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Why Authority Matters

The 1960s, with its free love and pot-smoking antics, brought an unprecedented wave of anti-authoritarian protest to the American scene. Social and political upheaval ensued. The “Swinging Sixties,” as it was dubbed, became synonymous with libertine attitudes and trends of the day. Counter-cultural revolutionaries emerged from every sector of society. Individual freedom was the prize. And extreme deviation from the norm was the means of reaching that goal.

Some commentators praise this time period for propelling the United States to new social peaks. Others, however, credit this era with the collapse of all that was good and right in America.

Unfortunately, both camps of historians miss the mark. To be sure, the ‘60s was a time of great change all over the country. For example, we saw the beginning of the civil rights movement, led by Martin Luther King, Jr. As well, we were able to send the first man to the moon (1969). These are great milestones indeed.

On the flipside, marital infidelity and drug use were rampant. Norms and mores were turned on their heads. Government was hated. And the world would never be the same.

And yet I fear that we are too easily fooled into thinking that the decade of the sixties was Satan’s coming out party.

But the fact of the matter is, the Serpent came out to play a long, long time ago. Directing our attention to Scripture, we find that Adam and Eve were the earliest anarchists. They were a proto-hippie couple of sorts. And I don’t mean that simply because they walked around naked. No, when we revisit the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3, we find that our first parents, though they were given virtually everything they could ever want, rebelled against the system—namely, God’s system.

And the apple fest just keeps on going. As we peer into the halls of history, we see that people are constantly trying to derail those in authority over them. Exodus 32 gives us a grievous picture of what sinful man can do. Remember the story of the golden calf? Moses went up on a mountain to talk with God, while the people of Israel waited down below. The people grew impatient with their leader and eventually asked Aaron to make them an idol.

Flip over a few pages to the book of Judges and you’ll see yet again that people were opting out to do “what seemed right in their own eyes.” Proverbs tells us that “there is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it is the way to death.”

Isn’t that the story of our lives? We do what we want. We do what is right in our own eyes. We don’t want other people telling us what to do. We don’t want other people telling us how to live our lives.

But that, my friends, is precisely why Jesus came to live and die!

You see, God gave us a holy law to live by. But you and I do not like to live according to other people’s laws, do we? Indeed, we prefer to live according to the tune of Frank Sinatra’s hit song, “I did it my way.” Now you may think that “my way” is cooler than God’s way. The problem is, God isn’t happy with “your way.” In fact, he demands that you live “his way.” And if you don’t, you will surely die.

That doesn’t bode too well for us, does it? The fact of the matter is that we’ve all fallen way short of God’s code of ethics. We deserve death and hell. Yet God is merciful to sinners. He sent his own Son to die in our place, that we might be forgiven of our sins and made right with God.

But buyer beware: Forgiveness is no license to keep on living “my way.” To the contrary, when God rescues a sinner from his wrath, he gives him a new heart. Whereas we once were hostile to God and could not serve him, now we are free to love God and submit to his law.

Is it any wonder, then, why in the New Testament we are constantly commanded to obey our leaders and submit to those in authority over us? Slaves are called to obey their masters, children to their parents, wives to their husbands, and so on.

But the New Testament writers do not stop there. They go on to tell us that we are to obey our spiritual leaders as well. Ever notice that Paul repeatedly refers to “elders” and ‘deacons” in his letters to the churches? He recognizes that God has graciously ordained a hierarchical model for his people to follow. Isn’t that strange? Why didn’t Paul just tell us to submit to Christ? Isn’t Christ good enough?

Of course he is! Yet in the mystery of God’s providence he has put us under the authority of others, and all under the Lordship of Jesus. Now we will do everything we can to manipulate the text. We will say, “Surely God does not intend for women to submit to men.” Or, said in a different way, “Okay, fine. I will submit to others as long as they are godly.” The problem is, you don’t get to choose to whom you do and don’t submit. Otherwise, would there be anyone left to whom we must submit? Are any of us perfect? Lord knows we aren’t.

Yet surprisingly, even Paul, during the time of Nero, exhorts his readers to obey their leaders, saying that every authority has been “instituted by God” (Rom. 13:1). Are you kidding me? Nero was awful. That wicked schemer hated Christians and did what he could to have them killed. But the Bible is clear: We are called to submit to our rulers, even if we don’t agree with them or their policies. Amazingly, the Apostle Peter commands us to “honor the emperor” (1 Pet. 2:17).

Have you shown honor to President Bush today? Did you honor Bill Clinton when he was in office? Have you honored your pastors, your deacons, and others who have been set over you by God? What about your boss? How about your husband?

It’s not that easy, is it? It’s one thing to look back in the past and blast the Beatles for their lyrics, to slam LSD addicts for their psychedelic practices, and to talk down to multiple-lover sex maniacs. But it’s another thing entirely to realize and be broken over the fact that the dirtiest hell-raising rebel of all stares at you each morning in the mirror.

This Morning’s Inspiration

Justin Taylor has done all of us a favor by posting this video on his blog. And well, I couldn’t resist posting it here.

A Radical View of Heaven?

(Author’s note: The much anticipated article, “Why Authority Matters,” will be posted soon.)

I invite you to check out this article, written by my mentor, Dr. Russell D. Moore, which he posted yesterday.

What do you make of his view of heaven?

Quick Thoughts on Evangelism

(Author’s note: I’ll return to the “Blazing Center of Reality” series soon.)

I’ve been thinking a lot about evangelism here lately. And my heart has been pricked to share the gospel more. Perhaps one of the best authors on the subject is Will Metzger, who wrote Tell the Truth (which I recommend you go out and purchase; it will revolutionize the way you view and do evangelism). He has some great insights about how to share and not share the gospel, which you can find here.

Happy evangelizing!