Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: AUTHORITY (04/14/22)
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TITLE: Bucking The System | Previous Challenge Entry
By Doug Laird
04/19/22 -
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Accordingly, there is a strong tendency to exchange His ways for our own , while still expecting to receive the same end-results.
Like a bucking bronco in the natural realm, attempts to restrain and control a human in spiritual rebellion will result in it trying to get out from under the one trying to ride them.
Be it divine, ecclesiastical, governmental, spousal, parental, or other systems of authority that is in view, Romans 13: 1 tells us that all forms of authority come from God, and to reject authority is to reject the commands of God.
Therefore, one cannot reject authority and expect that there will not be disciplinary consequences.
The highest form of individual divine discipline for Church Age believers is physical death. The highest form of national divine discipline is its removal as an independent country from among the international community of nations.
There is a long Biblical list of examples calling for harsh penalties for doing things that human viewpoint would not consider being worthy of death . Some of these things receive social acceptance and legal legitimacy in nations going through periods of moral decline.
Direct divine discipline is always a possibility, but for the most part, I believe that God disciplines us by simply allowing the inevitable consequences of our own decisions to produce their destructive fruit.
The one and only exception to complying with the divinely established systems of authority, is when such authority would have us do something that would contradict who and what we are, in our personal relationship with God.
Even then, bucking the system on moral grounds does not free us from the potential consequences of doing so.
All of the original apostles were martyred, with the exception of John. John was exiled to the island of Patmos, but not before an attempt to take his life by boiling him in oil, failed.
Over the course of the Church Age, many Christians have risked and lost their freedom, possessions, and lives, being deemed enemies of the state.
Without there being a source of ultimate authority, ready and willing to make tough decisions, everything is open to discussion, debate, and opinion polls, with compliance being considered an option. This is a recipe for disaster, especially in critical situations.
Humans in positions of authority are not always right, but until they are removed by circumstances or by due process, they are the ones in charge. Persons in positions of authority, and persons under their authority, are all accountable to God for their actions.
Every boss has a boss, with the ultimate Boss being God, rather one wants to think so or not. God can change the circumstances and or remove the one in charge in a heartbeat.
As Jesus told Pontius Pilate, “You would have no authority over Me if it had not been given to you from above… (Matt. 19: 11) NASB.”
Lord Acton (1834 – 1902) said, “Absolute power corrupts and corrupts absolutely.”
When fallen Man is in a position of “unquestioned” authority, there is a tendency to become morally compromised, intolerable, and abusive towards the subordinates that he or she was there to serve.
Godly persons in a position of authority will always take into consideration the needs and concerns of those under his or her authority. The higher one rises on the pyramid of authority, the lonelier one can be when tough decisions have to be made.
Godly persons in positions of authority will honor the Word of God as being his or her tangible source of guidance.
Other than when in Acts 5: 29 scenarios, an advancing disciple is not only commanded to submit to all forms of authority, but to do so without grumbling about it.
Only advancing disciples will be willing to take an Acts 5: 29 stand and be able to maintain a Phil. 2: 14 attitude.
“...We must obey God rather than men (Acts 5: 29 NASB).”
“Do ALL things without grumbling or disputing; (Phil. 2: 14 NASB).”
Disrespect,neglect, and or abuse of authority results in rebellion in the soul, chaos in the homes, the nations, the Church, and the world at large.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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Today’s human heart is as wilful as the ancient Hebrews in the wilderness, in Judges etc. But Jesus has been lifted up and I join the cry that all men will be drawn to Him.