#12 Anti-authority | Part Two

Dr. Stephen Phinney: Fools can deny, refute, or even resist these rules, but in the end, the uniform motion of God will not be affected by such revisionary stupidity.

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FAKE OBEDIENCE

“…and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties…” (2 Peter 2:10)

I always expect unsaved people and fake Christians to reverse the roles and minimally modify them, meaning when a servant is offended by an unreasonable authority figure, they’re quick to act as the authority over the God-established governor. In this act of role-reversal, whoever resists authority has opposed God's ordinance (governance), which offends Him. Again, unsaved people are careless about offending God. On the other hand, we must ask why authentic believers purposely advance resistance. The answer is the flesh will not allow itself to be told what to do – not even by God.

Consider our passage above. If these fleshly people do not tremble when reviled by God’s angels, what makes us think they will allow mere humans to address vile rebellion? The only solution to this paralyzing idiocy is consistently walking in the Spirit, which requires being indwelt by the Spirit.

People who exhibit anti-authority behavior often do so out of a deep-seated fear of authority and a strong aversion to being told what to do. This fear can stem from past experiences where authority figures may have been oppressive, unjust, or abusive, leading to a mistrust of any form of control. As a result, these individuals may develop a rebellious attitude as a defense mechanism, seeking to assert their independence and autonomy. Their resistance is not merely a rejection of authority but also a reflection of their inner turmoil and desire for self-determination. Understanding this perspective can help us approach such individuals with empathy and patience, recognizing that their defiance is often rooted in fear and a need for validation.

LACKING IN HONOR

Regretfully, few have learned the honor that comes with adherence to governance. Church statistics prove that more Christians are joining the bandwagon of protestors claiming rights that Jesus never gave them. While these Christians run around with picket signs, they’re devoid of the reality of stripping Jesus of His right to love the unreasonable. 

Resisting authority undermines the very structure that God has established for order and governance. According to Romans 13:1-2, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” This passage highlights that all authority is ultimately derived from God, and by resisting it, individuals are not merely opposing human leaders but are challenging God’s divine order. Such resistance can lead to chaos and disorder, disrupting the peace and stability that God intends for society. It is crucial for believers to recognize the importance of submitting to authority, as it reflects their trust in God’s sovereign plan and His ability to work through established structures for the greater good.

Obeying in the flesh is just as important as obeying in the Spirit.

Just because the Spirit does not indwell someone, they are not excused from obedience. The universal law of governance applies to the saved and the unsaved. Without this principle being implemented, chaos and disorder rule the day. It is much like the laws of physics - “every object in a state of uniform motion will remain in that state of motion unless an external force acts on it.” These laws apply to everyone. Fools can deny, refute, or even resist these rules, but in the end, the uniform motion of God will not be affected by such revisionary stupidity. As God so graciously put it, “He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45). Universal laws are the Laws of God, and He created them.

God is a Father. He is our Parent. Parenting consists of setting laws, standards, and boundaries for children to learn to maintain order for themselves, the Church, and the nations where they live. He doesn’t wait until an individual becomes born again. Just as an earthly parent does NOT avoid governance until their child receives Christ, nor should they change the governance rules for the masses who resist being told what to do.

Satan wants people to question authority because it eliminates all authorities outside himself.

Go ahead and teach your children to question authority. Let’s see how they turn out. Oh, wait, that is precisely what Generation X propagated to their Millennial children. Now, look at the mess they created.

Let’s say your child is in the middle of a street when you see a truck coming their way; do you appeal to them? No! You obligate them to adhere to your voice, immediately obey, and get out of the street. Your motive? It should be to save them.

In our culture today, our children and grandchildren are playing in the streets of Satanic illusions. We see God’s bloodthirsty enemy racing toward them. What do most authority figures within the church do? They either wash their hands of the matter or join the child in the street. Both result in death.

Questioning authority is not the right approach but appealing to them is. Nothing is wrong with a subordinate appealing to an authority for clarification or contributing a suggestion. In my communications with advising high-level leadership, I avoid rebuking them. On the other hand, I was rather gifted at providing them with powerful suggestions. I watched how several of my suggestions ended up in their final decisions. The art of appealing is powerful. If you want real change, this is the way to go about it.

One of my favorite historical leaders, John F. Kennedy, stated: “Our privileges can be no greater than our obligations. The protection of our rights can endure no longer than the performance of our responsibility.”

Every subordinate is responsible for informing, appealing to, and empowering their leaders with suggestions that make them greater. When observations or suggestions threaten our leaders, our challenge of appealing comes into play, and submission becomes our most powerful ally in those cases.  

Coming up Next: Christian Liars