A Lesson In Authority part 5

Violations of God’s Principles

Any spiritual authority who usurps the father’s authority over his child and seeks to counsel a child against his father’s counsel is sinning. He is subverting God’s line of authority.

If he listens to a child’s complaints or accusations against his parents, without the parents being present to answer the complaints or accusations, the pastor will find himself guilty of what the law refers to as ex parte. This is a legal term used to indicate a situation in which a judge listens to one side of a dispute without the other side being present to answer the complaints or accusations. The law says that such a judge has been prejudiced in the case and must disqualify himself.

At this point, the author would like to recommend a tract entitled ¹ “Subverting God’s Line of Authority” by Ron E. Williams, Director of Hephzibah House.

Since 1971, Mr. Williams has been working with rebellious young people, many of whom have run away from home. It is the stated purpose of Hephzibah House to counsel and guide rebellious youth back to the authority of their parents.

In his insightful tract, Mr. Williams refers to a situation that involves, what the law calls ex parte’.

Be Careful What you Hear

“Rebellious sons and daughters are capable of giving slanted news to whomever they can find who would have a sympathetic ear. A fallen nature in rebellion toward God-given parents will have great creativity in describing the weaknesses and failures of their parents, but will be strangely silent about their own failures. Anyone listening to a youngster describe the faults of his parents needs the sagacity and perspicacity of Solomon!

Our fallen nature is quick to “choose sides” and be offended at supposed injustices suffered by a son or daughter at the hands of “tyrannical parents.” In our pride, we believe we could have done better with this child, and find ourselves unwittingly playing the part of Talmai (Absaloms’ grandparents) rather than follow ing Scriptural principle.