Authority established by God

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”- Romans 13:1

I actually spoke on the topic of following directions properly at a business group meeting (not at work, but at an organization) because I realized that it is the number one reason that I have let anyone go over the past several years.  Many people have a basic INability to submit to the governing authorities, at least in a meaningful way.  They may give lip-service to their boss,  but in the end they engage in activities that undermine the agenda or project that they are supposed to be supporting or implementing.

These subversive actions often take the form of "pocket vetoes" or small actions that no one could attribute directly to any one person.  Who stands out as a performer?  The one that I can trust to push forward the company's agenda even while my eyes are not on them.  Not a "yes man" but someone who is creatively seeking the best interests of the company at all times while upholding a godly ethical standard--whether they are a believer or not!

"The authorities that exist have been established by God.” That statement is profound in its impact on lives.  Wives to their husbands, students to their teachers, college students to their Resident Advisors or Dormitory Supervisors, Parishoners to their Pastors...the list is never-ending.  We are all under authority and all authority comes from God.  To the extent that an authority figure is not requesting sin we have no right to disobey--whether directly or indirectly. 

It is the indirect insubordination that I have taken the most notice of lately.  It used to be a problem with my kids when they lived at home.  Like the prodigal son's brother, they would say yes with their mouths while their heart had other intentions--get by, get along, and all will be well.  NO!  True submission from the heart involves ACTION.  It costs.  To fully implement our agenda as parents required that they think of what we might want done to further the discipleship of the family and then to be a part of making it happen.  To sit idly by the side meant that their hearts were not truly on board.  They learned to disciple one another as well to to correctly confront even us as parents in a manner that pointed us toward Christ so that we could repent of our own sin. 

If I could only do as well with my employees...

Led by the Spirit and suffering

 15For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"

 16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,

 17and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

I have struggled since beginning this blog with going my own way rather than being led by the Spirit.  Many of these struggles were well within the realm of what many of my Christian friends would consider "acceptable behavior", but to truly struggle with sin is to see it as God sees it.

Being led by the Spirit means that I do not fear (vs. 15) as sin can no longer enslave me.  I am a son and will reign victorious over sin because of what Christ did for me 2000 years ago, and in eternity.  He leaves His Spirit to testify continually in my heart that I am His child and hence an heir with Christ.  I can be assured by my status in the family by suffering (vs. 17) which will allow me to also share in His glory.

The academic part of this entire experience is that the word "suffering" has taken on a totally new meaning for me.  I used to suffer from medical issues, financial woes, children who made me wonder if God was going to sit in judgment on my parenting efforts, etc.   Now I suffer from the struggle against sin day to day.  It makes me miserable to realize that I have erred once again in any number of endeavors to obey God. 

I also suffer when those around me sin.  Sometimes from the consequences of their sin, but in general because I have become more in tune with how God views what they are doing and now find the behaviors more offensive than I did in the past.  God is working on me and through me to gently confront and exhort without ignoring sin in my own life--and that is rather painful most days.

The glory clause is not only a future glory in which we will share, but an act of God today that allows me to rest confidently in His willingness and ability to care for me as His child.

Benefit those who Listen

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”- Ephesians 4:29

This simple instruction to say the edifying word to those who listen takes more discipline than tithing!  An effort to obey this command exposes my pride, my impatience, my failure to esteem others as better than myself or to respect those who work for me.  I have faced some problems at work lately because of a number of people who chose to pocket veto the standards and take shortcuts figuring that no one would notice.  I noticed that something was wrong but was unable to put my finger on it for months because it was not one problem but rather man small ones. 

My challenge now is to build those people up according to their needs--not to make them feel good about the wrong that they committed or to build their self-esteem, but to build them according to what they need, to make them a better employee, to give them the truth about Christ. I am striving to speak the truth in love so that they can clearly see the error of their ways and choose repentence.  The goal must remain to benefit the hearer, not vent my frustration.

Excusing sin

http://www2.oprah.com/omagazine/200207/omag_200207_checklist.jhtml

1.	He seems irritated or angry with you several times a week. When you ask why he's mad, he either denies it or tells you it's in some way your fault.
2.	When you feel hurt and try to talk with him, the issues never get resolved. He might refuse to discuss your upset feelings by saying "You're just trying to start an argument!" or claiming he has no idea what you're talking about.
3.	You frequently feel frustrated because you can't get him to understand your intentions.
4.	You're upset—not so much about concrete issues like how much time to spend together, but about communication: what he thinks you said and what you heard him say.
5.	You sometimes think, "What's wrong with me? I shouldn't feel so bad."
6.	He seems to take the opposite view from you on almost everything, and his opinion isn't stated as "I think," but as if you're wrong and he's right.
7.	You can't recall saying "Cut it out!" or "Stop it!"

I did a random survey, and most happily married women that I quizzed who are over 50 recall going through the above scenario early in their marriage.  Their response?  To tell their husband he was being an idiot and to cut it out.  Did he take it well?  No.  Did they care?  Sort of...but the point was that number 7 never occurred...they did say "cut it out!" or "stop it!" because they knew that his sinful actions were displeasing to God.  As a loving wife and the only one in the world in a position to confront his sin, they did so--regardless of the personal risk.

The argument (in defense of the wife) that has me the most aggravated is that Mrs. Winkler chose her course of action to protect the church and her husband's reputation.  How can any reasoning person believe that?  How is it protecting the church to
 - set its shepherd up to sin unchecked? 
 - perpetrate a lie (that its pastor was a godly husband)?
 - allow a person with no effort to confess sin and be right with God to lead the flock of God?
 - be more concerned about the praise of men (what people think of her and her spouse) than the fear of God and His commands?
 - show disrespect for God's Word by making no effort to promote the standards for a pastor found in I Timothy and Titus?

Rather than rant for another five paragraphs...I simply ask this question and invite someone to please give me a reasoned explanation that makes logical sense:  Why are all the defenses of this woman devoid of reference to God's standards of right and wrong for her and rather pointing to her suffering in a way that indicates that those who suffer will not be held accountable for their sin by God.   

And please do not answer with anything along the lines of  "because she is wrong and emotion is all they have to go on" because that is where I am sitting right now.  If I am missing something true and important, I want to change.  I feel compassion for her situation, but I can see nowhere in scripture that God instructs us to sin in order to accomplish His goals (such as the protection of the church).  Rahab was not told to lie, even though God rewarded her for hiding the spies.  It is always a struggle not to return evil for evil.  Every day.

Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power

2 Timothy 3:1But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.