As iron sharpens iron,
one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
“Christians often have questions about God and his connection to government…. especially arise when we get a government that appears to be at odds with Christian convictions. Let’s briefly explore this important topic.” - Reasons to Believe
“Is all authority—by virtue of one person having power over another person—in its very nature, abusive? I ask these questions in a day when accounts of sad experiences with abusive pastors are all too common.” - Mark Dever
“Authority and submission are difficult concepts in a society that’s fully committed itself to individual autonomy. … Dr. Bruce Ashford explains the unrivaled authority of God, and those authorities He has established throughout the created order.” - Breakpoint
“Are we supposed to stand up to lies? Of course. We have every right and responsibility to expose lies for what they are. … The question is, ‘What are we going to say and how are we going to say it?’ It doesn’t help our cause when people see Christians acting like the people that we’re trying to oppose.” - GetReligion
“Increasingly, however, skepticism has been replaced by cynicism and is expressed in an immediate distrust anytime anyone tells us anything to think or do. This is not healthy or sustainable, nor is it a biblical way of thinking about authority.” - Breakpoint
“I would suggest that we can’t disobey a law or mandate just because we disagree with it, or it won’t work, or it’s stupid, or it’s an abuse of authority, or it’s applied selectively, or even because it’s unconstitutional.” - Dan Olinger
Everyone is annoyed at times by a stupid rule or a bad decision by a leader. But lately, conservative Christian responses to government rules look and sound about the same as non-Christian attitudes on the political right: they’re dominated by anger, harsh judgments of motives, mockery, and defiance.
Sanctimonious defiance is still really just defiance. If you put lipstick on a pig, it’s still… etc., etc.
“This guy, angry that Grace Community Church yielded to the 9th Circuit Court’s ruling banning church meetings in California [last] weekend, Tweets at me: “An unjust law need not be followed. I’m appalled at how many people who profess to believe Scripture echo that sentiment.” - Phil Johnson
“…if we rail against the government, communicate that we think these rules are stupid, thumb our nose at their spoken desire to protect us, and refuse to heed their orders or guidelines, then we are telling our children that we only listen to authorities whenever we agree. If we do this, we’re setting a horrible example.” - Mike Leake
I saw it again the other day, a bumper sticker that said, “Question Authority.” That’s the prevailing mood of our day, perpetual skepticism towards human authority and the notion that we should question and challenge it at every opportunity. This is hardly surprising given the rebellious nature of humanity, but it’s puzzling to see many Christians join the chorus.
In our adamic depravity we all have a natural distaste for authority. Resistance can run the gamut from mild to intense, but this basic sentiment lurks in the shadows of every human heart, “Ain’t nobody gonna tell me what to do!” Rugged individualism can digress into sinful anti-authoritarianism almost imperceptibly.
Personal independence is lauded in movies, television, and popular songs. Frank Sinatra sang, “I did it my way.” Society makes heroes of those who defy authority, whether parental, ecclesiastical, political, or economic.
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