As I grew up, I understood authority innately through the approach of my parents and everywhere I looked in the culture. In my experience, the inmates did not run the asylum. While this was all in scripture, it manifested itself to me through the various spheres of authority in the world, which scripture teaches. God operates through authority with Him at the top. Egalitarianism eliminates that and, therefore, distorts and debilitates everything. Satan wants this, because it is a way for him to get his way in the world.
God Designed Spheres
Related to the teaching of scripture, “sphere” typically refers to a distinct area of life or influence, calling individuals to live according to God’s principles, often associated with the concept of “sphere sovereignty.” This means each sphere (like family, government, church) has its own authority and should not overstep into other spheres, while still remaining under God’s ultimate sovereignty. The Bible declares everywhere the spheres and emphasizes this authority structure in many different ways. God is said to be the Highest.
The earth is the Lord’s (Psalm 24:1). Men are stewards. Paul uses the term for the galley slave or the under rower (1 Corinthians 4:1-2). Almost all his epistles start with “Paul, the servant of Jesus Christ.”
One hears authority structure right away in the Bible in chapter 1 with what some named “the cultural mandate.” Man subdues and has dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:26-27). God does this Himself and creates man in His image to follow this same way of life.
Supremacy
A common biblical Christian concept is the supremacy of Christ. What does this mean? First, He is Lord. His lordship places believers under Him. Subordination is part of believing in Him. This is not an egalitarian relationship. What I’m communicating is how that the whole world operates in hierarchy. The Godhead itself models this, as seen in 1 Corinthians 11:3:
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
The head of Christ is God. Jesus portrays that willingly on earth, where repeatedly He says and does something seen in almost every chapter of John (5:30):
I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
On the other hand, Jesus says in the same chapter (5:27):
And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
Not Inferiority
The hierarchy does not mean inferiority. It’s God’s design. Someone submits based on God’s design. He set up this system. Paul communicates this in Romans 13:1-7, here the first two verses:
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
God ordained and revealed this authority. What is it? These are the spheres. This was basic at one time. Egalitarianism seeks to destroy that and eliminate these institutions God uses to fulfill His moral will. Satan attacks on these, even as seen in the Garden of Eden, when he undermined Adam’s authority by targeting Eve. In a way, I think I’m insulting your intelligence with this information, except that the breakdown today occurs now everywhere.
God Set Up the Structure
What I’m explaining is about God. He set up this structure. It is part of His order. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:40: “Let all things be done decently and in order.” He lays this out in the chapter. Everything in God’s creation has an order and His creation follows it for His pleasure.
Part of the curse of sin is not following the structure, the hierarchy God created. This ruins a ruined earth even more than it is. Egalitarianism is a major feature of this. Now, you may ask, what if someone under the authority, below a person above him or her, is just not as good? I would answer, Good question! God requires trust, faith in the way that He laid it out.
Merit or Reward
What about a merit system? More than ever today, I hear, “Meritocracy.” In many ways, meritocracy itself is either a Trojan horse or a fools errand. It’s not a starting point. However, it is also not an excuse at all not to do your best. Scripture teaches a reward system, invented by God. However, it isn’t the intellectually dominant position that God rewards.
In the kingdom of Jesus Christ, positions will come because of faithfulness. The reward relates to the kingdom and positions in the kingdom, but it’s biblical (not voluntary — Colossians 2:18) humility and faith. Both of those do not clash with, actually correspond to, obedience and hard work. Some people have a lot of knowledge, but they are not obeying the truth. The wisdom of this world deceives and fools them. True wisdom comes from above and humility and submission are necessary to receive it (Proverbs 1-7).
Someone must trust God when he or she thinks he’s under someone less smart than him or her self. God has a plan and he very often doesn’t use the smartest person to do it. It reminds me of Edison’s credo, “Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.” You can make your inferior leader do better and he gets the credit. That sounds like a plan.
Choosing Leaders
When people can choose their leaders, they should pick wise ones, not necessarily the smartest ones. In Deuteronomy 1:13-15, God instructs the Israelites to choose wise, understanding, and respected men from each tribe to lead them. Psalm 72 describes the responsibilities of a righteous leader. Pastors are not perfect people, but they must meet qualifications. Deacons prove themselves by their diligent service.
Egalitarianism is not humble. It is proud. It rebels against the plan of God in this world. It’s not smart, because the wisdom of God is greater than men. Again the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:27 says, “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.” It is a paradox like so much of what God designed. Sometimes it is not the sharpest tools in the drawer that God uses to do great things.
Egalitarianism Unbiblical
The founders of America built it on biblical values. Egalitarianism is not a biblical value. Bernard Dobski writes:
The careful balance produced by our mixed republic is threatened by an egalitarianism that undermines the social, familial, religious, and economic distinctions and inequalities that undergird our political liberty.
He continues:
In America, equality it is not just left to political power; all aspects of human life fall under the homogenizing influence of our addiction to egalitarianism. Indeed, the democratic assault on our Constitution’s republican character does not begin its attack politically. It begins much more subtly, gradually replacing our taste of and appreciation for distinctions of any kind—be they within our familial, educational, civic, or religious lives—with a demand, more powerful by the day, for an equality of outcome.
Today, this is reflected in the participation trophies handed out at youth sporting events where everyone “wins” a trophy regardless of whether their team won or lost—that is, when the parents and coaches even bother to keep score.
More to Come
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