There is great freedom & blessing that comes from being under authority. We don't have to have the stress of trying to be in charge and make life work when we don't really have the capacity and ability to do so.
I look at my daughter Hope, a three year old who in many ways wishes she was 30 and tries to act like it too. She longs to be the one in charge, the mommy and the authority. One day, with the proper training, she will make an amazing mommy and grown woman of faith. However, she is not equipped yet to carry that weight. And every time she tries to be the one in charge of her own life and other's, she strives and stresses herself out. She lacks peace and joy, and she gets easily frustrated and conflicted.
Well, God somehow saw fit that I would have this child who would take awhile and some serious consistency to bring under submission to authority, so Hope has spent much of her life so far striving and trying to be her own boss. Dozens of times each day I have to remind her to ask permission to do things before she does them, and to speak to me in a way that is honoring and asking, not demanding. She still hasn't quite gotten it, but there are those moments when she gets it, and I see such a peace and joy within her as I have been able to take the weight off her shoulders of having to be the one in charge.
Part of her realizes she is too little and too naive to be the one in charge. Her spirit knows that she is much safer letting me be in charge. Yet her flesh rages and fights her all the time wanting to be the one calling all the shots.
There is great freedom in not needing to always have our own way.
We don't know what to do so much of the time.
We don't know how to keep from sinning. But as we submit to God's authority in our lives, we find what we need.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Authority & Submission - Part 1
I could write pages and pages on this, though in many ways I still struggle to have the right words for it all. But one of the things that I have radically had my eyes opened to in both marriage and parenting has been God's establishment of authority and submission on the earth and the blessing meant to be found here.
I have had my eyes opened to how much our society lacks an understanding of this truth, even in such a profound way that most people, including myself a year or two ago, have no grid for what these words are even talking about. And yet it is such a significant concept in the Kingdom. This passage has always particularly intrigued me, yet it has only been recently that I have understood what this meant.
The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. Matthew 8:8-10
Well, this passage had struck me because I didn't really understand two things about these verses...first of all, why did Jesus say this man had such great faith? And secondly, why did the man say that HE was under authority but then gave the explanation of how he had people UNDER his authority?
Then as God began revealing to me what authority and submission means, my questions began to get answered. Authority is an understanding of God designed order and
Authority in God's Kingdom is much different than man's perverted understanding of authority.
It has to do with delegated authority to
God has delegated us as the authority in our children's lives for their own blessing and protection. We are not to use this authority to control or manipulate, but to guide and protect our children. It is essential that they learn a healthy respect for authority as young children. Otherwise they will become teenagers and then adults who think they are their own authority, not subject to anyone else. They will kick and fight and rebel against anyone who tries to prevent them from having their own way if they never learned how to submit to their parents' God-given benevolent and protective authority in their lives.
Essentially authority is imposed by superiors upon inferiors either by force of arms (structural authority) or by force of argument (sapiential authority). Usually authority has components of both compulsion and persuasion
Much of child raising today fosters independent, strong-willed children who are being trained in developing the best manipulative techniques to get what they want. Many of our children in today's society are unrestrained and have very little respect for authority. They have been taught that they are the ones in charge and they are their own boss.
One of the reasons this is such a huge matter in my heart and life is because I have come to understand how this type of child raising directly affects one's understanding of God and how one relates to Him. God is the ultimate authority in our lives, and He is meant to be honored and obeyed. However, if we are not taught how to honor and obey the authorities in our lives, we will struggle in serious ways to live under God's authority and to honor and obey Him.
The beauty of submission to authority is that it is a place of safety. This can be seen more obviously in the sphere of government and law. When people disregard the authority of the law, many times their lives are in danger. For example, if someone is driving along the freeway and decides they do not want to have to submit themselves to the authority of the law that has put in place the speed limit, and they begin driving recklessly and too fast, there is a good chance they will get in a wreck and get hurt, as well as endangering other drivers on the road. The same is true with the authority God should have in our lives, and the earthly authorities He has given us.
Children are put under their parent's authorities because they are young and innocent and ignorant of so many things in the world. They need so much care and teaching and leading, especially as very young children. If they did not have parents to be authorities in their lives, they would die. Think about it, if my children were left to themselves, they would run out into the street and get run over, they would not know how to feed themselves or get food, and even if they managed to figure that out, they would probably eat such poor food that they would get sick, they wouldn't just go put themselves to bed so they would get exhausted and out of control and sick.
Have you read "Lord of the Flies?" This is such a good picture of what happens in a society that has lost an understanding of proper authority and submission and Godly rule.
