Authority under Attack!

The figures on domestic abuse, reported in the Sunday Herald, show in 2009 there were 1,572 police reports of domestic abuse carried out by young people aged up to 18-years-old, a 17 per cent rise on the previous year. A spokesman for the Scottish Government said the country’s new curriculum was giving children and young people the opportunity to develop “respect for others”.
Last year statistics showed tens of thousands of school pupils were suspended from schools in England in 2009 for attacking their teachers or classmates. Almost 17,000 of these suspensions involved primary school pupils aged 11 and under, and over 63,000 of them involved children in secondary schools. The Department for Education’s statistics also revealed that there were 1,240 cases of children aged four and under being suspended for a variety of reasons during 2008-09.

These statistics make for very disturbing reading. Have you ever asked why this could be? The Bible teaches young people that they are to have a respect for authority.

Read Ephesians chapter 6 and take note of how we are to obey those in authority.

Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

What is required in the fifth commandment?
The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honour, and performing the duties, belonging to every one in their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals.

A boy was once tempted by his companions to pluck some ripe cherries from a tree which his father had forbidden him to touch. 'You need not be afraid,' said they, 'for your father will not know anything about it, and even if he finds out, he is so kind that he will not hurt you.' 'For that very reason,' replied the boy, 'I ought not to touch them, for though my father may not punish me, my disobedience would hurt my father.'

What is forbidden in the fifth commandment?
The fifth commandment forbiddeth the neglecting of, or doing anything against, the honour and duty which belongeth to every one in their several places and relations.

“How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, his precepts!
O! 'tis easier to keep holidays than commandments.”
Benjamin Franklin

Romans 13:7-8 says "Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law."

Honour means to esteem, respect, and to obey.


The Hebrew word for honour is "kabed" with the basic meaning of to be heavy from which comes the sense of making weighty, and of lading respect upon a person. They deserve a weight of respect. The Greek equivalent is "timao" which conveys the thought of fixing a valuation and by implication, to revere.
 
Malachi 1:6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?


If you want a dose of  practical holiness you should read Leviticus 19:2-3.

When the Bible says that we are to obey our parents in all things, what does this means? It means that we are to obey them in all things! The only exception can be found in Acts Chapter 5 verse 29.

We ought to obey God rather than men.

We need to remember that God will hold us accountable for how we honour our parents and those in authority.

Why is this so important that we honour our parents? Children are naturally sinful, we need to be instructed in the ways of the Lord.


Proverbs 22:6 says "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it"

Proverbs 29:15-17 says "The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall. Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul."

The shorter catechism asks "What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment?"

The reason annexed to the fifth commandment, is a promise of long life and prosperity (as far as it shall serve for God's glory and their own good) to all such as keep this commandment.

This is a great promise from God. We must not just give in lip service as those found in Mark 7:5-13.

Obeying is to be an inward thing in our though-life, our intent and motives.

Ephesians 5:28-31 - So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.



Yes we are in training! One day we will be parents and have that position of authority.
 
Let us submit and honour those in authority and teach it to others. We can have a better society.