Question 1

Why is human authority necessary?

Accepted Answer

Judges 21:25In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.1 Peter 2:13-14For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.God has appointed human authorities to bring order and security to society. It is the same in business, the church, and the family. Authority properly exercised is essential for effective teaching, caring for others, and holding each other accountable.

Question 2

Should I submit to the government’s authority?

Accepted Answer

Romans 13:1-2Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.The Bible says we should obey those in authority over us unless they want us to disobey God.Acts 4:19; 5:29Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? . . .” But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.”If those in authority order us to denounce God or deliberately disobey him, we must follow God, our ultimate authority. God is the highest authority, and we must obey him first and above all else. So, unless the authorities order us to denounce God or directly disobey his commands as found in the Bible, we should submit to them, even if we don’t like what they are demanding. That doesn’t mean we cannot speak up and work for change, but it does mean we should submit to our authorities, even if we think their ideas are not as good as ours.

Question 3

Where does a leader get his or her authority?

Accepted Answer

Proverbs 21:1The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases.Romans 13:1-2Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.People in authority are in those positions though God’s direct or permissive will. They have no authority on their own but only by the grace of God. Good rulers and other authorities recognize that truth and act accordingly.Matthew 28:18-20Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”John 19:11Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”All authority comes from God and is given for the sake of fulfilling responsibility and contributing to the welfare of God’s people and creation. Power is not given for its own sake, but for the sake of getting the right things done well. Leaders will answer to God for how they steward the authority entrusted to them.

Question 4

How should authority be used?

Accepted Answer

Philippians 2:3-7Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.Authority should be used to lead and serve others. Leadership involves selfless service.Matthew 8:8-10The officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!”The centurion displayed humility and faith in his understanding of authority. He knew both the power and the limitations of his authority. He did not presume that because he held a position of authority in the military that he could order Jesus around. He humbled himself in order to get help for his own servant. This understanding of authority does not demand compliance, but instead wins commitment. We should use our authority for the sake of serving others.

Question 5

What can be dangerous about authority?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 11:4Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.”Ezekiel 31:18“O Egypt, to which of the trees of Eden will you compare your strength and glory? You, too, will be brought down to the depths with all these other nations. You will lie there among the outcasts who have died by the sword. This will be the fate of Pharaoh and all his hordes. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”2 Corinthians 3:5It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God.Authority and its corresponding power is intoxicating because with it comes recognition, control, and often wealth. Each of these feeds pride, and pride leads us away from God and into sin. That is why the power that comes from authority so often corrupts. If we are in a position of power or authority over others, two concepts will help us use it wisely: accountability and service. If we have to explain our actions and motives to others, we will be more careful in what we do and say. And when we determine to serve others with our authority rather than be served, we will gain great support and loyalty from the people under us.

Question 6

What should I do if I have a bad attitude toward authorities over me?

Accepted Answer

Hebrews 3:7-10That is why the Holy Spirit says, “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested me in the wilderness. There your ancestors tested and tried my patience, even though they saw my miracles for forty years. So I was angry with them, and I said, ‘Their hearts always turn away from me. They refuse to do what I tell them.’”We can get tired of being told what to do, and we will be tempted to chart our own course and become our own persons. But being one’s own person and being rebellious are totally different. Authority is not always bad; the abuse of authority is what is bad. God’s authority, his rules, will not only save lives but will show us how to be successful and blessed. We should never rebel against God’s authority because in doing so we will jeopardize our very souls. Being one’s own person doesn’t mean doing whatever we want to; it means using our God-given personality and talents to serve him through serving others.Matthew 20:26“But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.”John 3:30“He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”In order to be looked up to by others, we should have a servant’s heart. We should be willing to take responsibility for our actions, not deferring responsibility when it is convenient. We should refuse to stay silent when things are wrong. We should not look for ways to seek glory for ourselves. The world teaches us to look and act cool, to use coarse or foul language, to not respect authority, and to bend the rules as far as we can. In the end, however, it is people who have consistently submitted to God’s authority, living with kindness, integrity, and a deep love for God, who are most respected and honored.

Question 7

How can I exercise authority without feeling reticent or intimidated?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 10:1Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness.1 Timothy 4:11-12Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them. Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.2 Timothy 1:6-7This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.The authority of true leaders is delegated by Christ. So we should use our authority in Christ without being intimidated by spiritual powers, social customs, age, or any other factor. We look to the Lord who calls us, not to those who criticize us.

Question 8

What is the ultimate source of authority?

Accepted Answer

John 19:11Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”God is the ultimate source of authority over people’s lives and over governments.Exodus 20:2“I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.”God is the ultimate authority over his chosen people because he has bought them out of their slavery to sin.2 Timothy 3:16All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.Because Scripture comes from God, it should be the guiding authority over our lives.

Question 9

What kind of authority does Jesus have?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 28:18Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.”God gave Jesus authority over everything and everyone in the universe.Colossians 1:15-18Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything.Jesus Christ, as God, has all the authority of God the Father, including authority over the lives of his people.