Where Does God's Authority Come From?
While recently trying to formulate a question to ask God, I was thinking something along the lines of asking if what is done in his name is what he wants done, or if the Bible was recorded correctly or interpreted correctly.
But these questions all rest on the assumption of divine authority. If God exists, what gives him the right to issue commandments, in essence, to command me? What is the source of his authority to issue laws?
Is it because he created the universe and all existence? If he did, does that entitle him to tell everyone everywhere what to do for all time? Is this some form of ownership? If he created me, does God have property rights over me? Am I his property?
And where does God get the authority to punish me or anyone else for breaking his rules? Where did I agree to his punishment system?
These are all just flowing thoughts, but they all rest on that main question: Where does God's authority come from?
- Comment (184)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (39)
Comments:
Re: Where Does God's Authority Come From?
It might help you not to think of God as a glorified human being. God, from what I've gleaned in my life and studies, is authority. God is the source. God is life. God is the universal. Plato would call God the ideal form. In this sense, God does not earn authority, or possess authority, any more than he has a beginning or end. He is the essence of authority and of life itself. Justice. Love. Existence. Beauty. He is the universal. The standard. The objective reality. Try to think in those terms and see where your thoughts lead you. :)
Edited on January 14, 2013 at 11:01pmJul '12
Re: Where Does God's Authority Come From?
Christians would say "Yes" that God owns you, your life and all of your product. Therefore he has a governing interest in how you manage your affairs.
The fact that this is a form of cosmic slavery hasn't really struck them.
Nov '10
Re: Where Does God's Authority Come From?
God's authority comes from His knowledge and power. It's similar to government - they have authority because they have power, one way or another. God is like that, but on a much larger scale.
Nov '10
Re: Where Does God's Authority Come From?
Majestyk: Christians would say "Yes" that God owns you, your life and all of your product. Therefore he has a governing interest in how you manage your affairs.
The fact that this is a form of cosmic slavery hasn't really struck them.
I wouldn't say that; it's more like we owe God. A lot.
Nov '11
Re: Where Does God's Authority Come From?
TheRoyalFamily
Majestyk: Christians would say "Yes" that God owns you, your life and all of your product. Therefore he has a governing interest in how you manage your affairs.
The fact that this is a form of cosmic slavery hasn't really struck them.
I wouldn't say that; it's more like we owe God. A lot. · 1 minute ago
For what? The Act of Creation?
So, I'm in debt to this God forever?
Nov '11
Re: Where Does God's Authority Come From?
Denise McAllister: It might help you not to think of God as a glorified human being. God, from what I've gleaned in my life and studies, is authority. God is the source. God is life. God is the universal. Plato would call God the ideal form. In this sense, God does not earn authority, or possess authority, any more than he has a beginning or end. He is the essence of authority and of life itself. Justice. Love. Existence. Beauty. He is the universal. The standard. The objective reality. Try to think in those terms and see where your thoughts lead you. :) · 14 minutes ago
Edited 9 minutes ago
Okay. God is the essence of life, justice, love, beauty, and so forth. God is everything eternally. Got it.
So that means he gets to call the shots?
May '11
Re: Where Does God's Authority Come From?
Those questions all rest on God's being subject to the laws and judgment of man, in a way. I've written about this - though I imagine it was not to your satisfaction - and 200 words is certainly not enough. I agree w/ Denise that you seem to be asking the wrong questions.
May '10
Re: Where Does God's Authority Come From?
Majestyk: Christians would say "Yes" that God owns you, your life and all of your product. Therefore he has a governing interest in how you manage your affairs.
The fact that this is a form of cosmic slavery hasn't really struck them.
Kierkegaard somewhere has a marvelous passage laying out that the fact that he created men free is a striking proof of God's Omnipotence—His metaphysical stature.
"He made us; we belong to Him." Not as slaves; not as property, but as (in biblical terms) beloved children, even "friends". "I no longer call you slaves, but friends."
May '11
Re: Where Does God's Authority Come From?
Majestyk: Christians would say "Yes" that God owns you, your life and all of your product.
The fact that this is a form of cosmic slavery hasn't really struck them.
You might start by allowing Christians to answer that question for themselves ...
That this seems to be a form of cosmic slavery - again, as Denise pointed out - does not even make any sense unless you are viewing God as just one really, really big man. Christians don't. You've got to get the very basics of our theology correct before you can criticize it as ridiculous. As I think I've pointed out to you before, Magestyk, it would help to ask a few honest questions before you start going for the "gotcha" questions.
Same goes for Fred, although I suspect that he is asking those questions in fairly good spirit... The short answer is that God is not subject to questions about authority by the nature of his very being. Of course that is not satisfactory to a person interviewing God for a job, as you seem to be doing. But it doesn't work like that.
May '11
Re: Where Does God's Authority Come From?
Fred Cole
So that means he gets to call the shots? · 7 minutes ago
Again - you're kind of thinking about it wrong. Your doctor isn't "calling the shots" when he tells you what you need to do to cure a disease, an illness, or to stay healthy. He is telling you how it is. God's laws are not his personal preferences imposed onto you.
