by Kyle Pope
American culture often promotes a mindset that views authority with distrust and contempt. The Bible teaches a much different attitude that should characterize our behavior toward authorities that exist in many relationships in this life.
A challenge that Christians face is that of determining what characteristics of the culture in which we find ourselves can co-exist with proper Christian behavior and what we must put away. If my culture teaches that being an American, a Canadian, a Mexican, or a German means that I violate the teachings of Jesus, it is more important that I am a Christian than it is that I am a good citizen. A common mindset within modern American culture that presents such a challenge has to do with attitudes we hold toward authority. Some of this comes to us as a part of our heritage.
We honor the challenge our ancestors made to the authority of the king of England that was formalized in the Declaration of Independence. We consider this a significant moment in our history. In fact, it shaped our national identity, and taught us to be cautious in attitudes toward authority.
In religion, unlike many Roman Catholic countries, the strong Protestant background of many US citizens has led to the rejection of an idea that there is a “pope” who holds religious authority over all churches. This independent spirit has even bled over to professing Catholics. In America, many Catholics may honor the pope but reject some of his teachings.
Since the 1960s, there has been an increasing push to resist authority. The anti-war counterculture of the 60s taught the generation trained by them that older people are “out of touch,” so it’s OK to speak to them with contempt and disrespect. From this thinking (directly or indirectly) has been born children that may curse their parents and teachers, teenagers that lie and defy instruction, leading to a generation of young adults who think nothing of breaking laws they don’t like—so long as they don’t get caught!
As Christians, we must consider what the Bible teaches us about respect for authority. Should Christians show respect for authority? Must this respect be shown only when authorities demonstrate that they are worthy of respect? Should the attitudes of Christians differ from that of the surrounding culture?
Paul taught, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body” (Eph. 5:22-23, NKJV). Parents and children are commanded, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with promise” (Eph. 6:1-2).
After talking about elders in the local church, Peter wrote, “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble’” (1 Pet. 5:5). In the church, God has set specific roles of leadership. Paul, through inspiration, wrote, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence” (1 Tim. 2:12).
Paul commanded, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God” (Rom. 13:1). Peter commanded, “Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good” (1 Pet. 2:13-14).
Peter instructed servants to “be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle but also to the harsh” (1 Pet. 2:18). This sets forth a general principle about those times when we find ourselves under the authority of those to whom it is difficult to submit. This applies to other relationships as well. In the workplace, we can choose the job we hold, but must manifest all due respect for our employers. The same is true of the attitude of students toward their teachers. If Christians make their faith known but are irresponsible and rebellious employees or students, we bring shame to the God whom we claim to follow.
What should Christians do when authorities seek to compel Christians to violate God’s will? When the apostles faced this in the early church, they boldly declared, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). That doesn’t sanction disobedience in order to change policies we don’t like. The Bible doesn’t teach children to break rules their parents make if they disagree with them. Godly parents do not urge students to talk back or disobey teachers who are too strict or boring (Rom. 13:2). We must do right regardless of the circumstance. Certainly, Christians can seek to influence the beliefs and practices of those in authority. Peter taught wives married to unbelieving husbands the value of such influence (1 Pet. 3:1). However, this is not accomplished by defiance and insubordination.
Paul told the Thessalonians, “And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves” (1 Thess. 5:12-13). We should submit to them so that their work may be pleasant and not a burden. The Hebrew writer wrote, “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you” (Heb. 13:17). When Paul converted Onesimus, a slave who had run away from Philemon, in writing to his master, he did not command, “Set him free!” Nor did he tell Onesimus, “Don’t go back!” Instead, he taught these two Christians in different positions of submission and authority how to make each other’s tasks bearable. That’s what Christians do!
We don’t obey and respect authority because those over us are better, smarter, wiser, or more important than we are. In Acts, Paul came before the Roman governor, Felix (Acts 24:10; 24-25). According to history, Felix was a wicked and ruthless man, but Paul treated him with respect because of his office. In Israelite history, after Saul’s sin, David was appointed by God to be the next king of Israel. Saul violently opposed David, but David maintained respect for his position as God’s anointed king (1 Sam. 24:3-7). As God in the flesh, Jesus was worthy of all respect and honor, but as a child, He faithfully yielded Himself in submission to the authority and guidance of His parents (Luke 2:51-52). Jesus’s parents were not flawless, but Jesus submitted to their authority as His parents.
A number of years ago, a friend who was in the military shared with me some of the frustration the enlisted often felt toward the officers who were over them. He was not an officer, but handled equipment and technology used in military communications. He told me of instances in which the officers that had authority over him did not understand as much as their underlings about the equipment or how it was used—but that didn’t change the fact that they were still in charge!
As Christians, there will be times when. . .
We must respect our parents, even if we don’t understand the reasons for their instructions. We must use a respectful tone with our teachers, even if they are rude to us. We must be good employees even if our bosses don’t deserve our respect. We must be submissive to our husbands, even when they disappoint us. We must submit to the elders, even when we disagree with judgments they make. We must honor political officials “for the work’s sake.”
We do all these things, not because all the people in positions of authority are always worthy of our respect, but because, when we do so, we are displaying the honor and respect that is due to God. As we serve others, we are serving God (Col. 3:22-25).
