Authority

Mark 11:33 - So they answered him, "We do not know." And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

The Pharisees, chief priests, and elders have just asked Jesus who told him he could do these things, presumably overturning the tables of the currency exchange money-changers and driving the merchants off. Yet, in response, he tells them, if you answer my question, I'll answer yours. They presumably agree because he then asks them about John's baptism. Was it from God or people?

Their response shows Jesus, and us, that their hearts are not open to being taught; they are not humble. They say, "We do not know," thus abdicating any authority they had. They equivocate because they are afraid of Jesus' response if they say from God, as well as the response from the crowd if they say John's baptism was of human origin. Their fear leads them to "stay neutral."

Yet, staying neutral is the same as saying, "I want the status quo." To be neutral in the face of injustice is to side with that injustice - no matter how much one might say otherwise. Our actions show the thoughts of our hearts and the response of the Pharisees, the chief priests, and the elders shows that they are more in league with the Romans, with power, than they are with YHWH. As such, they have abdicated their authority.

We're seeing a lot of such abdication in America today. Rather than stand up against the NRA, Rick Santorum has suggested children learn CPR in response to the rise in shootings on school campuses. Even if we generously think he meant first aid, what can anyone but a surgeon do for a gunshot wound? Especially from an assault rifle, which is designed to kill by doing a lot of damage. People in elementary, junior, or high school are traumatized during a school shooting. They are not trained soldiers, regardless of the way they are treated by some leaders. Suggesting they risk their lives further to perform CPR on their friends is both heartless and an abdication of the authority we give senators and congresspeople when we elect them; the authority to enact legislation that will keep people safe.

I'm sure we can all think of other examples, but let's focus on ourselves. Have we abdicated our own authority in the face of pressure? Where does our authority come from? As Christians, it comes from God; as citizens, it comes from the Constitution. As citizens, we have the authority to contact our representatives, to protest, to get involved in our community and how it's run, to vote, to run for office even. How are we using that authority? Are we using it to speak on behalf of those who are being ignored? Are we in contact with our congresspeople, mayor, city councilperson? Have we ever written a letter to the White House?

We are being asked daily to pick our side: justice or injustice. If we remain silent or if we say, "I don't know," we are choosing injustice. Jesus calls us daily to take a stand against oppressors, to side with those who are oppressed in our actions as well as our words.

It is still Lent; do we need to repent our abdication of authority? If so, how can we best make amends?

Lord, have mercy on us.