SUBMISSION
There is much instruction concerning this attitude in the New Testament letters. Particularly near the end of Romans, 1Corinthians, Ephesians, Colossians, Hebrews and 1Peter. Granted that Christian submission includes submission to Christ as Lord. But these also speak of submission to legitimate human authority - both secular and spiritual.
Submission of course goes hand in hand with Humility. In fact it is somewhat a measure of one's humility, and at times a helpful source of humiliation which God uses to help us maintain a proper level of humility. But it is also source of honor. For even concerning secular authorities Paul writes, "rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you." Rom 13:3 Though he's speaking in general, not denying that human authorities themselves don't always behave as they should, even as the early Christians experienced. But generally speaking this is the case.
Given the common objections and illegitimate excuses that even Christians come up with to excuse themselves from this obligation to submit to human authority, let me mention a few points.
Firstly, all human authority has only a limited realm of authority outside of which they are not legitimate authority. BUT just because you are not obligated to submit to them outside of their legitimate realm of authority does not mean you are not obligated to submit to them within their legitimate realm of authority. In other words if they tell you to do something which they don't really have authority to tell you to do, that does not nullify the commands they have given within their legitimate realm of authority.
An example of this regards the issues of evangelism and discipleship. Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Mt 28:18-20 Therefore those who interfere with that are not acting as legitimate authority figures.
Example: Acts 5:27-29 "Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood." Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men ..."
Secondly, (and this often comes up in families, as familiarity breeds contempt), you are not to usurp authority just because you feel you are smarter or more capable than them. Though, of course, you can attempt to influence them - as any good servant would want the best for his master.
But besides these it seems the roles of authority are relatively well defined in scripture, though their realms will have to be inferred.
There is much instruction concerning this attitude in the New Testament letters. Particularly near the end of Romans, 1Corinthians, Ephesians, Colossians, Hebrews and 1Peter. Granted that Christian submission includes submission to Christ as Lord. But these also speak of submission to legitimate human authority - both secular and spiritual.
Submission of course goes hand in hand with Humility. In fact it is somewhat a measure of one's humility, and at times a helpful source of humiliation which God uses to help us maintain a proper level of humility. But it is also source of honor. For even concerning secular authorities Paul writes, "rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you." Rom 13:3 Though he's speaking in general, not denying that human authorities themselves don't always behave as they should, even as the early Christians experienced. But generally speaking this is the case.
Given the common objections and illegitimate excuses that even Christians come up with to excuse themselves from this obligation to submit to human authority, let me mention a few points.
Firstly, all human authority has only a limited realm of authority outside of which they are not legitimate authority. BUT just because you are not obligated to submit to them outside of their legitimate realm of authority does not mean you are not obligated to submit to them within their legitimate realm of authority. In other words if they tell you to do something which they don't really have authority to tell you to do, that does not nullify the commands they have given within their legitimate realm of authority.
An example of this regards the issues of evangelism and discipleship. Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Mt 28:18-20 Therefore those who interfere with that are not acting as legitimate authority figures.
Example: Acts 5:27-29 "Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood." Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men ..."
Secondly, (and this often comes up in families, as familiarity breeds contempt), you are not to usurp authority just because you feel you are smarter or more capable than them. Though, of course, you can attempt to influence them - as any good servant would want the best for his master.
But besides these it seems the roles of authority are relatively well defined in scripture, though their realms will have to be inferred.
