The Work of the Ecclesiastical Megalomaniac
In 1992 David Chilton gave this lecture on "Ecclesiastical Megalomania" at the Third International Conference on Christian Reconstruction. Though links are sometimes shared of this lecture, I wanted to highlight it once again.
Megalomania, especially of the ecclesiastical variety, is a disease upon the church. This lecture contends against this disease by putting forth some basic principles having to do with authority and submission in the context of the local church. Though the local church and its elders are an important part of the Kingdom of God and should not be disregarded, too often local churches and its officers have taken upon too much power. In doing so, they encroach upon the authority of others, such as family authority or private judgment. An ecclesiastical megalomaniac will insist on respect of authority, but sometimes it is he that should respect others' rightful authority. Ultimately, the ecclesiastical megalomaniac encroaches upon God’s authority.
Far too often, I have heard the idea that sinful commands limit the elder's authority. Though this is true, their authority is much more limited than that. There are at least two things to consider when asking whether or not someone is exercising righteous authority:
Sin. Is the authority commanding you to sin? This question is rather non-controversial. We are to obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29).
Jurisdiction. Is he commanding something that he has no right to command?
In the case of point one, we must disobey. In the case of point two, we can disobey. In the case of unlawful jurisdiction, we must weigh the disobedience with wisdom and other considerations. This check is not solely limited to commanding sin but also limits his jurisdiction. The same limitations apply to other realms of authority. Jurisdiction is defined by the purpose and function of the sphere of sovereignty. Elders have the right to rebuke sin and prophetically call others to repentance. In an action of the church, elders can also play a role in further sanctions leading up to and including excommunication. But elders do not have the right to control your life outside of that. David Chilton explains why with this analogy.
“If that policeman comes over to my house and tells me to get white-wall tires, I will tell him, with all due respect, to jump in the lake, because he doesn’t have the authority to do that. He is exceeding his authority. And if I tell him to get lost, I’m not rebelling against authority, he is rebelling against authority, against his rightful authority. He is exceeding the law by coming over to me and telling me to do something that he has no right to tell me to do. So he’s the rebel.”
Please take the time to listen to this lecture and consider the implications these ideas have on our view of authority.