is deemed to be oppressive. This book is a refreshingly thoughtful study of this theme. It firmly rejects abuse while showing authority to be vital to the proper functioning of society, church, and family.

When properly used, authority serves those who are led. This timely book is a sure guide to this contentious subject: biblically faithful, pastorally wise, comprehensive in scope, and full of practical examples.” Sharon James, Social Policy Analyst, The Christian Institute “With the heart of a pastor and mind of a theologian, Jonathan Leeman offers a timely perspective on a timeless challenge. Using clear prose and compelling examples, he urges all faithful Christians to consider anew the biblical warrant for authority in every domain of our lives.”

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.

Book Information

• Unique ID: ceb504659e2f5a79
• File Extension: .pdf
• File Size: 3,478,946 bytes (3.318 MB)
• Title: –
• Author: Unknown
• ISBN: 9798874905613, 9798874905637, 9798874905620, 9781433587634, 9781433587641, 9781433587665
• Pages: 298
• Language: English (en)

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• Total Words: 100,512
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• Average Words per Page: 337.29
• Average Characters per Page: 1956.37

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