At its extreme, tribalism descends into anarchy, literally without a ruler, an absence of government, resulting in lawlessness. The Bible depicts such conditions, stating that in those days, there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. The book of Judges illustrates Israel cycling through freedom, decline, oppression, and revolt repeatedly, attributing the cause of their instability to the absence of government, leaving every man for himself. This portrayal raises the question of whether society desires to return to such a state of disorder.

John Darby's views on authority, often termed religious anarchism, did not gain widespread acceptance but have persisted among some Protestants and those who have left certain church groups. The spirit of anarchy, meaning without a leader, contrasts sharply with the structured order and authority established by God in the church. While some despise the term hierarchy due to its association with authoritarianism, hierarchy itself, meaning a set-apart or sacred leader, reflects God's design of ranking positions of responsibility and authority, as seen in the differing spiritual gifts and roles within the Body of Christ. God is not opposed to hierarchy but to sin, wickedness, and oppression that can corrupt it. The church of God is not anarchistic, as it operates under a divine order of authority and responsibility established by Him.

Anarchism emerged as a political theory in the early 1800s. The term anarchy derives from the prefix an- meaning without and the root archos meaning leader or authority, indicating a state without rulers. This absence of leaders leads to chaos and lawlessness as each person acts according to their own judgment. Anarchism rejects all human authority and governance, assuming that individuals are inherently good and will flourish without oversight. The idea spread widely across Europe, Russia, and America in the nineteenth century. Religious anarchism developed in Britain during the 1830s. It influenced the Plymouth Brethren movement, which opposed church government and paid ministry, favoring spontaneous guidance by the Spirit instead. Religious anarchists viewed any authority as an interference with the Holy Spirit's direction. Anarchism conflicts with biblical principles of conduct and authority.