by Elder Peter Lim

A spiritually maturing Christian respects authority because Scripture describes several relationships that God has ordained wherein we are instructed to obey. These relationships are there not only to create order within society but ultimately is an illustration of God’s sovereignty over all relationships…whether they are easy to deal with or not. A mature Christian realizes this and voluntarily submits himself despite our natural tendency to be independent. We don’t like being told what to do. We would much rather tell others what to do.

Four years ago, I wrote a couple of articles called “Star Trek and the Local Church”  which would be helpful for you to read in order to gain further insight into my mindset when I mention “Respectful of Authority” as a sign of Spiritual maturity. In these articles, I talk about the polity of the church and that mutual submission within the leadership of the church is a requirement in order to bring God the glory instead of a human leader in running a local church. Mutual submission is difficult to achieve at times but it provides opportunities to hold God in the highest esteem and to humble ourselves. In other relationships that God outlines for us, this same mutual submission and seeking after God’s glory as the primary focus is the key to understanding all submissive relationships. In College Life, we are currently going through a Dating and Relationship series. I’ve been preparing for a message on considering the authoritative role of parents as it relates to collegians in a dating relationship. It’s a difficult issue and on one hand, I’m not looking forward to presenting this message this Friday since I am expecting that some may misunderstand my message or that I won’t speak clearly and possibly confuse people, especially parents who may listen in on the message online. On the other hand however, I am looking forward to declaring the truth of God’s word as it relates to both parents and college-age young adults seeking the glory of God in their relationship with each other.

As a parent myself, I understand how my children need to obey me since I’m looking out for their best interests and they sometimes lack the ability to make good decisions. It seems as if they are unaware of the consequences down the road if they continue in their present course. With the best of intentions, I advise them and expect to be obeyed. After all, the Bible is pretty clear that they are to obey me. I wonder though how absolute that authority is. As they get older, aren’t they more and more liable before God to act on their own convictions and responsibility? Isn’t my goal to raise them in such a way that they can become responsible adults who will seek to glorify God above all else including disobeying me if they think that my opinions are not aligned with God’s will for them? Just how long can I expect them to be under my tutelage?

I am reminded that we are all under authority. Not only are we fathers responsible for not provoking our children to anger (Eph. 6:4), but we are also to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Fathers, how are you doing with that? We are also to be subject to them unless you think that Eph. 5:21 is talking about everyone except your own children. (It’s not.) If we are to be rigid in our insistence that our children obey us without question or flexibility, we must hold ourselves to the same standard when dealing with other relationships that we are to submit to: people to the government, employees to employers, wives to husbands, congregation to church leaders. Do you honestly think that there’s no flexibility and exercising of our own judgment when we submit ourselves in these relationships? Of course we must exercise good judgment and make decisions that each of us believe to be most God-glorifying.

Although it’s obvious that we are to exercise our best discernment to follow God’s will, Scripture is quite clear that we are to be characterized by submissiveness that’s not mindless, but rather it is to be intentional so that we would be characterized by peace which will ultimately show the world that we Christians represent the only One who can bring true peace and joy to this world which is characterized by sin and chaos. Mature Christians voluntarily do this because we love God and we want to magnify Him. In the words of John the Baptist, “He (Jesus) must increase and I must decrease.” (John 3:30)