God has established authority in the world so that people would be protected. I believe He has also given a specific picture and gift of authority in the family structure and with children so that they may learn how to properly view God and how to honor and obey Him as they learn to honor and obey their parents.
Ephesians 6:1-3
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise) so that it may go well with you and that you may live long on the earth.
What parent doesn't want their child to be blessed, to have life go well with them and for them to live a long life?
God has given us one of the keys to seeing this realized in our children's lives:
TEACH THEM TO OBEY YOU AND HONOR YOU
It is not a power trip thing. It is a God thing. It doesn't look like the way the world views authority. We are called as parents to be authorities that represent the authority of the Heavenly Father. He a good, benevolent authority, operating out of a place of lovingkindness, justice, and gentleness. He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. He is also righteous and doesn't excuse sin. He has standards and executes consequences for disobedience. He is a good Father who disciplines His children for their own good. He always does what is best for us and is never lazy in our training unto righteousness and godliness. He is committed to us and always acts out of love, even to the point that He is willing to seriously discipline us to see righteousness come forth in our lives.
4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."[a]
7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebews 12:7-11
As children, and even often as adults, we rarely know what is truly best for us. So often we just want what feels good or what is easy. Anything that seems unpleasant we try to avoid. Yet this is not how we grow and mature, and our Heavenly Father knows that. So He puts us in many situations in life where He can teach us and grow us and stretch us, and so much of the method for growth is to submit ourselves to Him and to His ways. This truth is the same in our children's lives. If we are going to be able to really help them grow and become mature, we must teach them to submit and obey us. Otherwise they will just continue to choose the easy way, the pleasant and enjoyable choices, that often lead to destruction rather than life. When they can learn to submit to our authority as parents, with God's help we can lead them into rest, joy and protection.
I have had my eyes opened to how much our society lacks an understanding of this truth, even in such a profound way that most people, including myself a year or two ago, have no grid for what these words are even talking about. And yet it is such a significant concept in the Kingdom. This passage has always particularly intrigued me, yet it has only been recently that I have understood what this meant.
The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. Matthew 8:8-10
Well, this passage had struck me because I didn't really understand two things about these verses...first of all, why did Jesus say this man had such great faith? And secondly, why did the man say that HE was under authority but then gave the explanation of how he had people UNDER his authority?
Then as God began revealing to me what authority and submission means, my questions began to get answered. Authority is an understanding of God designed order and
Authority in God's Kingdom is much different than man's perverted understanding of authority.
It has to do with delegated authority to
God has delegated us as the authority in our children's lives for their own blessing and protection. We are not to use this authority to control or manipulate, but to guide and protect our children. It is essential that they learn a healthy respect for authority as young children. Otherwise they will become teenagers and then adults who think they are their own authority, not subject to anyone else. They will kick and fight and rebel against anyone who tries to prevent them from having their own way if they never learned how to submit to their parents' God-given benevolent and protective authority in their lives.
Essentially authority is imposed by superiors upon inferiors either by force of arms (structural authority) or by force of argument (sapiential authority). Usually authority has components of both compulsion and persuasion
Much of child raising today fosters independent, strong-willed children who are being trained in developing the best manipulative techniques to get what they want. Many of our children in today's society are unrestrained and have very little respect for authority. They have been taught that they are the ones in charge and they are their own boss.
One of the reasons this is such a huge matter in my heart and life is because I have come to understand how this type of child raising directly affects one's understanding of God and how one relates to Him. God is the ultimate authority in our lives, and He is meant to be honored and obeyed. However, if we are not taught how to honor and obey the authorities in our lives, we will struggle in serious ways to live under God's authority and to honor and obey Him.
The beauty of submission to authority is that it is a place of safety. This can be seen more obviously in the sphere of government and law. When people disregard the authority of the law, many times their lives are in danger. For example, if someone is driving along the freeway and decides they do not want to have to submit themselves to the authority of the law that has put in place the speed limit, and they begin driving recklessly and too fast, there is a good chance they will get in a wreck and get hurt, as well as endangering other drivers on the road. The same is true with the authority God should have in our lives, and the earthly authorities He has given us.
Children are put under their parent's authorities because they are young and innocent and ignorant of so many things in the world. They need so much care and teaching and leading, especially as very young children. If they did not have parents to be authorities in their lives, they would die. Think about it, if my children were left to themselves, they would run out into the street and get run over, they would not know how to feed themselves or get food, and even if they managed to figure that out, they would probably eat such poor food that they would get sick, they wouldn't just go put themselves to bed so they would get exhausted and out of control and sick.
Have you read "Lord of the Flies?" This is such a good picture of what happens in a society that has lost an understanding of proper authority and submission and Godly rule.
