Whether we like it or not, we are all under someone’s authority. Parents are in charge of children, bosses make rules for employees to follow, and the IRS provides an annual reminder of our government’s authority every April.
As Christians, we know that God is the ultimate and final authority. In everything we do, we should submit to God’s will and carefully follow His perfect instructions. As Peter stood accused before the government of his day, he perfectly said, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). God has authority over all.
As Christians, we must submit to our civil authorities. Of governments, Paul wrote, “Every person is to be in subjection to governing authorities” (Romans 13:1). Whether or not we agree with their decisions, we must submit to the authorities who have charge over us.
Christians should also respect and submit to authority within the Lord’s church. God has charged elders to “watch over [our] souls as those who will give an account,” and we need to “obey…and submit to them” (Hebrews 13:17). We cannot reject authorities in the church and still be pleasing to God.
Christians do not need to be rebellious, disrespectful, or contentious people. We should follow the perfect example of Christ, as His apostles did, and willingly submit to all authority that God has placed in our lives.
Matt Langfield