Is “Authority” a Dirty Word?
Introduction:
I’m Pete. God loves you!
The topic today: How should we approach authority? What does God say about authority?
Purpose of Authority:
AI Overview:
I asked Google, in my smartphone February 16, 2026, “In the Bible, what is given as the purpose for authority?” What came back is the following:
“AI Overview
In the Bible, the primary purpose of authority is to serve others, promote good, and build up rather than tear down. Authority is viewed as a stewardship ordained by God for maintaining order, protecting the innocent, and restraining evil, with the ultimate goal of glorifying God.”
I was glad I asked, because that pretty well sums it up what I’ve observed throughout years of reading the Bible Scriptures. And that reply, as I anticipated, seemed in stark contrast to what seemed to me the current views of authority.
Current Views of Authority:
AI Overview:
To verify, I asked Google, in my smartphone February 16, 2026, “What is the current view of “authority” in American society?” What came back is the following:
“AI Overview
The current view of “authority” in American society is characterized by deep-seated skepticism, record-low trust in institutions, and intense polarization. While Americans generally value the idea of a functional government, majorities currently view federal authority as excessive, corrupt, and incompetent, with a growing belief that the country is moving in the wrong direction.”
Stark contrast. Notice nothing was said about authority within the American home.
AI Overview:
So, then I asked Google, in my smartphone February 16, 2026, “What is the current view of “authority” in the American home?” What came back is the following:
“AI Overview
The current view of authority in the American home has shifted away from traditional, top-down hierarchy toward a more egalitarian, collaborative, and in some cases, permissive structure. While “gentle parenting” has been influential, a 2025 trend shows a rise in curiosity about “authoritative” parenting–which balances firm boundaries with high emotional support–as a reaction to the need for more structure.”
Although that all might sound good, notice that nothing is said about any type of tie-breaking authority concerning disagreements between parents however critical, important, and influential. Disagreements are inevitable and not always negotiable. Disagreements between adults affect those adults and, eventually, children in the home.
Biblical Views of Authority:
Family Authority:
“Biblical family authority centers on a delegated hierarchy designed for structure and protection, where husbands are called to lead sacrificially, wives to submit to their husbands, and children to obey parents.” -Google, February 16, 2026.
Based on years of Bible reading and study, that statement rings true. The Biblical authority pattern is for order, structure, and protection. God is a God of love and order. This does not rule out the potential for timely, respectful, loving collaboration, where time and place permit. This Biblical pattern, though many dispute it (falsely, I believe), is found in various places within the Bible in relative detail. The following is just one portion, which generally sums up Biblical family authority:
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 5:22 – 6:4
Again, this does not rule out the potential for timely, respectful, loving collaboration. It simply establishes clear tie-breaking authority and provides needed structure for all. There is not always time and place for debate. Authority is established for that case too.
Government Authority:
The Bible indicates that governing authorities are provided by God to maintain order, correct evil, and be instruments for good. Among others, summary verses might include:
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. Romans 13:1-7
Ultimate Authority:
The ultimate authority is not the Supreme Court. It is not an international court. It is God and His Son, Jesus. God establishes Himself as the only true God. God also gives all authority to His Son, Jesus. So, other courts must inevitably answer to God and Jesus. Two of the many supporting Bible portions are:
For thus says the LORD,
who created the heavens
(he is God!),
who formed the earth and made it
(he established it;
he did not create it empty,
he formed it to be inhabited!):
“I am the LORD, and there is no other. Isaiah 45:18
Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky, and came and rolled away the stone from the door, and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men. The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying. Go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead, and behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.”
They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word. As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!”
They came and took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.
Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me.”
Now while they were going, behold, some of the guards came into the city, and told the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave a large amount of silver to the soldiers, saying, “Say that his disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him and make you free of worry.” So they took the money and did as they were told. This saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continues until today.
But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them. When they saw him, they bowed down to him, but some doubted. Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:1-20