Keith Battle - Falling in Line at Work

I want to talk today about falling in line at work. Get all your laughs out now because this isn’t going to be funny. Yeah, Father, please speak to us in a way that is life-giving and transformative. In Jesus' name, Amen. I’d be remiss if I didn’t highlight the fact that there is some very disturbing language in this passage. If you’re a person of African descent, to even read a passage that continues to lift up the term «slave» and «master» is very disturbing. But we have to keep in mind that when the Bible was written, slavery was in full force. It wasn’t as volatile as some of the slavery that our people suffered; it was a form of enterprise. As a matter of fact, many people got enslaved not because of their race; it just came down to who won the war. If you were part of a nation and your country couldn’t fight, and somebody beat you, you had to work for them. That’s better than getting killed. We work for you now; you don’t beat us up; we’re all your staff. That’s the level of slavery that some people experienced. Other people were enslaved because they were in debt and couldn’t pay off a debt, so they had to become the property of the person they owed money to. That’s the power of debt to this day. The Bible says that the borrower is a slave to the lender. Anyway, I don’t want to get stuck there, but it’s more difficult to apply this passage than last week’s passage because, thank God, slavery has been abolished, and there is systemic injustice. But we still have parent-child relationships. The way you can apply verses 5 through 9 is by interjecting «employee» for every instance of the word «slave,» and «boss» or «employer» for «master.» The principles will work the same; they’re not all linearly the same, but for the most part, the principles remain consistent. What I’ve discovered is that church people, or Christian people, really need this kind of teaching because we’re saved at work. I said we are saved at work! Monday through Friday is a whole different ballgame than Sunday. That’s why we have everybody at work confused, because we have «I love Jesus» on the cubicle. Let me just get back to the passage.

So verse 5 says, «Employees who work for somebody, obey your earthly supervisors with deep respect and fear.» The term «obey,» from verse 1, is the same word used here. It’s the word «hupakouo.» «Hupakouo» means to hear under someone; obedience begins with listening but ends with action or inaction if that’s the directive. At the end of the day, obedience is following instructions, and by the way, if you can’t follow instructions, you should never think you should give them. In the Greek language, it’s written in the present tense, which means literally keep on obeying those in authority over you continuously—not just when you agree or when it’s convenient. That’s kind of right, and it fits; yes, that kind of works with my schedule. No, you obey those in authority over you, regardless, continuously. He says to do it with deep respect and fear. Now, people who were literally slaves during this time had to be afraid of those who owned them because they were, in fact, owned by them. Most of us who work for an employer know that employer doesn’t own us, so we shouldn’t feel intimidated by the people we work for. But we should do what verse 2 says: we should honor them. When you honor somebody and respect somebody, it’s easier to obey them. When obedience comes from within, because you can learn how to honor and respect somebody. Yeah, I call it this: sometimes, you’ve got to respect the position even if you don’t respect the person. You’re in a position of authority, and so I respect you.

So, here’s the first point. I have four points for employees, and I want to give three points for employers. The first point to employees is to respect your superiors. Somebody say, «Respect your superiors.» The Bible is replete with teachings on respect. Romans 13 is one of the more popular passages on respecting those in authority. Romans chapter 13, verse 1 says, «Everyone must submit to governing authorities, for all authority comes from God.» Oh, yes, even if Hitler was in a position, God put him there. I hope it doesn’t happen this time in America. When I’m just saying, at least we get to vote. Yep, we get to vote. I’m sorry; that’s not even close to being here. Going back, all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. I didn’t write it. Therefore, anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted. When you buck authority, you’re bucking God. What if they have wicked authority? What if it’s corrupt authority? Go to 1 Peter chapter 2. 1 Peter chapter 2 says, «For the Lord’s sake, respect all human authority, whether the King as head of state…» or, verse 14 says, «or the officials he has appointed.» Go down to verse 18: «You who are slaves, employees, must accept the authority of your superiors with all respect. Do what they tell you, not only if they are kind or reasonable, but even if they are cruel.»