Prophetic Authority In The Book Of Jeremiah

Authority is a gift from God. Jeremiah s claim to authority can best be described as his understanding of authority as a gift from God. This understanding of authority comes out in four ways. Jeremiah s knowledge of the source of his call or gift of authority; his understanding of the purpose of the call to authority, his acceptance of this authority, and his use of this authority in the discharge of his obligations, duty and responsibility without fear. It is my contention that this understanding of authority by Jeremiah is of extreme relevance to the leadership of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria.Looking at the situation at hand in the Nigerian Church today, we can surmise that, like Judah, we are at in a state of emergency. There is an urgent need for a Jeremiah. It seems many leaders in Nigeria either are not called by God or do not have a clear understanding of their call and the purpose for which they are called. If they do, they probably do not see it as a gift from God that must be applied in the way of the Lord and as directed by the Lord and not in their own ways and for their own enhancement or self-interests.