1 Samuel 15:23 ~ For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
My Mom liked to quote this verse a lot growing up. Now that I'm older and watching events unfold in our country, I'm beginning to understand how vital the Judea-Christian concepts of authority and respect for God-given authority are to the well-being of a democracy. Leaders do have high standards of conduct to which they should adhere. And when they don't adhere to those standards they should be held accountable. (The above reference is actually the prophet Samuel talking to Saul, and the remainder of the verse tells him he is losing the right to be King.)
Abuse of authority is a terrible thing.
Yet too many times I see people rebelling to authority, or being stubborn about submitting to requests. I agree that there are policemen in our country who have not lived in accordance with the law and abused the authority they have. But I don't think that gives us citizens a right to rebel and be stubborn against reasonable demands and requests. Doing so not only undermines a policeman's authority, but it is blatantly rude and disrespectful.
For all the people who claim the role of victim to police power abuse, I would love to know how many of those rebelled against simple commands or requests. I can certainly understand why a person would request to see verification of a policeman's badge, but to demand to see a badge and name so you can report them to their superiors is an insult, not a right. If a policemen walked up to my house and asked me to step outside, I would be nervous and concerned, but that's not an unreasonable request.
Maybe it all goes back to Philippians 4:8 and discerning what is right and true, but if we showed the authority the respect they deserved, then they might not abuse the power they have.
My Mom liked to quote this verse a lot growing up. Now that I'm older and watching events unfold in our country, I'm beginning to understand how vital the Judea-Christian concepts of authority and respect for God-given authority are to the well-being of a democracy. Leaders do have high standards of conduct to which they should adhere. And when they don't adhere to those standards they should be held accountable. (The above reference is actually the prophet Samuel talking to Saul, and the remainder of the verse tells him he is losing the right to be King.)
Abuse of authority is a terrible thing.
Yet too many times I see people rebelling to authority, or being stubborn about submitting to requests. I agree that there are policemen in our country who have not lived in accordance with the law and abused the authority they have. But I don't think that gives us citizens a right to rebel and be stubborn against reasonable demands and requests. Doing so not only undermines a policeman's authority, but it is blatantly rude and disrespectful.
For all the people who claim the role of victim to police power abuse, I would love to know how many of those rebelled against simple commands or requests. I can certainly understand why a person would request to see verification of a policeman's badge, but to demand to see a badge and name so you can report them to their superiors is an insult, not a right. If a policemen walked up to my house and asked me to step outside, I would be nervous and concerned, but that's not an unreasonable request.
Maybe it all goes back to Philippians 4:8 and discerning what is right and true, but if we showed the authority the respect they deserved, then they might not abuse the power they have.
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