God has established authority in the world so that people would be protected. I believe He has also given a specific picture and gift of authority in the family structure and with children so that they may learn how to properly view God and how to honor and obey Him as they learn to honor and obey their parents.
Ephesians 6:1-3
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise) so that it may go well with you and that you may live long on the earth.
What parent doesn't want their child to be blessed, to have life go well with them and for them to live a long life?
God has given us one of the keys to seeing this realized in our children's lives:
TEACH THEM TO OBEY YOU AND HONOR YOU
It is not a power trip thing. It is a God thing. It doesn't look like the way the world views authority. We are called as parents to be authorities that represent the authority of the Heavenly Father. He a good, benevolent authority, operating out of a place of lovingkindness, justice, and gentleness. He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. He is also righteous and doesn't excuse sin. He has standards and executes consequences for disobedience. He is a good Father who disciplines His children for their own good. He always does what is best for us and is never lazy in our training unto righteousness and godliness. He is committed to us and always acts out of love, even to the point that He is willing to seriously discipline us to see righteousness come forth in our lives.
4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."[a]
7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebews 12:7-11
As children, and even often as adults, we rarely know what is truly best for us. So often we just want what feels good or what is easy. Anything that seems unpleasant we try to avoid. Yet this is not how we grow and mature, and our Heavenly Father knows that. So He puts us in many situations in life where He can teach us and grow us and stretch us, and so much of the method for growth is to submit ourselves to Him and to His ways. This truth is the same in our children's lives. If we are going to be able to really help them grow and become mature, we must teach them to submit and obey us. Otherwise they will just continue to choose the easy way, the pleasant and enjoyable choices, that often lead to destruction rather than life. When they can learn to submit to our authority as parents, with God's help we can lead them into rest, joy and protection.
New Focus
I have very obviously stopped putting up new posts on this blog, for various reasons, mostly having to do with a lack of time. But another reason is that my focus in parenting has dramatically shifted as I have come into a new season and a new understanding of what it means for me to be a mom.
I have left the realm of figuring out the practicalities and products of motherhood and entered into a new place of understanding the heart of motherhood and disciplines of motherhood. When I first began this blog, I wanted to stay kind of clear of this type of thing because I wanted to blog to be useful to all different types of mothers with all different backgrounds and beliefs and whatnot. But I have now realized that if I am going to be able to put anything else up on this blog, it will have to be dealing with the things really near and dear to my heart when it comes to being a mother.
I apologize to any of you who may read this and be offended by my words and my new focus and switch. But I can't seem to avoid this new direction any longer and I believe it is such an essential element to parenting that many mothers have not been able to receive much encouragement and teaching in.
This may all seem very vague right now, but as I begin to write more in this new direction, I think it will become more clear. Here is my best attempt to make some bullet points on it though. This heart and mission and discipline of motherhood has brought me some of the following truths that I will probably begin writing new posts on, provided there is time to do so!
-children are a blessing from the Lord
-motherhood is a blessing, a gift, and a place of honor
-parents must have a revelation of authority and submission and teach this to their children
-freedom in mothering comes from getting into it more, not trying to escape it and gain more "me" time
-our children are worth it!
-to be the mother God's wants us to be, it will take great sacrifice and we will be able to learn how to lay down our lives for our children, and in doing so, we will truly find what we have been created for
I have left the realm of figuring out the practicalities and products of motherhood and entered into a new place of understanding the heart of motherhood and disciplines of motherhood. When I first began this blog, I wanted to stay kind of clear of this type of thing because I wanted to blog to be useful to all different types of mothers with all different backgrounds and beliefs and whatnot. But I have now realized that if I am going to be able to put anything else up on this blog, it will have to be dealing with the things really near and dear to my heart when it comes to being a mother.
I apologize to any of you who may read this and be offended by my words and my new focus and switch. But I can't seem to avoid this new direction any longer and I believe it is such an essential element to parenting that many mothers have not been able to receive much encouragement and teaching in.
This may all seem very vague right now, but as I begin to write more in this new direction, I think it will become more clear. Here is my best attempt to make some bullet points on it though. This heart and mission and discipline of motherhood has brought me some of the following truths that I will probably begin writing new posts on, provided there is time to do so!
-children are a blessing from the Lord
-motherhood is a blessing, a gift, and a place of honor
-parents must have a revelation of authority and submission and teach this to their children
-freedom in mothering comes from getting into it more, not trying to escape it and gain more "me" time
-our children are worth it!
-to be the mother God's wants us to be, it will take great sacrifice and we will be able to learn how to lay down our lives for our children, and in doing so, we will truly find what we have been created for
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