Agency and Authority

 

  

The Principle of Agency is central to our Father’s plan. This statement seems so familiar, almost trite. But while we profess its universal nature, we seem to overlook that it is in direct opposition to Authority, be it government or ecclesiastic. Nothing illustrates that better than the image of Christ being tried by Caiaphas on the one hand, and Pilate on the other.

It appears necessary to make a side note here and delineate a distinction between the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is a set of principles,  and any organization that claims to bear His Holy name or represent Him on the earth. It is quite poignant that the LDS church in particular  has been known to nib any attempt to make this obvious distinction  in the bud, branding it as apostate and unacceptable.  Individual freedom of thought is threatening to Authority. Yet the Lord makes it quite clear that when man seeks to control man in any degree of unrighteousness, “Amen to the Priesthood or the authority of that man” (D&C 121:37).

And thus, organizations all around us proclaim their opposition to  Agency, subscribing to any form of mandates, coercion or manipulation. Works speak louder than all words over the microphone of the pulpit... 

Claiming to stand by the freedom of choice, we have by in large replaced Agency with Authority. Such Authority may be vested in a guide, such as prophet or a church, considered infallible and worthy of our full trust and commitment. When such trust is extended, we abdicate our Agency in favor of the aforementioned leader or group.  We no longer feel a need to examine the facts of life, assuming the best decision has already been made  for us, relieving us of having “to act, rather than be acted upon “( 2 Nephi 2:13).

Yet our responsibility for the choices we make in the here and now is individual, not collective,  and every man is “accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment” (D&C 101:78, emphasis added). 

In the Legend of the Grand Inquisitor Dostoevsky masterfully captures that the agency of man is “so terrible a burden” that  most strive to get rid of it and lay at the feet of those in authority (The Brothers Karamazov). “There is no more ceaseless or tormenting care for man than to find someone to bow down to as soon as possible” (Ibid). Before too long we become convinced “that we must follow blindly”, even setting aside “the free choice of the heart” and our own conscience” in favor of obedience to man ( Ibid, emphasis added).  

With his nothing short of prophetic insight, Dostoevsky points out “a need for communality of worship”( Ibid). “ Man seeks to bow down before that which is indisputable, so indisputable that all men at once would agree to the universal worship of it”(Ibid, emphasis added). We feel that our personal witness of Truth received  is insufficient, like Primary children that need to fall back on the testimonies of their parents. That is our two hundred year conditioning, which  has robbed us of the ability to stand on our own two feet, with no mediators in between us and God, who extends to us His pierced hand one by one...

We shy away from being on our own, with just Christ by our side. Understandably, we stagger under the weight of the cross of Agency, much like Christ did on the way to Golgotha.  And at times, leaving one organization that demands full submission and regard for its authority, we, jumping out of the fire and into the frying pan, find ourselves in groups or communities that recreate that very same environment of unquestioned authority,  perhaps on a smaller scale.  And trading the Shepherds of Ephraim, who we know have failed us, we look to those that appear to be more in tune with divinity, and unknowingly entrust our Agency to them. 

Those in Authority seem to promise salvation en masse, so that “not one soul may be lost” and protect the interest of the organization, mercilessly casting out all who dare oppose such a stance ( Moses 4:1). They declare that salvation as well as the full range of eternal blessings are possible only through obedience to them, not Christ, denying the very “author and finisher” of our faith ( Hebrews 12:2).  But even when disguised in the robes of the holy priesthood, Authority used unrighteously can not hide its rejection of freedom. 

 Agency fiercely guards the choice of One, whatever it might be, honoring the freedom to choose regardless of consequence!  Agency never picks up the ugly bat of a bully, never resorts to the cheap shots of guilt, shame or ethical manipulation. 

Authority seeks for compliance, where Agency wins over with Love. When those in power promise stability and security, temporal or spiritual, Agency invites to go out on a limb of pure faith, uncertainty and sacrifice. But it also gives the tender intimacy with the Lord, nothing and no one can replace and the assurance that our course is acceptable to Him. Agency always sets out to liberate, while Authority is only concerned with retaining the captives. 

The ancient war on Agency will not cease any time soon ( Moses 4:3)… On the contrary, its raging fire will only get bigger, ready to engulf modern-day Abinadis and Joan of Arcs. As it does, may we have the courage to discern which side of this battlefield we are on. Are we submitting to Authority and its shepherds or standing with the Lord, risking our all,  and upholding the beautiful banner of Agency?