Man Up! Authority!

Man Up

I'm writing this blog to help advertise for the Man Up concert coming to Houston! Just like K.B. says it is for men and women and will be focusing on what biblical manhood is. The other aim of this blog is to discuss one of their songs on the album called Authority! To see what the bible has to say about it, to show you the song, and to give you some lyrics so you will be prepared to jam out at the concert!


Bow Down
1 Peter 2:13-17

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 bond slaves of God. Honor all men; love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

This passage of scripture is relevant to just about everyone. It is to every person who has parents still living today. To every person who has a job where they are under some form of management or leadership. To every church member, and to every citizen of some form of government. So if you'll give me just a moment to read this as I pick this apart I think you will find it just as convicting and as thirst quenching as every divinely inspired hard truth of the bible is.


So what makes this issue so urgent for Peter that he brings it up right here is what he has said in the previous four verses. That we as Christians are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession". Peter says that you are "Gods people" and therefore that you are "sojourners and exiles"  strangers of the worlds social and political institutions. All of this brings up the question of whether or not we should have allegiance to any of the worlds institutions or if we should just huddle up into our own christian communities and have no regarded for the powers and structures of this sinful world that we are no longer native of.


And Peter's answer is a very big NO. But why? In this world he is calling us to be a citizen of really 2 orders. Our primary citizenship will always be in Gods Kingdom but also we are still members of this world and it's powers today. But why are we? if you look at 1 Peter 2:13 it starts with "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution" The key phrase in this verse is "for the Lord's sake." If you miss that, you miss the most important thing. There is a kind of allegiance to human institutions that is not for the Lord's sake, and that is not what Peter is interested in. Christians do not submit to human institutions simply because they feel like it, or because it fits with their desires or because the institution has coercive powers. We do not look first at ourselves to see what we feel like doing, nor do we look first at the institution (like government) to see if it there are consequences for not submitting. We look first to God. We consult God about the institution. And we submit for His sake.


2 Chronicles 20:6

"O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.

God is Sovereign and puts those in power in power. He empowered George Bush and he empowered President Obama! This is not to say that the Powers, Governments, Kings, Rulers, Bosses, Managers, and Parents of this world do not sin! but that God "works all things according to the counsel of his will" (Ephesians 1:11) Our primary citizenship is always to the kingdom of God so as long as they do not contradict the bible in their law we must obey them. The government is for the purpose of the "punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right", but even more so for what truly motivates our God. Which is his fame! His glory! His name!


You must understand that when Peter says this in his letter and when Paul says this in Romans 13:1-7 that they are under the reign of King Nero! Who hates and persecutes the Christians and in the end beheads Paul and crucifies Peter upside down! And this would be Gods will! That they may as "bond slaves of God" declare him as more valuable and satisfying than life it's self! And proclaim the glories of God through their death!


And God has called us to submit to all of our authorities! That includes our Parents!


Ephesians 6:1

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right

When God said, "Children, submit to your parents," that was after the Fall. There aren't any perfect parents. All parents are sinful and inadequate and make mistakes. God knew that when he said, "Children, obey your parents." More damage would be done in a culture, across the board, if we began to teach, "Every child should decide when Daddy is making a mistake and just ignore Daddy's authority. When Daddy says something wrong or stupid or overprotective, we're just going to ignore that, because we decide." That kind of autonomy is going to utterly destroy culture and family and life. 
 We keep the speed limit for God's sake, not because we might get a ticket! And through this all our driving becomes an act of worship!

Display the gospel to your coworkers through your servant like heart that is about more than getting payed and  submit to your boss declaring your obedience to God

Philippians 2:14-16

Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ

And do not think that this excludes the pastors, elders and deacons of your church! If they contradict God appeal to the bible! Know that God has called them to where they are and that there are no perfect people! Honor them. Listen to them. Respect them.

In reality all of our submission is truly a picture of our submission to God who rules all things! you can say to your authorities "I submit to you, I honor you—but not for your sake. I honor you for God's sake. I honor you because God owns you and rules over you and has sovereignly raised you up for a limited season and given you the leadership that you have. For his sake and for his glory and because of his rightful authority over you, I honor you."

Christ was obedient to the Father all the way to death and the apostles followed him and that declared Gods glory! In the end this is all about the proclamation of the Gospel to those who observe us, have relationships with us, and who are over us. So let us worship God through our submission in our daily lives follow Christ and lead men and women.. because "if you can't follow you can never lead"-Lecrae

Here is where you can get your tickets and information for the concert http://www.dasouth.com/manuphouston/
 and here is one of the songs with lyrics below enjoy

Lecrae

If you can’t follow you can never lead

And you don’t run a thing till you running to the king

And who I follow’s who they follow when they follow me

A real man bow’s down to authority

Tedashii

I’m real, I’m a man but I guess its just my gender

When it comes to man hood man we leave it to our sisters

What a tragedy, travesty, passive in our actions living absentee stand and wait

While asking them to marry me

we wait, left into death, saying next what a mess

Beating on my chest and thinking I am strong bowflex

If you want to take charge for the lord then you’ll lead her

Being one who serves like the one who chose to bleed out

Submitting to Authority government that’s over me

And to the father who is Sovereign real men stay orderly

I learned to submit because god gives the command

While she follows me cause I follow him with holes in his hand

If you can’t follow you can never lead

And you don’t run a thing till you running to the king

And who I follow’s who they follow when they follow me

A real man bow’s down to authority

Bow down bow down to authority (2x)

And who I follow’s who they follow when they follow me

Bow down bow down to authority

Pro

Hey I don’t care what they tell you what cats try to sell you

You was made in the image of God

His craftsmanship is in your cells dude

You are not an animal or just a foolish beast

You were made to oversee the creation of the King now

Flashing your badge like a cop that’s got some power

But you should be a tool to encourage and empower

And stop runnin round with women like a little Dog in heat

If she disrespects herself show her who she’s supposed to be

She a queen and the scriptures says she is the weaker vessel

It’s more like fine china doesn’t mean she’s any lesser

The equal wouldn’t smash fine art to the ground

So why use your body or your words to tear her down

If you can’t follow you can never lead

And you don’t run a thing till you running to the king

And who I follow’s who they follow when they follow me

A real man bow’s down to authority

Bow down bow down to authority (2x)

And who I follow’s who they follow when they follow me

Bow down bow down to authority

KB

You ask ‘em what’s a man?

They say that dude that gots them stacks on stacks in rubber bands finger to the government

I want it, I get it, it’s mine can’t tell me nothing bro

My money my girl and my nine these my rules

What you talkin bout? No man should have all that power

He doesn’t have it cause power is not ours

Sinning like you in control no you are owned

God is running it do as you’re told

Ok let me talk to ‘em real quick

Let me get to talking bout submittin to authority

Somebody being over me we say no no

But we gotta get that if we are not submitting

Than we are missing the fact that we are not our own

God can judge men and the judge says

If you do not follow then you can’t lead

Get it, live it, got it, good!