For the Lord's sake, respect all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right. It is God's will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. For you are free, yet you are God's slaves, so don't use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the king.
(1 Peter 2:13-17)
Even when you don’t agree or those who have authority over you are clearly wrong show respect. Those of the older generation who tell the younger generation that respect is earned is doing them no favors, as they have set themselves contrary to the Word of God. Because of disobedience, whether out of ignorance or self-centered motivations or led astray from “older Christians” the result is the same – you miss out on the blessings God had set aside especially for you! Whether that blessing is healing, wisdom, peace, relationship, or many, many other things all intended for your good from your Heavenly Father. Look at what Peter goes on to say…
You who are slaves must accept the authority of your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. For God is pleased with you when you do what you know is right and patiently endure unfair treatment. Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you. For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in His steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when He was insulted, nor threaten revenge when He suffered. He left His case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By His wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.
(1 Peter 2:18-25)
You see there are different types of suffering but to suffer for doing good, regardless of who is right (remember if we truly belong to Christ Jesus (slaves) we give up our rights to be right) and you endure patiently the Bible says God is pleased with you. Why, because it is a necessary step in our spiritual growth and if you keep resisting it you never grow beyond that point! God is patient and as long as you keep avoiding spiritual development He will keep providing opportunities for you to listen to His call. The real question is how long do you want to keep going through the same thing, resisting and fighting the training that has been tailor made just for you? You see if everything happens for a purpose then we must believe God knows what He is doing but if you believe some are lucky and others are not then it makes sense to keep fighting and resisting because soon you are bound to be lucky too but I don’t want to depend on luck and if God says I must go through something then I say “let’s go!” For with God all things are possible and as long as I am holding His hand I know eventually I will weather the storm. As for those elders, even Christian elders, who offer wisdom from places other than the Bible I would ask you what is your purpose? Is your intent to really lead young people away from what the Bible says or are you ignorant as well and you are simply offering what the world has taught you? Be warned for Jesus would say to you…
But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in Me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.
(Matthew 18:6)
