"Final Authority"

“Final Authority”

 

The late George Steinbrenner, businessman and long-time principle owner of the New York Yankees, is said to have had two basic rules for his employees: #1: The owner is always right; #2: If any question arises refer to Rule #1. The revolving door to the Yankees’ manager’s office during the years of his ownership bears out the truth of these rules so there was no question of who was the final authority.

This past summer I read The Failure of the Founding Fathers by Yale Law Professor Bruce Ackerman. He cites the confusion over the Presidential Election of 1800 which resulted from the framers’ not anticipating the rise of political parties and almost destroyed the Constitution (and the nation) before the Electoral College was clarified by the Twelfth Amendment in 1804. But it must be remembered that that our Constitution was an experiment in democracy which hadn’t been attempted before and despite possible shortcomings has served us well since 1789 with just 27 amendments. Kudos to the courage and general foresight of the 55 delegates under the leadership of George Washington who gathered in Philadelphia in 1787.

Article VI states, “This Constitution…shall be the Supreme Law of the Land….” This simple statement leaves no doubt as to our nation’s final authority in law and practice. But since its application is made by flawed people there are times the outcomes are questionable.

As God’s people we have an Infallible Final Authority: His Word. Why do we believe this? Because our Perfect God communicates His Perfect Truth to us by His Perfect Spirit’s work through His chosen human instruments (“…No prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”--2 Peter 1:20-21, NASB, emphasis added). For this reason we must ask a fundamental question when anything comes down the pike: “What does the Scripture say?” (Romans 4:3). Why? “All Scripture is God-breathed….” (2 Timothy 3:16, emphasis added); “Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” (Psalm 119:89, emphasis added); and “Every word of God is flawless….” (Proverbs 30:5, emphasis added). Let’s thank God for providing His Word to us as “…a lamp to (our) feet and a light for (our) path.” (Psalm 119:105).

(For another take on the Bible’s reliability see the previous posting “No Need for Amendments”.)

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan