God's Authority

If "all heresies arise from bad theology" (Sproul), then a discussion of authority should probably start with God.

Our understanding of authority is ultimately grounded in an understanding of where we came from, why we're here, and where we're going. For Christians, the fact that God created humans in His image to bring glory to Him and to ultimately be in relationship with him provides the transcendent justification for His authority. However, His love for us, seen both in general revelation ("common grace") and in the special revelation of His Son's birth, sacrifice, and resurrection, provides the basis for our willing submission to that authority.

Other understandings of the metaphysical tend toward one of two extremes: a "god" that is almost totally transcendent or one that is almost totally immanent. Islam is an example of the former: no immanent Son, no indwelling Spirit, and a revelation that is the literal words of Allah (meaning that we must learn Arabic to truly grasp its meaning). Not surprisingly, authority structures in the family and society are equally rigid. And, I suppose that secular/humanist frameworks tend to the same extreme (i.e., a totally transcendent god is the same as no god at all); the 20th century would seem to provide strong evidence of this tendency.

At the other end of the spectrum, are most non-Western religions and Western religions prior to the time of Christ (except, of course, Judaism; and excluding much of Buddhism which tends, at least in theory, toward atheism). The metaphysical (e.g., a pantheon of gods and/or spirits) seems to be largely anthropocentric. I'm not sure there's much that can be said generally about authority structures across these cultures....though I do wonder whether these belief systems can, over the next century or so, resist the corrosive effects of a pragmatic modernism/postmodernism.

Regardless, our theology (understanding of who God is) will provide much of the foundation upon which we build our understanding of authority, its purpose, and its legitimacy.