Vying for Authority
[Scripture 2 Corinthians 11:1-23]
Who has authority over you? To whom do you submit yourself to? Whether this question conjures up a quick response or not, it remains true that all people have an authority over them; whether it is a conscious decision or not; whether the answer is another person[s], or even yourself.
The Scripture’s testimony is quite clear about the need and significance for authority. It is equally important to observe that there exists no differentiation between the facets of one’s life – physical, emotional, social, intellectual, and spiritual. Therefore, the Scripture’s ideal – God’s design – is that authority minister to all human needs. Moreover, all in authority will be judged according to his or her stewardship of the role they play.
What do we do, however, if there arises conflicting authority, both claiming an upper hand over the other? Who then does one follow? Around the turn of the 15th century this question was very pertinent to the people who made up the Western Church.
It was the spring of AD 1378. Pope Gregory XI [AD 1370—1378] 
died shortly after he relocated the papacy back to Rome; it having spent the last seventy years in Avignon, in what is today southern France.1 While in Avignon, the position of pope was occupied consecutively by a native Frenchman. However, when the authority of the Church moved back to Rome and Gregory XI died, the locals demanded a non-Frenchman, preferably an Italian, to be elected pope. Amidst the onslaught of rioting, the cardinals elected an Italian archbishop who took the name Urban VI [AD 1378—1389].2 A new pope had been crowned.
Shortly after his elevation, as his new-found power enlarged his head, Urban VI began to make reforms.3 One such reform was to take some of the luxurious accommodations away from the cardinals; the same cardinals who had elected him pope. Needless to say, these cardinals did not like this. Therefore, the majority of them abandoned their support of Urban VI, fled Rome, and elected another pope who called himself Clement VII [AD 1378—1394]. Now there were two popes over the Church.
Here began was is known as the Great Schism of the West [AD 1378—1417].
After some time, talk of ending the schism took place between both camps. There were oaths taken to ensure that the schism would be reconciled at the death of one of the popes. But, when death arrived, the oaths were not fulfilled. Due to frustration and in attempt to solve this problem, some of the cardinals from both parties met in Pisa and actually elected a third pope – Alexander V [AD 1409—1410]. There were now three different popes simultaneously in power over the Church.
Over the next decade, this schism did come to an end. When it was all said and done, the line of popes from Urban VI won the day, and the other two lines fell off the map.
The Apostle Paul labored endlessly to serve and build up the believers in Corinth. In his absence, however, other men came and deceitfully led the believers away from Paul’s instructions. These men came as “authorities,” boasting in their works. Paul reminded the Corinthians who he was and essentially told them to observe the fruit that is produced by those they follow.
Caution is always a good measure to take when determining who we submit to. At the same time, may we not neglect our need for authority, recognizing that when it’s godly, much fruit will be produced in our lives and throughout the kingdom of God.
1Francis Oakley, The Conciliarist Tradition: Constitutionalism in the Catholic Church 1300—1870 (New York: Oxford, 2003), 32.
2J.N.D. Kelly, The Oxford Dictionary of Popes (New York: Oxford, 1986), 227.
3J. C. Robertson, The Great Schism: AD 1378-1410. Article located at http://www.christianity.com/christian%20foundations/the%20essentials/11540153. Accessed on April 16, 2009.
[image from about.com and is the pope’s palace in Avignon.]
