The topic of authority has been on my mind for some time.
In the book I’m reading, Killing Kryptonite, John Bevere discusses the positive results the Israelites were granted when they obeyed the authority of God and worked together as a united front. Check it out in Joshua 6. They had taken Jericho because they put 100% faith in God, working together, even though I’m sure some of them thought walk around the city for six days, what? And now you want us to walk around it seven times? But they did it and the walls collapsed and they took the city! They trusted in the authority of God.
However, when they were not unified (i.e. one of them steals all the gold, silver, bronze in the city of Ai and keeps it for himself) bad things happened to them. Here Achan had fought and won the battle of Jericho leaving everything behind after God had commanded them to take nothing but then he just cannot resist his greed and disobeys. The rest of them were likely thinking thanks for ruining it for the rest of us, dude! That’s all it took, an entire nations suffers.
Authority comes in many different roles and personalities. I was raised Catholic, so for me, there has always been authority in God’s commandments and the life of Jesus. As children we are taught our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, coaches are individuals we are expected to respect and obey. Police officers have a level of authority monitoring our actions to ensure laws are upheld. If you have a job, you likely have a boss you have to listen to unless you have the pleasure of being self-employed. Even then, your investors may have some level of authority in how you’re spending their money. Within our government and religion, we have authority.
At times, our earthly authority figures have led us down the wrong path, mis-guided or mis-directed us. As a parent, I know I have made and continue to make mistakes. I’ve also had bosses admit to failed decisions they thought were going to turn into successes. Political figures, yep, lots of mistakes there.
Authority in the form of government creates a great divide in our nation; republican, democrat, something in between. Remember how it felt the days following September 11th though? I don’t think I’ve ever felt more united as an American. It didn’t matter what your political opinion was, we were one body; such camaraderie in the midst of a disaster.
Religious authority has caused an even greater divide with the latest sexual abuse scandal within the Catholic Church. The thought that leaders within the church hierarchy KNEW of matters and remained silent is just unbelievable. I’ve always looked at the church as a family, one body, and when trials and hardships hit, as a family, you unite to protect your family. I have seen first hand how families can play down hardships, maybe a teenage pregnancy or a drug/alcohol addiction, domestic abuse, financial woes, divorce or relationship failures. No one likes their dirty laundry aired for all to see.
The men that committed these crimes and the ones that covered it up are guilty. I pray they have remorse and repent for their sins for the sake of their salvation. I pray for the victims who respected and obeyed authority figures to only be taken advantage of and hurt by it. Priests are human and are not perfect, they are sinners just like I am, but under the authority of God’s commandments and laws built to protect, these crimes should never have happened. So much evil in this world causing pain and sorrow. It does not surprise me to see the enemy bringing evil to infiltrate the Catholic Church. If the enemy was going to work his plan of temptation, corruption and annihilation of Christians, of course he would use those of faith in high ranking positions.
People have often asked me how our situation could have happened to us? You go to church every Sunday, Laura, you’re closer to God than anyone else I know, how could God have let this happen? Bad things happen under God’s authority. I will never have an answer to the question I ask every day, multiple times a day . . . “WHY!??!?!?!?!?”
But then I think, “Why wouldn’t God use us?” I would love to say that grief and sorrow only affects people who are mean and evil but I believe that the strong in faith can be tested to bring faith and God’s commandments to others. There is evil in this world and we sin and sin and sin until it’s mainstream and then it’s accepted and then it’s encouraged and then it’s applauded!? I pray for strength almost every day. Strength to trust God 100% even though I don’t have the answers, even though everything about what he’s asked me to endure seems wrong, even though I see evil, mean-spirited people who have things falling into place and everything going their way and I go, why aren’t THEY the ones suffering like I am?
God has found a reason to allow this pain in my life. I trust His authority. I respect and obey. He’s in charge of my life and the one thereafter. If you’ve read all the way to the end and you’re still hanging with me, stop and pray right now, would you please?
Pray for God’s authority to reign over ALL, unified as one body, filling us with trust in His ways, His timing. Pray for strength to fight temptation & sinful behavior, fight the evil that we see unfolding all around us. Lord, protect us. Pray for those who facilitate drug and sex trafficking, for those who abuse and molest others, pray for bullies, that they may all come to know what they do is wrong, there WILL be judgement. Pray they change and protect one another rather than take advantage. Pray God shows mercy on His believers and comes back soon.