Exodus 20:12. Attacks on police during the Troubles has evolved into attacks against anyone in a uniform, such as paramedics or firefighters, or even nurses in hospital. Anyone in a uniform is seen by some as an authority figure, and a legitimate target. Teachers in school are often afraid in front of their classes, since they don’t have the respect and obedience that should be expected from children. On the streets of Belfast, as in many towns and cities in Ireland and Britain, pensioners live in fear of even going out of their homes to do the shopping, because of the intimidation, verbal or physical abuse that they get from teenagers in their street or on their estate. And in the home, many parents don’t know what to do with their teenagers, they can’t control them. “What is happening to our young people? They disrespect their elders, they disobey their parents. They ignore the law. They riot in the streets inflamed with wild notions. Their morals are decaying. What is to become of them?” Plato, 4th Century BC (almost a millennium and a half ago). “I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words... When I was young, we were taught to be discreet and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise [disrespectful] and impatient of restraint”. Hesiod, 8th century BC (about 1200 years ago). The world is passing through troubling times. The young people of today think of nothing but themselves. They have no reverence for parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint. They talk as if they knew everything, and what passes for wisdom with us is foolishness with them. From a sermon preached by Peter the Hermit in A.D. 1274 (about 700-800 years ago). This problem is not new, as the quotations above show. It was also one that Moses faced long ago. This is why God gave us the fifth commandment: Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you. (Exodus 20:12, NLT) Moses (about 3500 years ago). When it comes to obeying those in authority (provided they are using their positions of authority legitimately, for the public good, as Paul outlines as the sole criteria for their mandate in Romans 13), the problem generally starts with disobedience in the home. Children need to obey their parents (as long as they are not telling them to do wrong), and parents should not misuse their position in the family (see Ephesians 6:1-4). But we all fail to do as we ought to. Thankfully, Jesus is our example, as he was obedient not only to Joseph and Mary, but also to his heavenly Father. More than that, his righteousness through his obedience is offered to everyone who will place their faith in him as Lord and Saviour. He suffered and died on the cross, taking our sin on himself, so that we could be declared righteous by simply placing our faith in him (instead of trying to be better ourselves, or become more religious, in the hope that these would impress God the Father). And by his Spirit, he now enables his followers to do the good works, the obedience, that comes from faith, which pleases the Father. Praise God for such great salvation. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:8–10, NLT)