If our family of origin wasn’t overly “dysfunctional” we may find that on the surface at least, it is not too difficult to show proper respect for parents. But if we were severely abused, well, that is another story. In fact, we know that this commandment, hammered into the heads of children, has led to people silently suffering all kinds of horrible abuse because they did not want to dishonor mom or dad by reporting them.

The issue in Luther’s mind, however, was that God created the world with ranks of authority, to keep the world safe for the gospel. Parents were on the front line of authority, the primal “order of creation”, with the power to shape children according to the will of God. Abuse was never any part of God’s plan for creation. Instead, God’s dream is of shalom.

If we take this commandment seriously, and we must, then the issue of honoring, when we are dealing with abusive or neglectful parents and sometimes corrupt authorities, may cause real agonies of conscience. May this commandment never be used again to keep down people who are being abused, whether by parents or by corrupt rulers! May we all see that there are times when we must stand up and be counted on the side of the oppressed. Sometimes we may need to help someone get free of an abusive parent, spouse, or person in authority. That would be the proper exercise of our power and authority in the world.

Spend some time today thinking about power and authority and responsibility. And then remember that all authority is meant to be authority for the shalom of the community. Abuse and tyranny are never God’s will. And we need to be able to say that and stand up to evil. That way we, like Christ himself, truly show honor to our Father who is in heaven.