BEN F. VICK, JR.
One of the great problems in society today is the lack of respect for authority. In all areas of life, this can be seen. Ball players and fans, from the Little League level to the professional ranks, do not respect officials; consequently, they curse at them, spit on them and physically attack them. Many children talk back to their parents in a most disrespectful way with no fear of punishment. High school and middle school children, and perhaps younger, openly defy their teachers, sometimes using the vilest vulgarities. Employees will demonstrate their lack of respect for their employers even in the presence of customers. Husbands and wives are sometimes disrespectful toward each other. Members of the church can also be guilty of not showing proper respect for each other.
Since society and the church are but reflections of the home, there is a need to begin teaching children in the home to respect those in authority. Paul commanded, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise:) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long upon the earth.” (Eph. 6:1-3.) When a child defies or is in rebellion to a parent, then “the board of education needs to be applied to the seat of learning.” When my sister and brothers were growing up, if we sassed our mother and daddy, punishment came swiftly. Mother and Daddy both insisted that we said “ma’am” and “sir” when addressing adults. Mother taught us that we were not on a first name basis with adults. We were always to put a “handle” on a name. If we were speaking to Uncle B. B., he was to be addressed, or called, “Uncle B. B.,” not “B. B.” You say, “That is silly?” I say that it taught us to respect adults. We were also taught not to interrupt adults in their conversations.
Respect in the workplace needs to be shown, too. Employees need to respect their employers and those who are over them. In a time and place when slavery was a part of the culture, Paul commanded, “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.” (Eph. 6:5-8.)
Christians should be the best employees the employer has. They do not need to be guilty of slacking off when the boss is not around; neither do they need to be whiners nor gripers because of the duties given to them. They ought to be thankful that they have a job. I have not been able to figure out why people who have a job complain about it. If they do not like what they are doing, why don’t they quit?
There are limits on what an employee is obligated to do, however. For instance, there have been cases where a boss has demanded that the employee lie or cheat. What should the employee do? In such situations, it would be wrong to obey the boss. It is NEVER right to do wrong. If one is working for another as if he were working for the Lord, he would not think of doing wrong. If that means losing one’s job, so be it. The Lord will help you find another job (Matt. 6:33). Put the Lord first and everything else will fall into place.
Members of the church also have an obligation to obey and submit to the shepherds of the flock. The writer of Hebrews said, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give an account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” (Heb. 13:17.) Some have the idea that they will obey the elders as long as the elders’ decisions concur with theirs. However, such is not obedience. Keep in mind, however, that elders do not have the right to make decisions that go contrary to the Bible.
Some members may be like that little boy whose daddy told him to sit down. He finally sat down, but told his daddy, “I’m sitting down on the outside, but I’m standing up on the inside!” Well, the little boy had an attitude problem. I think I have known a preacher or two that were like that. Paul told the church at Thessalonica, “And we beseech you, brethren, to know that them labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.” (I Thess. 5:12-13.)
What if the eldership brings in a false teacher, or begins a practice in the congregation that is unauthorized by God? It can happen; it has happened; Paul warned that it would happen (Acts 20:28-32). It is a fact that some brethren, like dumb driven cattle, would follow an eldership even if it were to take the church down the road of apostacy. Look at the numbers today who are following that course! We are to follow a man or a group of men only to the degree that they follow Christ (I Cor. 11:1; I Peter 2:21).
Let us respect those in authority, but remember that Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords, and we must always submit to him.