Q: Am I to obey my parents even when they are wrong about something because they don’t know all the facts?
Suggested Daily Reading: Exodus 20:12, Proverbs 6:20 and Colossians 3:20
A: Yes, you are to obey and honor your parents in all things, unless they ask you to do something that is contrary to the Word of God or to not do something that God commands us to do. The reason for this is that God is the ultimate authority, He is king over all. He has revealed His will in His Word, the Bible. God and His Word are the top authority, the absolute truth and without mistakes. But God has also delegated authority to people to rule over others, e.g. managers in businesses, government officials in a country, office-bearers in a church and parents in a home. We honor God and respect His form of government when we respect our parents.
We must honor our parents by:
Honoring their God-given positions
Willingly serving them from our hearts
Showing prompt and careful obedience to them
Patiently bearing with their weaknesses
Praying for them
When your parents ask you to do something or forbid you to do so, and you believe that they are seriously mistaken because they do not know all the facts, it is best to first obey. Later you may ask your parents for a time to talk about it. In a respectful manner you may present additional facts or insights that your parents may not have known and talk about this with them. In this way you can avoid the appearance or arguing or being demanding with your parents.
Obedience is especially put to the test when we disagree with a decision made by a person in authority over us. Why is this? What battle is taking place inside us at such times?
Is your deepest desire to serve God and obey those in authority over you, or to serve yourself and demand that your will be done? The one is a sign of a new, saved heart and the other of our old, sinful flesh. Do you obey your parents in a way that honors God and them?