Having A Problem With Authority

Recently I've been given the opportunity to submit to some new 'authorities' in my life. The purpose of my taking on a second job at nights was to earn money and pay off the immigration and adoption lawyers we must retain in order to finish our adoption of Maria and Merci. However, little did I know that God would use this opportunity to remind me of the importance of submitting to God delegated authorities in my life.

I've never thought of myself as 'rebellious', but after a prolonged season of being 'in-charge', and now being the 'low-man-on-the-totem-pole' at a secular work environment, I've been experiencing some interesting thoughts and attitudes. Some of which I'm none too proud of. Romans 13:1-2 talks about authority being ordained of God and about how whoever resists authority is actually resisting God. That's definitely NOT something that I'm interested in doing, so it's time to do some self-assessing.

Colossians 3:22-23 (New Living Translation)
"Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people."

I believe that God establishes all authority in chains of command under Him. On this earth, from world governments to church governments, obedience to higher authority is ordained by God. Heaven seems to be run under a principle of authority: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, then I suppose the archangels, and then the rest of the angels (called cherubs and seraphims), who are submitted to authority over them.

What am I talking about? Well, if Michael the archangel tells an angel to go take care of a situation on earth, that angel doesn't say, "I don't think so. I only take orders from Gabriel." He would never do that, because he probably remembers very clearly what went down the last time a group of angels acted that way.

All offices of authority are set up by God, and the authority rests on the office, not the man. We are to submit ourselves to the office, whether or not we like the man in the office. If he missuses his office, we can pray for him to change or pray him out of it.

Having a 'boss' again has reminded me that in order to properly submit to authority, I must have a clear understanding that the authority rests in the office, not the man. For example, if a president is voted out of office in this country, he no longer has authority in what goes on. A former president cannot just drive up to the White House and walk into the Oval Office without going through the exact same security protocol that I'd have to go through. Why? Because he no longer is in authority.

In the Old Testament (Numbers 20:8-29) we see Moses and Aaron both in rebellion against what God had commanded. Moses angrily struck the rock instead of speaking to it, and Aaron stood with him in this rebellion. Well, as you probably know, Moses never got to go into the Land of Promise. What you may not remember is that God also told Moses to bring Aaron and his son, Eleazar, to Mount Hor. There, Moses was instructed by God to take the high priest's robe off of Aaron and place it on Eleazar. When that happened, Aaron kicked the bucket. Pretty crazy, huh? However, this shows us what happens when we misrepresent God before people. The authority on the high priest's office remained, but it was now on Eleazar.

When we submit to people and to authority, we submit to the office. The only right we have not to submit to authority is when that authority directly violates the Word of God. When we are asked to do something that is in direct violation of the Word, then we don't submit, because we have a HIGHER authority.

But let's be real honest,... that ain't usually the case, especially in the Church. Rebellion usually starts when we have to submit to the rules of the church nursery. That's where it begins. Then it goes into the requirements of becoming members, and when you finally get through with that, you are faced with what it takes to be on the worship team, or lead a small group, or be a part of some other ministry.

Outside of the church, in our secular jobs, rebellion can play a major role too. Wherever we work, unless we're the boss, we'll be faced with the kinds of authority that says, "That is the way we do it around here." It doesn't seem to matter whether you agree with the way things are done or not, you must submit if you know God wants you at that place of employment.

If we get mad and begin to speak against the boss or the other leaders at our work places, much like if we were to get mad and speak against the pastor and leaders of our churches, then we are in rebellion. We aren't coming against the people in those offices; we're coming against God. What if, when we had a real problem with something, we took the time and effort to go and talk with the leadership in an attitude of love and let them explain why they operate the way they do? What if we were to stop complaining and start praying? What if we simply made sure that we were on time and did a good job?

Remember that centurion who told Jesus to just "speak the word" and his servant would be healed? He understood authority. The centurion was a man in authority. He also was a man under authority. Jesus said He had not found anyone in Israel with this kind of faith. Why did that Roman centurion have such faith? He understood authority. (Matthew 8:9) He could tell that demons and disease were submitted to the authority of Jesus.

So, what's my point? Authority is here to stay. We will never graduate from being under authority. Even when we get to heaven, we'll still submit to authority. I think I'm finding that all those that have been given positions of spiritual authority - those who've advanced the Kingdom of God in radical ways - are always those who know how to submit and flow with God-given authority. God will never exalt us into a greater place of authority until we learn how to submit to the authority He's already put us under.

So,... may you and I learn to be those that willfully, joyfully, and non-rebelliously submit to ALL those that have been placed in our lives as authorities.