What’s Missing?
When you think of the word, “authority,” what comes to mind? Whether you click on this word in a Word document to see the synonyms or look up the definition on-line, at the top of the list is “power.” At the bottom of the list is “influence.”
When you think about “power,” the idea of forcing, coercing, commanding, ruling come to mind. Institutions and those who lead them, those in authority, exercise power.
The word “influence” suggests a person has authority because of their personality, their presence or charisma, or their breath and depth of knowledge or expertise.
There is another way to think about the word, “authority,” a way that has been forgotten, largely passed over, or ignored. That way is “authority” based on trust.
In Augustine’s work, “On True Religion,” he writes:
Authority invites trust, and prepares human beings for reason. Reason leads to understanding and knowledge. But reason is not entirely absent from authority for we have got to consider whom we have to believe.
Whom we have to believe. Actions and not just words produce authority. Behavior matters. Character matters. Truthfulness matters. Like Augustine says, we have to consider whom we have to believe.
To teach or lead with authority, actions and words cannot be separated.
Our children need to know this, and knowing this will make a difference in who they follow, who they trust, and who it is that exercises authority in their life.
Thanks for considering this!
Curt Bumcrot, MRE
