Q. What should we do when we’re unsure if the authority we’re under has the right to tell us what to do? Does Justice take precedence over Loyalty, or is it the other way around?
A. The issue that we need to understand is that God has established a line of authority. From Genesis to Exodus, and Ephesians to Galatians, and most of the books in between, God had placed someone in authority over his people. We know that children are to obey their parents. This is a non-negotiable tenet in God’s teaching. We are to honor them. In this situation, yes, honor them, but don’t necessarily do what they say. Regardless of right or wrong, honor them. When they are out of line, there is an appeal. In 2 Samuel, a civil war erupts between King David and his son Absalom, who is attempting to take the throne for himself. In this war, Joab is one of David’s commanders, and David gave an order that wasn’t right. Joab appealed to David in an honorable way, and David re-thought his decision. There are Appeals, and being loyal doesn’t mean being blind, deaf, and dumb.
How do you appeal honorably? As a loyal follower, you must be certain that what you’re seeing is correct. If there is a problem, you are free, in a true, loyal, honorable, and trustworthy relationship, to ask questions. This leads into the second part of the question.
Loyalty and Justice aren’t mutually exclusive ideas. If you are doing the right thing, you are, in fact, doing both, as they are both the ‘right thing’. You need to be able to trust those in whom you put your trust. Not giving yourself easily to an untrustworthy person is wisdom. Doing the right thing does take precedence. You are not expected to obey simply because the person in authority said so.