"Two Kinds of Authority"

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbath. They were astounded at his teaching, because he spoke with authority. Luke 4:31-32

My first meeting with Dr. Billy Graham was nearly 20 years ago. He came into a pastors' meeting in Portland, Oregon. I watched as this stoop-shouldered man walked with slow but sure steps to the dais. There was nothing in his demeanor that would have attracted any one's attention unless you knew who he was.

Then he got up to address us. There was a confident, quiet strength in him that was rock solid. The authority of his speaking didn't come so much from what he had done - even though that was great. Instead, his authority grew from an inner core of faith. When I realized that, I knew why so many of us, whether we agreed with his theology or not, had come to listen to him.

There are two kinds of authority. One comes from achievement and is external to the person. We often associate this form of authority with an office. I went to that pastors' gathering to hear Billy Graham because I ascribed this kind of authority to him. What I found was the second kind of authority that comes from who a person is. This is the only authority that cannot be taken from us. It springs from the inner core of one's character. This authority is forged on the anvil of real life. That's what I met in Billy Graham.

Jesus had no authority of position. He was simply recognized as a visiting rabbi and therefore invited to speak at the synagogue. But when he spoke, people were amazed at his authority. The authority of Christ came from within him. So, even before Pilate, he stood, stooped shouldered, battered and bruised and gave Pilate a lesson in power. Our Lord's authority never wavered.

I have had the privilege of knowing many people who lived with an inner confidence and authority. Few of them held positions of power. Most simply knew who they were and what they believed. This is an authority that anyone can have - and it shares itself with everyone else. This authority isn't based on others being less. Instead it humbly encourages others to be more. This is spiritual authority. And I pray it will be yours.