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Authority

The basic principle in military service is authority from which we take orders and obey commands. Much of military training is accomplished by giving orders that are unimportant and sometimes nonsense. These orders and commands are enforced. This is to establish this principle so well that when an issue of major importance occurs and a command is given, there will be no debate nor question nor delay in obeying it.

There is a great rebellion against those in authority not because of difference of opinion on what is right, but because of the authority itself.

When the ultimate of “no authority” is attained and the result of anarchy everywhere evident, an absolute authority takes over with little or no resistance. Napoleon, Lenin, and Hitler are examples of absolute rulers who took advantage of anarchy. At the same time that people resist authority, they cry out for it and will respond to it, even if it is an evil authority.

One of the saddest statements in the Bible is the last sentence in the book of Judges. “In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.” This was at the close of one of the grimmest accounts in Israel’s history. From that point they demanded an absolute monarch, and got one, King Saul.

These thoughts and examples so abruptly stated are to bring to attention (not to prove) the possibility that man needs to be, and is in fact, under authority.

Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Matthew 28:18

“And when Jesus finished these sayings, (the Sermon on the Mount) the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.” Matthew 7:28, 29

“But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, go and he goes; and to another ‘Come’ and he comes; and to my slave, “Do this and he does it.”

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but have itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths.

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