Recently quiet, peaceful, Lancaster County has been visited by FOX News, most of the major morning shows on TV and the topic of Newsweek and Time. The reason – we have had a number of sad, violent events in the midst of our farmland!
November 2005, a teenage boy murders the parents of his girlfriend. They were believers and they did not want him dating this 14 year-old girl. Then in the spring of ’06, a young adult murdered 6 of his relatives. Moved their lifeless bodies to the basement and over the next few days had friends over to party. Then the whole nation was taken in by the Nickel Mine murders of five Amish girls in their one-room school house. Finally this past month another family of three was murdered in the middle of the night in their home while they were asleep. The criminals have not been found yet but speculation is pointing to young people. Five days later a man was killed by four teenage boys after he showed them kindness and let them borrow his cell phone. This is maddening, but it is the sign of the times. Anger. Violence. Murder. One only can ask – why is this happening?
About a week after the Borden murder, I wrote a letter to my church. I found it this week and was taken back by what I wrote then. In light of the past two years, I offer this letter as a word of exhortation for all of us.
Dear Church family:
Is your heart heavy this week? Mine has been. As we were enjoying a time of worship, fellowship, and instruction on Sunday morning, a quaint development in Lititz was struggling with the harsh reality of two murders in their neighborhood. Making matters worse is that this husband/father and wife/mother were fatal victims at the hands of someone who knew them and their family. We all are aware of the story surrounding the Borden murders and the sad fact that these believers’ lives were ended by an 18-year-old boy who was trying to date their daughter.
I say trying because as we now know that the Bordens completely disapproved of this emerging relationship between their 14-year-old, home-schooled daughter Kara Beth and 18-year-old David Ludwig. Evidently, the murders occurred after the Bordens confronted David for having their daughter out all night and insisting that he no longer see her. Out of his rage of being told what he “could not have,” he took the lives of the ones standing in the way of him getting what he wanted.
One newspaper reporter called this a classic “Romeo and Juliet” story - forbidden love gone wrong. One TV newscaster painted this as a product of strict, conservative Christianity pushing someone too far. Another commentator tried to sight the psychological problems that could have caused this reaction. It is only right that I also get my two cents in and use this as a way to warn us of how we should live our lives.
From my vantage point I see this as an issue of defying authority and the consequences of that kind of rebellion. You see, the Bible is clear. God has established a number of God-ordained authorities that we need to submit to; and by doing so, we will discover God’s will and experience God’s blessings.
That is why Peter wrote:
”Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king” 1 Peter 2:13-17.
Peter is writing during a time of abusive authority. Speaking of strict rules, Roman rule was absolutely barbaric. Yet Peter understood the overriding principle set forth by God – never defy authority. He challenges us to be bondslaves, to place ourselves under the authority of those sent by God. Those authorities are outlined in Scripture. They are our parents, government, employers, and church leaders. As we submit to these authorities, God can direct our lives, use us as a testimony, and protect us from evil.
We see it again in Paul’s writings. He writes young Timothy and challenges him to make sure he is always showing respect to those in authority and to teach the church in Ephesus to do the same…. “Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed” Titus 3:1.
He again tells them to pray for those in authority and not fight against them even when it seems they are wronging you…. ”First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” 1 Timothy 2:1-2.
Defying authority is at the root of every grievous sin I have ever seen in my life. You see, when a young man is told by a parent that he is no longer allowed to see their daughter, his first response should be to respect their word and submit to their request. Of course, over time he could come to them and make an appeal. But he has no footing to make an appeal by being rebellious.
Defying authority is simply exalting yourself above God and His authority. Rebellion comes when you allow your covetousness to take flight; your anger to be unleashed, and your fleshly lusts to go unchecked. Worshipping before the god of the mirror, as John Macarthur states, is the worst form of idolatry. It is self-worship. Because we don’t fear God and His authority, we take a swan dive into sin. That is why Peter wrote: …”then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties” 2 Peter 2:9-10.
The most frightening aspect is that defying authority brings consequence. There are always consequences from sin, but God takes it personal when we thumb our nose to His authority. It should scare us to death when we see events like we did on Sunday, and it should serve as a warning to be careful not to go against those authorities in our lives. Yet we shouldn’t be surprised that this has happened. After twenty years of hearing that “Kids can divorce their parents if they don’t like them….parents can’t discipline their kids or we will charge them with abuse….the government or the school knows best how to raise our children….girls can get an abortion without parental knowledge,” we have allowed a generation to think they are above the authority in their homes.
It should be no surprise because God’s Word predicted it….”But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these” 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
I hope we see this situation for what it is – defying authority. Now, you have three children who have no parents. You have a 14-year-old left to deal with the guilt of disobeying her mom and dad, and an 18-year-old who now faces the death penalty. And a Christian community wondering what happened. But don’t let the pundits tell you this was psyche gone bad; conservative Christianity gone bad; love gone bad; pent up emotions gone bad! This is simply what will occur when we defy authority.
How about you today? Are you struggling with submitting to the authorities in your life? Are you helping your kids understand why “obedience is better then sacrifice” as the Scriptures state? Are you ever so aware that consequences of authority can overshadow the moment of satisfaction defying authority will bring? Thank God for the authorities in your life. Repent if you are struggling with submission. Be sobered by the events of the day. Don’t defy any authority!!!