Distorted and Disappointed

Vern Poythress:

We should briefly consider one other issue related to God’s control. Nowadays many Americans and Europeans distrust authority. And they have some good reasons for distrust. Parents, politicians, governments, employers, advertisers, and religious leaders have grievously disappointed them. People with power have run roughshod over those under them.

God is the biggest authority of all. So is his authority the most dangerous? In one sense, yes. People can falsely appeal to God’s authority in order to manipulate others. Such manipulation is particularly dangerous because people claiming to have God’s authority can try to make their ideas and actions unchallengeable. Manipulation can then be all the more oppressive. But such manipulation misuses God’s name.

So what should we do? Should we repudiate all authority? That is one temptation. But if we abolished governmental authorities, those who are powerful would have no governmental restraint and might further exploit the weak. Rather, we should respond by seeking good exercise of authority in order to drive out the bad. God is the ultimate good authority. But as fallen humans we start out with distorted ideas about God, and distorted hopes for what we think is a good life. We have been disappointed in God, because we do not know or understand or love him.

This is from In the Beginning Was the Word: Language-- A God-Centered Approach, which is the first book I'm reading in 2010. It's in print here, or a free pdf here.