Text: Hebrews 11:7
In previous lessons, we have studied the need for authority and how authority is established. In this lesson, we are going to talk about the difference between generic and specific authority. It is important that we understand the difference or we can get ourselves in trouble, and we will discuss how.
Defining Terms
- Generic authority – a particular practice is commanded or authorized, but we have various options regarding how to carry it out; example: if I tell you to go to the store, you have options to walk, drive, etc.
- Specific authority – God was specific about the thing He wanted us to do, or how He wanted it to be done; in this case, we must do it in the way God said to do it; example: if I tell you to go to the store and buy bread and milk, I expect you to get those items and only those items
- What happens when we fail to make the proper distinction?
- If we turn generic authority into specific, we make rules that God never made
- If we turn specific authority into generic, we allow things that God never permitted
An Old Testament Example: Noah and the Ark
- This was an example of faith (Hebrews 11:7) – faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17), so Noah was following God’s instructions; when we consider this example, we see both generic and specific authority
- What God specified regarding the ark
- Genesis 6:14-16 – type of wood, sealed with pitch, dimensions, window, door, number of decks
- Genesis 6:19-21 – number of animals, food
- Genesis 7:2-3 – number of clean animals
- What God did NOT specify – what tools to use, where to get the wood and how to transport it, a specific floor plan, etc.
- Noah had to do what was specified in the way God instructed
- If God did not specify, he had the option to do what was most expedient (helpful)
- Important principle (1 Corinthians 10:23) – a thing must FIRST be lawful before it can be expedient
- A saw is an expedient way to cut down trees – authorized in the command to get gopher wood
- If oak trees were closer, would it be expedient to get them instead? – no, because gopher wood was specified
New Testament Applications
- The Old Testament was written for our learning (Romans 15:4) – God has not commanded us to build an ark, but we can see the principle of generic and specific authority and apply it to our law today
- Example of evangelism
- God specified the mesage – the gospel (Mark 16:15); no authority to teach any other message
- God specified the organization through which we proclaim the gospel – the church (1 Timothy 3:15); no authority to use another organization (ex: missionary society)
- Certain things are authorized by generic authority – gospel meetings, tracts, radio, correspondence courses, etc.
- Example of assembling
- God specified that Christians are to assemble (Hebrews 10:25; cf. Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:33)
- The location is not specified – we can meet in a building, homes, a library, a school, etc.
- If God specified something, we cannot turn it into something generic – then we would include what God didn’t specify
- If God’s instructions are generic, we cannot make them specific – then we would make rules that God never made
Conclusion
- Everything we do must be by the authority of Christ
- For some matters, He has told us generally what to do and we have options for how to carry it out
- For other matters, He has told us specifically what to do, and we must do it just that way
- But all of it comes down to recognizing the authority of Christ – we must faithfully obey in all things
