Bottom line up front: The Bible focuses on encouraging those under authority to submit, and is mostly (though not totally) silent on the exercise of legitimate authority.
We tend to think of authority as being synonymous with "the law" ... where the government defines in a legal code (a) what you can do, (b) what you can't do, (c) what rights you have, (d) what the penalties are for transgression of that code, and (e) the various enforcement processes and authorities.
This view of authority focuses on control, and is found also in non-governmental groups (non-profit and for-profit corporations, neighborhood organizations, PTA, etc.). It is often seen in churches and families, even those that identify themselves as being Biblically grounded.
One passage that captures the Biblical perspective well is Isaiah 61:11 ("For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations."). This verse completes a chapter that prophesies the coming of the Messiah (cf. Luke 4:18-19) and has the same kind of "slaves to righteousness, free from sin" theme seen in Romans 5-8. A naive reader of either passage would probably not even think about authority, but both are filled with the view that God focuses on calling people to repentance and providing them with the means to live righteously, not on control-centric interventions.
Although there are passages which direct those in authority to exercise it, they are relatively rare. This seems to reflect God's exercise of His authority...although judgment is certain and He will punish those who defy Him, until that time, He calls everyone to repentance and acceptance of the Son's perfect sacrifice, and encourages and cajoles them to live in humble obedience to God's authority (including those to whom authority has been delegated). The Son displays the same attitude in what He speaks through the Spirit (i.e., the entire NT (John 16:12-15)) and reveals to us in the Gospels, in Acts, in the various Letters, and in Revelation. This is especially clear in John's gospel.
In the same way when we exercise authority He has delegated to us, we should focus on speaking the truth in love, encouraging those who have stumbled to "go and sin no more" by living under grace (again, Romans 5-8), and never forgetting that we are acting as humble servants under God's authority to carry out His will. While there's a place for confronting those who clearly are rejecting God (there are numerous examples throughout the NT), the focus even there is on creation/restoration of a right relationship with God.
And, as we submit to those in authority, we do so as unto to God since all legitimate authority comes from Him.
I suspect our desire to be an autonomous god is one reason we focus on control; laziness is probably another...it's easier to say "do it! now!" than to help someone change their heart and head.
This is probably a bit too long, but I'm always surprised at folks who see God as an impersonal control freak who zaps people He doesn't like. This is completely contradicted by the entire Biblical record of God's statements, commands, and actions. Perhaps this misimpression is due to (a) a natural hostility toward God and His authority, or (b) past experiences with "religious" people who did not reflect God's attitude in the exercise of authority.
As Christians we must both exercise authority and submit to authority in accordance with our roles in the world, in the church, and in our families. Let's follow Christ's example both in how we submit and how we exercise.
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