Are you struggling with a form of rebellion against authority? We have outlined a five-step process to help you change and heal in this area of your life. Take all the time you need with each of the steps below.
Step 1: Adopt a Correct View of God
If you have a tendency toward rebellion, chances are good that your view of God has become skewed in some way. Perhaps you see God as a tyrant, selfishly wanting everything His own way. Your reaction to Him, then, could spill over to your relationships with other authority figures. Consider these points:
- God’s commandments are fair and good.
He is the Rock; His deeds are perfect. Everything He does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright He is! (Deuteronomy 32:4)
- God will hold us accountable for our rebellion.
The LORD is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. But He does not excuse the guilty. He lays the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations. (Numbers 14:18)
Embark on a study of the justice and sovereignty of God as reflected in Scripture. Keep an open mind as you encounter biblical truth, asking God to change your view of Him to make it more nearly conformed to the truth.
Step 2: Revise Your False Beliefs
If you have mistaken ideas about people and the world, you will rebel against authority figures and especially the greatest Authority Figure of them all–God. Evaluate your beliefs with the following questions:
- Do you believe you are not subject to properly instituted authorities?
Those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. (Romans 13:1)
- Do you believe you can defy authority without consequences?
You will say, “How I hated discipline! If only I had not ignored all the warnings!” (Proverbs 5:12)
- Do you believe God’s commandments and will are unreasonable?
I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to Your commandments. (Psalm 119:45)
Trace the theme of obedience through Scripture. In the process, test your beliefs about how families, businesses, churches, and society should operate. Choose to accept the principle of obedience to proper authority.