Respecting authority may seem like a common sense issue, but for some of us this isn’t the case. I was raised in a home where the philosophy was “a person must earn your respect; it’s not something that is freely given.” Growing up I always thought this philosophy made sense, and it was an easy philosophy to live by. I should have known that if it was easy, it probably wasn’t right.
It wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I began to question this philosophy. I transferred to a Christian school my senior year. I had an amazingly wise government teacher who used the Bible to teach us some principles about government. One of the principles he taught us was that it is Biblical to pay taxes. That was an interesting concept to me, but he proved it using the scriptures found in Matthew 22:15-22 in which Jesus says, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” He showed us how people who are put in a position of authority over us were put in that position by God, and that we are to respect the position God has put them in. For example: God has put our parents, teachers, bosses, government officials, etc…in the position they are in, and we are to respect them for that reason alone. In respecting authority we are in turn respecting God, who has seen fit to place those people in a position of authority.
The Bible makes several references to respect. Leviticus 19:3 states, “Each of you must respect his mother and father.” “Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God,” Leviticus 19:32. The idea of freely giving respect is contrary to our human nature, but it is clearly what the Bible calls us to do. Ephesians 6:5-7 states, “Slaves obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eyes are on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men.” I Peter 2:17 states, “Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good, but also to those who are harsh.” This is definitely contrary to MY human nature.
There may be times when someone in authority asks us to do something that is contrary to what God has commanded. In these situations we are expected to obey God and to follow His commands, even if it means going against a person in authority over us. However, God expects us to do this in a respectful manner.
In my life I’ve learned that the hard thing to do is usually the right thing to do. We are born with a sinful nature, and the way the Lord calls us to live is contrary to our human nature and desires. The Bible says, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it,” Matthew 7:13,14.
We can choose to submit ourselves to God’s will by acknowledging the authority He has put in our lives, or we can resist authority and God and follow the road that leads to destruction. Not submitting ourselves to authority, as long as that authority is not contradicting God’s commands, is defying God. As Christians, we are called to a higher standard than that of the world. It’s not our right (even though we would like it to be) to decide which authority in our lives deserves our respect. God has seen fit to put particular people in a place of authority, and for that reason alone they deserve our respect. In disrespecting authority we are actually disrespecting God.
Good article.
Thank you for this article. I get so frustrated when I see friends being disrespectful. No one values other's anymore. I think its kind of telling that people must have been convicted by this article. If you look back through the articles, the more convicting one have the least number of comments.
Tonya, I appreciate your honesty and your challenge. I definitely struggle with respect for authority when I know they are wrong. I guess the point is that I learn how to be humble and have faith in God's justice, instead of righting the wrong. This is hard with social issues and in the work environment but God says that He has put them (the government and my boss) in authority over us so I need to choose to obey no matter what I feel. Thank you for this poignant reminder that we definitely don't know it all and shouldn't act as though we have the answers to all of the world's problems. 🙂
This is something in America that we have problems with, escpecially teenagers. Teens have very little respect for those in authority, and it's because they have no respect for God.
I've always struggled with this issue, in a way. My mother is an alcoholic and sometimes it is hard for me to respect her, even when I know she is my mom. I've never done anything terribly disrespectful, but I do know that even when I backtalk her a few times, I know that is just as bad as hitting her or something, at least it is in God's eyes. Sometimes I have to catch myself and say, "God put her here. She's to be respected for that alone. So shut up Justin, and just be a good son." Satan wants me to disrespect her just because of her own weakness, but I have to remember God is with me, so Satan shouldn't be allowed to do anything. Mom was freely given the right of respect just by giving birth to me, and she is to be respected for that. Even though I don't agree with what she does with herself. All I can do is pray and continue to respect her.
With regards to this comment, as follows:
Re: Respect – Freely Given Or Earned? (Score: 2, Insightful)
by mtndewt1 on Apr 23, 2004 – 03:39 PM
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This is something in America that we have problems with, escpecially teenagers. Teens have very little respect for those in authority, and it's because they have no respect for God.
i do not feel it is fair to make this statement, being a teenager myself. i would like to kindly ask for a fair chance, and also to ask the general public to kindly not group teenagers together with prejudice. as God's people, do not judge so easily based on a few people's mistakes. instead we should teach with patience and help teenagers learn.
We are all human and we all make mistakes. I myself can admit to having problems with respect. and so respect should be given to everyone, not just people in authority, but to all God's people, just as Jesus was willing.
~Just another teenager.
Tonya,
The hope that is evident in your article is because of the light of Scripture in your life. Thank you for sharing the truth with others. May God continue to use you to impact others with His word.