When You Disagree with Authority

But if God is behind it, you cannot stop it anyway, unless you want to fight against God. Acts 5:39 CEV

My exact reaction when my husband told me we were planting a church … in two months? Shock maybe? I was definitely not jumping for joy.

Revealing, isn’t it? What was wrong with me that I was not excited to join God’s work? Instead, I was disappointed and hurt. Within two months my family would be leaving our church. And I needed to get on board.

I was not against church planting. I simply did not want to leave my church. Years before, after leaving a congregation suffused in quarreling, this body of believers had welcomed our family with open arms. It was here God healed my heart, restored my trust, sparked spiritual growth and led me into leadership. It was here our family made deep friendships. Why would God ask me to leave a place where He was clearly at work? Nope. I was not ready to leave. But the decision was made.

As the people of Israel wandered in the wilderness, their God-appointed leadership made decisions directly affecting them. And when things were not going well, the people repeatedly blamed leadership. How quickly they forgot the oppression of Egypt and the deliverance of God!

Now there was no water for the congregation. And they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. And the people quarreled with Moses.… These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarreled with the Lord, and through them he showed himself holy. Numbers 20:2-3,13 ESV

Do you see it? God’s Word clearly tells us that in quarreling with Moses, their God-appointed leader, they were quarreling with the Lord. Ouch.

To say I had no choice in leaving my church would be a lie. I had choices. I could fight against my husband’s decision. Or I could accept his decision and embrace the opportunity to work with God. I knew the choice I would make.

Eleven years into this church plant, I have come to a vital understanding. God has placed me where I am, including the leadership I am under. Do I trust God or not? Grasping this truth is essential when I disagree with a decision made on my behalf. It is indescribably humbling to come to the realization that my resistance to authority is resistance to God.

If I truly believe He is in control of everything then I must trust Him completely. God does not need my approval, or my blessing, or even my understanding. I always have a choice. I can either get on board or fight against the God of the universe.