Furthermore, as I've argued in the past - God is essentially libertarian in the way he views human governance. He tells you what is right and wrong, how to behave, and how it will turn out for you based on what you choose. The choice is still yours. It isn't "calling the shots" to tell you in advance what the outcome of a particular action might be, just as that sign on the road barrier (as in the cartoons) that says "ROAD ENDS" isn't calling the shots - it's telling you that you're about to hurl yourself off a cliff.
Re: Where Does God's Authority Come From?
Fred Cole
Denise McAllister: It might help you not to think of God as a glorified human being. God, from what I've gleaned in my life and studies, is authority. God is the source. God is life. God is the universal. Plato would call God the ideal form. In this sense, God does not earn authority, or possess authority, any more than he has a beginning or end. He is the essence of authority and of life itself. Justice. Love. Existence. Beauty. He is the universal. The standard. The objective reality. Try to think in those terms and see where your thoughts lead you. :) · 14 minutes ago
Edited 9 minutes ago
Okay. God is the essence of life, justice, love, beauty, and so forth. God is everything eternally. Got it.
So that means he gets to call the shots? · 10 minutes ago
Re: Where Does God's Authority Come From?
Can you live without life?
Can you love without love?
Can you be just without justice?
Again, God (if you're a theist or a deist or even agnostic, to an extent), is not a large-scale human who calls shots. God is the source of everything.
Jun '12
Re: Where Does God's Authority Come From?
His Authority springs from being the All-Powerful Creator, and is faintly like that of a Father.
He is the Father, He has responsibility and holds authority.
He willingly lets it go, which is free-will.
He will not control you, you are not a robot.
You are a full adult son of a Loving Father. He has plans for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
You have your own plans, choose what you wish to do.
Peace.
Feb '12
Re: Where Does God's Authority Come From?
I recall a "funny" story that George Carlin joked about in a remembering of his time in Catholic school. He claims to have asked a nun a smart alec-y question along the line of,"Sister, can God create a boulder that He, Himself cannot lift?". This resulted in chuckles from the live audience. Me, I answered,"Yes". Logic not withstanding, I defaulted to my position that my confusion should not be a constraining evaluation of God's nature. It is my task to become un-confused, it is not God's job to be un-confusing to me. My guess is that God is not impressed with a "what have you done for me lately?", attitude.
Yes, He gets to "call the shots".
"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me if you have understanding." Job 38:4
Mar '11
Re: Where Does God's Authority Come From?
Paul Dougherty:
Yes, He gets to "call the shots".
"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me if you have understanding." Job 38:4 · 21 minutes ago
Aw, Paul. You beat me to it.
It is His world, Fred. We're all just living in it.
May '10
Re: Where Does God's Authority Come From?
It's an excellent question, Fred, and one which a variety of Christians and Jews would answer in a variety of ways.
Denise said it best, I think, and Ryan in #10. But I would argue that it is not a simple relationship. There are many layers.
God is simultaneously my Creator, my Father and Brother (by adoption and acceptance), my Lord, and the Spirit which inspires me to breathe and to live. I am many things to Him, as He is many things to me.
He has authority as my Creator. God created us with purpose, so to stray from that purpose is to stray from our design and live poorly. Sometimes, such contrary actions are obviously self-destructive. Sometimes, they are wasteful. When we fulfill our potentials, we are happy. Every person is afforded all that is necessary to be fulfilled.
He has authority as my Father. I trust in His wisdom; am warmed by His love.
He has authority as my King. He provides all my needs and noble desires. Like a good king, Jesus comes to serve us.
He has authority as the holy fire which sustains and moves me, like the music of an instrument.
May '10
Re: Where Does God's Authority Come From?
I would answer no [edit: I originally wrote "yes" and then explained "no". I meant "no". Thanks, Snively.] The reason is a proper understanding of omniscience. To say that God is all-powerful is to say that He may do anything that can be done, not that he may realize any vaguely posited contradiction a person can dream up.
The easiest example is: How can you be not you? Well, you can't. If you were completely unlike yourself, you would not be yourself. It's not a real possibility — just a word game.
Edited on January 15, 2013 at 3:40amOct '10
Re: Where Does God's Authority Come From?
Fred, your questions are usually interesting but this one is not serious. This is the textbook definition of glib. There might be no argument that you'll concede is convincing, but if it you faced God alone, it is an absolute certainty that you'd feel the authority.
And I'm not talking about the crushing weight of his holiness or presence that mystics speak of (though I don't doubt that's real).
As a thought experiment imagine that you're alone on an island, and God makes his reality convincing to you. No more pressure than any believer anywhere else experiences, but you know absolutely that he is real. There is no one to impress with rebellious posturing, just you and the creator of the universe. You would be in grateful awe.
If you're honest you know intuitively that that is true.
Sep '10
Re: Where Does God's Authority Come From?
People who are serious about this question usually begin by reading Plato's Euthyphro.
Nov '11
Re: Where Does God's Authority Come From?
Severely Ltd.:
As a thought experiment imagine that you're alone on an island, and God makes his reality convincing to you.
How would he do so?