Authority to Rule

I have no formal research to back this up, but when it comes to politics, I think most Americans agree that anarchy is not the answer to a peaceful society. (Sorry, Ghandi!) Deep down, we believe that no one individual has the best interests of all people in mind when deciding what career to choose, what car to buy, or what to eat for breakfast. So we put a certain amount of trust in a created authority. It's not perfect, but it is better than dividing that power up a couple hundred million times to see what your goofy neighbor does with limitless rights.

Recently, a republican congressman was censured for breaking decorum at the expense of an authority. Even though he apologized shortly after, Joe Wilson was certainly not sorry for his opinions. He wanted to respectfully let the everyone know that our president is in fact a lying grifter. Since the incident, he has been the subject of many jokes from pundits and comedians. Apparently, it is rather out of the ordinary in America to publicly denounce respected authority. Who would have guessed?



Also dominating the news for awhile was Kanye West's outburst at an awards show. Though Kanye was simply stating his honest opinion, he was quickly put on the nation's most wanted list. For about a week, people from all different backgrounds and philosophies, genders and colors, were united in their hatred for this man. I think there might be hope for Israel and Palestine some day if they can start their dialogue with "Hey, so how about that douche-lick Kanye West?" This is further evidence that though we are a country founded on free speech, there are some institutions sacred enough to warrant a certain level of respect. And if that institution is crossed, it spells social suicide.

If you believe in one God, it is often assumed that He is an all-powerful and all-knowing Being of benevolence. I don't know many people who admit to both believing in God and thinking He is unfit to be in power. Remember, I said "who admit." The truth is, believers are questioning Him all the time. There's a Joe Wilson in all of us who read Romans 8:28 and take it with a grain of salt. "Kanye Christopher" rears his ugly head every week when I see my coworker credited for a job well done and sneer, knowing my accomplishments remain unsung. I believe in God, but do I believe He is deserving of the title?

Believers have consciously accepted that this Being has authority in our lives, but one thing we refuse to give him is a license to rule.

If anyone had cause to complain, it was probably Job, but even in his situation we find the Lord fiercely defending His right as Lord to rule over his creation. There is no setting or circumstance in which we have the authority to question the Creator of the world, and yet this is the primary characteristic of his followers. Imagine that. Believers have a hard time believing. Odd, but true.

Could it be that with such a shortage of followers that actually trust Him in their situations, that the Lord is calling His people to something more than just fulfilling a checklist of spiritual activity every week? Could it be that less of more is more than more of less? Despite my reluctance, I am becoming a believer that believing is much more important than doing. And lately it is what I don't do that demonstrates the strength of this belief.

How hurtful it must be to our God when we will mow his grass and send him a gift on Christmas from Amazon but fail to give our hearts to Him. He holds a hollow version of authority in our lives much like the current royal family of England. No wonder so many disillusioned are emerging and gaining power by publicly questioning "religion" or the importance of God. Their voices are getting louder the more they see people who trust God only with words.

The test of trust? Find the most important thing in your life and ask yourself honestly if you trust God enough to take the reigns. "But, but, but, but, but, but, but, but, but..." Most will walk away from the question saddened because we just aren't ready to accept God's authority to rule.