Why do we human beings have to exercise authority over others and why do we have to submit to someone else, when we are all equal in the sight of God? We know it is to carry out our responsibilities towards those who are under our authority and to allow those who are in authority above us to carry out their responsibilities towards us.
Authority is required at various levels in order for the world to function in an orderly and healthy manner. Those in authority have the responsibility to ensure that those under their care are provided whatever they need from their particular source of authority. Those under authority must recognise that their submission will enable the authorities to carry out the tasks that are good for everyone. In doing so they become willing collaborators with the authorities. It is the duty of the traffic police to make travel safe for everyone, and if we follow the traffic rules we cooperate with the police and enjoy our safety.
From the way the Persons in the Trinity exercise authority we can understand that authority does not indicate superiority of one over another. But because of our fallen nature which is propelled by selfishness, our tendency is to put our interests above those of others. So many people in authority tend to neglect their responsibility while they take care of their own interests, or they tend to 'lord it' over others rather than serve them for their good as intended. As Christians these are the tendencies we have to learn to overcome.
On the other hand, we need to also know the difference between submitting to God's authority and human authority. Since God is perfect in every way, when we submit to Him it is fully designed for our very best. So we can wholeheartedly submit to His laws and obey Him unquestioningly in everything He says. But not so with people!
First of all, it must be clear that we must obey God rather than men (Acts.5:29), when man tells us to do something God does not want us to. Examples can be if someone tells us to worship an idol, abort our baby, or sign a false statement to make money.
We must also recognise that since all people are imperfect in their knowledge, skill, experience, abilities, gifts, etc., and since everyone operates more or less from their fallen nature, we must not give anyone 'unquestioning' submission as if they were perfect like God, even if they expect us to or demand it from us. We need to recognise when what they ask for is reasonable and legitimate and when they are going beyond their boundaries. Otherwise we will make ourselves slaves, 'yes-men' or opinion-less zombies – the living dead.
When it comes to human authority, we also need to make a distinction between submitting to their authority and obeying whatever they say. Submission is to have an attitude that recognises and accepts the position of authority that this person has over us in particular areas. Obedience is to do what they tell us. While we must always keep an attitude of submission to authority, whether we do what they say depends on a few factors.
God's authority over us extends to every area of our life. But man's authority over us is limited to the role they have to play and the responsibility associated with that. Our boss at work can tell us how he wants us to do our work, but he cannot command us to join in his religious activities. He can ask us to do our work in a particular way but he cannot tell us to cheat in our work.
People in authority have every right to ask us to obey as long as they are exercising authority within their boundaries. But if they go outside such boundaries or our moral boundaries we are not bound to obey them. Even though we cannot revolt against them, we can make a stand and let our own boundaries be known. Just as submission is essentially an attitude because of which we recognise our position in relation to the people in authority above us, rebellion is also an attitude of revolt against such authority (Rom.13:1,2).
In general, what we see is that in any given area of responsibility, those who come under the responsibility of the person need to submit to him and obey him within that area. Here there is no requirement for the submission to take place in reverse, i.e., there is no need for the person with authority (responsibility) to submit to the person under authority in that area – submission is one-way as far as that area of authority is concerned. But keep in mind that the same two people can have a different set of roles in another context where authority is in the hands of the second person!
It is in this context that we have to understand the intention and meaning of the verse in Eph.5:21, "Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ." We need to understand that this submission to one another has to recognise the different areas where different people are in authority. This verse is not teaching an egalitarian approach where everyone is supposed to have equal authority or right and everyone just submits to everyone else without recognising that someone has authority over another. Perhaps an example will clarify what I mean.
Consider a church where a pastor is in charge of not only the spiritual direction but also the administrative decisions. He has delegated responsibilities to different people to handle different aspects of the church. He now has to submit to different ones in the area of their responsibility even though he is overall in charge.
For example, he submits to the choice of songs made by the choir leader, to the one who controls the sound system when he adjusts the settings, the electrician who decides how to lay the cables, etc. Since he is overall in charge, he has the right to discuss things with them and to make suggestions. But he recognises that these people are the authorities in their own area and he submits to them. They in turn submit to him when he decides how the church should move forward and what meetings to hold.
But if this pastor thinks that he is the supreme authority and takes micro-control over every aspect in his church, he would stifle the growth of the church defeating the very purpose of his authority as a pastor/leader!
Life is not a free-for-all where each one is making independent decisions, but we all recognise our inter-dependence and submit to one another recognising each one's area of responsibility.
This is an important point to learn and keep in mind when the spirit of the times is pushing for 'equality' in a way that implies the individual's total independence and right to make any decision. No, we are all inter-dependent – what others do affects us and what we do affects others too. It is only by recognising and submitting to the boundaries and responsibilities that we can manage to work together peacefully and productively.
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