Authority and Responsibility

I write a great deal about marriage and I will continue to do that. However, today,
 I want focus on a more broader scope in hopes of generating some discussion.

One of the most important lessons that we learn in life as well as one of the hardest lessons to learn while entering adulthood is that there is no separating authority and responsibility.

We are guiding our two youngest, with lots of prayer and trembling while watching our two oldest test the waters of the abyss known as adulthood. Thankfully and most blessedly, through us and even in spite of us, our children know the truth of God's love and have a relationship with Jesus. That will guide them well as they remain faithful to Christ.

Drawing the distinction between and recognizing the intimate connection of authority and responsibility is a task that takes a while to grasp.

For a teen or young adult, it can be as simple as wanting the authority to stay out later at night but not wanting the responsibility to lock the door and turn off the lights after arriving home. 

Or. Even more complex, the same want the authority to make their own decisions but shun the responsibility of the outcome, the financing and the affect of those decisions, both for themselves and others.

Is this struggle natural? Of course it is. We, as adults have been there ourselves, with our children and, sometimes, with other adults who haven't navigated this right of passage with great success. 

Saying that the difficulty in grasping this important relationship is natural and normal, does not negate the sense of urgency we, as parents, must possess in teaching and modeling this.

All too often, we see a disconnect in this area in our society: in the home; we want the authority of a husband/wife without the responsibility of a husband/wife, in the workplace; we want the authority of the boss without the responsibility of the boss, in the school; just go to some PTO meetings, there are moms and dads who want the authority of the leadership but not the responsibility of the leadership, in the church; we want the authority of the pastor but not the responsibility of the pastor.

What have we modeled for this young generation? If our children are to learn the irrefutable connection between authority and responsibility, then, I, as their parent, need to do better.

6 "In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly."

Romans 12:6-8 NLT

The gift given by the Holy Spirit grants us the privilege of authority. Exercising and using the gift wisely and generously is the responsibility. The two cannot be separated.

I would love to see a discussion on this. Join the conversation!

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