Authority
My parents are unbelievers, do I have to submit to them?
Children are commanded in Eph. 6 v 1 to obey their parents with a promise of long life and prosperity. Obeying your parents means obeying the God who established this family authority.Eph. 6 v 1 – 4 says:
“Children, Obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on earth.
And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
The bible did not specify whether the parents are unbelievers or not. God established the family, with the father as the head of the family and both parents as caretakers of the children. God has given parents authority over their children. The word “father” in Eph. 6v4 is used to represent both parents. Children are to submit to their parents (Col. 3v20).
Biblical submission as defined in Eph. 5v22 means to voluntarily yield your right to a person with authority. Proverbs 6v20 says:
“My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:”
The only time a child can disobey their parents in a submissive manner is if what he/she is asked to do, fails the test of the Word of God. There will be consequences for the disobedience, but God’s grace will be sufficient for him/her. (1Peter 4v14-16, 19)
Rebellion is willful disobedience. It is disobedience to family authority that is not contrary to God’s Word.
Rebellion violates God’s established pattern of authority, making it rebellion against God because, He established the family authority (Rom.13:1,2). Rebellion does not please God. When you decide to disobey authority ask yourself “will my decision please God? Is it going against the Word of God?” The Word of God should supersede all other authority in your life.
1John 5v3 says “Loving God means keeping His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome”. NLT