Last week we looked at the whole idea of what it means to have REAL Truth in our sermon Encounter Truth. This Saturday and Sunday we will be digging deeper into this idea with as sermon on Encountering Authority. As I studied for this sermon and wrote about it, I realized that the whole concept of truth/authority/freedom is a HUGE issue in our culture today, if not one that comes to mind immediately when we look around at our society.
I couple of months ago, I got a lesson in a current cultural view of authority when I had an opportunity to have lunch with a high school friend of mine Bryan Kramer. He lamented that so many people suffer from something called GURU SYNDROME. I had never heard of this phenomenon, but I did a little research, and sure enough, it’s a real thing (not that I doubted Bryan, he told me to look it up!).
Guru Syndrome manifests itself in a variety of ways, but the gist of it is that many people are looking for an expert to follow, and in this age of social media lots of people claim to be experts who have no business using this title! The problem is that people are looking for some sort of authority to help make their lives better and will pay to read a book, or go to a conference, or subscribe to a newsletter of anyone who claims to be able to shoot them up the corporate ladder. There are a lot of “GURUS” out there, but few that have any real record of substance.
However, this helps us see that hardwired into our hearts is a deep desire to connect to a real person that we feel can really help us in real life. We seek authority, but for selfish reasons. I’ll listen to you, and do what you say, not to serve you, but because its better for ME!
We want this because we think we know what is best. Getting what we want isn’t always the best! There is a great Twilight Zone that speaks to this. Watch an episode called, “A Great Place to Visit” and you will see what I mean. Then last line will haunt you for a long time (I first watched this episode 25 years ago, and I still remember it!).
What we need is an authority that is worthy of submitting to and serving. If we look to other people for this, we will be disappointed time and time again. If we look to God, we will find what we need, but it still isn’t easy. Because if Christ is LORD, then he can tell us things we don’t want to hear! I think of this amazing blog post from the President of Oklahoma Wesleyan University when this topic of Biblical Authority comes us. Read it for yourself, I don’t want to ruin it!
Blessings to you as you seek God, and grow in understanding who he is. Once you begin to see the whole of him through the cross and empty tomb, you will learn to things – God loves you, and you can trust him with your life. I can’t think of a better authority then that!