Scriptures: Judges 21:24-25, Hosea 8:12, 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Romans 13:1-7, Ephesians 5:22-23, 6:1, Matthew 28:18, Colossians 1:18, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Luke 10:16, 2:52, Proverbs 29:2, 1 Samuel 15:23

In today's culture we find a society that lives by its own rules. In many ways we have rejected authority, and a large percentage of us have rejected especially spiritual authority. We live by our own definition of morality, often making things up as we go along. In the Old Testament we find a stern warning and lesson from a people who had also rejected authority. They rejected biblical revelation. They rejected the Word of God, and they rejected the God of the Word. Sin that would slink down the back alley, now strutted up the main street. Everything was relative. Right and wrong was a private matter. Character and conviction were posse. The only “right” was a person’s rights. Sound familiar?

In this message, Dr. Merritt explains the dangers of rejecting spiritual authority, and how coming under the authority of Christ and His Word will lead us to live the purposeful lives He has designed for us. What you see from Genesis chapter 3 on, is the result of authority that is rejected. You see the same results in our society today. When authority breaks down, and the consequences of breaking authority cease to exist, mark it down, you are on your way to chaos.

"Authority is the God-given right for one person to make choices for another person. Not every authority is always God-guided, but every authority is always God-given. Now when it comes to authority, you only have two choices: submission or rebellion. We are living in an age of open rebellion to all authority. If you cannot properly relate to the authority that God has placed over you, you cannot properly relate to the God that has placed that authority over you. If you reject one, you reject the other." --Dr. Merritt

Keywords: Christopher Dawson, authority, moral confusion, self importance, immorality, Israel, rejection, culture, disintegrating, political, perversion, anarchy, New York Times, Adam, Eve, sin, forbidden, Steve Farrar, Charles Swindoll, apostasy, Dr. Stanley Coopersmith, psychology, self-esteem, holiness, pastoral leadership, Bill Gothard, submission