On Respecting Authority

A topic that has been brought up several times this past semester, and something that I have been thinking a lot about is on the subject of respecting authority.

No matter our status, we will ALWAYS have authority. Whether that be parents, teachers/faculty, bosses, or the government… authority is always there.

And even if you’re at the top of authority in the world, there’s still God.

So no matter who you are, or where you are- there will be authority. And with that, there will ALWAYS be disagreements and conflicts.

The Bible teaches us to respect authority, to submit to authority.

There have been many instances at this school, and even with the government where I so easily get mad at the authority, complain about the authority, and talk bad about the authority. And frankly, that’s just me spreading rumors and gossip.

I don’t know what goes on behind the scenes with the people “up there”. Sure, maybe their actions are not the best. Maybe their intentions aren't good.

But who am I to talk bad about them? They were put in that position because they were QUALIFIED. Smart people choose these authority figures. They did not just choose a random person walking down the street. They deliberated, they reviewed, they researched, they interviewed, they tested. And the authority figures that we have now passed all of them.

So this is my challenge to others, but especially to myself:

Instead of saying negative things about our leaders to others, instead of complaining, instead of not respecting them… what if we prayed for them? They need prayer… there is so much POWER in prayer.

Can you imagine if we all prayed for our leaders instead of complained about them? Wow. Instead of human hands working, God will be working. And that is a beautiful thing.

And if we do have those complaints, talk to those leaders. Approach them, ask them questions. Figure out the reasons behind why they are doing things the way they are doing them.

And ya, there are some leaders that we can’t approach. So again I say, PRAY FOR THEM. What good does complaining do? Nothing. But oh, what GOOD will come by praying for them.

I pray that I learn to better respect my authority and leaders. I pray that I better understand them more. And I pray that God can do powerful things through them.

With God, we can move mountains.